Laguna’s race track

Before the automobile period, the little village always kept active.

On Sunday, when crowded with wagons and buggies, there was always

some activity. Most of the time it was horse racing.

The only track was the road through the grove of eucalyptus trees,

now named Forest Avenue. The end of the race was what is now Coast

Highway.

Many horses were brought in from the Irvine and Moulton ranchos,

some as far away as EI Toro and Irvine. As for the wagering, this was

the novelty of the race. Having little money, anything of value would

be wagered. Saddles, harnesses, bridles, chaps and sometimes a cheap

watch. Only the well-to-do had coin. There were times a horse would

be wagered.

THE DOUBLE CENTENNIALS

Laguna Beach shared its centennial year with the telephone, which

was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876 -- the same year that

William H. Brooks rode horseback down the Laguna Canyon.

The first telephone was installed in Laguna Beach in 1923.

Laguna’s centennial year was also a bicentennial for the United

States of America and the San Juan Capistrano Mission. Four

centennials in 1976, a year of many jubilees.

* This BIT OF HISTORY comes from “The First 100 years in Laguna

Beach 1876-1976” by Merle and Mabel Ramsey. The Coastline Pilot

thanks the Laguna Beach Historical Society for this information and

obtaining permission from the Ramsey family to publish.