Historical treasure to be found at the public library

HOW I READ IT

Let’s begin an odyssey through our very own Public Library.

We will “check-out” all the wonderful and free entertainment and

information data and services that are available through this

incredible institution. Think of our library as the internet without

e-bay and with friendly and knowledgeable people to help you with all

your questions.

We will start this adventure in the room that makes our library

unique from any other library in the world! It’s called the “Quiet

Room” or Local History Room. It is the heart of our library and

contains extensive written, photographed and illustrated historical

information about Laguna Beach. Here are a few treasures you will

find in this room:

* Biographies of notable residents.

* News accounts and other information about local fires,

earthquakes, floods and other disasters as reported at the time they

occurred.

* Art Festival original brochures and news coverage.

* Laguna’s first newspaper, “Laguna Life.” First printed Nov.

1919, plus subsequent papers including “The South Coast News,” “The

Coastline” and “Laguna Beach Post.”

* Laguna Beach High School year books.

* A treasure house of photographs including one depicting a time

when tents were the only structures at Main Beach.

* A collection of Laguna Beach postcards from 1908.

* Laguna Beach phone books dating from 1935 and advertising,

along with other still operating establishments; Bird’s White House

Cafe & Tavern - telephone 134.

* “The Oak Book Case,” contains several historical books

describing Laguna Beach’s part in creating the present-day Orange

County. Two excellent examples are “Laguna Beach of Early Days” by

Joseph S. Thurston - copy 1947 and “The First 100 years in Laguna

Beach, 1876-1976” by Merle and Mabel Ramsey.

This is just the beginning of our odyssey through our grand

library and we will continue exploring its treasures in future

columns.

If anything incites your interest, please, “Check Us Out.”

* Doug Bowler is a native Californian, who along with his wife,

has been experiencing the good life of Laguna Beach for the past 18+

years.