Shekell fire destroys city’s historical treasures

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers GONE FOREVER—The recent Moorpark fire gutted a metal container stored on the Charlie and Mary Schwabauer property, destroying the collected material of the Moorpark Historical Society. Moorpark Historical Society mementos, stored in a container on Charles and Mary Schwabauer’s ranch north of Moorpark, were destroyed during the recent Shekell fire.

Flames swept though the Schwabauer ranch, and the contents of the container caught on fire, according to Debra Ryono, president of the historical society. The Schwabauers also lost many acres of avocado and lemon trees, she said.

“We lost everything we had,” said Linda Plaks, who serves on the organization’s board of directors.

The container was filled with photos and written materials of historical significance. It held a collection of Moorpark High School yearbooks and videos of Moorpark founders who are no longer here. There were also antiques and maps showing the nature of Moorpark going as far back as the early part of the 19th century, Plaks said.

The collection was usually shown at special events, she said.

Commenting on the loss, Mary Schwabauer said, “These are things over which you have no control.”

“While it’s a setback, it isn’t a death maneuver,” said Charles Schwabauer, who serves on the society’s board of directors. “We’re not going to dry up and blow away. We’ll stay active.”

The society will regroup and continue to work to preserve Moorpark’s history, which involves more than gathering collectibles.

“We’ll look over our inventory list, and then we’ll probably let people know what we need, and

try to collect old items,” Ryono said. Members of the historical society will also look for a better place to store the goods, she said.

The organization’s plans to build a museum fell through about three years ago when it was discovered a former treasurer had embezzled funds.

There was also talk about moving the artifacts into the old Birkenshaw house on Moorpark Avenue so they could be publicly displayed, but those plans were also stalled when the city and the landowner couldn’t agree on a de

velopment plan for the land around the historical house. If the arrangement had prevailed, the house would have been donated to the city in exchange for certain development rights.

Moorpark residents who are interested in donating collectibles to the society may contact the organization through its website at www.moorparkhistorical.com.