“I belong to one of Costa Mesa’s founding families: the Smiths. We came here in 1922. We have all this family legacy in Costa Mesa and I grew up hearing the stories.
“Where Triangle Square is now? That didn’t used to be a triangle at all; it was a regular block. And right on the southern corner, there used to be a small house. That’s where my dad was born.
“My grandfather helped build Newport Harbor High School. Besides giving money, he also quite literally helped to build it.
“My great-uncle, Bertren, was President of the Lions Club and helped get it going. He helped get the Fish Fry started.
“We have a bunch of streets in Costa Mesa named after my family members. If you cross 18th street on Newport Blvd, you’ll cross Viola Street. That’s my great-aunt Viola. She lived to be 95 years old before she passed away and she lived 72 of those years in Costa Mesa. There are a few other little side streets named after my cousins and stuff.
“Yeah, my family just has all sorts of legacy in this part of Orange County. I feel connected to Costa Mesa in a way lots of other people probably don’t.”
– Allison Almond, Costa Mesa ♥
