Historical Assn. Accepts Museum Space from MUSD

Menifee Valley Historical Association board members Elinor Martin and Bill Zimmerman make a presentation to members of the Menifee Union School District. Menifee 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon

Members of the Menifee Valley Historical Association made a presentation to the Menifee Union School District board on Tuesday, Aug. 11 in recognition of an agreement with the district to lease space for a history museum.

Similar to the agreement made previously with the Boys & Girls Club of Menifee Valley, the district will lease for $1 per year two classrooms in the former Menifee Elementary School, located at 26301 Garbani Road, to the Historical Association. Classrooms 2 and 3 are located facing the parking lot and adjacent to the classrooms used by the Boys & Girls Club. One room will be used as a display room of museum artifacts and presentations. The other will be used as a prep and supply room.

The Menifee Valley Historical Association meets every other month at the Haun Rural Center. Members have created eight large banners with historical pictures and facts, have collected many local artifacts and have digitized more than 1,000 old photos, as well as publishing a history book. Prior to this, however, there has been no permanent place for the items to be viewed by the public.

"Our collections are scattered among several homes," said Elinor Martin, co-author of the "Images of America: Menifee Valley" history book she wrote with Betty Bouris, who also attended Tuesday's meeting.

(At right, Martin shows one of the group's displays to board members Ron Ulibarri and Reg Bennett.)

Bill Zimmerman, another association board member, told district board members the plan is to open the museum to the public on certain weekends and make it available for visits by school groups.

"It will be a new opportunity for field trips," Zimmerman said. "We will keep the displays fluid and changing."

MUSD Board President Robert O'Donnell expressed his appreciation to members of the Historical Association for their efforts in preserving Menifee's history. Two of the displays members brought to Tuesday's meeting showed the history of school buildings in the area.

"It's important to find a place for everything that's a part of our heritage," he said. "I've been here 43 years and I didn't realize you have all these artifacts."

For information about the Menifee Valley Historical Association, visit its website here.

The history museum will occupy these classrooms at the former Menifee Elementary School.