San Diego History Societies, Agencies & History Museums

 

Lemon Grove Historical Society
and Historical Archives

The Lemon Grove Historical Society was established as a non profit, educational organization in 1979 and has 180 members. The Society operates The Parsonage Museum of Lemon Grove in the former "Atherton Chapel" built in 1897. The charming, gabled, two-story structure houses permanent exhibitions related to the agricultural, social, cultural, and domestic history of Lemon Grove, and also houses revolving exhibitions of art, literature, and science.

The "History Alive" series is held on the first Thursday of the month in the H. Lee House Cultural Center, 3205 Olive. Admission is $2. Concerts, classes, workshops, poetry readings and other events are held on Sunday afternoons.

The church, the first school and the fruit packing shed were all built between 1892 (when the town was first named "Lemongrove" in the county records) and 1908 and flanked the railroad tracks. The coming of the railroad in 1893 provided the economic lifeline that helped the agricultural community and its "sea of lemon trees" to grow.

The Parsonage Museum is located at 3185 Olive and is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekdays by appointment from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for classes and tour groups. Researchers and groups should call 619-460-4353 to arrangement tours or meetings. It is closed on major holidays, between Dec. 22 - Jan. 4, and during the month of August.

The H. Lee House Cultural Center is available for rent for a range of social, corporate and academic activities. Call 619-460-4353 for rates. The email address is: shortlist@mail.sdsu.edu

The Society publishes a quarterly newsletter, and holds an annual Ice Cream Social in September to mark the opening of the fall/winter season, a Christmas party and chorale, and public receptions to mark the opening of new exhibitions. The Society maintains a large print and photographic archive, and is active in preservation projects.

Lemon Grove Historical Society www.lemongrovehistoricalsociety.com P.O. Box 624 Lemon Grove, CA 91946 Museum Tel: 619-460-4353 Office Tel: 619-462-6494 Fax: 619-462-8266 E-mail: ofield@mail.sdsu.edu

Yearly dues (June 1 - May 31): Student (ages 8-18) $7.00 Seniors/Military / each $10.00 Individual $12.00 Family (up to 3 persons) $25.00 Non-Profit Org. $30.00 Friend $35.00 Business $50.00 Sustaining $75.00 Life (single or couple)*   *one time payment $150.00

Some early postcards from Lemon Grove.

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