This image is the cover for the book Laguna Beach of Early Days

Laguna Beach of Early Days

The family of Laguna Beach founding father Joseph S. Thurston claimed a shack in Aliso Canyon in 1871, when he was just three years old. Thurston's personal account of growing up in Laguna presents an intimate look at the settler's hardships, relationships and perseverance. Recalling these struggles, he paints a graphic picture of early citizens and their contributions to the growth and development of this community. Originally published in 1947, this historical narrative serves as a marvelous, unique glimpse of a bygone era. Thurston's grandson, Kelly H. Boyd, offers this revised edition for a new generation.

J.S. Thurston

Of the Laguna Beach founding fathers, J.S. Thurston was one of the first. His personal recollections begin at the age of three and paint a picture for the reader of the struggle for survival and simplicity of life, along with the joys and tragedies in the pioneer days.

The History Press