(rshsdepot) La Habra, CA

["jdent1_@_optonline.net" <jdent1@optonline.net>]

From the Whittier Daily News=2E=2E=2E

Museum celebrates silver anniversary
By Valerie Marrs , Staff Writer

LA HABRA -- With a weeklong schedule of events geared for children to
celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Children's Museum at La Habra, museu=
m
officials turned their attention to adults Monday night to thank community=

leaders and volunteers for making it all possible=2E=20
Mayor Steve Simonian, after listing many of the national and state awards
garnered by the museum, told the approximately 200 invited guests, "How
lucky you are to have this museum!'=20
But Simonian was preaching to the choir=2E Guests included founding (and
funding) members of the community who have served in the supporting guild
established in 1985, on the advisory board founded in 1987, and museum
volunteers and individuals and organizations who have contributed to the
museum over the years=2E Some of the original organizers were on hand with=

their grandchildren who are now museum members=2E=20
"A silver anniversary connotes longevity,' said Nancy Zinberg, president o=
f
the Friends of the Children's Museum, established in 1978, "but it also
honors a partnership between the city and the community=2E=20
"This is a place where friendships are made and kept, where commitments ar=
e
made and honored=2E All your hard work is what makes this a happy place=2E=
'=20
The museum is a former Santa Fe Railroad depot that was slated for
demolition when the railroad was no longer needed to serve the agricultura=
l
needs of the area=2E=20
"The City Council and community members knew they didn't want that to
happen, but they really didn't know what to do with it,' said Melissa
Banning, assistant museum director=2E=20
"It was luck that (former) City Councilwoman Robin Young went back east on=

vacation and visited the children's museum in Indianapolis=2E She immediat=
ely
thought that was something La Habra could do,' Banning said=2E=20
She said the city bought the depot for "a dollar or thereabouts' and began=

the wheels in motion=2E=20
The Children's Museum at La Habra opened Dec=2E 2, 1977, and has since
doubled in size, more than doubled in staff, and has hosted hundreds of
thousands of children and adults for an ever-changing lineup of educationa=
l
and entertaining exhibits and events=2E



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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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