The Rose Hill Civic Association at 55

One of the advantages of living in Rose Hill is that we have an outstanding civic association, which was formed in 1956 and has been a touchstone for residents since. One look at the RHCA website will tell you about our local history, how we became who we are, and what today’s important issues are, aside from all the basics: neighborhood watch, schools and library, local businesses, health and safety, real estate, sports and events, and a link to this Patch site.

With over 200 members—including several so engaged they have published books and routinely given public lectures about our local history, and have yet found the time to staff the classic civic association leadership roles, produce a monthly newsletter, and maintain a website—the association is not your typical group of homeowners trying to maintain property and neighborhood values. The RHCA is deeply in the know, active on every possible front, and well connected to both our past and our future.

One local issue of recent import showcases how central and resilient the organization has been. The owner of a 5 acre parcel of land on May Boulevard is proposing to build 13 homes on his land and in so doing might end up wiping out the historic silos that have long been a part of our community’s heritage. The silos stored grain for the cattle that once inhabited that farmland.

In anticipation of the potential development the RHCA had put up posters to make folks aware of the issue, informed and mobilized residents, and elicited names in support of finding a way to allow the build-up and yet preserve the landmarks. They have suggested and pursued ways of financing the maintenance of the silos and have attempted to make the issue a win-win for all. This has been accomplished while advocating with county authorities to ensure all players are in the loop and in the know.

This is a group with a keen sense of community and history, and a grasp of what will benefit not just current but future residents. They have, over the past half-a-century, consistently found a way of both making things happen and making those who may not fully comprehend the impact of their intentions understand that they are, nevertheless, part of us too.

The first modern Rose Hill development residents moved in over the Christmas season of 1954 and within less than 18 months had a functioning civic association. The RHCA then played a fundamental role in ensuring that within less than a decade the community had a grocery chain store anchoring a budding shopping center, a modern elementary school, a community pool, a public library, well maintained roads and updated services.

Notably, from early on, the association leadership developed a well known presence in county affairs via their cultivation of strong ties with a succession of effective District Supervisors with strong local ties such as Joe Alexander, Dana Kauffman, and Jeff McKay.  

If you are a resident, and want to understand Rose Hill, stop by one of the RHCA meetings and greet some of the attendees. In short order you will know much about the rich heritage that is your legacy and will have heard it from those who sustain it daily.