The Bayside Land Company was formed by Phillip A. Stanton to to create and promote the town that would eventually become Seal Beach.
2 SEP 1903 – LA Times, pA2. INCORPORATED: Bayside Land Company, capital stock $200,000; subscribed: $25. directors: P.A. Stanton, I.A. Lothian, George E. Pillsbury, W.R. Bacon, E.M. Mansell
Pillsbury was the Chief Engineer of the Pacific Electric
W.R. Bacon was the city attorney for Los Angeles, President f the Los Angeles Historical Society and Board Member of the Southwest Soicety of Architects.
18 SEP 1903 – (OC Archives, Grantor-Grantees book) — I.A. Lothian & P.A. Stanton grant to the Bayside Land Company. 190 acres more or less.
7 SEP 1903 (LA Times, p.) – County Superintendent S.H. Finley and a corps of assistants have been at work nearly a week laying out anew summer resort between Alamitos Bay and Anaheim landing. The project is being pushed by the Bayside Land Company, The new town will be called Bayside, and will be reached by the electric road which will be built from Long Beach to this city. This road is already in operation as far as the new townsite.
29 FEB 1904 (History of Orange County, p.572) — On February 29, 1904, Mr. [John C.] Ord hauled his [two-story] store building to what is now Seal Beach and located it on Main Street where it is still standing and doing good service… This was the first building in Seal Beach and Mr. Ord lived alone in it for three months. Later he leased out the store and took a six month trip to New Zealand.
28 JAN 1906 – LA Times – Notwithstanding the midwinter dullness in beach resorts, scarcely a week has passed without the sale of one or more lots at Bay City, the resort between Anaheim Bay and Alamitos Bay on the Pacific Electric road. A new price list goes into effect February 1, three days hence., and on June 1, another raise of 25 per cent is promised. Contracts have been let for grading, placing cement, walks and curbs, etc., in all the streets of Bay City not already so improved, and at least $30,000 it is said will be expended with the next ninety days. A wharf from 1200 to 1600 feet long will be built at the foot of Main Street. Plans have been drawn for a two-story, sixteen room structure to be used as a hotel, with three stores and a large dining room on the ground floor. Many other buildings, it is expected for business and residence purposes, will be constructed. (sounds like another Stanton press release).
4 March 1906, Los Angeles Herald
PLEASURE PIER AT BAY CITY Contract Let for Extensive Improvement at Attractive Coast Resort
Another new pleasure pier is about to be added to those providing enjoyment for Southern California and coast resort visitors. Contracts have already been let to Mr. Mercereau for building a 1500-foot pier at Bay City. This will be the longest pleasure pier in Southern California, the one at Long Beach alone excepted, and Mr. P. A. Stanton, the agent for Bay City, says it will be completed by June 1. (trading and sidewalking of all streets In Bay City not so improved is now in progress. The proposed new hotel of sixteen rooms and a large dining room together with several store rooms on the ground floor, will be constructed at the corner of Main and Central avenue. Plans have already been drawn for this building.
Several handsome new houses are also under construction or planned for early building. Early Inquiries of home, seekers or investors for Bay City lots presage an early and active season for the Southern California beach resorts. – Los Angeles Herald, 4 March 1906
Los Angeles Herald, 1 April 1906 About $28,000 will be expended in building the 1500-foot pleasure pier, the new hotel and store building and for other improvements at Bay City. – Los Angeles Herald, 5 May 1906
APR 1906 San Franciscio Earthquake – recovery takes up all the available capital and resources on West Coast. It becomes cost prohibitive for Naples to continue construction.
(from Alamitos Heights website) Then came 1906, and the devastating San Francisco earthquake. All real estate development in Southern California came to a halt, as money was redirected northward to rebuilt San Francisco. The slump was a major factor that caused financial problems for Alamitos Heights founder Frank Shaw who ended up committing suicide because of financial problems. Earlier, his sanity had been questioned at a trial — the only reason for the trial being his faith that the Alamitos Heights area could be successfully developed.
Los Angeles Herald, 6 May 1906
PLEASURE PIER AT BAY CITY
Passenger and Freight Depot to Be Erected by the Pacific Electric Company The first carload of lumber for the 1500-foot pier at Bay City Is on the ground, and the contractor promises to complete the structure within thirty days. The new two-story hotel and store building at the corner of Main street and Central avenue Is well under way, and the passenger and freight depot to be constructed by the Pacific Electric company Is planned for the coming Summer. When contracts now being carried out are completed, over $28,000 will have been expended for street cement work alone In Bay City. – Los Angeles Herald, 6 May 1906
20 MAY 1906 – LA Times, pV20, REAL ESTATE NOTES. Rapid progress is being made on the new 1500-foot pleasure pier at Bay City. It already extends eight hundred feet into the ocean, so that the aspect of the water front is materially changed. The pier will be completed within thirty days. The new hotel and store building is about half done and the bathhouse at Anaheim landing is open for business. Although it is still early, P. A. Stanton reports a lively inquiry for lots at Bay City. (NOTE: Just a reprint of article provi ded by Stanton’ office.)
27 May 1906 — Los Angeles Herald,
The reduction in the round trip rate to Bay City has stimulated public interest in that enterprising beach resort and the improvements now being made foreshadow a busy season. The new 1500-foot pier will be completed in a few days; the hotel is nearly ready for the plasterers and the street improvements well under way. No definite date has been set for beginning work on the new Pacific Electric station, but it in hoped that it will be built during the coming season. – Los Angeles Herald, 27 May 1906
3 JUNE 1906 – LA HERALD EXAMINER –
Sales Active at Bay City
A residence building boom is adding to the gayeties of construction at Bay City, where a new 1500-foot pier and a hotel and store building are approaching completion. Mrs. Dwight Whiting, of Los Angeles, has let the contract for a handsome two-story cottage on First street; W. J. Edwards has ordered plans drawn for- a two-story home to be located at Central avenue and Second street: Dr. V. J. Nance will build a two-story cottage at Fifth street and Ocean avenue, and John L. Plummer is preparing to build on Fifth street. This makes four two-story cottages started or planned within a week past.
It has leaked out that Phil Stanton has evolved a plan which is to make Bay City “the best lighted city on the Southern California coast.” This is a pretty big contract, and the outcome is awaited with considerable interest. The Bayside Land company has a habit of carrying out its promises. – Los Angeles Herald, 3 June 1906
17 JUN 1906 – LA HERALD
Long Pleasure Pier Completed
Dr. H. I. Nance, of 1834 West Twenty-ninth street, has just signed a contract for the erection of a six-room cottage on the corner of Fifth street and Ocean avenue, Bay City, and work will begin Monday. This is the fifth good sized cottage to be started or contracted for within two weeks. The 1500 foot pier at the foot of Main street is now fully completed and is much frequented by anglers, pleasure seekers and cottagers. Work is progressing on the new hotel. P. A. Stanton reports a largely increased inquiry for Bay City property since warmer weather set in. – Los Angeles Herald, 17 June 1906
15 JULY 1906 – la tIMES, pV-20 advertisement
Officers and Directors—President, P.A. Stanton; Vice-President: I.A. Lothian; Secretary, W.E. Emerson; Treasurer, Merchants Natinal Bank, George F. Van Alstyne; George E. Pillsbury, Walter R. Bacon.
Stockholders: Henry E. Huntington, I.A. Lothian, Herman W. Hellman, Louis F. Vetler, Walter R. Bacon, F.C. Howes, George E. Piullsbury, P.A. Stanton, W.H. Holiday, Dr. G. McGowan, George F. Van Alstyne, Dr. Ralph Williams.