Welcome to the website of the annual
Riverside County History Symposium
presented by the
Riverside County Heritage Association
The 2023 Riverside County History Symposium will be held IN PERSON!!
Date: Saturday, March 4, 2023
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (doors open at 8:00 a.m.)
Place: American Legion Post 79, Fairmount Park, Riverside
(2979 Dexter Drive, Riverside, CA 92501)
This is our first in-person symposium since 2020 - let's make it a rousing success!
Date: Saturday, March 4, 2023
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (doors open at 8:00 a.m.)
Place: American Legion Post 79, Fairmount Park, Riverside
(2979 Dexter Drive, Riverside, CA 92501)
This is our first in-person symposium since 2020 - let's make it a rousing success!
9:00 a.m. - "Corona's Hidden Figure -
Judge Mary Alice Sutter"
Shaylene Cortez
In the 1940s, Mary Alice Sutter was appointed as judge of the Corona City Court, and also acted as justice of the peace for the Temescal Township Justice Court. Her accomplishments were amazing in an era where women were not usually accepted in such positions. She was respected by leaders in the community and known for issuing alternative sentences when appropriate. We will discuss her career and perseverance, and why her significance has been hidden in local history..
10:00 a.m. – “The Beginnings of the Ortega Highway”
Steve Lech
The creation of the Ortega Highway, linking Orange and Riverside Counties, was a hard-fought effort by residents on both sides of the Santa Ana Mountains. Many wanted it, but getting it was another story. Riverside County historian Steve Lech will discuss the thirty-year struggle that led to the eventual opening of this scenic road – a turning point in transportation history for both counties.
11:00 a.m. - "Nellie Coffman and her Beloved Desert Inn"
Will Kleindienst
When Nellie Coffman arrived in Palm Springs in 1909, the small village was just barely hanging on. Through hard work and perseverance, she opened the famed Desert Inn to health-seekers coming to the desert. Over the years, she saw Palm Springs grow into a major resort and helped steer the town’s development, all while running one of its premiere resorts. Local historian Will Kleindienst will explore Nellie Coffman the person, and the resort that made her and Palm Springs famous.
1:00 p.m. - "Riverside's Fairmount Park"
Glenn Wenzel
To arrive at the site for the 2023 Riverside County Heritage Association Symposium you must travel through at least a portion of Riverside’s Fairmount Park. Fairmount Park is the second oldest but the largest of Riverside’s many parks. Learn about the start of the park beneath a quarry hill, prodded by the efforts of Civil War veteran Captain Charles Dexter. Hear how the Olmsted brothers drew up designs for this park. See photos of early portions of the park and find out what has changed. Enjoy some of the history of this beautiful park which you are visiting for the symposium.
2:00 p.m. - Self-guided Tour of Fairmount Park
Judge Mary Alice Sutter"
Shaylene Cortez
In the 1940s, Mary Alice Sutter was appointed as judge of the Corona City Court, and also acted as justice of the peace for the Temescal Township Justice Court. Her accomplishments were amazing in an era where women were not usually accepted in such positions. She was respected by leaders in the community and known for issuing alternative sentences when appropriate. We will discuss her career and perseverance, and why her significance has been hidden in local history..
10:00 a.m. – “The Beginnings of the Ortega Highway”
Steve Lech
The creation of the Ortega Highway, linking Orange and Riverside Counties, was a hard-fought effort by residents on both sides of the Santa Ana Mountains. Many wanted it, but getting it was another story. Riverside County historian Steve Lech will discuss the thirty-year struggle that led to the eventual opening of this scenic road – a turning point in transportation history for both counties.
11:00 a.m. - "Nellie Coffman and her Beloved Desert Inn"
Will Kleindienst
When Nellie Coffman arrived in Palm Springs in 1909, the small village was just barely hanging on. Through hard work and perseverance, she opened the famed Desert Inn to health-seekers coming to the desert. Over the years, she saw Palm Springs grow into a major resort and helped steer the town’s development, all while running one of its premiere resorts. Local historian Will Kleindienst will explore Nellie Coffman the person, and the resort that made her and Palm Springs famous.
1:00 p.m. - "Riverside's Fairmount Park"
Glenn Wenzel
To arrive at the site for the 2023 Riverside County Heritage Association Symposium you must travel through at least a portion of Riverside’s Fairmount Park. Fairmount Park is the second oldest but the largest of Riverside’s many parks. Learn about the start of the park beneath a quarry hill, prodded by the efforts of Civil War veteran Captain Charles Dexter. Hear how the Olmsted brothers drew up designs for this park. See photos of early portions of the park and find out what has changed. Enjoy some of the history of this beautiful park which you are visiting for the symposium.
2:00 p.m. - Self-guided Tour of Fairmount Park
Speaker Bios:
Corona native Shaylene Cortez refers to herself as a local history nerd. She’s been a paralegal in downtown Riverside for 35 years and is an associate faculty member at Riverside City College. As a board member for the Corona Historical Preservation Society, she enjoys advocating for the protection of historic sites and neighborhoods. In her spare time, Shay loves to travel and work on her various genealogy research projects.
William G. Kleindienst has lived in Palm Springs since November 1976. He has worked with dozens of non-profit organizations, created three Palm Springs annual parades, and served as Palm Springs’ mayor for two terms. He has focused his energies on serious historical research on all matters Palm Springs for nearly 40 years. Considered one of Palm Springs’ most knowledgeable and resourceful historians, his lectures and tours reveal detailed facets of PS history previously unknown. He currently serves on the boards of the Palm Springs Historical Society, the Palm Springs Cemetery District, and his HOA. He is a historical advisor to the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation.
Steve Lech is a native Riversider who has been interested in the local history of Riverside County for more than forty years. He has written or co-written thirteen books on various topics related to Riverside County history. He co-authors the weekly “Back in the Day” column for the Press-Enterprise newspaper in which he explores many aspects of local history throughout western Riverside County. He has been a docent at the historic Mission Inn hotel for over 30 years, is currently the Director of Docent Training for the Mission Inn Foundation, and is the President of the Riverside County Heritage Association.
Glenn Wenzel has been a resident of Riverside since 1988 and active in local history since the early 1990s when he was asked to give lectures to the docents for the Mission Inn training program. He is a board member of the Riverside Historical Society, the Friends of Mt. Rubidoux and the Riverside County Heritage Association. He has written three books on Riverside history, two on Mount Rubidoux and one on President Roosevelt’s 1903 visit to the city. In addition, he has regularly written articles for the journal of the Riverside Historical Society and pens a monthly history article for the online Raincross Gazette.
Corona native Shaylene Cortez refers to herself as a local history nerd. She’s been a paralegal in downtown Riverside for 35 years and is an associate faculty member at Riverside City College. As a board member for the Corona Historical Preservation Society, she enjoys advocating for the protection of historic sites and neighborhoods. In her spare time, Shay loves to travel and work on her various genealogy research projects.
William G. Kleindienst has lived in Palm Springs since November 1976. He has worked with dozens of non-profit organizations, created three Palm Springs annual parades, and served as Palm Springs’ mayor for two terms. He has focused his energies on serious historical research on all matters Palm Springs for nearly 40 years. Considered one of Palm Springs’ most knowledgeable and resourceful historians, his lectures and tours reveal detailed facets of PS history previously unknown. He currently serves on the boards of the Palm Springs Historical Society, the Palm Springs Cemetery District, and his HOA. He is a historical advisor to the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation.
Steve Lech is a native Riversider who has been interested in the local history of Riverside County for more than forty years. He has written or co-written thirteen books on various topics related to Riverside County history. He co-authors the weekly “Back in the Day” column for the Press-Enterprise newspaper in which he explores many aspects of local history throughout western Riverside County. He has been a docent at the historic Mission Inn hotel for over 30 years, is currently the Director of Docent Training for the Mission Inn Foundation, and is the President of the Riverside County Heritage Association.
Glenn Wenzel has been a resident of Riverside since 1988 and active in local history since the early 1990s when he was asked to give lectures to the docents for the Mission Inn training program. He is a board member of the Riverside Historical Society, the Friends of Mt. Rubidoux and the Riverside County Heritage Association. He has written three books on Riverside history, two on Mount Rubidoux and one on President Roosevelt’s 1903 visit to the city. In addition, he has regularly written articles for the journal of the Riverside Historical Society and pens a monthly history article for the online Raincross Gazette.