What was " C " St. like back before there was a freeway that connected LA with Ventura?

In a word... different. In 2 words... very different.

 

The core group of surfers from the early days before the beach got developed in Ventura is what made or gave the local surf community it's personality.  The collective mind set.  Watching the  beach change and the surf along with it... not for the better, can have an effect.

 

Watching single family homes being demolished for a three level parking garage to accommodate the patrons of a large hotel that was also erected right on the beach. Then seeing a large condominium project build out and a 100 or more apartments go up, again right on the beach may have had a hardening effect on that local mind set.

 

Sure we changed or as one friend of mind has said " I've evolved ". But that memory of what was and how things were is still under the surface... And that mind set is passed on to the newer younger guys as well.  So the local surf community mind set lives on and most likely will for some time.

 

It's hard to articulate but maybe this picture will help.  And the question is... what would you think the feel and atmosphere of " C " St. would be like if when you came down California St. to the beach and instead of turning right and going on to Paseo de Playa or up to the free lot at the point or the 2 dollar lot you went straight down to the sand and stopped in front of this house to look at the surf?

 

D.R.

 



Click on the picture to enlarge and note the street sign.

The beach was directly to the left.

Sadly, I watched the wrecking ball go through this house.