1878 – Early Anaheim Landing – as seen by a Future Nobel Prize-winning author

As we have pointed out in other barely read missives, Anaheim Landing is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year — making it (and thus Seal Beach) Orange County’s second oldest community — behind only the Mother Colony herself, Anaheim. There are actually plenty of descriptions about the Landing’s early days — most are newspaper articles, … Read more

1873 – Dec. 27 – LA Herald – Anaheim Landing freightage to New York

Anaheim Landing, the first settlement of Seal Beach, is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. Funded by Anaheim wine-growers seeking an easier way to ship than by going through Wilmington, the Anaheim Lighter Company established its first wharvf in 1864 on Alamitos Bay (near Island Village).  After floods in 1866 and 1867 blocked ocean access, … Read more

The Pike opens where Mr. B’s and Casa Castillo served it up

At 5pm today the Pike officially opened for business in Los Alamitos in the location where Mr. B’s and Casa Castillo have been feeding Los Alamitos and Rossmoor residents for years. The Pike is owned by Chris Reece, a former drummer of Social Distortion and founder of the original Pike – a retro bar at … Read more

September 18, 1941 – Ten Arrested in big Seal Beach Gambling Raid behind Garden of Allah

A big event which actually had quite an effect on Seal Beach was a September 18, 1941 gambling raid which resulted in the arrest of at least ten men and the detainment of over eighty customers.  Orange County sheriff’s deputies used a sledge hammer to break into a gambling den (behind a facade made to … Read more