Long Beach In Years Gone By

125 Years Ago – 1901

Today, houses, factories and businesses make up greater Long Beach, but in 1901, farms and fields were what dotted the landscape. To support the agricultural industry, a canning factory, the Southland Canning Company, opened in the fall of 1901 using the old mill that stood at the east end of Second Street, near the city boundary, and close to both the Terminal and Southern Pacific railroads. An unexpected twist to the new venture, however, was the lack of tin cans, which delayed production.

In May, a school census found an enrollment of 866 children in the district. Of the 672 children within city limits, 326 were white boys and 344 white girls, and one African American boy and girl. In that district, 661 were native born. In Alamitos, there were 48 boys and 43 girls, all native born. The Burnett district had 71 school children. In Alamitos Heights, there were 33. The total of 867 was an increase of 19 per cent over last year.

To accommodate the increasing number of students, a new grammar school was being built on Atlantic between 5th and 6th, today’s Stevenson Elementary. To aid in education, the library board was anxiously looking forward to the city council taking steps to maintain the downtown library, as required by the state, and make it a free library (it was currently paid by subscriptions).

In addition, area youngsters could enjoy the YMCA rooms which opened over the post office in July. It was supplied with magazines and games.

To keep Long Beach a “family” town a law was passed in August that hotels and restaurants in Long Beach could no longer serve brandy and wine sauces with puddings and other desserts. To continue to attract tourists (despite the town’s “no alcohol” stance) an electric fountain, the largest ever brought to the coast was installed. The bowl measured 25 feet across and the water was thrown sixty feet into the air. Special trains were put in operation and great crowds gathered.

William Willmore, the city’s founder also died that year (Jan. 16). He would have been amazed at how the city once named after him “Willmore City” had developed. Little could he envision what was to come.

100 Years Ago – 1926

When Adelaide A. Tichenor, one of Long Beach’s best-known philanthropists, died in May 1924, she left a bequest of more than $300,000 for a hospital and school for crippled children. $50,000 of the money was used to build the hospital and the school; the rest was used to maintain the facilities. The city donated several acres adjoining Community Hospital for the buildings that opened on March 27, 1926.

Visitors to Long Beach after 1926 were surprised to find the city had its own castle perched above the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean. On Sept. 4, 1926, it was dedicated “to the comradeship of men”. Medieval jousting and pageantry heralded the dedication. Men at arms on chargers assisted motorcycle officers in diverting traffic. Trumpeters, dressed as pages, sounded the call for the beginning of the dedication ceremony, while pikemen stood guard on the low battlements of the building.

In September 1926, Long Beach’s social community anxiously awaited the postman. Would they receive an invitation to the fashionable “housewarming” party at the new Breakers Hotel on September 18th? Guests were being invited from as far away as New York City, and rumor had it that the Governor, Secretary of State, actor John Barrymore and other film celebrities were going to be there. Those coming from San Francisco had even chartered a special coach on the Southern Pacific. The Breaker’s “housewarming” was going to be the social event of the season!

75 Years Ago – 1951

Much of the news of 1951 was dominated by the Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953), which had a profound effect on Long Beach. The military cut-backs which the city experienced in 1950 were rescinded; perhaps the greatest economic boom was the reopening of the Navy Shipyard. The major obstacle, however, was that it was sinking because of all the oil taken out of the ground around Terminal Island. Congress soon remedied this by appropriating $1.5 million in federal funds for help with subsidence.

On April 12, 1951, the mighty battleship Missouri, her guns booming in salute, steamed into the Long Beach harbor. The “Mighty Mo,” home after six months at war, was greeted by 40 aircraft, which flew out to meet her.

What to do with aircraft assembled for war? The same thing as in the last: establish a ferrying squadron. The 1738th Ferrying Group, composed of 154 officers and 180 airmen, set up headquarters at the U.S. Air Force base at the Long Beach Municipal Airport.

Claudine Burnett is a retired research librarian who has written more than 10 books on Long Beach history as well as numerous journal articles. For more, visit her website www. claudineburnettbooks.com.