Some of Chunk's childhood faves!

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The Turtles — “Elenore” (1968)


Kyu Sakamoto—“Ue wo muite arukou” (1963)


Melanie Safka with Edwin Hawkins Singers — “Lay Down” (1970)


Smith — "Baby, It's You" (1969)

"Mountain View School," 1881 (aka Villa Park Elementary)

My sister Fannie and I watched Montie Montana perform at our little elementary school c. 1961.

Villa Park Grammar School, 1925

.....Tell me, why do we so often destroy our own history?
.....My family arrived in Orange County (German immigrants by way of Canada) in 1959. By 1960, we had moved to Orange, near Villa Park. My sister Fannie and I went to tiny Villa Park Elementary, which had started life in 1881 as “Mountain View School.” It's on the National Register of Historic Places.

.....As you may know, recently, the OUSD decided to demolish some of the older buildings of the school, which date back to 1917 (or 1919). Efforts, initiated in the late 90s, to collect money to renovate the buildings have failed. Naturally, some locals were horrified. As the OC Reg reported yesterday (see District puts historic buildings up for sale), the latest plan is to try to sell these old buildings—for a dollar.
.....This seems to be a last ditch effort.

.....I’ve posted some photos of the school, plus some other historic OC photos that I’ve come across recently.
.....I just love this stuff.

Chunk's family used to buy oranges at this packing house in the 60s.

Villa Park was mighty small back in the early 60s, and very conservative. Still is. Only 17% of voters are Democrats. Greens?—.003%! There's 11 of 'em.