Celery harvest at Wintersburg, 1898
Horse on Verdugo St., San Juan Capistrano, circa 1960
Pacific Ave., Sunset Beach and Surfside, April 1966
100 E. Central Ave., La Habra, 1965
Naval Weapons Station, Seal Beach, circa 1958
Fashion Square, Santa Ana, circa 1960
Orange County Plaza, Chapman Ave., Garden Grove, 1957
Flight of the Snowbirds, Newport Harbor c.1930
Citrus groves, Golden Ave., Placentia, June 1961
Seal Beach Pier, circa 1920
Alpha Beta supermarket, Laguna Hills, 1966
orangecounty4life
on Jul 2nd, 2010
@ 11:16 AM:
SEAL BEACH BORN AND BRED
Darrin
on Jul 2nd, 2010
@ 11:17 AM:
I grew up in Laguna Niguel and went to high school in Dana Point. These pictures are fantastic.
That Alpha Beta is the biggest ‘blast from the past’ and the neon sign in the background of the Capistrano photo is the ‘Swallows Inn’, which scared the crap outta me when I was a kid — it looked like a Hells Angels bar.
Thanks for posting these!
Matt S
on Jul 2nd, 2010
@ 11:20 AM:
Thanks for sharing the great pics. Orange County is my home and I love it so much. I did 5 years in Palm Beach Florida and could not wait to get back home to beautiful Southern California.
OCBD
on Jul 2nd, 2010
@ 11:30 AM:
In July of 1955, we actually drove through orange grove-lined roads to get to Anaheim for the opening of Disneyland.
brandon
on Jul 2nd, 2010
@ 11:40 AM:
Placentia!! my hometown.
Andrea
on Jul 2nd, 2010
@ 12:05 PM:
Who knew that the celery harvest was such a joyous occasion? I’m sensing a serious need for whiskey amongst those gentlemen.
vanderleun
on Jul 2nd, 2010
@ 12:11 PM:
“Pacific Ave., Sunset Beach and Surfside, April 1966″
I think that water tower structure is still around although converted to an apartment.
Rob
on Jul 2nd, 2010
@ 12:17 PM:
Alpha Beta! My elementary school was next door to the Laguna Beach Alpha Beta.
Keith
on Jul 2nd, 2010
@ 12:24 PM:
Would love to get a better look at the small hatchets the men in the upper left of the first pic are holding. Probably a small shingle/roofing hatchet was the best tool they could find to use for harvesting stalk produce like this.
Chase
on Jul 2nd, 2010
@ 12:57 PM:
Newport Beach FTW
Flight of the Snowbirds still happens, although they use Lasers instead of Snowbirds now
Vanderleun — yes, the water tower is still there
Gavin
on Jul 2nd, 2010
@ 1:08 PM:
vanderleun – Yes it is an apartment, drive by it quite a bit, (Live in Long Beach). Such a landmark, with very little in the picture recognizable these days. Love the pics, so much has changed. Hell, my family had their own dairy cow in Whittier many years ago, now it’s all paved over and you get your milk at Vons.
Jeff
on Jul 2nd, 2010
@ 1:35 PM:
The water tower house is still in Sunset Beach. Right near PCH and Anderson st. Some good, uncrowded surf at that spot, too!
Turling
on Jul 2nd, 2010
@ 2:25 PM:
Our office building is built on those Placentia citrus groves. Needless to say, no more groves.
doane
on Jul 2nd, 2010
@ 2:54 PM:
Really like the third from the top with the telephone poles, water tower and palm trees. Beach culture meets industry. Reminds me of an Evan Hecox illustration.
Laguna Beach Trad
on Jul 2nd, 2010
@ 6:56 PM:
Thank you for showing some love to OC.
Tom
on Jul 3rd, 2010
@ 11:58 AM:
Amazing shots, some of the colours and perspectives are stunning.
Wallis
on Jul 3rd, 2010
@ 1:01 PM:
Why was everything mid century so much more beautiful? Even photos of parking lots. Somehow I don’t think 2010 photos of Walmart parking lots will have the same appeal in 50-60 years.
Danimal
on Jul 3rd, 2010
@ 2:10 PM:
The water tower is still in Sunset, it has been converted into a house. It is right across the street from Kanvas by Katin, the surf shop you posted on a while back. Epic post. Thanks.
Travis
on Jul 3rd, 2010
@ 4:18 PM:
I wasn’t alive for it, but the shot of San Juan Capistrano (Verdugo) street brings back memories. I grew up there until about Jr. High.
Sam
on Jul 4th, 2010
@ 9:51 AM:
Sunset Beach Water Tower Pics: http://www.sbwatertower.com/photos.html
sharpeye
on Jul 7th, 2010
@ 4:59 AM:
excellent pics
Tractor Radio Co.
on Jul 8th, 2010
@ 1:39 PM:
When Orange County had farmers, and was still great. Go see Huntington Beach Main Street today and compare. Then try not to cry.
Stephen Simon
on Jul 14th, 2010
@ 2:16 AM:
Sunset Beach, 1966. Yes! I remember “riding the rails” on those tracks going down to San Diego in the late 50′s with my brother, Rick Simon. We still own the house we built in Sunset Beach then.
Shivs
on Jul 16th, 2010
@ 7:02 PM:
When did classy hat wearing go out of fashion? It should be mandatory I tells ya.. so should be having jukeboxes everywhere.
Aaron
on Jul 20th, 2010
@ 1:35 PM:
The Chapman Avenue picture of Garden Grove is about a mile from where I grew up.