CHASING DOWN THE MUSE:Preserving history at new Pottery Place

The Old Pottery Place is anything but old and everything that is wonderful about the possibilities of commercial development.

The “Place” embraces historic preservation tending to future needs of consumers. The official dedication party this past week celebrated the accomplishments of all who worked diligently to achieve a new retail center, while preserving a sense of the historic 1920s era buildings, formerly known as the Pottery Shack.

The official dedication ceremony on Friday evening was a standing-room-only affair. City officials mingled with artists, publicists, business owners, architects, designers — a great cross-section of those who had been involved in the project and those who simply came to admire the new collection of retail shops.

Property owner and developer Joe Hanauer officiated the evening’s remarks. He spoke of the challenge of the development and the perseverance needed to complete the project — with 56 conditions to development. Many artists who were involved in the creation of the new center were present. Their work encompassed tiles, glass, bronze sculptures and ceramics — applied to benches, fences, wall treatments and shop decoration.

The concrete statue of the “Greeter” by Charles Beauvais had been carefully refurbished by Arts Commissioner Mike Tauber. As Hanauer directed us to the statue, I couldn’t help but remember the man known as the Greeter in my early days as a Laguna resident. Eiler Larson was a well-loved icon of the ‘50s and ‘60s. An elderly gentleman with wild gray hair and flowing beard, the Greeter stood on the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Forest Avenue and waved to every passerby. In a bellowing voice, he’d call out “Hello there,” and flash a crooked smile.

The Greeter was one of my first friends in Laguna. I moved to town when I was eight years old and found settling in to the new environment difficult. It was a tight-knit community, and kids at school did not exactly open their arms to strangers.

On top of being displaced from my former circle of friends, the house that my parents had purchased was not ready for occupancy when the school year began, so we moved from rental to rental. We finally parked at an apartment complex on Cliff Drive — right next door to Mr. Larsen.

Eiler did the gardening for the apartment complex and although he looked a little strange, my mother gave him an a-OK as an acquaintance. From the first, he was kind and caring, and asked what troubled the “tiny girl.”

I told him that I was homesick and that the kids were mean. I was sleeping on a cot and all my belongings were in boxes in some faraway storage. Repeatedly, he told me that I would be OK. That Laguna Beach was a special place to live.

But he did more. He bought me a coloring book — I don’t remember the content, but I will never forget that strange bearded man who took an interest in me and made me feel at home in my new town.

Years passed, and he still stood on the corner. Friends who visited from other cities would ask who the crazy waving man was.

“He’s not crazy,” I’d reply. “He just wants to share the joy he feels for life with everyone.”

And there he still stands, on the corner of Brooks Street and Pacific Coast Highway. Funny fixtures we protect, but it is how we hold our history.

The Pottery Shack may be gone, but its history lingers amidst the new shops and restaurant. The Old Pottery Place is a great addition to Laguna Beach.