Our grandparents (the Lawheads) moved to Seal Beach in 1917 and built the house on 11th Steet. Our dad, D. D. Lawhead owned a gas station on PCH and Main Street. There was a grocery store on the corner of Main St. and Central and across the street was a drugstore that Mr. Beno owned.
There used to be a Masonic Lodge on Main Street. Memories of the Joy Zone are still with him and as a youngster he road the roller coaster before they closed it. It was closed for quite a few years and we could see it all day long doing no business. Earlier, when we were young, we could see that people would come down on the Red Car during the weekends. It was quite a place and there was a lot of parking for people to park their cars. They didn’t all come down on the Red Car. But we were little kids during the time it was running so we didn’t get down to the beach.
We couldn’t go down there, because our mothers wouldn’t let us go down there by ourselves. But there were never 20,000 people down there. Not that many came on the weekends unless they had a big celebration of some kind. When Stewart was 18, James Zoeter’s dad had a garage where he built three paddle boards. It was about a 40-pound board and Mr. Zoeter had the saws and equipment we needed. We rode those things all summer long.
Upcoming Founders Day Events
These two sport events are just a few of the various activities that will be happening in October to celebrate the 95th Birthday of Seal Beach.
Wednesday, Oct. 6, A fun tennis mixer tournament at Seal Beach Tennis Center, 3900 Lampson Ave., 6:30 p.m. Beginners to advanced. All proceeds will benefit youth recreational programs. Tickets: $25.00 per person can be purchased at Parks and Recreation Department at City Hall and Seal Beach Tennis Center. After play party with refreshments and awards . Please contact Marc Loopesko: 562 493-1015 for sponsorship opportunities and information.Court Sponsor, $25; Awards Sponsor, $50; Refreshment Sponsor, $50. Your name or business will be recognized.
Thursday, Oct. 7, Golf tournament at Bixby Village Golf Course, tee time, 1 p.m. $45.00 includes dinner with awards ceremony and prizes at 5 p.m., Seal Beach Senior Center. Please contact Perry Watson: 562 598-9294 for entry forms or to be a friendly sponsor. Entry forms can also be found at the Seal Beach Pier on Saturdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. or City Hall
Your Entry Fee or sponsorship are Tax Deductible. Tax I.D. #95-6000794 Make check payable to: Seal Beach Founder’s Day and mail to City Hall Recreation Dept. 211 8th St., Seal Beach, CA 90740 All proceeds will benefit the youth recreation programs.
