San Juan Preservationist to Speak at Historical Society Event

Dana Point Times

Southern California preservationist, Ilse Byrnes, who is responsible for the designation of 13 Orange County sites on the National Register of Historic Places, will speak at the Dana Point Historical Society’s monthly meeting on Wednesday, October 23.

Not long after she moved to San Juan Capistrano in 1959, Byrnes became an advocate for the city’s cherished past.

Born in Switzerland, Byrnes moved to California at 23, and with her husband Roy, settled in San Juan. In 1976, Byrnes became involved in the process of placing Los Rios Street on the National Register of Historic Places. Four years later, her application was accepted and Los Rios Street, the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood in Southern California, was protected. Now, decades later, Byrnes has somewhat single-handedly preserved much of the region’s colorful past.

In addition to Los Rios Street, Byrnes has helped nine other San Juan Capistrano sites onto the register. Byrnes also worked to place Casa Romantica and the Goldschmit House, in San Clemente, and Crystal Cove State Park on the nation’s official preservation list.

Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. and are held at Dana Point City Hall, Council Chambers, located at 33282 Golden Lantern. The event will be followed with refreshments in the historical society’s museum in Suite 104 at City Hall. For more information, visit www.danapointhistorical.org.