MISSION HILLS : Historical Society to Interview Residents

Anxious to preserve the San Fernando Valley’s history since the 1920s, a Mission Hills-based organization is undertaking an oral history project to record the recollections of Valley pioneers before they are lost forever.

The San Fernando Valley Historical Society will interview about a dozen longtime residents, civic leaders and politicians who may recall the time when the Valley was carpeted with orange groves or when Tarzana was known as Runnymede.

“We want to try to get people who founded the area interviewed before they die,” said curator Lori Underwood, who attended a planning meeting for the project Wednesday.

The organization will mail questionnaires in coming weeks to potential candidates who may be able to fill in the gaps left out of history books or documents: How did they survive the Depression? What was life like during World War II? What were the favorite Valley hangouts?

“We don’t know a lot of things about the home life,” said Peggy Cecci, a member who volunteered to interview the residents. “What do people remember as the real highlights of life or the real hardships?”

Bobbette Fleschler, the organization’s past president, said each interview will be recorded on videotape.

“This is an ongoing project. There is no potential end to it. It’s just like maintaining a library or an archive,” said Fleschler, who welcomes suggestions for potential candidates.