Larry Strawther originally published in Los Angeles Times, May 30, 1933 The sport of horse racing did not technically begin in the Los Alamitos area when Frank Vessels started his Sunday “bet-less” races in 1947. There are well-documented races in the area during the ownerships of Abel Stearns and Don Juan Temple of Rancho Los Alamitos and … Read more
In their never-ending quest to synergize new ways of making money, the LA Times used to run many more special sections and pages. One was “Little Farm Homes”. This is from the Dec. 13, 1931 issue. It was written by Mrs. H.E. Thompson, and because she describes Los Alamitos — although not in any real … Read more
originally submitted to the OC Register, and published on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 She tells stories from Los Alamitos’ past Esther Mejia, 94, lives in the house where she grew up. Submitted by Brett Murphy For The Orange County Register Her name is Esther Mejia. She is the one who taught me how to … Read more
Most histories of the Los Alamitos area frequently mention a strong heritage of Belgian immigrant farmers. While their numbers and impact to the area are usually overstated, some certainly had an impact. One of those was long-time Seal Beach doctor, Homer Eugene deSadeleer, whose obituary is reprinted below. According to Frans De Man, Denderhoutem in … Read more
This is for the map junkies out there. Here is a rather parochial (i.e. Alamitos-centric) selection from a c.1953 map of Ranchos in Orange County. (It was labeled as a 1955 map, but I’m assuming it is about 1953 since Disneyland is not shown on the map.) (Click to it and go to a large … Read more
This article is reprinted from the Minutes of the General Congregational Association of Southern California which covers the years from at least 1896 through 1898. The “minutes” were copies of speeches and reports delivered at the group’s annual conference.s The 1898 conference naturally discussed the happenings of 1897, which is the year the actual townsite … Read more
The News-Enterprise headlined its article this week that the Community Congregational Church turned 100 years old this month. It’s an impressive achievement. What’s even more impressive is that church is actually 114 years old. Now I know it’s actually very easy to come across incorrect information about Los Alamitos’ early days and that’s one … Read more
This was originally published Wednesday, October 31, 1984, News-Enterprise, Page 11, when the city was celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Rancho Los Alamitos [which was technically incorrect, since it was Ranchos Los Nietos which received a Spanish grant in 1784; Alamitos wasn’t formed until Nietos was divided in the 1830’s. But why let details … Read more
North Orange County Directory 1930 Compiled and Published By WESTERN DIRECTORY CO. TRANSPORTATION BUILDING LONG BEACH, CAL. –Containing the following– ANAHEIM-FULLERTON-PLACENTIA BREA-LA HABRA-BUENA PARK STANTON-LOS ALAMITOS ATWOOD-CYPRESS YORBA LINDA and all the rural territory served by these Post Offices A Addaway Arthur E clk h120 Green, Los Alamitos Alden Chas E (Mary E) … Read more
27 march 1921 – Facts About Sugar, April 23, 1921, p.335 GUY SAWYER DYER DEAD News is received of the death at his home in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 27, after an illness of two weeks, of Guy Sawyer Dyer, one of the pioneer beet sugar men of the United States. Mr. Dyer was the … Read more