Tag: la mesa

La Mesa celebrates Holiday in the Village!

I saw Mrs. Claus today! She was reading a storybook at the big, colorful Holiday in the Village event in downtown La Mesa!

I also saw multiple Santas, a couple Grinches, lots of Christmas trees, families and kids having tons of fun, and vendors selling food and festive gifts along several blocks of La Mesa Boulevard! A stage featured entertainment, and an ice rink featured slippery fun!

(Unrelated, but I also saw a poster in a window indicating the La Mesa landmark arch sign is now being fabricated!)

Look! A friendly writer!

Reina Salome is an author of inspirational fiction and poetry. One of her books is Finding Christmas in the Heart. Check out her stuff on Amazon by clicking here.

Be Merry and Bright!

These kids who love sewing made amazing “travel dollhouses” that festival-goers could purchase!

Check out their “My Darling Home” creations on Instagram here!

Smiles from The Salvation Army Kroc Center!

Feeling inspired this holiday season? Help them do good in the community by clicking here!

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Beer, pretzels, dogs and fun in La Mesa!

Oktoberfest has returned to La Mesa!

The annual festival is just as epic as ever. Big weekend crowds are filling several blocks of downtown La Mesa and enjoying a big party.

As one might expect at Oktoberfest, there’s no shortage of beer, pretzels, bratwurst and, indeed, tempting German and International food of all types. There are plenty of activities for the whole family, including a big Ferris wheel and games for kids. And, of course, how can I forget the hilarious weiner dog races?

The festival continues on Sunday, with plenty to see and do. It’s free to walk in. The three biergartens, however, have an entry fee.

A good way to get to all this fun is by trolley. For more info, visit the La Mesa Oktoberfest website here.

Here’s my collection of colorful photos taken on Saturday afternoon…

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A visit to La Mesa’s McKinney House Museum.

Residents of La Mesa and history buffs who live in and around San Diego should experience the McKinney House Museum, headquarters of the La Mesa History Center.

Last weekend I paid a visit.

The historical museum occupies a modest house that was built by Henry Albert McKinney in 1908. He was a Methodist minister, librarian and operator of a furniture store.

The McKinney family lived on two floors that appeared much as they do today. The McKinney House Museum’s seven rooms have been furnished to reflect the period between 1908 and 1920, and many of the objects visitors encounter were actually owned by the family.

The kitchen, dining room, living room, a room used by boarders, and the upstairs bedrooms are all open to the public. Numerous signs provide information concerning the history of the place.

In 1975 the house was acquired by the La Mesa Historical Society. The year 2025 is the all-volunteer organization’s 50th anniversary!

My photographs provide just a hint of what you might see. You’ll have to imagine how the house once stood in a larger lot full of lemon trees, and had a vegetable garden, rabbits and chickens.

The free McKinney House Museum, at 8369 University Avenue, is typically open on Saturdays, from 1 pm to 4 pm. School and group tours can be arranged. Here’s the website.

When I arrived on Saturday afternoon the museum appeared to be closed, but I found several friendly individuals in a small building in a corner of the property, where the La Mesa History Center archives are kept. The McKinney House was graciously opened for me and the lights turned on.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

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Century-old locomotive to be restored in La Mesa!

Old No. 3, the 1923 steam locomotive on display outside the La Mesa Depot, is to be restored. I learned that yesterday from Timothy, who is Station Master at the historic old train depot in La Mesa.

No. 3 originally was purchased to haul lime rock on the Mojave Northern Railroad from a quarry near Victorville, California. In 1966 it was retired and donated to the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association in Campo, then made its way to the La Mesa Depot Museum in 1981. Unfortunately, in its outdoor setting, exposed to the weather, the century-old locomotive now needs a little loving care.

Old wood needs to be replaced. Rust has eaten holes in steel. Missing instrumentation in the locomotive’s cab needs to be replaced.

Timothy, after showing me how the steam locomotive operates, told me that La Mesa’s old No. 3 shouldn’t appear like a thing in a junkyard, so its restoration is on the way.

Once the work begins, hopefully I’ll be able to swing by and record another bit of history!

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

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A mysterious musical instrument in La Mesa!

Does anybody out there know the history of the Anatole Accompanist Harp? An internet search provides no information whatsoever.

On display inside the La Mesa History Center‘s McKinney House museum is an unusual musical instrument. It is labeled: The ANATOLE ACCOMPANIST HARP – 1915 – Invented by S.B. Shiley – An early resident of La Mesa

I toured the museum yesterday and failed to learn more about this unique harp. Perhaps I should have asked around some more.

Presumably, S.B. Shiley is the artist Sylvester Benjamin Shiley, who passed away in San Diego in 1924.

I know some of my readers are very knowledgeable about local history and culture. If you can add any information about this mysterious Anatole Accompanist Harp or its inventor, please leave a comment below!

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

New model train fun at the La Mesa Depot!

Look what has arrived at the old La Mesa Depot. A super cool model train layout!

During my last visit to the La Mesa Depot several years ago, Station Master Timothy was building a new layout in the historic depot’s baggage room. It has been replaced by a detailed, fully functioning HO scale layout with small town charm and mountain scenery!

Will kids love it?

Yes!

The La Mesa Depot, which can’t be missed at the corner of Spring Street and La Mesa Boulevard, is free to the public. Its doors open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, and on Saturdays from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.

There’s plenty to explore inside the depot, including an old telegraph, ticket window and the passenger waiting room. Outside, visitors can walk around the depot’s steam locomotive, refrigerator (reefer) car and caboose at any time.

Many years ago I walked around the La Mesa Depot and took photographs. Apart from the cool new model train layout, it appears little has changed. You can see my past photos of the depot here.

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Photos of Flag Day Parade in La Mesa!

The 26th Annual Flag Day Parade was held late this morning through downtown La Mesa. Hundreds of residents came out for the patriotic Flag Day spectacle.

Flags lined La Mesa Boulevard. Families gathered along the sidewalks in anticipation. At ten o’clock, the big parade, a beloved La Mesa tradition, began!

There were marching bands, equestrian groups, politicians, scouts, local schools, churches, clubs and organizations, waving queens, costumed cosplayers, cool cars . . . even tractors! It appeared to me the entire community had come together.

The Flag Day Parade this year celebrated service organizations who work to improve lives in the city. Grand Marshalls were the La Mesa Kiwanis Club, the La Mesa Lions Club, La Mesa Optimist International, and the La Mesa Rotary Club.

Most of my photographs were taken a bit away from the crowd, which mostly gathered in the center of La Mesa’s historic downtown. At the end of the parade, I followed the big flag held by volunteers, and I took my final photo with hundreds of flag-waving spectators all around.

Ready? The big parade is starting…

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

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Hunt for hidden treasures in a La Mesa park!

Collier Park in La Mesa contains hidden treasures!

Those who explore the city park might come across 18 coin-like plaques that feature images of local plants and animals.

If you would enjoy a fun outdoor treasure hunt, head over to La Mesa’s historic Collier Park, walk along its easy nature trail and begin your search.

Make the treasure hunt a game! Challenge your family or friends. Who can find the most?

Explore the park to find the hidden treasures of different plants and animals! Find all 18 emblems below!

Sage, Poppy, Skunk, Frog, Hummingbird, Snake, Squirrel, Beetle, Hawk, Sycamore Leaf, Raccoon, Butterfly, Rabbit, Spider, Ladybug, Dandelion, Oak Leaf, Sparrow

By strolling around Collier Park, you can also discover a bit of history.

As the city of La Mesa’s first park, Collier Park has long served as a community gathering space.

Kumeyaay – The Kumeyaay Tribe of Indigenous peoples have a rich history in the area, harnessing nature’s local resources. The natural spring in the park once served as a seasonal stopping place for the local Kumeyaay.

David C. Collier – Colonel David Charles (D.C.) Collier, a pioneer community developer in La Mesa and throughout San Diego County, was responsible for donating the land to the community for what would become the City’s first public park after incorporation in 1912.

In the next photograph, you can spot La Mesa’s historical Spring House. Curious? I blogged about it here.

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

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La Mesa’s historical Spring House.

I asked a gentleman at the La Mesa Community Center if there were interesting places to visit in the neighborhood, and was told about Collier Park and its Spring House. He told me the historical house was undergoing restoration. Curious, I headed over to investigate.

I walked around the somewhat dilapidated old Spring House and found a sign that describes its history. I was surprised to learn about the origin of the name Spring Street–an important nearby street that runs through downtown La Mesa.

Collier Park – Spring House – City of La Mesa Landmark #3

The Spring House was constructed for Colonel David Charles (D.C.) Collier in 1907. The original plan for the Spring House to be a commercial bottling operation of the natural spring water was never realized. The natural springs were also what attracted stock rancher Robert Allison to purchase the area in 1869. The bottling works plant captured water from the adjacent natural spring and contained a storage reservoir for the water. It was constructed with locally quarried stone blocks. Water from the spring was pumped to the civic fountain at the La Mesa Railroad Depot from 1915 until the late 1960s. After the establishment of Collier Park, the Spring House has been used for pool dressing rooms, meetings, classroom and event space.

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Beautiful mural at La Mesa’s Collier Park!

This beautiful mural decorates the trash enclosure at Collier Park in La Mesa. I was told by a friendly gentleman at the La Mesa Community Center that the art was painted not too long ago.

I found an article about the mural’s creation. It was a project of ArtReach, completed last year in partnership with the City of La Mesa. More than forty community members helped to paint it!

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!