The lush scent of wisteria blossoms at the peak of their bloom and fragrance permeated the air March 21 as the Ocean Beach Historical Society (OBHS) gathered to mark the coming of spring with its annual Wisteria Garden Party at the Niagara Street home of Ned Titlow and Carol Bowers. Both are past presidents and current board members of the society. An additional cause for celebration this year was a surprise award which OBHS President Pat James brought home from the recent conference of the Congress of History of San Diego and Imperial counties. The Congress, a consortium of organizations concerned with local history in the two-county region, recognized the OBHS’s achievements with its Award of Merit, citing the organization’s “major contribution to the preservation and development of the history of this region.” This year’s conference, held March 6-7 at the Barona Casino and Resort near Lakeside, was themed “First We Thirst” and focused on the history of the region’s water supply. “We were honored for the work we do in the community, not just in OB but in the region as a whole,” sad James, who is now in his seventh year as president of the local society. He was a also a founding member of the society along with wife Susan, who serves as OBHS board secretary. Jonnie Wilson, also a founding member and board member of both OBHS and the Congress of History, put the society’s accomplishments in context. “In 15 years we’ve gotten so many things done: the archives, the website and blog, monthly meetings,” Wilson said. “We’ve become rooted in OB so fast and we’ve established a lot of traditions for being only 15 years old. We have an annual history walk, the wisteria party, the annual photo show. I don’t know of any historical society that meets every month. You have a group of people who are very committed.” Wilson noted that Pat and Susan James, owners of James Gang Graphics, have also produced the conference’s T-shirt for many years. The archives, residing in an office at the Point Loma United Methodist Church, 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., where OBHS meets monthly on the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m., contain assorted Ocean Beach memorabilia such as a significant collection of Peninsula photographs and historic newspapers — including ten years’ worth of the long-defunct “Ocean Beach News” on microfilm. Among the memorabilia is the old stove belonging to society founder and local historian, the late Ruth Varney Held, whose life will be celebrated at the next society meeting on Thursday, April 16. At the wisteria party, James announced the newest addition to the archives, an original 1924 section of the old “San Diego Sun” documenting the visit of Hawaiian surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku to San Diego and Ocean Beach. James encouraged local photographers to gather their finest images of Point Loma and Ocean Beach to submit for judging in the society’s local photo contest and exhibition, “OB Exposed!” coming up in May. The Congress of History also honored with its Media Award Ocean Beach filmmaker Noah Tafolla for his contributions to documenting local history through his public television series “Wonderland,” which airs on KPBS. Tafolla received the award at the Wisteria Party from James. Tafolla missed the Congress’ awards ceremony because he was filming the OB Kite Festival for a new episode of “Wonderland.” Tafolla, an OB native, finished his first episode of “Wonderland,” named for the early Ocean Beach amusement park of the same name, in 2006 and has made 28 episodes for KPBS. He never studied filmmaking but caught the bug from a friend while he was running a home “garage” business making chocolate-covered bananas. “I love history and was watching Huell Howser on television and thought that’s cool!” said Tafolla. “I wondered if I could do that on San Diego. I started with Ocean Beach and worked first with the San Diego Historical Society and then talked with Pat James, who gave me some photos.” Now Tafolla works primarily with local historical societies in researching his episodes. Garden party co-host Titlow shared some of his own history about the celebration’s setting. His wisteria-adorned Niagara Street home was built about 1904 or 1906. The wisteria vine, which boasts a massive trunk and covers a wooden canopy extending over his entire eastern garden, was planted about 1910. Titlow purchased the house in the mid-1950s and has replaced and enlarged the arbor to support the spreading vine with its mass of hanging blooms. For more information about OBHS, visit www.obhistory.wordpress.com. For more information about the “Wonderland” film series, visit www.wonderlandsd.com.