Seaside Blossoms

Seaside is the most racially and culturally diverse community on the Monterey Peninsula, a direct result of its history with the Army. Before 1950 it was a sprawling, unincorporated area known as “North Monterey” with an array of chicken farms, one major housing subdivision, some shacks left over from the Depression and some quickly built, affordable housing put up for soldiers’ families and civilian support staff during World War I and World War II. After President Harry Truman ordered the Army integrated in 1948, military officials decided to transfer all the black troops to Fort Ord because they were worried about racial violence elsewhere. The surge of black troops and their families into Fort Ord more than doubled the population of Seaside in the early ‘50s, and it incorporated as a city in 1954. When the base closed 40 years later and the soldiers left, many Latinos and Asians moved into the housing built for troops, helping change the racial and cultural mix of the city yet again.

Clint Eastwood at Ford Ord

(Photo: Eastwood in the Army. Photo found in the collection of Darren Allison, ownership not determined.)

Clint Eastwood was a young GI stationed at Fort Ord in 1951 when he explored Carmel, Pebble Beach, Monterey, and Salinas on his $75-a-month salary. He said in later interviews the he didn't plan to own much in those days, but after studying business administration and acting in Los Angeles, and working at a series of menial jobs, Clint played the "Rawhide" TV series in 1959 as young wrangler Rowdy Yates. With that acting money, he bought a weekend retreat in Pebble Beach, "a tiny house" across from the Monterey Peninsula Country Club, for $20,000. A stream of hit movies followed and Clint surpassed John Wayne as the biggest box office draw in Hollywood history. He bought bigger houses in Pebble Beach and Carmel, the Mission Ranch and other notable properties in Carmel, Carmel Valley, Carmel Highlands and Pebble Beach. He is now one of the principal owners of the Pebble Beach Company, its posh hotels and world-famous golf courses.

Fort Ord's Mascot

In 1941, ten months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the newly activated 7th Infantry at Fort Ord was able to indulge in a love of dogs that is still seen on the Monterey Peninsula. Among the base's 15,000 men lived 75 dogs. Private Everett Scott had left his 10-year-old airdale back at his farm in Kansas, and the grieving dog named Laddie had lost 15 of his 40 pounds in the three months since Scott arrived at Fort Ord. Laddie was flown the 2,000 miles to California to be re-united with his master. When he arrived at the post he was found wrapped in blankets and hot water bottles. Laddie perked up at the sound of Scott's voice and began eating again. The base veterinarian provided blood transfusions, injections, and brandy. Men at the base hoped that Laddie would enjoy his last years chasing rabbits around the Army Reservation. But Laddie survived only four days on the base. The 7th Infantry held a simple funeral for their new – and late – mascot.