Members of “The Ladies in White" provided emergency medical support and care when the community had its own fire department. Photo courtesy of the Citrus Heights Historical Society

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Did you know that Citrus Heights, which was then known as Sylvan, had its own movie theater in 1915, or that it almost had light rail at its doorstep?

Neither did I.

Residents are invited to learn more about the history of Citrus Heights you never knew at the upcoming quarterly meeting of the Citrus Heights Historical Society (CHHS) taking place 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5 at Citrus Heights City Hall, 6360 Fountain Square Drive in a free public presentation. Light refreshments will be served.

The event will uncover the rich history of the historic Florida Inn, the “Ladies in White” of the original Citrus Heights Fire Department and other fascinating topics the details of which recently came to light as a result of recent research conducted by the society, said its president, Larry Fritz.

“It’s amazing what comes up when you scratch just a little below the surface,” Fritz said.

Pictured are owners Annie (left) and Henry Coldani Sr. (right) of the historic Florida Inn. Photo courtesy of the Citrus Heights Historical Society

While the physical site of the Florida Inn may be lost to time, it’s still preserved in a series of sepia-tinted photographs which the Citrus Heights Historical Society now has in its archival collection.

The Florida Inn, once the scene of a popular, bustling 1920s restaurant, inn and service station, was located on corner of Auburn Boulevard and Greenback Lane, now the site of several gas stations and convenience stores, just before Interstate 80.

The inn wasn’t far from two U.S. Army Air Corps airfields, McClellan and Mather, whose base population grew rapidly with the onset of the second World War.

Owners Henry and Ann Coldani, who opened the inn in 1926, became known in the local area for selling their half-portion fried chicken for just 49 cents. Henry served as the cook and his wife was the business manager, Fritz said.

When farms and ranches dominated the rural community of Sylvan, pre-incorporation, an agricultural tractor was not an uncommon sight. Photo Courtesy of the Citrus Heights Historical Society

Fritz said older residents of Citrus Heights, or their descendants, who lived near the site in the early 1960s before its demolition may still have photographs or keepsakes from the old Florida Inn. If they do, the Society would certainly like to preserve them.

The Citrus Heights Historical Society was first formed in 1991 to preserve and promote the history of Citrus Heights, Fritz said.

Through its partnership with the Sunrise Recreation and Parks District (SRPD), the Society opens the Historic Rusch Home to the public several times a year to showcase local history.

“The CHHS conducted tours of the home last year in conjunction with the Sunrise Recreation and Park District’s 75th Anniversary event,” Fritz said.

The anniversary event resulted in a break from Sunday Funday, an annual community tradition that previously filled Rusch Park with family-friendly run. The Sunrise Recreation and Park District paused the event last year to instead focus on celebrating their 75th anniversary since the events would fall close together.

The Florida Inn, once the scene of a popular, bustling 1920s restaurant, inn and service station, was located on corner of Auburn Boulevard and Greenback Lane, now the site of several gas stations and convenience stores, just before Interstate 80. Photo Courtesy of the Citrus Heights Historical Society

“We have not discussed what we might do this year or in the future without the annual Sunday Funday celebration in Rusch Park,” Fritz said.

Fritz said tours of the historic Rusch Home were well received when held in conjunction with a larger event.

“I am not sure if the home itself is enough of a draw to cause people alone to come visit it,” Fritz said.

Fritz said the Society is seeking feedback from residents such as what historical topics they are interested in, and what ideas they may have for celebrating the history of the Rusch Home.

The following quarterly member presentation of the historical society is set to take place at 6 p.m. May 7 in the Citrus Heights City Hall and will focus on discussing water in Citrus Heights history.

Members of the Citrus Heights Historical Society (CHHS) share a love of local history of and the people, places and experiences which reflect the community we call home.

Learn more at: https://citrusheightshistory.org/.