"Once they're gone we can't get them back." Those are the famous words of Olga Puhn, a long time Lakeside resident and preservationist. With those words in mind the Lakeside Historical Society's Preservation Committee works toward saving our old buildings and landmarks. After saving and restoring Lakeside's Olde Community Church (built 1896) we decided to branch out into our surrounding community.
  Back in the mid 1990s the Lakeside Planning Group was discussing the rock walls in Lindo Lake Park; they were slated to be torn down to widen Vine Street. Someone on the board said, "I wish the Historical Society would take an interest in things like this." I said, "I'm from the Lakeside Historical Society, what can I do to help?" I actually heard a sigh of relief from the board. At the next meeting of the Planning Group a troop of historical society members gave the board an earful about the history of the rock walls. Vine Street is a bit narrower where the historic rock walls were preserved. The community worked together to save a bit of our history.
  Did you know the Lakeside Historical Society saved the old Cecil's restaurant from demolition . . . twice? The County Roads Department was going to tear down Cecil's to widen Los Coches Road. We signed petitions, wrote letters, and let the powers that be know how important those buildings were to the fabric of our historic downtown area. Pretty soon they moved the road and Cecil's was saved.
  Quite a few years later when the Cecil's property came out of probate and was sold the new owner Ron Schaffer, he planned to tear the buildings down to create a used car lot! Once again the preservation committee wrote letters, signed petitions and gave the owner stories and photographs about it's historic value. A miracle happened and the developer turned preservationist. Ron completely restored the dilapidated old buildings and they are now housing Cups and Cones Ice Cream Shop with a beautiful historic mural, a candle shop and the lovely Western Decor store. Ron is a hero in our eyes.
  When the Texaco Service Station (built 1926) at the corner of Woodside and Maine Avenue was sold, the owner planned to tear it down to make way for something new. Once again our letters, stories and photographs changed his mind. Several businesses have expressed an interest in creating a drive through donut shop or coffee shop or art gallery there. So far it is a used car lot, but at least it has not been torn down. It is for rent now.
  Any time an old building is for sale it is threatened because the new owners usually don't know the history of our town. Since the Maine Avenue Revitalization Association (MARA) began cleanup, painting and restoring the exterior of our old buildings, there has been renewed interest in local business people purchasing them and

creating pride of ownership.
  Folks have been asking about the Lakeside Town Hall/Theater. The Maine Avenue Revitalization Association moved into the building after Octad One Productions closed their shows and moved out of town. The plan was to get the theater up and running with entertainment venues right away. The Lakeside Fire Marshall declared that the building was unsafe for public events in its present condition. The building has been in probate and is for sale, the prospective buyer plans to preserve and restore it and create a "Wellness Center" and theater there. Many local folks have expressed interest in helping with the restoration efforts. This will be a wonderful community project.
  Recently the Preservation Committee heard that the Whitiker House was being vandalized. It is a beautiful rock house high on a hill overlooking all of Lakeside. Back in 1988 Mildred Whitiker willed it to the County Parks and Recreation Department with the idea of it becoming a public park and museum.  In the beginning it had a live on site caretaker, but somehow the Parks Department dropped the ball and didn't keep it protected -- vandals were ruining it. Since we are a part of Supervisor Dianne Jacob's Lakeside Revitalization Steering Committee, we enlisted her help and soon the Parks Department got a live-on-site caretaker who is repairing the windows and doors that were broken out. All the furnishing have been removed.  The Parks Department claims that if and when they build a safer driveway the building will become a public park as requested by the donor.
  Last year the 100 year old Bostonia House and Barn were saved and moved to Lakeside.  They are in storage but will be moved to the future Lakeside River Park to be the beginning of a Heritage Village for displaced historic buildings. After the buildings are restored we hope to have living history programs to show students, tourist and local folks what farming life was like 100 years ago. Antiques have already been donated toward this project.
  Nowadays the Preservation Committee is also working with the Under-Grounding Committee working to have the power poles and wires removed from Maine Avenue. This will be another beautification and improvement to the Lakeside Historic District.
  As you can see the Preservation Committee is active in the community and  trying to reach out to educate the property owners about the treasures we have -- buildings from every decade: 1896, 1897, 1905, 1910, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s . . . clear up to the Payton Hardware store which was built new in the 1990s to look old fashion. We have something that other communities don't have because they didn't fight to save them like the Lakeside Historical Society does. We know that "once they're gone we can't get them back."