Although Seal Beach residents will not officially celebrate their village’s 100th birthday until Oct 1915, Seal Beach technically will turn 100 years old on July 17 of this year. It was on that day in 1913 when Bayside Land Company…
Author Archive for Larry Strawther
Dec. 15, 1966 – Jet Crash in Rossmoor
by Larry Strawther •
Rossmoor resident recalls when Navy Jet landed in his backyard Burton Schild, an orthodontist, was one of Rossmoor’s original residents, owning a home on Yellowtail Drive that backed up to Los Alamitos Blvd (later changed to Seal Beach Blvd.). Now…
Street Names of Rosssmoor
by Larry Strawther •
People often ask me to confirm stories they have heard about Rossmoor. (No, it was not originally intended to be a nudist camp — that was somebody’s joke on Wikipedia.) A frequent question is about the origin of street names…
Looking Back at Looking Back: 1965 — Los Alamitos Marks Its 5th Birthday
by Larry Strawther •
Having worked for a daily newspaper during my formative years and running my own small-town publication, I know that correct facts are often immaterial to a story. So keep that in mind as you read this article on Los Alamitos’…
Christmas Past in early Los Alamitos
by Larry Strawther •
The Holiday season is full swing now– which means Youth Center Christmas tree sales at the Ganahl Parking Lot, Holiday Crafts sales, sports teams selling wreath and poinsettias, realtors driving Santa Claus through Rossmoor and Los Alamitos, students caroling at…
New book on History of Los Alamitos & Rossmoor to be released this month
by Larry Strawther •
In mid November the History Press will publish my new (and first) book, A Brief History of Los Alamitos & Rossmoor. I’m very proud of this work – and not just because some of it is accurate. Anyway, I’ve shamelessly…
October is Historically Big Month for Area for Community Fund-Raising Events
by Larry Strawther •
Fall and especially October is a big time for community fund-raising events – with Casa Youth Shelter (Sept. 29), Pathways for Independence (Oct. 6), St. Hedwig’s Autumnfest (Oct 12-14), The Taste for Los Al (Oct. 20), and Wings, Wheels and…
Happy Birthday to the Base — maybe…
by Larry Strawther •
We received an inquiry last week wondering if we were going to note the 70th anniversary of the Los Alamitos Naval Air Station, it having begun operations in August 1942.. This would certainly be a noteworthy achievement, but despite what…
Old Los Al Sugar Factory was home for “light motor car” venture
by Larry Strawther •
After the Sugar Company moved its refining operations down to the Santa Ana Sugar plant, the factory buildings were home to diverse enterprises. Dr. Ross Pet food was probably the best known, but the factory was also used by Douglas…
OBIT: Henry E. Lucas Funeral Held; Veteran Resident of Area
by Larry Strawther •
This ran in the Long Beach Press-Telegram on Jan. 13, 1960. Henryu Lucas was one of the very first employees of the Los Alamitos Sugar Factory and he ascted as a watchman at the plant through the company’s final days. …
