For all of you who nostalgically remember the larger groves of Eucalyptus trees that once stood in this area — in particular near Gum Grove Park and by the Old Ranch Country Club — there is an interesting discussion going on at the Orange County History Facebook site.
Also, Nathan Masters, the bard of Los Angeles As Subject – which has some great regional history articles — has written a very interesting piece on how Eucalyptus trees – natives of Australia – were introduced to California.
Locally, one of the main growers of Eucalayptus were the Bixbys — Jotham (co-owner of the Rancho Los Cerritos) but mainly his nephew Fred (owner of the main portion of the Rancho Los Alamitos). The Bixbys planted the eucalyptus (often called gum trees) as fuel for the area’s tenant farmers. The tree’s natural oil made lighting them easier and it burnt a more intense flame, and left fewer ashes than oak. One grove was the current Gum Grove Park in SB — actually Hellman Ranch, but Fred Bixby managed it from about 1905 to 1925 — and a much bigger one was located where Lampson Road now runs into Seal Beach Blvd. Another large grove of eucalyptus trees was mentioned in the Santa Ana Register on Feb. 15, 1929. (“1200 Trees Being Planted South part of Los Alamitos” but this appeared to apply to the City Garden Acres tract and were probably the trees lining Los Alamitos Boulevard. It wasn’t very deep.)
The grove around Garden Grove Blvd and Los Alamitos Boulevard was much bigger — about 2000 feet in length and 400 feet deep, 46 acres. It was a familiar spot for local bird hunters and their dogs. Most of this grove was cut down in 1961 to accommodate the Naval Air Station (newer jets required longer runway take-off zones so the property was leased and the trees cut down). A smaller number of trees were cut down in 1966 for the construction of Lampson Boulevard and the Old Ranch Golf Course. Others were cut down when they came down with a disease and were cut to prevent the spread of the blight. An additional amount was cut down in the late 1990s for the building of the Old Ranch Town Center, but an arborist hired by Seal Beach said many of these had also been sick and needed to come out.
Another large grove was planted by one Hugh Thompson on 3,000 acres of Bixby land near Villa Park. He used the trees as an investment. This was apparently very common around 1907 when it was announced there would be a shortage of East Coast hardwood. http://www.newspapers.com/image/71873143/