Ojai’s Brick Firehouse

Ojai’s Brick Firehouse – County Historical Landmark Information Prior to 1929 the Ojai Valley fire protection was left somewhat to chance and the generosity of impromptu volunteers.  Of course, the northern borders were watched over by the rangers of the Los Padres Forest.  It is to one of the forest rangers who was to become [...]

Groovy History: Ojai’s Two:Dot Studio

Groovy History: Ojai’s Two:Dot Studio recorded the sounds of the psychedelic ’60s. Now it’s playback time by Mark Lewis When Dean and JoAnne Thompson built themselves a home in the East End back in 1954, they made the news with their choice of material. Rather than put up a standard suburban ranch house, they hired a contractor [...]

The Road to Art Country

Art and About…. …. The Road to Art Country by Anca Colbert As one leaves the Pacific Ocean to veer from the Pacific Coast Highway to Highway 33 toward Ojai, the eyes catch sight of the sunlight over the hillside on the left. Sometimes just a glimmer of light, other times a bright shimmering over [...]

Art and About… of Dogs and Their Artists.

Ojai Quarterly Magazine, Winter 2011 Issue ART AND ABOUT…… …… of dogs and their artists. By Anca Colbert From large shepherds to small bichons, dogs are a most visible part of life in the Ojai Valley. They seem to have a particularly important place in the physical and emotional geography of artists’ studios. Two famous [...]

E.P. Foster and Ojai’s County Parks

Remembering When… forefathers’ foresight led to valley parks by David Mason “No camping was permitted west of the stream;although parties may spend the day or the evening under the live oaks, and for a small consideration may buy wood from the custodian of the park with which to cook their dinners – or suppers.” “History of [...]

Ojai’s Juvenile Delinquency Problem–1926

Who Knows the Solution?  1926 Editorial in The Ojai The following editorial appeared in The Ojai, December 31, 1926: The City of Ojai stands very badly in need at the present time of some one who can solve this problem of boys on the streets at night.  This band of young fellows that ranges up and [...]

Rara Avis in Our Midst

ART AND ABOUT… … RARA AVIS in our midst by Anca Colbert Everyone wants to understand painting. Why don’t they try to understand the song of the birds? –Pablo Picasso Have you heard the song of the red-winged blackbirds in this valley? Years ago, walking along the soggy shores of Lake Casitas, I discovered where they gathered [...]

Downtown Ojai Renovation: 1919 Article

Civic Improvement Ojai, California How an Old, Uninteresting Town Was Made Beautiful By FREDERICK JENNINGS Architect & Engineer August, 1919 LESS than three years ago what is now the quaint mission village of Ojai, California, was a ramshackle old town called Nordhoff in a mountain pocket forty miles south of Santa Barbara. It was an [...]

Transformation of Ojai: 1916-17

The Transformation of Ojai, by Richard Requa San Diego Union 1925 One morning in early spring, some 10 years ago, two men were sitting on the edge of a raised rough plank sidewalk in front of a dilapidated shack. A remnant of a sign over the battered, creaking door informed the curious visitor in letters [...]

Architect of Downtown Ojai: Richard Requa Biography

1922 Biography of Richard S. Requa from Clarence A. McGrew, City of San Diego and San Diego County, Volume 11 (Chicago and New York: The American Historical Society, 1922, pages 32-33.) RICHARD S. REQUA is senior member of Requa & Jackson, architects, which recently succeeded the firm of Mead & Requa. The public generally not [...]

Shangri-La: Ojai’s Untold Stories

“Shangri-la: Ojai’s Untold Stories,” the final exhibit for 2012 at the Ojai Valley Museum, will run for three months, October through December 30, 2012. It features historical, primarily unknown personalities, who were directly related to Ojai and who have had great influence on the town and the nation. The five “Untold Stories” featured in this [...]

Ojai Museum Book Event

Ojai Valley Museum hosts local book fair and signing on Friday, July 13, 2012 from 5 to 7:30 pm.