Orange County Almanac

Oil drilling figured prominently in the history of Brea, a city that’s name comes from the Spanish word for tar or oil. In the foothills above Brea, tar could be seen oozing out of cracks in the rocks.

This seepage was duly noted by Edward L. Doheny, who drilled a number of successful oil wells in the foothills in 1897. Doheny soon started a partnership with Santa Fe Railway Co., which was investigating the possibility of using oil as a locomotive fuel.

At the peak of oil production in the 1920s, about 500 people worked the fields. However, the population dropped sharply due to the Great Depression and the development of oil drilling methods that were less labor intensive.

Today

Pass the coffee and face the open mike.

A poetry reading will take place at 7:30 p.m. at 1509 N. El Camino Real in San Clemente.

Jim Hill will read some of his poetry, such as “Little Purple Bunnies Painted on My Knees.”

There will also be an open reading.

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, call (714) 366-2302.

And you don’t need to wear black to get in.