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Community Corner

Historical View: A Jewel of a Lady – Mary D. Garfield

Mary Garfield was instrumental in penning the city's moniker: 'Jewel of the Hills'

Today, it is hard for many to think of La Mesa without also tacking on its motto – Jewel of the Hills. The city proudly displays it on the city seal, police cruisers, street signage and municipal property.

For those with geographic perspectives, the origins of this descriptive tagline appear obvious.

The city’s northern view shed is filled with Cowles (pronounced “coals”) Mountain, its eastern scenery capped with Grossmont Peak, Mt. Helix (on its logo although not within the city boundaries), and to the far southeastern horizon by San Miguel Mountain.

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Read the rest of this historical column in the La Mesa Courier, a La Mesa-Mount Helix Patch media partner.

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