A 1931 Liberty Magazine article set historian Chris Jepsen on a mission to prove an obscure tale: that mobster Al Capone tried to purchase a large part of Orange County in 1927.  For 12 years, Jepsen researched and discovered evidence that the man known as “Scarface” likely tried to acquire Rancho Santa Margarita.  He chose the area, which included much of South Orange County and all of Camp Pendleton, almost certainly for the purposes of smuggling booze.

“As a historian, I love digging up stories—like this one—that literally nobody knew before.  It took me about 12 years to put this puzzle together, and it was very rewarding,” says Jepsen, who also serves as President of the Orange County Historical Society.

This historical tale is the topic of the Orange Community Historical Society’s annual dinner to be held from 5:30 to 9:00 pm January 23, 2025 at The Villa in Orange.  Tickets are available for purchase on our website at www.HistoricalOrange.org.  People attending the event will be encouraged to dress in 1920’s fashion.

“Our theme of ‘Bootlegger's Bash’ is an excuse to dress up as a gangster or a flapper, or in other 1920’s garb, peruse our fun assortment of silent auction finds and connect with friends old and new,” says Lisa Ackerman Baldwin, Vice President and Programs Chair for the historical society.

Jepsen’s tale features a colorful cast of characters, including   Capone’s real estate broker, the   ranch manager, Charles Hardy, and the padres of Mission San Juan Capistrano.

The story includes a face-off between Monsignor St. John O’Sullivan with Capone inside Serra Chapel.  “Notably, it was Capone who blinked first,” Jepsen says.

Jepsen’s sleuthing to connect Capone to Orange County included reaching out to the curator of the museum for the Mission San Juan Capistrano.  The curator found Capone’s name in a 1927 log and called Jepsen with the good news.  Jepsen features an image of Capone’s signature in the book on his blog “O.C. History Roundup.”  He says this kind of discovery is part of what makes being a historian so fulfilling.

“I also enjoy talking with other historians, archivists and descendants of the historical figures involved in order to learn more of the context,” Jepsen says.

The Roaring Twenties party is the latest presented by the Orange Community Historical Society, which hosts a variety of events that celebrate the area’s rich heritage.

Another recent historical society event was the premiere of a documentary by Eric Vogelvang on the Pixley Mansion, a Queen Anne-style Victorian home once owned by businessman and banking president Dewitt C. Pixley.

The Pixley Mansion, circa 1895

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Vogelvang presented the video to the historical society at the Orange Public Library in November, and it can now be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9jZhsAAows.

“Once I started the research, it became more apparent that this house was lived in by many important people who have shaped Orange in one way or another.  Not only were the house and the people highlighted, but also a vast part of Orange history,” Vogelvang says.

Ackerman Baldwin, who works as an antiques dealer, said her passion for connecting with more residents of Orange eventually led her to the Orange Community Historical Society.  Her own childhood memories fueled her passion for the history of the city and county.

“I remember going to Villa Park Packing House with my mom as she selected a case of oranges for our morning juice.  I loved the creaky floors and the smell of citrus,” she says.

Ackerman Baldwin added that featuring Jepsen’s findings on Al Capone provides history afficionados with a story that reads like a Hollywood film script.

“Local history informs where we came from and fosters better understanding of what others in our community have lived through,” she says.

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Those interested in joining the Orange Community Historical Society may learn more at www.HistoricalOrange.org/join. Tickets for the January 23 dinner at The Villa, 510 East Katella Ave., Orange, can be purchased at www.HistoricalOrange.org/events/2025/1/23/annual-ochs-celebration.  Information also available by emailing info@HistoricalOrange.org or calling 714-202-7570.