Redlands Junior Historical Society Sponsors RHS Beautification Charity Event

Holidays are a time for families and community to come together and show their love and support of each other, and the Redlands Junior Historical Society of Redlands High School is counting on the 121 years of alumni and students of RHS to come together and show their love and support of their beloved school whose campus is showing its age these days. A charity auction and evening of dinner and holiday entertainment is planned by the RJHS students for Sat. Dec. 8 5-9 p.m. at the Edwards Mansion. 

 Tickets will be on sale Nov. 5-Nov. 16 for $35 at the RHS Finance Office in the administration building or by contacting the RJHS students. Funds raised will go towards a campus wide beautification project scheduled for Spring 2013. 

The students wish to point out this is an entirely volunteer effort which they approached the RHS administration with due to seeing the signs of decay around the RHS campus and their gratitude for the great education RHS provides. No school or district funds are being used for this effort. The students would like the grounds to reflect once again the great school RHS is, especially with the school so close to downtown Redlands and so visible to the greater community. 

“A strong RHS benefits everyone’s property values in town,” says George Beall, age 15 and RJHS President. “We are hoping for community wide support whether someone has graduated from RHS or not. This is a way we can all help one of the great Redlands institutions at the local level. RHS is the oldest high school in the state on its original site since 1891. That is significant and we should be proud of what we and the community see each day. Hopefully this project will contribute to that.”

Dinner guests will be treated to holiday entertainment from RHS students past and present, including RHS alum Scott Land and his Marionettes. Scott has recently relocated back to Redlands and has been performing at Knotts Berry Farm during October where he was asked to put together a Halloween show for the amusement park. Silent auction items will be available, in addition to a Redlands first- professionally decorated 7-8’ fresh trees donated by Buoye Farms available for pre-purchase. 

The trees will be delivered and set up on Sunday Dec. 9. The students suggest area businesses and individuals consider pre-purchasing a pre-decorated tree, even if they wish to donate the tree to a local charity, hospital, or school. Trees are fully decorated and are $750 each. Riverside holds a similar event and sells 50 trees each year for $1000 each. The students are hoping Redlands will support their efforts of the trees for $750. One tree will feature the collectible ornaments of the Redlands Area Historical Society and other Redlands themed decorations. Another tree will be in a Redlands High School blue and white theme. Several trees will be available for pre-purchase.

Redlands Junior Historical Society is a high school club dedicated to the support of Redlands history.  In the past, the RJHS received a grant from the History Channel to record the history of the Zanja, in order to involve youth in preserving local history. Additionally RJHS worked with many local organizations for the preservation of the Mutual Orange Distributors Packinghouse in Redlands-including the creation of the Save the MOD Facebook page, Crystal Springs hitsoric designation, and the Panorama Point Historic and Scenic Location in Redlands. Other projects RJHS have been involved in have been the planting of pepper and elm trees on the RHS campus in their historic locations, the documentation and cleaning of tombstones at Hillside Cemetery, and assisting at the Redlands Area Historical Society Ice Cream Social each year.

Sponsorships, silent auction donations, tree purchases, and ticket questions can be directed through the club’s campus advisor and teacher, Mr. Jeff Smith at 909-307-5500 ext. 31409. The students thank the community in advance for its strong support and encourage all to attend.