After 2 months of preparation, Oceanside History Center opens doors

The Oceanside Historical Society opened the doors to its new location Friday, following two months of preparation and moving.

The Weese Oceanside History Center at 510 Civic Center Drive in Oceanside’s Cultural District opened at 10 a.m. Friday, featuring 3,000 square feet of space and a large exhibit room showcasing the history of Oceanside from the 1880s to the 1980s.

Thomas Weese purchased the building for the Oceanside Historical Society to give the organization a permanent home. Weese, who first began work for the Oceanside Water Department as a meter reader in the 1920s, was appointed Oceanside’s Water Superintendent in 1938, a position he held until his retirement in 1968.

Known as “Mr. Water” for his encyclopedic knowledge of the city’s water and sewer department, Weese wrote a history of the water department that was published in the Oceanside Blade Tribune. The purchase of the building for the OHS was for Weese to “leave a lasting and meaningful legacy for his parents, Robert A. and Bessie J. Weese,” according to the historical society.

He was a member of the San Diego County Water Authority, serving as the chairman of the Engineering and Operations Committee, a member of the State Regional Water Quality Control Board, and other water-related organizations.

The Weese Oceanside History Center will be open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed Thursdays and holidays. It is free to the public.

Anyone interested in donating to the Oceanside Historical Society or learning more about the organization can visit www.OceansideHistoricalSociety.org.

–City News Service