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Old St. Rose Church ready for visitors
Jason Redmond / Star staff Paul Friedeborn, senior maintenance supervisor with Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, tidies up at old St. Rose of Lima Church in Strathearn Historical Park, which has been restored and will be dedicated today.
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More from Local NewsAnother picturesque connection to the history of Simi Valley will be dedicated to residents of the community today at Strathearn Historical Park and Museum.
The former St. Rose of Lima Church, which began life at Pacific and Third streets as a Presbyterian church in 1902 and evolved to a Catholic church about 1910, has been fully restored and stands ready to greet visitors.
The wooden building joins a colony of historic structures in the park. They include Strathearn House, Simi Adobe, Colony House and the first Simi Valley library.
"It puts a little icing on the wonderful things the community already has in the park, another chunk of preservation of what Simi used to be," said Judy Pepiot, vice president of the Simi Valley Historical Society. "Each building that comes in adds a new dimension. Since it was built so long ago and it's such a classic building, now that it's restored this building looks like a church. Plus, it's just drop-dead gorgeous."
The park is a popular place for weddings, and the new addition is the first to offer a "church" setting to go with other wedding locations, such as the park's lawn.
Pepiot added that the Historical Society raised more than $100,000 for the restoration, with additional funding coming from the City of Simi Valley, the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District and community donations.
Old St. Rose of Lima Church was used by its Catholic congregation until 1963, when a larger church was built on Royal Avenue.
It was moved from its original site to Strathearn Park in 2002.
The park is owned and maintained by the Park District. It is operated jointly by the district and the Historical Society.
Today's dedication will be from 4 to 6 p.m. and the public is invited. There will be refreshments and entertainment. The park is at 137 Strathearn Place, Simi Valley.
For more information, call 526-6453 or go online to http://www.simihistory.com/.
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