Backyard History: A Visit to Heritage Hill Historical Park (photos)

[Morrigoon]

ST. GEORGE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

So Mr. Whiting was a developer, and promoted moving to California. This included traveling to England to promote it, and also writing a book, "Fruit Farming for Profit in California." To serve this English settlement, St. George's Episcopal Mission was built. Originally it did not have pews, but chairs, with bags on the back (sewn by the ladies of the congregation)







Some nice oil lamps







By the way, the interior was originally redwood, and was whitewashed over at some point.



Here's a lovely dress that's on display in the church, probably the most spectacular of all the displayed dresses (though the construction of some of them is quite beautiful)



The congregation originally met at the El Toro train depot. A structure which, sadly, was not saved, though the Historical Park does have the plans and would like to construct a reproduction some day.



And here's a photo of the church in its original location



The docent was telling us how the organist for many years was this one lady who always wore her little black hat, kind of a signature thing, if you will. She would change the decoration to go with the season, you see two here. Although I think we can rest assured that the velcro on the hat is not original.



Off in a side room, there's a model of Old El Toro showing buildings in their original locations.



Just a cool picture of the bell tower



More to come...