IN THE PIPELINE:Relic traces show history

Whenever I travel, either to a big city or small town, I enjoy looking for traces of the past — maybe a faded advertisement painted large on a building side, obscure ruins — some forgotten remnant that creates an echo of the past. Though the seemingly heartless churn of urban development has an efficient way of vanquishing many pieces of history, you’d be surprised at how many survive. You just have to know where to look.

In studying Huntington Beach I’ve come across some relic traces that might make for an interesting local history tour this summer, perhaps on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

The first site comes courtesy of my friend John Andrews, who noticed an odd structure parked at South Coast Supply on Goldenwest Street near Garfield Avenue. John thought it might be the old airport tower from Meadowlark Airport. I drove past, took some photos and realized that while John’s guess was a smart one, it was actually the lifeguard Tower Zero that was at one time located on the old pier! I spoke with Ron Brindle, who owns the property, and he explained that it’s being kept there as a favor to a friend. If you happen to be driving past, it’s certainly worth a glance.

Next is the old jailhouse behind the Longboard Restaurant and Pub on Main Street. Many have seen it, but I bet just as many have not. Built in about 1914, this imposing brick-and-mortar cell was where the rowdiest Huntington Beach offenders spent the night, essentially in isolation.

Next to it is a row of other old brick cells, which are used for more innocent practices today, acting as storage units. Located just off Main Street, these cells were strategically placed to handle the flow from the bars along the main drag leading to the pier. (The city’s original police station was next to these cells).

Just a couple of blocks away at Sixth Street and Walnut Avenue is the Helme House, one of the most historic homes in the city. A mule team moved it from 11 miles away in Santa Ana to this corner in 1903. Many of you probably know the house, but look closely on the outside and you’ll see the old horse latching rings that were discovered during street reconstruction in 1992.

In the terrific International Surfing Museum on Olive Avenue is an interesting chunk of city history — the cornerstone from the original Huntington Beach pier.

The next piece of history may be my favorite, because I like trains and I’m constantly trying to envision what it was like to have trolley train cars cruising up the coast and stopping at Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street, where the station used to be. If you head to 17th street and Pacific Coast Highway and go down to the sand, there you will find some of the original track that used to run up and down the coast.

It’s crumbling away in many places, but it is there and a train aficionado I know verified that it is in fact what it appears to be. Also, near Jack in the Box at PCH and Warner Avenue, old seams in the road from the tracks appear to be running into the beach parking lot next to the fast food restaurant. If you head down to investigate this, on the way, make sure to walk out on the bluff at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands. The bunch of palm trees there marks where the famed Huntington Beach Gun Club used to sit (and some foundation ruins are left in the ground).

Right next to that site you’ll also be able to see World War II artillery mounts which were erected on this vantage point hill to patrol the waters for enemy invaders (Surf City was never attacked though).

Heading back for a moment to the area where the old tracks lie in the sand, if you continue toward Dog Beach, pay attention to the tons of rubble that help support the wall leading down from the bluffs. A lot of it is what’s left of old Main Street in Huntington Beach.

There are other bits and pieces of historic ephemera, too. Supposedly, the pelican sculptures at City Hall used to exist at the Seacliff Shopping Center. And the ever-observant John Andrews told me that the Old Navy store at Five Points used to be a movie theater. In fact, he said if you ever go in there, to check out the roof and you’ll see where the screens were once located.

Do you know of other historic Huntington Beach remnants? Post them at my column at www.hbindependent. com/columns/.

And take some time to study what’s left of the old city. You never know when it might be too late.

Thanks to Chris Macdonald and Bob Slater at the Huntington Beach Kiwanis Club for having me speak at their luncheon recently. They are a lively, spirited bunch that does wonderful things for many people in Huntington Beach.