Over the years, many organizations were formed for the betterment and entertainment of our Community.
Suncrest’s First Boy Scout Troop #68
The troop received their charter on April 30, 1934. Scout Master was Glen T. Miller and his assistant Scout Master was Harold Clapper.
The Ladies Auxiliary of the Crest Volunteer Fire Association - 1947
The Ladies Auxiliary of the Crest Volunteer Fire Association was formed and bylaws adopted in September of 1947. The Crest Women’s Fire Auxiliary was not only very active socially, they also trained on the equipment and answered several calls when the men were not available. Their purpose was to operate equipment in the absence of men, assist with social affairs, and to obtain and furnish rations in emergencies. Their first efforts were cooking meals in the Suncrest Clubhouse for the men and the State Forestry who were working on the fire on the old Suncrest grade. First aid classes followed and more money was raised for equipment and a building fund. The Ladies Auxiliary put forth hard work, day and night soliciting door to door, collecting a dollar here and two there. During this era, women had duties such as grooming the American LaFrance Fire Truck and taking part in burn-offs; three of the women were licensed and qualified to drive the fire trucks. They were also trained for firefighting, and on various occasions used the equipment and were credited with saving at least two homes. They were the only insured group of firewomen in the country during that time. Girls over 14 could become part of the women’s group. The Ladies Auxiliary sponsored several groups of young people including the Junior Firegirls, the Crest Teeners Club, and the “Young-uns.”
Around 1947, the ladies began serious fundraising events to build a larger firehouse at Suncrest Blvd. and North Lane. Funds were raised by a series of dances and parties. On October 15, a dance raised enough money to exchange their manpower fire trailer for a truck.
Then the idea of a horse show was presented as an annual event, which continued for five years- from 1947 to 1951. In conjunction with the horse show there was a big barbeque and a midway as well as raffles which offered chances on groceries and other prizes. These “Crest Jamborees” helped provide the materials needed to start construction on the firehouse and the purchase of a second truck.
Crest Observation Corp.
The Crest Observation Post.
During World War II there was an observation post located behind the Suncrest Clubhouse (what is now the Community Church). It was manned by volunteers. Called the Ground Observer Corps, the volunteer organization was assigned the task of observing and reporting movement of all aircraft over the landward areas. The purpose was to track aircraft flying over San Diego County to report possible activity of a Japanese invasion.
The post was in a very small building and consisted of a chair, a telephone, and whatever magazines could be rounded up for the observers’ use. The volunteers worked in four hour shifts and the post was manned 24 hours a day. When a plane flew over, the observer would call the tracking station located in Santa Ana where they had a very large map of the area. On this map the trackers placed miniature airplanes, and plotted the course and direction of the plane based on the observers’ information. The high school boys would generally take a night shift so they could get up in the mornings and go to school. It was all part of people doing what they could for the war.
Horse Clubs - 1960-2007
Horses have always been an integral part our the community.
In the 1940s horse shows were used to raise money for the volunteer fire department. They were so successful that they became an annual event, which continued for five years- from 1947 to 1951. The volunteer fire department held annual “Jamborees” lasting multiple days which brought as many as 2000 persons visiting the resort community. Events included a children’s field day held in Sunrise Park (South Lane Park), dances at the Suncrest Clubhouse, barbeques, and a horseshow.
In the 1950s theCounty Park Department has begun the job to make our South Lane Park to include a horse court with spectator’s seats.
Other groups mentioned in the archives include the Crest Horse Club in the 1980s and the Crest Golden Lariats Riding Club in the 1960s. While horse group have become dormant in recent years, you can count on the horse community being ready to rally together to help the Crest community.
Kandhy Franklin, a long time Crest resident reported that The E-Crest-Rians, as a club, has been on and off several times over the past years. It was re-established again in the 1990s. Health clinics and fun shows and Triple Crown trail trials were held until 2007.
Today, it is not an uncommon sight to see folks riding or walking their horses around Crest making their way to a local trail or on their way to South Lane Park or our Crestridge Ecological Reserve.
Crest Sub-Regional Planning Group - 1977 - Present
The County Board of Supervisors authorized the election of a citizen planning group which would aid the board with planning and zoning matters in the unincorporated areas of the county. The elections were held March 7, 1977. The Harbison Canyon-Crest area covered approximately three square miles. The planning group today is called the Crest-Dehesa-Granite Hills-Harbison Canyon Sub-Regional Planning Group.
Friends of Crest - 1988-2011
Friends of Crest, a non-profit organization, was established in 1988 by four Crest moms: Bobbi Hobbs, Mary Ryan Meshot, Peggy Meredith, and Christina Seebold. Through their involvement with Crest School, they came to the conclusion that the school needed a multi-purpose room for school assemblies and community meetings. The group rallied the community and district to raise the needed funds. Through the use of recycling, annual Christmas tree sales, and the raffling of designer school quilts, they continued to accumulate money and work with the Cajon Valley School District until they attained their goal. In 1998, they watched with pride as their vision took shape and the auditorium was built.
Later, this group was instrumental in assisting Crest by facilitating their role as fiscal agent during the fire recovery of the 2003 fires. After 22 years of service to the Crest community, Friends of Crest dissolved in 2011 and donated their remaining funds to the Earth Discovery Institute at Crestridge Ecological Reserve
Crest Kiwanis - 2003
Born from the ashes of the Cedar Fire, Crest Kiwanis formed so that it could be of service to our community. Many of the members lost their homes, and Kiwanis offered mutual support and focus for rebuilding our community. Today the Crest Kiwanis continues to support the community schools by raising money through monthly breakfasts and other fundraising activities.