Arts Forum Ministry volunteers will be busy this week hanging items for our Church’s 60th Anniversary Show in the gallery. Many thanks to all who shared their “artifacts” with us for the exhibit.
Sixty years seems like an eternity ago for some, and just the blink of an eye for others. Either way, I thought it would be fun to capture a snapshot of Rancho Bernardo’s past in this article.
From the Rancho Bernardo Historical Society: The people we now know as the Kumeyaay Indians were the original inhabitants of what we today call Rancho Bernardo. These indigenous people had been on the local scene for approximately 2,700 years prior to the arrival of the first Europeans in 1769. In 1769 a band of Spanish soldiers and Franciscan missionaries arrived in San Diego where they established a military headquarters, or presidio, along with a church, Mission San Diego de Alcalá, beginning the colonization process that would be repeated over the entire state.”
The Rancho Bernardo we know today was conceived in 1961 as a planned community by the Daley Ranch owners and developers Harry Summers and H.R. Long. In 1962, the plan was approved and the area became part of the city of San Diego. The first residents moved into RB in 1963. By June 1964, there was a population of 2,000.
On September 27, 1964, eighty-eight charter members were approved and elders were approved, elected and installed; so began Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church. Here is a list of the founding members, as recorded in a book composed in 1989 by Hazel Hulsizer, the church historian. This book will be on display in our gallery.
Here are some of the major events from 1964: The British invasion - On February 9, 1964, the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. No Smoking - the United States Surgeon General issued a report that indicated cigarette smoking posed a clear health danger. New Technology - International Business Machines (IBM) introduced the system 360 Computer. All Created Equal - The Civil Rights Act was passed by Congress and Martin Luther King Jr. received the Nobel Peace Prize.
Some fun facts: LA Dodgers beat the NY Yankees 4-0 in the World Series “My Fair Lady” won Best Picture, Best Actor (Rex Harrison) and Best Director (George Cukor) at the Oscars, but Julie Andrews, who originated the role of Eliza Doolittle on Broadway and was passed over for the film version in favor of Aubrey Hepburn, won best actress for “Mary Poppins.” “Bonanza” and “Bewitched” were the most popular TV shows. “There! I’ve Said it Again” by Bobby Vinton was the top song (but the Beatles claimed four out of the top ten). How much?! Gas was 30 cents per gallon Bread was 21 cents per loaf Milk was 36 cents per gallon Average new car was $4,500 Movie ticket was $1.25 Average yearly income was $5,880
Any guesses what life in RB will look like 60 years from now?! Elizabeth Virkler