Larry Strawther Originally printed in the Enterprise, 27 OCT 1957 Rossmoor Homeowners Assn. formed at Sunday night meeting at Congregational Church. Ross Dorsett is appointed temporary chairman. Appointed as temporary executive board of the association are: Luther Robinson, Willis Clark, John Both, Mrs. Tom Tripp, David Battin, Robert Fullaway, B.W. Gilfillian, Ellis Warmpler, Dr. Goodwin-Malmouth, Lawrence Michealsen, … Read more
One of the leading citizens of Los Alamitos in the first decades of this century Karl Vucassovich Bennis had a long history with the Los Alamitos Sugar Factory. Born in Maine in 1875, Bennis came to California in 1897, and settled in Orange County a few years later. Before coming to Los Alamitos he had … Read more
Aviation has a long history in the Seal Beach area. When Phil Stanton imported most of the 1915 San Francisco’s Pan-Pacific Exposition’s amusements to build the Joy Zone at Seal Beach, aviation was part of the business plan. Daredevils like Joe Boquel thrilled attendees with his aerial antics over the waves, and local pilots landed … Read more
On May 24, 2011, Huguette Clark, one of the world’s richest women and subject of many TV reports last fall, died at the age of 104. Worth over an estimated half billion dollars, she grew up in New York’s Gilded Age, among the Guggenheims, Astors, Rockefellers and Vanderbilts. When she died, she hadn’t been seen … Read more
Michael Reagan was one of the earliest workers to come to the new town of Los Alamitos when it was formed in 1896. After working to help build the factory he started drilling wells for water and soon took over operations of the town’s water company. Main Street was later renamed for Reagan. Reagan’s … Read more
Most of the first merchants in Los Alamitos were saloon keepers. And many not of the best reputation. These men catered to the hard-working railroad track layers and the teamsters who helped haul equipment around. Immediately after the construction of the sugar factory and a railroad to the site were first announced, the citizens … Read more
Harry Butterfield was one of Los Alamitos’ earliest residents. He was born in Wilsonville, Nebraska and arrived with his family in 1897, while, the sugar factory was still under construction, and lived here about 7 years. [ref] GENEALOGY OF THE DESCENDANTS OF JOHN WHITE OF Wenham and Lancaster, MASSACHUSETTS. 1638- I90l, p. WILLIAM T. Butterfield … Read more
JAN 1896 – Dyer and Capitain enter in agreement to sell bonds for the Cerritos Sugar Company. They agreed to sell enough bonds to raise $4[00,000?]. After that sum had been reached, they could begin to deduct their expenses and [earn/draw] a commission; all of this had to be accomplished before November 1, 1896. Apparently, … Read more
Many previous local histories cite the Los Alamitos School District’s s origins as going to back to 1881, a reference which is incorrect. [These errors seem to be based on the oft-cited, but long after the fact, memories of former OC Supervisor Thom. Talbert, Historical Volume and reference Works, Vol. II, Orange County, page 22 … Read more
When the Navy started to close down their operations at NAS Los Alamitos, ne of the options that got some serious attention for a short period of time was a proposal to convert the site to a major regional airport. Apparently Orange County (John Wayne) airport was not fully expanded to handle major jet traffic … Read more