Today's three photos were all taken Feb. 24, 1969 ("the Flood of '69") and are from the same Flood Control Dept. materials I wrote about Wednesday. The photo above shows the Villa Park Dam spillway, and the photo below shows the Santiago Dam spillway.
The third photo (below) shows the flooded intersection of Bolsa and Harbor Blvd, in Santa Ana. Businesses shown include Food Ranch Market, Bolsa Auto, and one of the old Stanley Meston-designed McDonald's restaurants. Note also the Huntington Savings billboard. Does anyone know the significance of the lifesized sailor in a crow's nest overlooking the intersection?
Kai Weisser, who wrote a book about the history of the Huntington Beach Lifeguards, now has his own blog. He says "it will primarily be book related, HB lifeguard and beach related. I may from time to time include general H.B. [history], which I have a few photos of, or [other related] stuff that comes my way.".
The Register reports that a Vietnam War museum has been proposed for Orange County.
The Register reports that a Vietnam War museum has been proposed for Orange County.
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Architect Richard Dodd will give a talk about "The Bungalow Era in Orange County - The Embodiment of the Arts & Crafts Movement" at the Mary Wilson Branch Library, 707 Electric Ave., Seal Beach, Jan. 28, 7pm. If you attend, be sure to also check out the Seal Beach Historical & Cultural Society's restored Pacific Electric "Red Car" adjacent to the library.
7 comments:
Wow Chris, I remember the Harbor & Bolsa intersection in the 1969 flood.
I recall cars stalled out in water and being amazed how deep the water appeared. The pirate in the crows nest was something of great amazement to me as a child. I thought the pirate was looking out towards the ocean.
There used to be a number of eclectic business along this strip of Harbor Blvd; various types of bars, used car dealers, straw berry patches, mom & pop food places,etc...
Chris, we moved to Garden Grove in 1964. I recall the sailor in the crow's nest quite well. I'm pretty sure that there was a bar or restaraunt there called either The Crows Nest or The Lookout. I also remember the ranch market as Red's Ranch Market.
Chris, I remember the "Crows Nest" was a bar on that corner. my parents drove us past that intersection every day.
So the pirate/sailor really appealed to the kids, eh? That's what you want when advertising a bar: Something that appeals to the kids. Sheesh!
I used to live down the street at Harbor and Lilac. As a kid, you remember things like the pirates in the Crow's Nest. My parents used to take us to that Mcdonald's. My grandmother used to take me the the market as well. My father later told me that he was concerned that the Santa Ana River which is close by was going to overflow and would force us to flee the area. Luckily, it came close but never flooded. I remember the water coming up to the bottom of the bridges that cross the river.
My uncle, lost his life saving 13 Boy Scouts from a bridge during this flood. His body was never recovered. I would like to gather more information on this, there is NOTHING listed for him online.
The Crows nest was the name of the bar and it was on the southeast quadrant of bolsa and harbor. Red's Ranch market was on the southwest quadrant.I lived in Bali Hi trailer park('62-'65) and would walk one block to get vegetables from RED'S for my mother. Bali Hi was surrounded by strawberry fields back then and still exists to this day(minus the fields).We lived there while they built a trailer park (Kona Kai) adjacent and behind us. As that park filled up a girl and her family moved in and she became my first love.Some memories will be with me forever. Orange County was a grand place to spend my youth and the late 50's & early 60's were an exciting period.
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