A younger archive

Not content just to run and play during his summer vacation, Alex

Crawford of Newport Beach has extended a helping-hand to the Costa

Mesa Historical Society as a part-time volunteer.

“I read a book from my school library about the history of Costa

Mesa and got hooked,” the 12-year-old said. “While surfing the net, I

found that the Costa Mesa Historical Society was holding an open

house. After seeing all the archival material they had, I asked them

if they needed any help.”

For the past month, Alex has volunteered his time at the

historical society, at 1870 Anaheim Ave., sorting archival photos a

couple times a week.

“Though we get many volunteers, Alex is the youngest we’ve ever

had,” said Mary Ellen Goddard, head archivist at the historical

society. “He does a really good job. He appears to be a deep thinker

and is sincerely interested in things that are going on. He’s an

atypical 12-year-old.”

“It’s really been a privilege to work here,” Alex said.

His good-will seems unlimited. At least, it isn’t limited to the

historical society.

“He house sits for neighbors who go on vacation,” said his mother,

Paula Crawford. “He waters their indoor plants, feeds their animals

and picks up their mail.”

It’s a taste of what he can’t quite get.

“I’d like to get a real job, but everyone says I’m too young,”

Alex said. “But I have sold lemonade and Krispy Kreme doughnuts at

garage sales.”

“I once had a dog-walking job by putting up signs on telephone

poles in our neighborhood. I’d like to do some volunteer work with

animals in the future.”

Alex will be a seventh-grader at Ensign Intermediate School this

fall.

-- Story by Kris O’Donnell, photo by Kent Treptow