The La Mesa History Center began renovations in 2019 and is on the final stretch with the help of a generous anonymous donor who issued a $10,000 matching grant.
LMHC Vice President Tracey Stotz said the donor has financially helped the Center before and likes to motivate people to get involved in the project.
“He wants to see that there is interest in the community in where he puts his money,” she said. “In this case we are going to finish the rest of the landscape renovation that even with the $20,000 it will not complete the project but will give it a good jump start.”
Stotz said the two key components of the projects they are working on are a display building back by the archives at the 1908 historical Rev. Henry A. McKinney House and Society Archives location.
“Picture a shed that has one large open front, like a big window, that you will be able to look in to. We will have large items that we can rotate in our collection that we just do not have a place to put. Like old street signs, old business signs. We have an old printing press from The La Mesa Scout. Fun things like that. You will be able to look through that window, and we do not have to have the archives open for you to enjoy it. You can just walk through the site and see some of the collection. We are very excited to have this display building,” she said.
The second project is a shade structure, an overhead lattice to provide shade, with either some permanent picnic tables, or tables and chairs that can be set up and taken down for its outdoor programming.
“Right now, we have outdoor programming for Earth Day where we put up tables and chairs and we must place popups because it is quite warm on the site,” she said. “This shade structure will give us the opportunity to not have to have a popup. Particularly when it is windy. Even with them tied down and with sandbags, they still blow.”
Stotz said the Center is trying to do more family friendly events to bring more young people in to understand the rich history of La Mesa. She said the Earth Day event was successful and coming up, The La Mesa History Center will be at the La Mesa Farmer’s Market on May 10.
