SIMI VALLEY : Historical Park Hit by Quake to Reopen

Several historic buildings and the grounds of Strathearn Historical Park in Simi Valley will reopen this weekend for the first time since the earthquake rumbled through.

The park contains some of the region’s oldest structures, as well as farm equipment, furnishings and clothing from the first American settlers in the valley. The Jan. 17 quake did extensive damage to two buildings at the park.

While the park was closed, docents refurbished the Colony House, which had been brought by train from Chicago to Saticoy in 1888. It was prefabricated to Midwestern tastes--including a steeply pitched roof to shed snow. From Saticoy, the house came piece by piece on wagons and was rebuilt in Simi Valley.

The Colony House was moved to the Strathearn site in 1970 after its owners, the Talley family, donated it to the park district. It has been restored to give visitors the feeling of a turn-of-the-century home, rather than a museum.

“This is a wonderful teaching facility,” volunteer Jean Kelly said. “This is the kind of museum that the Smithsonian can’t operate, where everything is displayed in an original setting, so it’s really an important site.”

Other exhibits reopening Saturday include the original Simi Valley library, which was moved to the park in the 1970s, two barns with displays of farm equipment and old household items, the visitors center and the gift shop.

Tours will resume Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Every Wednesday, the park is open for one tour starting at 1 p.m.

The Simi Adobe, the city’s oldest remaining dwelling from Spanish settlement, and the Strathearn house will remain closed indefinitely due to quake damage. Park officials say the adobe needs a complete seismic upgrading.