Planning and Implementation of Oceanside Small Craft Harbor
Through review of a series of newspaper articles, some sought out of the Oceanside Blade Tribune and the San Diego Union, courtesy of the Oceanside Historical Society and local historian Kristi Hawthorne, the process of creating and constructing the Oceanside small craft harbor are chronologically documented for review. In the beginning of the Oceanside harbor planning, marketing and negotiations had to be made over the land for the proposed harbor. It was reported in an article out of The San Diego Union on Wednesday November 26, 1958, “plans for the Oceanside harbor call for leasing of 60 acres of federal land at Camp Pendleton, to be dredged as an inner-harbor.” [11] During this time, Sklar was set to go on a trip to Washington with a group of three other men to conduct meetings with officials from the Bureau of Yards and Docks Navy Department, Army Engineers, the Marine Corps, the Civil Aeronautics Board, and the Department of Interior for negotiations over the federal land sought for the harbor. [12]
Nearly a year later, in the San Diego Union on Friday June 26, 1959 an article stated the Oceanside and Camp Pendleton officials had given “preliminary approval for the lease of the property which Oceanside plans to develop as a small- craft harbor for boats moving between San Diego and Los Angeles.” [13] Not only did Sklar plan to build the harbor, but he also sought to create a harbor district. According to the San Diego Union on September 8, 1959, the Oceanside harbor district “would be one of the first harbor districts formed in the state under the new state law effective Sept. 18.” [14] By creating the harbor district, revenue bond funds could be allocated toward harbor improvements. Further plans for the harbor indicated mooring facilities for nearly 600 boats and a Coast Guard cutter, and this would be finalized through the dredging of marshland near the mouth of the San Luis Rey River. [15]
In addition to the 60 acres of land sought for the harbor belonging to Camp Pendleton, part of the land also belonged to small time land owners some who were not so easy to buy out. An article out of the Oceanside Blade Tribune from June 23, 1960 discusses property owner Albert Zaiser’s threats to block the city harbor plans. The city offered Zaiser a plot of land in exchange for his land. Zaiser was agreeable to the terms under conditions that certains streets nearby had to be vacated as well. It is reported that Zaiser said, “I could sure hold up the harbor. It is entirely up to me.” [16] While these small obstacles arose along the way of securing the land for the harbor, Sklar remained focussed and continued to work hard towards planning and implementing the harbor.
In early 1961 the harbor district began to grant leases to restaurants, bait shops, a motel, fueling facilities, repair docks, and etc. According to the Oceanside Blade Tribune on September 1, 1961, “Mayor Erwin Sklar, president of the harbor district board said bid forms will probably be ready in about six weeks for the letting of the concessions at the harbor site.” [17] An official souvenir brochure for Harbor Days celebration in 1963 noted that with the completion of the harbor and the concessions, the marina will provide facilities for the boating public and visitors at the marina. [18] The Oceanside Harbor officially opened in June of 1963, shortly after the Oceanside Yacht Club was founded. [19] In a welcoming statement issued from Mayor Erwin Sklar, the Mayor said “The harbor, being the only harbor between Newport Beach and San Diego, offers boating enthusiasts and vacationers a new outlet for their enjoyment.” [20] Furthermore, Mayor Sklar expressed; “Many hours were spent in the developing of this dream which has come true and we are so grateful to those who aided in the securing of land from Camp Pendleton.” [21]
11. “Oceanside Group to Back Harbor,” The San Diego Union (November 26, 1958), Courtesy of the Oceanside Historical Society.
12. Ibid.
13. “Officials to Seek U.S. Land Lease,” The San Diego Union (June 26, 1959), Courtesy of the Oceanside Historical Society.
14. “Oceanside Harbor District Proposed,” The San Diego Union (September 8, 1959), Courtesy of the Oceanside Historical Society.
15. Ibid.
16. “Zaiser Warns he can Block City’s Harbor,” Oceanside Blade Tribune (June 23, 1960), Courtesy of Kristi Hawthorne and the Oceanside Historical Society.
17. “Prepare for Work on the Harbor,” Oceanside Blade Tribune (September 1, 1961), Courtesy of Kristi Hawthorne and the Oceanside Historical Society.
18. “Official Souvenir Program: Oceanside Small Craft Harbor Dedication; May 29 thru June 2 1963; Oceanside Junior Chamber of Commerce,” Harbor Days (1963), Courtesy of the Oceanside Historical Society.
19. Kristi Hawthorne, “History of Oceanside Harbor,” Oceanside Chamber of Commerce (February 27, 2015). https://www.oceansidechamber.com/oceanside-blog/history-of-oceanside-harbor
20. Erwin Sklar, Welcome From the Mayor of Oceanside Erwin Sklar (1963), Courtesy of the Oceanside Historical Society.
21. Ibid.