The St. Isidore Plaza’s weekly food truck event continues to draw people as a group of citizens push forward with efforts to save the historic building. A recent online poll at newsenterprise.net brought a large contingency of votes to have the City of Los Alamitos take an active role in saving the church in its General Plan.
A couple hundred people showed up at the picnic in the courtyard of the St. Isidore Plaza in Los Alamtios on Thursday, Aug. 22. Additionally, the event featured other forms of entertainment, such as the live musical act known as The Amazing Lenzes, and plenty of food, beer and wine.
“The food trucks vary every week,” said St. Isidore Plaza President Bruce Murphy. “There was lobster last week.”
Some came to learn more about the historical landmark and its connection to their families. Zack Little, 22, visited the plaza on Thursday with his grandmother Elsie Medina, whose family once operated a sugar beet farm and asked the Bixby Land Company for money to build the plaza in 1926.
“I used to ride a horse from our home to here,” Medina said. “A lot has changed since then.”
Medina’s family eventually lost their farm in a fire during the late 1930s. Her grandson, who visited the plaza for the first time, said he “didn’t want to lose the plaza.”
“This is such a unique place,” he said. “I am so glad I got to see it.”
The St. Isidore parish became condemned in 1999 when it failed to meet earthquake safety standards. Most of the congregation has since moved to St. Hedwig Church in Los Alamitos.
The plaza will never again operate as the site of a Catholic church, but it still holds weekly picnics/fundraisers in the courtyard every Thursday – sometimes in cooperation with other organizations. Though it needs renovations, it still features a beautiful fountain, a statue of the Virgin Mary, and original stained-glass windows that depict religious scenes.
Organizations like Boys Scouts of America frequently use the courtyard, but the interior of the church remains off limits.
“It’s got such a wonderful atmosphere,” said St. Isidore Plaza President Bruce Murphy “We got a lot of things coming up, like Winter Wonderland.”
The plaza also has a special connection to sports. About 42 years ago, there used to be a boxing ring at the plaza.
“So much has happened here,” Murphy said. “I am confident we will be successful and save it. Many of the people here today were baptized here … some people were even married here.”
Murphy said there are several “retired businessmen” who frequently make generous donations. He also praised the City of Los Alamitos, which he believes will rescue the plaza.
In order to save it, though, the group must raise $1.2 million by May 31, 2014.