Seal Beach is a town of “firsts”

With the Santa Ana and Irvine-centric bias (not to mention the Disneyland fanboy-ism) of the mainstream Orange County Historical Establishment, accomplishments in our little corner of the word often gets overlooked, especially when it comes to being included in lists of Orange County “firsts.”  So we felt compelled to attempt to set the record straight.  … Read more

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

1897 – Squatter Problem at Anaheim Landing

The new growing town of Los Alamitos offered great opportunities to the open farmlands of the Hellman Ranch, but it also caused unintended problems for landowner I.W. Hellman, as articulated by his land agent, Philip A. Stanton.  The Landing, which had always been a summer resort area, suddenly held even more appeal to a larger … Read more

1897 – Squatter Problem at Anaheim Landing

The new growing town of Los Alamitos offered great opportunities to the open farmlands of the Hellman Ranch, but it also caused unintended problems for landowner I.W. Hellman, as articulated by his land agent, Philip A. Stanton.  The Landing, which had always been a summer resort area, suddenly held even more appeal to a larger … Read more

1857-1910 – Anaheim Landing was first permanent settlement in this area

Before Los Alamitos, before Seal Beach (even before Long Beach), there was Anaheim Landing. Now it’s swallowed up by the US Naval Weapons Station, but it was the first major European/non-Native American settlement in the Los Alamitos-Seal Beach area.  It got its name because of its use by the merchants and residents of the Anaheim … Read more