As we approach Mission Viejo’s 25th anniversary celebration on Sat., July 27 starting at 4 pm on the Village Green (Oso Viejo Park- grass at Norman P. Murray Community Center) with prelude in the Park, take an opportunity to explore Mission Viejo through “Mission Viejo: A Living Legacy."
Enjoy the adventures of Mission Viejo’s past, the people and the times that shaped it. You can take a stroll down Memory Lane with Bob Breton, Master of Ceremonies and director; Eric Winter and Stephanie Tanton, producers of this film.
It only seems fitting that Breton would tackle such an enormous project. He was the founder of the Heritage Committee that houses a museum at Melinda Park, past Mission Viejo Mayor and currently Commissioner.
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Rare photos and historical footage were assembled to give us a dynamic look at how Mission Viejo went from ranchland to the city it is today. Hours of in-depth interviews with Thomas Bloom, Bill Kinitz, Arthur Cook, Robert Bunyan and James Toefer takes us back to the 60’s.
There are seven scripts in all. Various executives were interviewed from the Mission Viejo Company, but Donald Bren was the dreamer. The master planners were also the master builders of 11,000 acres of raw land.
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Mission Viejo was one of the first planned communities in our country. The Mission Viejo Company spent two years to create a community identity that would attract homebuyers at affordable prices. It strategically laid out a plan to have a balance of homes, schools, churches, parks, stores and open spaces.
To take a virtual tour of more than 400 photographs of community events, you can go to www.cityofmissionviejo.org. When you have reached the city’s web page, under Home (on the left hand-side in the blue panel) highlight, “See all Departments.” Scroll down to the “Library” (click on it), scroll down again to “Local History” (click on it), then highlight, “Research It.”
You are almost there- go to “Local History” (click on it). Yeah—you have reached a vast compilation of interviews, photos and history! Let your finger tips guide you through the “Local History Digital Collections.” Check out Billie Jean King, Greg Louganis, President Gerald Ford or Ronald Reagan and don’t forget the Challenges of the Sexes.
“We felt like Mission Viejo should be preserved through oral history, films, slides and prints,” stated Breton. Mission Viejo library staff and the Mission Viejo Heritage Committee have been digitizing photos through funding from a Library Service and Technology grant, but funding is still needed to complete “Mission Viejo: A Living Legacy.”
During this historical week, please take time to write your city council members and let them know you want to preserve the history of Mission Viejo.
If you have any questions regarding the history of Mission Viejo call (949) 830-7100, ext. 5110 or email them at localhistory@cityofmissionviejo.org.
Don’t forget to join us for the 25/50 celebration in the Park. It is sure to be the most memorable event of the year.
Tell us about your memories of Mission Viejo from the skating rink to your high school days. Do you have this monopoly game? If you have any old photos, please share them with us.
