First historical monuments to be dedicated Nov. 3

The Menifee Valley Historical Association and City of Menifee will conduct an unveiling ceremony for one of the first historical monuments to be erected honoring the area's pioneer families and historic sites.

The event will take place Nov. 3 at 10 a.m. at the Motte Museum, site of one of six monuments to be erected in the first phase of the new program. That plaque will honor the Motte Brothers Farm, located north of Highway 74 and just east of Ethanac Road. Alphonse Motte and his brothers came to America from France in the 1880s and had a large farm there. Descendants still own and operate the Motte Museum at that site.

Monuments planned for five other local sites will also dedicated that day. A total of 12 monuments will eventually be erected at a cost of $40,000, with the City of Menifee matching the Historical Association's $20,000 donation through funds in the city's Parks Capital Improvement program.