South County Historical Society, Arroyo Grande CA

Category & Type :

Outdoors

Location :

126 South Mason Street , Arroyo Grande CA

http://www.southcountyhistory.org Call 805-481-4126 Use Promo Code: 378281 For Additional Discounts!

About South County Historical Society...

The South County Historical Society is home to five Museums and a Research Library located in the City of Arroyo Grande.

HERITAGE HOUSE GARDEN & MUSEUM
The Heritage House was built in the late 1800's. Records show that the house was sold to Charles A. Pitkin in 1895. In 1906 the house was sold to Dr. H. S. Walters and was known as "Dr. Walter's Sanatorium".
In 1948 after many owners, the house was changed into a duplex and the Travis and Roundtree families were the occupants. In 1961 the Roundtree's sold the house to the Travis's. Then in 1976 the house was sold to the City of Arroyo Grande and was used as a daycare center. It also housed the City Recreation Department.
The Historical Society acquired the house in 1997 and did major restoration work to turn it into a visitor's center and museum. A gazebo and garden were added to provide a beautiful setting for weddings and other social events. Volunteers from the Historical Society, local residents and local businesses provided manpower and funds for this undertaking.
The museum has an interesting collection of period clothing, photographs and kitchen items, just to name a few and docents are available to answer any of your questions. The Heritage House Museum is open to the public on Saturday from Noon to 3 p.m. and Sunday's from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

SANTA MANUELA SCHOOL HOUSE
The Santa Manuela Schoolhouse a one-room schoolhouse, was built in 1901 on the property of Joseph Jatta which is now under the water of Lake Lopez.
The Schoolhouse was used until 1957 and was then moved to another location to due to the construction of the dam at the lake. It was moved again in 1999 to Short Street at the South end of the Swinging Bridge. The Schoolhouse was completely restored to its original condition including the students chairs, chalkboards, maps, books, etc.
The Schoolhouse is open Saturdays from 12-3 and on Sundays from 1-4 and is free of charge.
Just behind the Schoolhouse is the "Barn", the South County Historical Society's Museum Annex which houses a variety of historical vehicles, printing presses and other interesting exhibits.

PAULDING HISTORY HOUSE
The first resident Medical Doctor in Arroyo Grande was Dr. Edwin Paulding. He came to Arroyo Grande in 1882, married Clara Edwards and together they bought the house at 551 Crown Hill Road in 1891. (the house was built in 1889). A beautiful Oak Tree believed to be 250 years old dominates the front yard.
In 1892 a blessed event occurred in the home. They gave birth to a daughter, Ruth. Ruth became a teacher and taught for many years in Arroyo Grande. She passed away in 1985 at the age of 93 in the same house.
The Paulding Middle School across the street from the house is named for her. She generously left the house and its contents to the San Luis Obispo Historical Society and in 1998 the property was passed on to the South County Historical Society.
Dr. Paulding, also a talented wood worker spent many hours working on carvings which can be seen in the house along with countless other artifacts, among them the only authentic Cumash Indian basket in the County.
Docents are available to answer your questions at the Paulding House during it hours of operation which are available by Appointment (805.473.3231) or on the 1st Saturday of the month from Noon to 3 p.m.

IOOF HISTORIC HALL
The South County Historical Society acquired the property which was formerly the meeting place for the International Order of Odd Fellows in 1985.
The hall is located at 128 Bridge Street and was built in 1902 on land donated by Mrs. Elston in 1898. The building was completed in six months at the cost of $5.500.00. A local contractor, Ben Stuart did the stone work with native sandstone which came from a quarry just south of Arroyo Grande.
The Hall was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1991. Currently the Society is raising money to have this historical building restored, with the first step being Earthquake retrofitting.
The estimated cost of completing this project was over $100,000.00.
The Hall is currently open Fridays and Saturdays from 1pm to 5pm.

THE BARN MUSEUM
The "Barn" is the South County Historical Society's Museum Annex which houses a variety of antique vehicles and agricultural artifacts from the South County area. It also houses vintage printing presses and other interesting exhibits.
The Barn is located just a few steps from the Santa Manuela Schoolhouse and immediately behind the Heritage House, a historical home which is also a museum with an interesting collection of period clothing, photographs, kitchen items and more.
The Barn is open Saturdays from 12-3 and on Sundays from 1-4 and is free of charge.

RUBY'S HOUSE
On Saturday, September 30, 2006 10 a.m., the South County Historical Society opened its fourth building in the Village of Arroyo Grande’s Heritage Square. The event was a dedication of the Patricia Loomis History Library and Resource Center located in Ruby’s House at 134 S. Mason St. This new center will offer teachers, students, journalists and researchers a wealth of materials on California history with a special emphasis on local South San Luis Obispo County history. The Library and Resource Center will be available to students and community members for research projects, including the production of community history exhibits and historical reenactments. The Library and Resource Center was made possible through the generous donations of two retired women journalists, Patricia Loomis and Jean Hubbard.
Loomis, a granddaughter of local pioneers E.C. and Clara Loomis, was raised in Arroyo Grande and has been one of the Society’s most important benefactors. Her generosity allowed the Society to renovate and restore sections of the 1888 Ruby’s House in order to expand their library and outreach programs. Loomis also donated a large number of books from her private collection, including the Hubert H. Bancroft series on the history of the West, a 39-volume collection written in the late 19th century. Loomis’s interest in California history stems from her long career as a journalist with the San Jose Mercury News, where for many years she wrote a history column named Signposts that focused on early pioneers of the San Jose-South Bay region and the streets named after them. She is also a long-time member and former officer of the Oregon-California Trails Association, dedicated to the preservation and protection of overland emigrant trails and the emigrant experience.
Several hundred books, pamphlets, photos, and scrapbooks were donated to the Society’s new library by local writer Jean Hubbard. Hubbard wrote articles focusing on South County history for the Times Press Recorder for 12 years. Her articles, books, and wealth of knowledge on local history will be invaluable resources for researchers using the new library. Jean is a founder and charter member of the South County Historical Society, serving most recently as curator of the Paulding House Museum in Arroyo Grande. Her contributions to the preservation of local history are well known and unmatched.
The Society’s Board of Directors, on behalf of its members, hope the Patricia Loomis Library and Resource Center will make history come alive by offering valuable resources for student and community projects designed to re-create local and California history. The Center will also develop programs to make history more relevant for all age groups by connecting the past to present-day challenges faced in South County and California. For more information contact the Library’s interim director, Craig Rock, at 489-8282.