Historian respectful of the past





Cim Castellon

Cim Castellon

When Cim Castellon discovered the city of Agoura Hills had a hidden archive of historical treasures and ephemera waiting to see the light of day, she knew she had a job to do.

Castellon was already a valued member of the city’s Cultural Arts Council, and had made substantial changes in the way the Reyes Adobe Historical Site showcased the history of the 1850s rancho and barn, but she wanted to do more.

“Anything historical is fascinating to me,” Castellon said. “When the city reached out to establish the Cultural Arts Council two years ago, it sounded interesting to me. My kids were grown up, and I wanted to give back.”

Having grown up in the Conejo Valley, the history of the area is embedded in Castellon’s psyche and soul. Raised in Hidden Hills, she attended Round Meadow Elementary School, A.E. Wright Middle School and Agoura High School. She has lived in Agoura Hills for 18 years.

Castellon worked for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art as vice president of merchandising, and was involved in exhibitions and in charge of the museum’s reproduction collection and store.

“This was my world,” she said.

As a member of the Cultural Arts Council, Castellon restaged the Reyes Adobe Museum and house, said Zach Miller, Agoura Hills recreation manager.

“Cim worked closely with the Reyes Adobe docents to highlight the artifacts that were important to the adobe’s history, and organized them in a way that provide a clear timeline of events that have occurred on the site,” he said. “She was able to identify historical photos and archives that were incorporated into displays, giving visitors a more personal and unique experience.”

Castellon said that while working with journalist Susan Paschal as a contributing editor on the book “Images of America: Agoura Hills,” she talked to residents who had stories to tell and photographs to share.

“I met interesting people,” she said. It was the start of a journey that would take her deep into the city’s past through archived material at City Hall and with the Las Virgenes Historical Society.

The city had stashed records, articles and other ephemera into three filing cabinets. Castellon said the find opened a window into the city’s past.

“I realized that this historical information could be refined and archived correctly,” she said.

Her work is appreciated.

“Cim becoming the Agoura Hills City Historian has brought a whole new life to this city’s history,” said Amy Brink, director of community services.

“Not only does she document and collect what the city is currently doing, but she has dug into archives locally and in Southern California to really bring out the rich history and culture (of) the city of Agoura Hills. She gives the history life and dimension by adding displays, artifacts and stories from local residents. She reminds us how important it is for us, as a city, to remember where we came from,” said Brink.

Castellon has big plans for her new volunteer job with the city. She wants to design a portable mini-museum to share with local fourth-grade classes, and plans to create several small rotating exhibits for the Reyes Adobe and other sites in the city.

Fascinating finds, people

Castellon is gathering information for a biography of Elizabeth Hughes, one of the first board members at the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District.

She is also learning as much as she can about one of the oldest homes in the city—the Lapworth House in Old Agoura. Castellon has been talking to the original owners about the home and its history. The family has the original blueprints and other documents and photographs that tell a story about the city during the Great Depression.

“They’re looking for a home for this information,” she said, adding that it could easily be lost or thrown out.

Castellon would like to document the history of Agoura Hills in relation to the history of California, the U.S. and the world.

“I know people here are interested in where we came from,” she said.

Basement office

Castellon has set up shop in the basement of the Agoura Hills Library. She is working with librarian Nina Hull and other people who share her passion about local history.


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