A Historian Looks at the Here and Now in Orange County

When Doris Walker moved to Dana Point from Chicago following a job transfer in 1963, it was like going from a metropolis to “a wilderness,” she said. But a breathtakingly beautiful wilderness.

A few years later, she would take her two sons on picnics by the ocean’s edge to watch the building of Dana Point Harbor. Walker, a professional writer, thought someone ought to chronicle all the changes taking place in her part of Orange County. So she did it herself.

Her first book, and one still sold in the city, was “Home Port for Romance,” published in 1981. With a good sense of hoopla, Walker saw to it that the first copies of the book arrived on the Pilgrim, the tall ship that first made its way to the city that year from its East Coast home.

Walker, who still lives in Dana Point, followed that book with “Adventurer’s Guide to Dana Point” and “The Whales of Capistrano Bay.” In 1989, she was commissioned by Orange County’s centennial commission to write the county’s official history, called “Sections of Orange.” This year, the city of Mission Viejo commissioned her to write its official history.

In between her various writing assignments, Walker spent 10 years directing publicity for Dana Point’s annual Festival of the Whales and now teaches California history at Saddleback College. No question among people who live in that area: Walker is the resident historian.

Now comes a different slice of Orange from Walker: Her most recent release is a paperback aimed at families, called “Orange County Adventures With Children.”

“I wanted people to know they don’t have to go to Los Angeles to find places to have fun with their children,” she said. “We’ve got a wealth of great adventures right here in Orange County.”

She did devote one chapter to the obvious: Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Movieland Wax Museum. But 17 other chapters include much detail (including phone numbers) about the arts, museums, parks, festivals, historic sites and nature walks.

I have to confess I was unaware there is a Dental Society Museum in Orange County that gives public tours, at 295 S. Flower St. in Orange. I suppose this one isn’t recommended for the squeamish. The museum includes dental equipment from the 1800s that might appeal to the historically minded.

But the museum’s most precious gem--duly noted in Walker’s book--is one of its smallest: four false teeth authenticated to have come from the mouth of George Washington. I was taught growing up that Washington had wooden false teeth. But the staff members at the museum say this partial denture is ivory.

On the back cover of Walker’s book is a list of interesting things to see and do that are detailed in the book (“See a Whale Skeleton,” “Visit a Home for Turtles,” “Hike in a Red Rock Canyon”). The one that stumped me is practically in my own backyard: “Admire a 28-ton monument to lima beans.”

Walker is referring to the Isamu Noguchi sculpture at the South Coast Plaza Town Center in Costa Mesa, just a few blocks from The Times Orange County Edition. I’d been by it hundreds of times without stopping to think what it was.

Walker’s $12.95 book is at most of the county’s major bookstores and at the Marine Institute gift shop in Dana Point Harbor. The precocious toddler on the cover is Walker’s granddaughter, Daisy Rose.

Worms Are Extra: Some of you might want to mark Sept. 27--a Saturday--on your calendar. That’s the second and last of California’s free fishing days for the year. You can fish anywhere in the state that day without buying a license, another bit of information I learned from Doris Walker’s book.

To fish other times, it’s $9.95 for a one-day license or $26.95 for an annual license (with $2.65 added for ocean fishing). Otherwise, the only free fishing is from any public pier.

Tom Flock, game warden for Long Beach and Orange County, pointed out to me that you would be wise to observe the license requirement. The Legislature has set the fine for getting caught without one at $675.

Looking Back: UC Irvine Chancellor Laurel Wilkening’s decision to leave her duties next June--to pursue other interests--made me think back to a pleasant meeting she had with some of us four years ago here at The Times office. It was just after she had become chancellor.

Wilkening was exceedingly polite, but carried a great air of confidence about what she was getting into. She had not a clue then, of course, what staff doctors at the university’s fertility clinic would be accused of two years later.

“Leaving to pursue other interests” is one of those phrases that usually means “I’ve had it with this place.” But that’s usually followed by a quick exit. Wilkening will remain in place almost a year before her resignation takes effect. Those who know her better than I do believe she really does have other goals she wants to work toward.

Yet I can’t help but think she wouldn’t be so anxious to tackle those other interests if her fertility doctors hadn’t allegedly been harvesting eggs from patients and implanting them in other women.

Wrap-Up: Doris Walker points out that we are all going to hear a great deal more about California history the next few years with several sesquicentennial observances approaching. They include the U.S. obtaining California from Mexico (1848) and the Gold Rush (1849--in case you’ve forgotten how San Francisco’s pro football team became known as the 49ers).

Then, of course, in 2000 is the big sesquicentennial celebration in honor of California’s statehood (Sept. 9, 1850).

“It’s hard not to fall in love with the history we have here,” she said. “What’s great is finding newcomers to California in my class, and seeing them really interested in learning more about their new state.”

Jerry Hicks’ column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Readers may reach Hicks by calling The Times Orange County Edition at (714) 966-7823, by fax at (714) 966-7711 or by e-mail at jerry.hicks@latimes.com.