Waves of time

Angel Flores

During the 1950s, Huntington Beach emerged as the fastest-growing city in

the country. The decade opened up with 5,258 residents and doubled to

11,492 by 1960.

Between 1957 and 1960, annexations extended the city’s boundaries from

3.57 square miles to more than 25 square miles.

In 1961, the state bought a piece of land known as Tin Can Beach, which

for years was overrun by campers and squatters who left it littered with

bottles and discarded tin cans. The state removed the litter and created

Bolsa Chica State Beach.

In 1965 at the Douglas Space Center, a facility devoted to aerospace

research and development, construction began on the Saturn S-IVB upper

stage missile and the third stage of the huge Saturn V booster that would

send a team of Americans to the moon.

At that time, the company employed about 6,800 people, providing the

largest payroll in the city.

The Southern California Edison Steam plant, with 350 employees, was

credited with having the second largest payroll. The lights on the huge

plant were visible for miles and became a landmark for airplanes and

ships.

Huntington Beach was also a magnet for recreation.

During the 1950s, a statewide convention for twins was held each fall at

the pier. Contests were held that awarded prizes for such winners as the

best looking pair and the best look-a-likes.

Surfing’s popularity surged during the 1950s.

The first surf shop, Gordie’s Surf Boards, opened in 1955. Within a few

years, these shops dominated the Downtown businesses. In 1959, the city

hosted the first United States Surfboard Championship. As a result of

media attention from the event, the city and its historic pier

immediately gained fame as a surfer’s paradise.

The city’s growth spilled over into the 1960s with the expansion of the

fire department and the building of two new libraries on Main Street and

Talbert Avenue.

In 1965, Golden West College opened. On the business end, Huntington

Beach was booming in both the oil industry and agriculture.

The youthful beach rioters and hippies of the 1960s caused new concerns

for the city.

Police Chief John Smeltzer appointed a task force, called Smelter’s

Sandmen. This force patrolled the beaches wearing beachwear to be less

conspicuous and kept the problem under control.

Huntington Beach drew in crowds looking for entertainment. The

traditional parades for Fourth of July and the All Southland Salute to

Santa Claus brought thousands of spectators. Each September, the city

continued to host to the United States Surfboard Championship.

Huntington Harbour created a new lifestyle when it was built on 900 acres

at the city’s north end. The $200-million-dollar development offered

fishing, boating, swimming and beautiful scenery. The area eventually

included tennis courts, swimming pools, shopping centers, schools, parks

and mooring facilities.

The city fell victim to a flood on Feb. 24, 1969. Almost six inches of

rain fell, overflowing dams and flooding parks and nearby canyons. The

city’s storm drains and flood control channels were unable to handle the

extreme water flow and nearly all the lowlands were covered by water. The

floods resulted in $21 million in damages and five deaths.