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Fallbrook Remembers...George Kelsey

FALLBROOK – When George Kelsey brought down the gavel April 4, 1977, the Fallbrook Historical Society was born.

Kelsey had moved to Fallbrook 45 years earlier in 1933 to manage the Fallbrook Citrus Association. He and his wife, Josephine, came to love our town and they showed their devotion by serving the community tirelessly.

George helped found and build the hospital and the library. Together, the Kelsey's supported the Fallbrook Art Association, the Environmental Council and the Reche Community Service Club, to name a few. Fallbrook so appreciated their efforts that the Fallbrook Woman's Club named Mrs. Kelsey Woman of the Year in 1962 and the Chamber of Commerce named Mr. Kelsey Citizen of the Year in 1968.

Our nation's Bi-Centennial celebrations in 1976 inspired George Kelsey and he decided that Fallbrook's rich history deserved to be honored as well. He and like-minded residents came together to form the Fallbrook Historical Society, with Kelsey as the first president.

They wrote a charter and began assembling a collection of documents and historical artifacts, but there was no building at that time so board members stored the items in their homes, often under their beds.

Four years of fundraising ensued with the enthusiastic support of the community and, in 1981, the Fallbrook Historical Society purchased property that included a 1895 farmhouse where they assembled the collection for display.

In the years since, a museum building and a barn were added and the 1896 one-room Reche Schoolhouse was deeded to the historical society, all thanks to George Kelsey and the generations of volunteers that followed.

Visit The Heritage Center at 1730 Hill Avenue Thursday or Sunday from 1-4 p.m. The Reche Schoolhouse at 1319 S. Live Oak Park Road is open the second Saturday of each month from 1-4 p.m. Admission is free.

This is the first in a series to be submitted by Fallbrook Historical Society.

 

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