There’s an old cliché that says, “You can’t know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been.” With Orange on the threshold of a major growth spurt, I’ve taken some time to trace the city’s past footsteps. Thanks to books by local historian Dr. Howard C. Williams and stories from folks around town, I’ve learned a few interesting facts along the way:
• On September 13, 1865, a ferocious hurricane hit Orange, leaving roofs on only five houses.
• The world's first helicopter reportedly lifted off the ground at Eighth Street and John Avenue in Orange in the early 1900s. It hovered at 100 feet before plummeting back to the ground and shattering. Fortunately, no one was inside.
• Green Avenue was a posh section of Orange during the early 1900s. At one point, eleven millionaires lived on the street.
• During the Great Depression, many people in Orange would rip open flour sacks to make undergarments, clothing, and even sheets.
• Martin Dies of Orange, Texas, was the youngest member of Congress in 1930 and negotiated a contract to build twelve U.S. Navy destroyers in Orange, ending the Great Depression in Orange County.
• After the attack on Pearl Harbor, many angry Americans flocked to Orange to build ships that would be used in retaliation against Japan. At the start of World War II, about 7,000 people lived in Orange. By the time the war ended, the population was more than 60,000.
• Early Orange court hearings were held outside "under the trees" while others were held in private homes for a small fee.
• The First Presbyterian Church on Green Avenue features the only opalescent glass dome in the United States and was the first air-conditioned public building west of the Mississippi River.
If you haven’t already, take some time to learn more about Orange’s history. There is much to be proud of. You can even visit the Heritage History Museum for an in-depth look at the past through rare artifacts. You’ll learn many more tidbits that shed a little light on Orange’s distinct past, making its future appear that much brighter.
If you have some historical facts to share, or if you would like to suggest a topic for a future column, please contact me at nikki.sumrow@imaginuity.com.
This message was also printed in the January 16, 2008 issue of The Orange Leader by guest columnist Nikki Sumrow. You can read a new column each Wednesday in The Orange Leader discussing the latest Orange events and activities.
