Update: This is the second house attributed to local KKK collaborator Louis E Plummer. Read the full LA Times article at https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/entertainment/story/2025-05-08/louis-plummer-home-fullerton

At the city council meeting on May 6, Associate Planner Andrew Kusch presented a proposal to designate three local properties, including the Louis E. Plummer residence, as historic landmarks. The council ultimately approved the designation in a 3 to 2 (Charles and Zahra NO), despite significant public concern regarding Plummer’s controversial past as an alleged collaborator with the Ku Klux Klan.

Kusch outlined the criteria for the proposed designations, emphasizing that the homes qualify for inclusion in the local historic register due to their architectural significance and historical contributions to the city’s development. “The Landmarks Planning Commission reviewed these requests during publicly noticed hearings and recommends their approval,” Kusch stated. He noted that the properties reflect outstanding architectural design and craftsmanship, and all property owners have consented to the designations.

Jose Trinidad Casteneda joined the meeting via Zoom, expressing concern about the implications of memorializing the Plummer name. “Could someone clarify if this ordinance is based solely on the architectural features and design of the house? As some may know, Louis Plummer was a notable figure in Fullerton but also an active member of the KKK. We should be cautious about memorializing that name,” Casteneda stated.

In response, Kusch reiterated that the designation focuses strictly on the home’s architectural significance. Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shana Charles voiced additional concerns, recalling a previous petition that successfully removed the Plummer name from a local high school amid growing scrutiny of the historical figure’s associations. “I would like to propose a motion to approve this petition but suggest that we do not include the name ‘Louis Plummer’ on the plaque,” she said. “I feel that would not be appropriate for what we should represent for Fullerton moving forward.”

Ernie Kelsey, representing Fullerton Heritage, offered insight into the complexities surrounding Plummer’s historical reputation. He stated that while the Ku Klux Klan had a presence in Fullerton, determining Plummer’s involvement has proven challenging. “There are no sources that indicate he espoused Klan doctrine or engaged in actions targeting marginalized groups,” Kelsey noted. He emphasized that Plummer was actively involved in organizations like the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce and the Fullerton Kiwanis Club, which denounced the Klan, and that he was consistently praised for his contributions to the community.

Kelsey pointed out that much of the negative attention surrounding Plummer stems from a dissertation written in 1978, which linked him to broader Klan activities in Orange County but failed to provide concrete evidence of his personal involvement. “While the Klan was indeed influential during the 1920s, it faded in prominence by the early 1930s,” he concluded.

Councilmember Dr. Ahmad Zahra raised questions about the house’s history, asking, “Did Plummer historically live in this house? Is it his residence?” He further inquired about the proposed wording for a plaque that would accompany the house, suggesting that calling it either the “Plummer House” or the “Former Residence of Mr. Plummer” could be a way to address concerns surrounding its name.

Kelsey, a supporter of the designation, affirmed, “It would be called the Louis E. Plummer House. That’s what the plaque would say. He was the first notable person that lived there.” Zahra pointed out, however, that Plummer did not build the house, but rather was its first resident.

The discussion drew in varied opinions, with Charles expressing her disagreement with naming the house after Plummer given the potentially controversial context. “I side with the alumni and students. I just don’t think it’s appropriate for Fullerton at this point to be doing that,” he argued. “I don’t see why we need to have such a controversial name attached to it.”

Kelsey countered, referencing his alumni status and asserting that the name had been associated with the house during his time at the institution.

The following excerpts are from the meeting that led to the decision to remove Louis E. Plummer’s name from the Fullerton Union High School. Read the full article by Jesse La Tour here: https://fullertonobserver.com/2020/06/17/school-board-votes-to-remove-plummer-name-from-auditorium/.

On June 16, 2020, the Fullerton Joint Union High School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously to remove Plummer’s name from the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton due to evidence of his association with the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) in the 1920s. This information came to light through an online petition started by Fullerton resident Jacqueline Logwood, which gathered over 27,000 signatures.

The agenda item for the Board read as follows:

“The historical record indicates that Louis Plummer was associated with the Ku Klux Klan. The KKK is known for engaging in acts of violence and terrorism against minority populations. Louis Plummer’s association was noted in a 1979 doctoral dissertation by Christopher Cocoltchos from UCLA, titled *The Invisible Government and the Viable Community: The Ku Klux Klan in Orange County, California During the 1920s*. Cocoltchos wrote, ‘Plummer was… a leader in the Myers-led Klan’ (page 288).”

Having a facility named after someone with ties to the KKK contradicts both Board Policy 0100 (a) Philosophy and Goals and Board Policy 0145: Nondiscrimination (Educational Programs or Activities). The policy states, “The Fullerton Joint Union High School District shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious background, national origin or ancestry, ethnic group identification, marital or parental status, gender, sex, age, physical or mental disability, gender preference or sexual orientation, or the perception of any of these characteristics, or economic status in the educational programs or activities that it operates for its students.”

The author of *The History of Fullerton Union High School: 1893-2011* opposed the name change, stating that she had “acquired a great deal of information about the first 50 years of the school from Louis Plummer’s excellent work, *A History of Fullerton Union High School and Fullerton Junior College: 1893-1943*.”

During the Board’s discussion on the name change, Trustee Joanne Fawley, who introduced the item, mentioned that she not only read Cocoltchos’ dissertation but also contacted him. He is now a retired history professor. “I thought it was important since we are relying on that as part of our decision-making, to hear from him,” Fawley said.

“I believe that the research and analysis from my dissertation speaks amply for me,” Cocoltchos stated. Regarding the name change, Fawley expressed, “No one’s denying the history that took place with the establishment of Fullerton High School and Fullerton College. It’s part of the district’s history… I believe it’s time to turn the page to a new era in history.” Three years after Cocoltchos published his dissertation in 1979, the original membership list, which was part of the research collection, disappeared.

Ultimately, Councilmember Nick Dunlap motioned to approve the designation of the Plummer House, with the motion passing 3-2, as Charles and Zahra voted against it.