The story of Frank Arterberry

In the beginning, Huntington Beach was a quiet, peaceful beach town that some would refer to as a paradise on earth, an idyllic haven from the busy outside world to the north, a place to relax and raise a family.

But as Adam and Eve found out, paradise is not forever, and so it was with Huntington Beach.

It was on May 24, 1920, that our sleepy paradise ceased. A Standard Oil Company well, Huntington A No. 1, struck oil, and shortly thereafter Bolsa Chica No. 1 came in at 2,000 barrels a day.

Our oil boom was on.

Men from all over the country flocked to town with high hopes of becoming rich. From a town of less than 1,000 people, our town swelled sevenfold almost overnight.

Most of these men were farm boys and knew what hard work was all about, and working in the oil field was backbreaking work.

As the oil boom waned, many of these men would move on to greener pastures, but some remained here for the rest of their lives.

Such a man was Frank Arterberry.

People today can’t imagine America without good roads, but before 1920 most roads were just dirt trails, and on just such a trail Frank Arterberry was born.

While traveling from Texas to Oklahoma, Frank’s parents, Ed and Cora Arterberry, were passing through Kinsley, Kan., on Jan. 12, 1914, when Cora gave birth to a son.

The family would eventually settle in Claremore, Okla., where Frank and his two brothers, David Francis and Buton John, grew up.

Ed, Cora and family made seven trips from their home in Oklahoma to California before settling in Orange County.

They chose Huntington Beach for their new hometown.

Frank attended Central Elementary School -- Dwyer Middle School today -- on Palm Avenue and graduated there after completing eighth grade in 1927.

Frank would finish his education at Newport Harbor High School in 1931.

He met Alma Dye of Costa Mesa, and at the age of 22 Frank married Alma on Aug. 18, 1936.

Frank went to work in our oil field for several companies, working on the wooden derricks.

He would later become a driver, delivering oil in company trucks and tankers.

When World War II came, Frank was inducted into military service, and with his knowledge of heavy equipment was assigned to the armored division at Fort Knox, Ky.

From there Frank was sent to Europe, where he was assigned as a tank driver to the 5th Army Battalion under General George Patton.

During one battle in Italy, his unit was bombed, and he had his tank blown out from under him.

After that, Frank gave up tank driving to become a footsoldier and would see action from one end of Italy to the other.

Frank was one of the few soldiers who survived the infamous Poe Valley Push, and in latter years he would recall the men who gave their lives for freedom during that battle.

Returning home to Huntington Beach, Frank continued driving trucks, and he and Alma lived at 1815 Pine St.

Frank ran a business dealing in oil field salvage and equipment at 19161 Crystal St., which is now Gothard Street.

Frank always enjoyed going on hunting and fishing trips.

Locals always found Frank to be a happy and jolly friend and pal and knew he would go out of his way for his friends.

But life played a dirty trick on Frank. In 1971 he fell ill, and as his illness continued through the years, it would put a financial strain on Ed and Alma.

Frank remained cheerful and would relax at home with Alma and their cat Buttermilk.

Frank passed away on May 12, 1978, here in Huntington Beach.

Although Frank is no longer with us, his memory will live on in his many friends and neighbors.

* JERRY PERSON is a local historian and longtime Huntington Beach resident. If you have ideas for future columns, write him at P.O. Box 7182, Huntington Beach, CA 92615.

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