Pacific Coast Highway and Huntington Beach

Here's an ad from the Nov. 24, 1916 edition of the Huntington Beach News, proclaiming the impending arrival of the new Coast Boulevard, (now known as Pacific Coast Highway. A few interesting points: The wide spot in the road called Los Patos was at the top of the bluffs just above the point where Warner Ave. crosses the highway.

Also note the zig-zaggy path from the bottom right corner of the map up toward Santa Ana. That was the short-lived Pacific Electric route that ran from H.B. to Talbert (now Fountain Valley), to Greenville and on to Santa Ana. When a flood knocked out the bridge over the Santa Ana River, it was never rebuilt. However, portions of the track from Santa Ana down through Greenville still exist.

The rest of the ad reads,...

"It is estimated that more than 500,000 people with at least 100,000 automobiles visit Long Beach annually. With the completion of a Coast Boulevard, Huntington Beach is sure to get a good share of this travel. Many are going to be impressed with our fine, high townsite and decide to stay here. Why not?
"Our three and a half miles of beach is second to none. We have back of us the richest farm lands in California, and OUR PRICES ARE THE LOWEST. Now is the time to invest before the completion of the Coast Boulevard. We have only a few close-in lots left on our special terms of NO TAXES AND NO INTEREST. Come in and see us before it is too late.
HUNTINGTON BEACH COMPANY"

Speaking of Huntington Beach, Snake Gabrielson's online "Surfing Library" has posted local hero Bud Higgin's memories of the earliest days of surfing in the area. Link on over.