A Note from Dan Conaway, HH80's First President
I've had the pleasure of presiding over the Historic Highway 80 Board of Directors for the first 2 ½ years of its existence. I've seen us grow in purpose and focus as we continue to develop this concept of an historic highway.

Of course, we need not re-invent the wheel inasmuch as Route 66, the Lincoln Highway, and others which have broken that ground for us, but we do realize what an interesting and unique charge we have as an organization – accentuating the past, preserving and enhancing the present, and promoting the future. It's challenging while being just a heck of a lot of fun.

There's an old song (Joni Mitchell's, I think) about "not knowing what you've got ‘til it's gone." Just think back to your youth about all those fun things you did that are no longer possible for kids ("kids" of any age) to do. Some of those fun things probably involved road trips with your family and friends along roads like Highway 80. That's what we're all about, bringing back the fun of travel – slower, more interesting, more spontaneous, more nostalgic. Get on board with us; we'll let you know about coming events. Even consider joining a committee and helping put such events together.

Thanks. It's been a pleasure.
Dan Conaway


Goodbody Mortuary
Contributed by the El Cajon Boulevard BIA

In the early 1960's, the small church at Blessed Sacrament was relocated a few blocks west to the Goodbody Mortuary located at 5027 El Cajon Boulevard. This traditional Catholic Church with communion rails was a perfect fit for the Goodbody's new chapel. Jackie O'Connor, president of the El Cajon Boulevard BIA was in middle school at Blessed Sacrament when the church was removed. Jackie vividly remembers watching the church slowly roll down El Cajon Boulevard on moving trucks and she can still picture her old church today when she drives past Goodbody Mortuary.

Rather then knocking it down, this decision to relocate the church turned into a perfect exchange which has helped characterize the unique history of El Cajon Boulevard.


Floyd, Betty, and Gary Finnerty, the First Life Members of Historic Highway 80
Contributed by Jim Finnerty

The Finnerty family lived many years in the Kensington neighborhood. Floyd graduated from St. Augustine, Betty OLP, and Gary Hoover High School. Floyd was President of CA Larsen Construction Co. Both Betty and Gary were accomplished equestrians. They moved from Kensington to a ranch in Boulevard, right off Old Highway 80, where they lived for many years. Highway 80 was the only route to and from their ranch to San Diego, and became even more significant because they traveled daily on El Cajon Boulevard to and from their Kensington home. I am sure they would be happy to know that they have helped to sustain the memory and tradition of Old Highway 80, a highway so important to them in their lives.


A Trip Down Memory Lane
Around 1962, my family lived in Descanso. Every month my mom and my two sisters and I would drive the 1 1/2 + hours to El Cajon in our Volkswagen bus. On one outing going down the grade, the engine light came on. My mom coasted to a little gas station/garage near the Willows. The mechanic walked around the bus a few times then politely asked my mom, "Where's the motor?" Funny how when you're a kid, the most urgent problem is needing 10 cents for the 7UP machine! After a few hours, the car was fixed and we were off to the grocery store.

Happy Trails,
Bill Van Dusen, Lakeside

Note - We hear many favorite Old Highway 80 memories from people as we're out in the community creating awareness of the route so we'd like to invite all of you to share your favorite stories with our readers. Please send us your favorite story for inclusion in a future e-Newsletter issue. Stories should be no longer than three to five paragraphs and please include a picture if you can.


Welcome New Board Member
The Historic Highway 80 Board of Directors welcomes it's newest member, Rob Constantine of Rob Constantine Productions. He owns a professional video production company and you can bet we'll be putting his talents to work enhancing our website with video clips of interesting places and facts along the highway. Stay tuned, you'll be seeing changes in the near future!


HH80 Membership
We invite you to join our organization. Your financial assistance will help to preserve, enhance and resurrect an irreplaceable community resource that almost literally lies under our feet - Historic Highway 80 ~ The first dedicated intercontinental highway in the year 1926. Please call 619.445.0180 for membership information. Ask for Bob or Jeanette.


Smart meters set the stage for energy savings and improved service.
You'll soon have a new tool that can help you gain better control of your energy use and costs. SDG&E® will replace 1.4 million electric meters with smart meters and upgrade 900,000 natural gas meters from March 2009 to December 2011. SDG&E's smart-meter initiative is part of California's Energy Action Plan, a statewide roadmap for achieving a reliable, affordable and sustainable energy future.

Smart meters are digital devices that collect and communicate your energy-use data regularly throughout the day to SDG&E. Eventually, you'll be able to monitor your energy use daily via the Internet instead of waiting for a monthly recap on your bill. You'll be able to track your home energy use hourly and business energy use every 15 minutes. Knowing when you use energy can help you save it, which also helps the environment by preserving natural resources.

"We're using smart-meter technology to develop improved service options for customers, including new ways to save energy, save money and add convenience to everyday life," says Debra Reed, SDG&E president and chief executive officer. "In the future, for example, smart meters may allow you to earn bill credits for conserving power at peak-use times."

Smart meters already serve about 7,200 large businesses in SDG&E's service area. To prepare for installations regionwide, SDG&E tested the smart-meter technology at selected homes and businesses in the Tierrasanta community last year.

SDG&E will notify you by mail a few weeks before technicians arrive to install your smart meter. To learn more about smart meters, visit www.sdge.com/smartmeter or call 1-800-336-7343.

Want to manage your account electronically?
Later this year you'll be able to view your energy use information online. To prepare, sign up for My Account, SDG&E's personalized online account management service available at www.sdge.com/myaccount. Have your account number handy.


Art Along HH80
Contributed by the El Cajon Boulevard BIA

Drive-in restaurants, malt shops and drag races are images from the good old days of El Cajon Boulevard, but one of the most visual elements of that era was the spectacular display of neon signs. It wasn't Las Vegas, but for San Diego, an evening drive down the bright and colorful Boulevard is a fond memory for those who were in San Diego during the 1940s through the 1960s.

To fill the void of lost neon signage, the spectacular Boulevard gateway sign was erected in 1989 to return to the glory of neon. City officials and local business leaders saw the sign as a major new landmark which would promote the Boulevard as a destination and encourage further community revitalization efforts.

March 2009 will mark the 20th Anniversary of The Boulevard gateway sign, which is located near the intersection of Park and El Cajon Boulevard. Just as planned, this monumental occasion has come to represent 20 years of progress and revitalization.