Lifeguard Memories…..from Anaheim Landing to Main Beach

Story by Libby Appelgate and Andy Seymour.

Earl Whittington was the only lifeguard in Seal Beach from  the 1920s until the early ’40s!

During those years, most of the swimming activity was centered At Anaheim Landing. Swimmers were protected from the currents of outgoing tides by a bouy line that enclosed the swimming area.

The Red Car line that ran down Electric Ave crossed by trestle over Anaheim Landing on its run to Newport Beach. By 1944 Whittington was relocated to a lifeguard station at 10th Street, equipped with a rescue dory when the navy moved in.

The Seymour family lived year round in a cottage at Anaheim Landing.   Andy Seymour describes the further evolution of life guarding in Seal Beach. “From 1948 to 1950 John Wright headed the department, he was followed by Lloyd Murray from 1951 to 1955.”   In l953 Andy Seymour moved up to Lifeguard Captain and held it until 1983 when Tim Dorsey assumed command.

During four of those summers – –  at the request of the City Manager – – Seymour also served as Recreation Director. During the off season Seymour was a high school teacher. Andy  concluded his teaching career as a high school principal in the Palos Verdes school district in 1992. After retiring from teaching Seymour returned for a second tour of duty with the city as Director of Parks, Beaches, and Recreation.

Seymour recounts a most unexpected life-guarding experience that occurred during his senior year in high school. Police Chief Lee Howard called his house early one winter morning. He said he would be by to pick up young Seymour in a few minutes. They drove quickly to the beach, opened the lifeguard tower and pulled the dory to the water line. The Chief said, “On the other side of the pier.” – nothing more. Dutifully, Seymour rowed to that location where he discovered a body floating in the water – a suicide victim. He tried unsuccessfully to lift the body into the dory. As a last resort, he tied a line to the body and rowed ashore feeling somewhat disrespectful as the morning pier walkers watched from the railing. Thus began a  summer experience with the Seal Beach Lifeguard Department that lasted 30 years.

Initially it was the local young men who applied for the summer lifeguard positions: Rich Chew, Tim and Dan Dorsey, Bob Polis, Paul Chafe, Chi Kredell, Harry Schurch, Tim McElrath, Jack and Mike Haley, (Jack was the first World Surfing Champion and the first to “shoot” the HB Pier!) Lisa Gonzales (Seal Beach’s first female lifeguard) et al. Over the years the turn-out for the lifeguard test grew to 40-50 applicants and included headline swimmers from CSULB and local high schools.

From the single tower at 10th Street, the department gradually grew to include seven towers on the main beach, two towers in Surfside, a tower and PA on the pier, and a headquarters station in the 8th Street parking lot. Three jeeps were in service each day as well as a 28 foot, twin screw rescue boat.

Their week-end crowds topped 15,000 and they recorded some 400 rescues each summer in the late 1970s. During that thirty year period only two drownings occurred – one, a heart attack victim, and a second, a swimmer in the unpatrolled San Gabriel River channel.

Don’t forget Seal Beach’s 95th Birthday Dinner/Dance on Saturday, October 2 at the Old Ranch Country Club, 3001 Lampson Ave., Seal Beach at 6 p.m.and bring all your friends. Meet Andy and his wife, Mary Privett Seymour.  Casual dress or in the style of your favorite Seal Beach era and prepare for the time of your life dancing to the music of The Emperors, a classic rock band.  A live auction will be held and all proceeds will go to “Save Our Pool”.  $75 Advance ticket sales – Call Gwen Forsythe at 562 598-9044

We are also planning a “Kids-whose-parents-are-going-to the-dance” party at Marina park if enough are interested.   It will probably cost about $20- $25 ? Games,  food, movies and fun activities from 5:30 p.m. to 10. With qualified supervision.

Parents, if you think you would be interested please contact Tim Kelsey, tkelsey@ci.seal-beach.ca.us or Carla Watson, carlawatson@verizon.net