May 31, 1981 – Los Alamitos Drops Plan to Annex Rossmoor

The headline could almost be from 1961 or from 2011.  The Rossmoor-Los Al annexation discussion has been going on for a long time.  Here are some articles from the 1981 version of the dialog.   Orange County Register, May 31, 1981 (page C2) Los Alamitos Drops Plan to Annex Rossmoor by Rod Speer Register Staff … Read more

OBIT: “Los Alamitos had a treasure in Jim Bell” (OC Reg. Sep 4, 1998)

OBITUARY: With a high school diploma and determination, he helped built the city’s infrastructure — then was its first mayor. By ROBIN HINCH Orange County Register When Jim Bell moved his family to Farquhar Avenue in Los Alamitos in 1943, there was only one stop sign in town and only two paved roads — Los … Read more

1956 – May 17 – Los Alamitos School Board Election

The Los Alamitos school board election of 1956 was certainly one of the most significant votes in the history of the community. Just days before the election, developer Ross Cortese had officially filed tract maps for his new Rossmoor subdivision of 2,400 new homes.  (Rumors and confirmation of the new subdivision had been circulating for … Read more

OBIT: April 26, 1956 – Frederick Schneider, 33 year resident of Los Alamitos

Enterprise, April 26, 1956 Frederick Schneider, 80, of 10961 Chestnut, Los Alamitos, native of Brunnenbtal, Switzerland, resident of Los Alamitos 33 years, died Tuesday in Orange County Hospital. Surviving are the widow, Ida; two brothers, Godfried, Grand Junction, Iowa, and Rudolph, Stanton; one sister, Emma Haase, Cleghorn, Iowa. Funeral services were held at 2pm Friday … Read more

Businesses in 1950s Los Alamitos

This can be kind of misleading, because newspapers at the time considered Los Alamitos to extend east to Miller(Valley View) and South to at least Garden Grove Boulevard.  remember this was all part of the Rancho Los Alamitos. Airport Cafe, 11142 Los Alamitos Blvd.  Lil and Jay Westlake, proprietors.  Cafe reopened in May 1956 after … Read more

OBITS: Nov. 1956 – James Watts 86, James G. Killstrom, 77 – Death Takes Two Los Alamitos Men

Enterprise, Nov. 29, 1956, p. 8 Death Takes Two Los Alamitos Men LOS ALAMITOS — Death took two Los Alamitos men during the past week, both of whom had been here for many years. James Watts, 86, of 10931 Chestnut, passed away Tuesday of last week with Mottel’s & Peek Mortuary handling the funeral arrangements, … Read more

OBIT: Oct. 11, 1956 – Elmer Layton Dies; Resident here 36 years

LOS ALAMITOS — Elmer Layton, resident of Los Alamitos for 36 years, died Sunday in Orange County hospital after a long illness. He owned and operated Layton’s Blacksmith Shop until 1954 when it was taken over by his son, Leo.  Mr. Layton lived at 10841 Los Alamitos Blvd. He was active in the Masonic Lodge. … Read more

1955-56 – Early Incorporation efforts in Los Alamitos, the Dairies and Why the Race Track NOT in Los Alamitos

Beginning in 1953 incorporation and annexation fever were sweeping west Orange County.  Anaheim was moving west down Lincoln and Katella Avenues. Buena Park formed in 1953 and it was trying to grab industrial area to its west to use as a tax base. Garden Grove was also snaking its way west along Lampson and Garden … Read more