The Lemon Grove Historical Society is inviting the community to step back in time through the eyes of one of its most dedicated longtime residents. At 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, the LGHS will host Dona Clabby, 91, as part of its "History Alive" lecture series at the H. Lee House Cultural Center in Treganza Heritage Park in Lemon Grove.

The program, called "The Way We Were," will draw on Clabby's more than 65 years of living in Lemon Grove — a city that has transformed dramatically from a community of citrus groves into the diverse, incorporated municipality it is today.

Dona and her late husband Tom Clabby were central figures in that transformation. Tom Clabby served 14 years on the Lemon Grove City Council from 1994 to 2008, giving the couple a front-row seat to the city's growth. Both were graduates of Hoover High School. Tom Clabby also served in the Korean War before a 40-year career at Rohr Industries and was instrumental in the design and construction of what is now Treganza Heritage Park.

Tom Clabby passed away in 2023 at age 84. His wife continues to keep his legacy — and the community's history — alive.

Founded in 1970, the LGHS hosts the "History Alive" series on the first Thursday of every month, with the goal of bringing local history out of the archives and into everyday conversation. The event is free to the public and held at 3205 Olive St. in Lemon Grove, where ample well-lit parking is available.