“Little Chicago.” That’s the nickname Seaside earned, because of the diversity of ethnic and racial groups that live there. The demographics of today’s Seaside were heavily influenced by Fort Ord. Many African Americans, who served at the fort, settled in the town. Today, black, white, and brown families live as neighbors—like the geese pictured here on Roberts Lake.

Vision and ambition let Dr. John L.D. Roberts to subdivide the rancho he bought from his uncle, and sell the lots as a new resort community. Seeing a resort where only sand dunes stood at the time was quite a stretch! People had been travelling the few miles northward from Monterey for years to picnic under an Oak tree so large its limbs were said to shade half an acre. The oak grew at the corner of present day Olympia and Roberts Avenues. All one can find there now is the concrete of an office supply store parking lot. Even the road named for Seaside’s founder has been reduced to an irrelevant dead end by recent retail development.

The Phelps House in Seaside is a lovely example of early century architecture. Its placement on high ground still gives it an unobstructed view toward Monterey Bay, the peninsula, and nightly sunsets.

Felton and
the RailRoads