Friday, May 01, 2009

Econo-My-Scene: Artesia's First Gals Celebrate 50 Years of City Hood!


Econo-My-Scene:
Tea Time: "The First Lady's" Celebrate Artesia's Rich Past.

Note: This is my weekly column for the Los Cerritos Community News, that appears in this weekend's edition.

By: Randy Economy

Last weekend, I attended my first "Victorian High Tea." Okay. I have not cracked up. This is really great stuff.

It was held in honor of all of the amazing women who have served as "First Lady" from the City of Artesia. The most famous "First Lady" from Artesia is none other than "America's Past First Lady" Thelma Patricia Ryan Nixon, also known as Mrs. Richard Nixon.

2009 marks the 50th Anniversary of when Artesia was incorporated as a "city." But, Artesia's rich history goes back more than 130 years.
The "Village" of Artesia formally became a "community" when the Artesia School District was established on May 3, 1875. The first school house was a rustic timbered two-story building with a classroom on each floor.

Artesia was formally incorporated as a "city" on May 29th, 1959, and is only 1.6 square miles in size, and has a population of around 11,000 (give or take a couple of hundred). Its "official" flower is the "Chrysanthemum" and the official city motto is "Service Builds Tomorrow's Progress."

I know "real men" can enjoy sipping fine tea, munch on savory cucumber and water crest sandwiches, buttery scones with Devonshire Cream, Chicken Waldorf Salad, Sweet Petit' Fours, Chocolate Hand Dipped Strawberries, and this event had it ALL.

The "High Tea" was hosted by the Artesia Historical Society, under the

leadership and coordination of President Veronica Bloomfield, Vice President Barbara Frampton Applebury, Event Chairwoman Diane Padelford Young and Committee Member Rosemary Economy. The event was catered by the Cerritos Sheraton Hotel under the amazing help from Chef Carlos Garcia and Banquet/Entertainment Wiz Ryan Keithley.

The Artesia Historical Society is an amazing community service organization whose sole mission is to preserve the rich heritage of Artesia, educate the community about its past. The AHS also operates the Artesia Historical Museum at 18644 Alburtis Avenue.

The Museum is open the Second Saturday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m. and EVERYONE who lives in our community needs to visit this great attraction.

Honored at the Tea was each of Artesia's past "First Ladies," including the "First" First Lady Bettye Padleford. She is the wife of founding Artesia Mayor Warren "Gene" Padleford, and looked amazing during this special afternoon.

Women have played a historic role in all of our communities. I think back to women like Norwalk's Margaret I. "Peg" Nelson, and Cerritos' Dianna Needham and Lakewood's Jackie Rynerson, and Santa Fe Springs Betty Wilson when they were all elected as "the First" woman to serve as City Council Members in our area.

We are richer as a society for our "First Ladies." Michele Obama is changing the role of America's First Lady. Her elegance, community investment campaign, promotion of community gardens, devotion to her children, and those "amazing arms" is a breath of fresh air in these tough times.

Artesia has changed greatly since 1875, but it has retained so much of its past, and for that we are all grateful. Thanks, Lady's for a great afternoon.

Pass the sugar, and give me a couple of them scones...

No comments: