At the age of 125 this year, Ocean Beach remains as vibrant and vital as ever. To celebrate the quasquicentennial, the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association (OBMA), Ocean Beach Historical Society and the Peninsula Beacon have partnered for the yearlong fete honoring the independent and successful beach town. Ashley Lewis from Dog Beach Design kicked the party off by designing an anniversary logo that will appear on all events during the year. The logo captures the essence of Ocean Beach that has endured since its founding in 1887. It illustrates surfboards on top of a woodie stationwagon overlooking the ocean and pier at sunset. By mid-March, special Ocean Beach merchandise like T-shirts, stickers and medallions should be on sale at stores throughout town, said Denny Knox, executive director of the OBMA. “Money from the merchandise will go into a pot for beautifying efforts and to clean up the beachfront,” Knox said. The celebration continues with a four-part business-development series being offered to OBMA members. “It’s an energetic start to the 125th to celebrate the community and enjoy what we have here, and to put our best foot forward,” Knox said. The next speaker in the series will be customer-service expert Susan Clarke. She will present a seminar free to OMBA members at 7:30 a.m. on April 10 at Electric Ladyland, 4944 Newport Ave. in the concert room. In support of the anniversary, the Ocean Beach Historical Society is inviting people to share their memories. The historical society is celebrating its 18th anniversary this year. It was founded in 1994 when Carol Bowers put a notice in The Beacon inviting people to form a historical society. “Eight or 10 of us showed up at the Ocean Beach Branch Library,” said Pat James, co-founder. “And we were off the ground.” The historical society keeps a photographic archive at the United Methodist Church on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. The collection may be viewed by appointment. James said he hopes to have a more permanent and accessible exhibit later. “Ocean Beach has a pretty colorful history in only 125 years of existence,” James said. Knox said many people think their Ocean Beach experiences are not significant. But as a collective, individual memories are important and contribute to a detailed history for generations to come. For instance, Robb Field wasn’t always a part of Ocean Beach. Before it was an all-encompassing athletic complex with everything from tennis courts to a skate park, it was a saltwater flat at one end. M. Jeanne Faucon-Mooers remembers it as Smith’s Point, where she went to study the tidepools with her seashore biology class from Point Loma High School. Faucon-Mooers, who is planning a 62-year high school reunion with her classmates, also recalls the days when the fire station was on Newport Avenue and her father, Maurie Mooers, was fire captain. “One day, kids were digging in the sandstone cliffs and a little girl was killed,” she said. “Dad was quite shaken. Sandstone isn’t meant to be stable.” But such is the tapestry of history woven over 125 years, setting the stage for more history and memories to come. For more information, visit www.oceanbeachsandiego.com or www.obhistory.wordpress.com.
