The founder of the Del Mar Historical Society was a gentleman named Harold (Swede) Throneson, affectionately known as Del Mar’s “Mr. History.”
Swede moved to Del Mar in 1959 while he was on active duty with the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton. He and his wife rented a home on the beach for $150 a month, decided to buy a lot, built a home, and had a wonderful life in Del Mar. He retired after 21 years from the Marine Corps, taught elementary school for another 15 years, and then retired.
He became involved in Del Mar history by accident. In conjunction with a local businessman, they were trying to come up with an idea to encourage people to go upstairs and patronize the shops at Stratford Square. Swede decided to put up old photographs. The idea worked so well that it is still there today. In Swede’s words “That’s when I got hooked.” There was no historical society at that time. He struck out on his own constantly collecting memorabilia, keeping files and making photographs.
In 1985 the Del Mar Historical Society was born. The founders and signers of incorporation papers were Swede, Alice Goodkind, Cathy Wood, Jane Scroggins, Cal Scroggins, Nancy Ewing and Gerry Wood. Swede passed away at the age of 83 on the 30th of April 2000. He will be forever remembered as the person who started it all.