
Eric Duvall
All Stories

The weekly newspaper that ran from 1950 to 1970 declared itself the only paper '100% interested in San Diego's Peninsula area'

A Page from History: Story of OB’s little library is beginning a new chapter
With the library's expansion project moving forward, here's a look back at its evolution, beginning in 1916

A Page from History: 51 laps around the Point — the great 1915 road race
50,000 fans turned out to watch 19 cars speed 305 miles around local streets

A Page from History: Memories run deep of the ocean-diving bathyscaph Trieste
The Point Loma-based Navy craft made a historic plunge to the very bottom of the sea in January 1960

A Page from History: Carl Schroder and the quest for a fishing pier in Ocean Beach
The 1966 completion of the current pier, which now is planned for replacement, was the culmination of a decades-long pursuit

A Page from History: From Point Loma House to Homestead at Lomaland
Now-obscure hotel played a key role in what became the Theosophical White City on the Hill

A Page from History: The renaissance of the Ocean Beach Woman’s Club
The club has survived waves and fire in its 100 years of 'Friendship, community, fun and philanthropy.'

A Page from History: To Duckville and beyond
When last we looked in on the denizens of Duckville, that rustic refuge and sportsman’s sanctuary perched so precariously on the mudflats in and among the bulrushes of False Bay,...

A Page from History: Made in the shade – Point Loma’s remarkable Rosecroft Gardens
“See that big old tree,” Scotty Hunter would say as he regaled his cronies. “Teddy Roosevelt planted that tree.” Quite a claim, you’ll agree. The fact that the great Afrocarpus...

A Page from History: Tunaman’s Memorial evokes a storied era of Point Loma’s past
Commercial fishing can be a lucrative business. It also can be a very dangerous business. The tuna fishing industry has had such a profound influence on the development of Point...

A Page from History: A time capsule of Ocean Beach churches
Standing on the southwest corner of the bustling intersection at Saratoga Avenue and Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, the big Methodist church has been a hub of Ocean Beach activity for just...

A Page from History: ing Clint Cary – XiB/2, the Spaceman of Ocean Beach
One thing we learned in this space last month is that "they are most definitely out there." The UAPs, that is (unidentified aerial phenomena) ... the NHI (non-human intelligence). Nothing new,...

A Page from History: USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group meets the ‘flying Tic Tac’
All was calm and bright on the morning of Nov. 14, 2004. “If you’re familiar with the weather in San Diego ... it was as close to perfect as you...

A Page from History: Schools, camps, sailors – Naval Training Center was all that and a lot more
This year is the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the former Naval Training Center — now the Liberty Station commercial and cultural complex — in Point Loma. Here is...

A Page from History: A salute to the former Naval Training Center on its 100th anniversary
This year is the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the former Naval Training Center — now the Liberty Station commercial and cultural complex — in Point Loma. Here is...

A Page from History: Ocean Beach lifeguards to the rescue
San Diego police lifesaver Louis Chauvaud was worried he might have his hands full that Sunday. Balmy conditions on May 5, 1918, almost guaranteed a large crowd at Ocean Beach....

A Page from History: A return to Wonderland, Ocean Beach’s short-lived ‘enchanted’ amusement park
The Ocean Beach streetcars were packed and running every 20 minutes instead of the usual hourly train. An anticipatory buzz among the engers made for a jolly jaunt from downtown...

A Page from History: Sports arena is San Diego’s hall of memories
Just for the record and right from the face-off here, we will stipulate that “4-B liked O’Ree.”Everybody knew it. A banner in the rafters above that section in the San...

A Page from History: ing The Beach News on its 100th anniversary
This column is known as "A Page from History." A page. In this episode, however, we are going to go very large and consider no less than thousands of pages...

A Page from History: Surfing championships brought the world to Ocean Beach in ’66
In September 1966, "The Sound of Music" was still playing at the Loma Theater. The American Football League’s San Diego Chargers ( them?) were off to a promising 3-0 start....

A Page from History: Navy Radio Point Loma was on early wave of wireless telegraphy for West Coast
As you blithely cruise your electric bicycle past the gates of Naval Base Point Loma, you really don’t notice the offices of NIWC (Naval Information Warfare Center) Pacific, do you?...

A Page from History: Westgate Park was a whole new ballgame for the old PCL Padres
In the little town where I grew up, the advent of summertime always meant that baseball was back. At least it did for me. I was 8 years old in...

A Page from History: Charlie Collier and the Point Loma Railroad
As the sands of time drifted into the 20th century, conditions remained very nice at the mussel beds on the west side of Point Loma. Nice and slow, that is....

A Page from History: Success on the shore – the story of Shelter Island
The course of history seldom runs in a straight line. In fact, history may often be said to meander in one direction for a time until that path is changed....

A Page from History: OB’s Wisteria Cottage has kept love on the vine for 115 years
Valentine’s Day has come and gone, but any time is the perfect time for a love story. This is one love story that happens to involve several families, a cozy...

A Page from History: The tales of Duckville still call
We’d like to take you all out to Duckville this weekend. Be a hoot, wouldn’t it? Nice and quiet, catch some halibut maybe, tell some tall tales around the wood...

A Page from History: On the couch at The In-Between
The 1960s were a time of societal upheaval. Popular social and elected leaders were shot down in broad daylight. The only thing about the the U.S. involvement in another war...

A Page from History: The twisty past of Ocean Beach’s holiday tree
What do you know about the OB tree? It always leans to the left ... right? Well, that would depend on your vantage point. Or what side of the (chain...

A Page from History: A look back at Charlie Collier’s once-famous shack
Welcome to Collier’s Shack, friends and neighbors! Our guests are always encouraged to relax, put their feet up, recharge their batteries and enjoy our fresh air, balmy breezes and unparalleled...

A Page from History: Bouncing along the old La Playa Trail
The weather is nice and balmy this July, so let’s get outside and go for a little ramble down the old La Playa Trail. By San Diego standards, where anything...

A Page from History: Point Loma ready to continue the tradition of Festa May 21-23
Isabel of Aragon was promised to Diniz, the crown prince of Portugal, when she was only 10 years old. She became a teenage bride, and later queen, when Diniz ascended...

A Page from History: Ocean Beach’s little co-op that could
It happened on Voltaire Street.In the early decades of the community, Ocean Beach “boosters” touted Voltaire Street as an “avenue of opportunity” and Ocean Beach as the little town with...

A Page from History: Kite Festival is still high on the Ocean Beach event list after 73 years
The blustery breezes of March have always blown some added anticipation and excitement into the hearts of Ocean Beach children. In fact, all true Obcecians feel the same way, for...

A Page from History: Rapid transit comes to the beach
The first of May 1924 was a “red letter day” in the history of Ocean Beach. How do we know this? It said so across the top of The Beach...

A Page from History: How Albert G. Spalding became the father of Sunset Cliffs Park
Every evening, the “sunseteers” descend on Sunset Cliffs. Yes, the selfie-popping, Instagramming throngs are keenly aware of the fact that the only legit place to watch the sunset is Sunset...

A Page from History: Ocean Beach’s old Strand Theatre created many fond memories for longtime movie fan
The last motion picture projector from the old Strand Theatre in Ocean Beach sat abandoned and forlorn in the Wings Beachwear store for 20 years. Maybe 21. A store employee...

A Page from History: Lomaland’s Greek Theater made an ideal setting for ‘The Tempest’ in the ’20s
“To over the threshold of the steps leading down into the beautiful stage ... gave one the impression of being transported from mundane things into a world created by...

A Page from History: 1934 Pioneers Picnic and Barbecue celebrated summer in Ocean Beach
The 41st Ocean Beach Street Fair has been given the year off (for good behavior) this summer, so we all have a year to wait for the resumption of that...