The Coast Highway from Los Angeles to San Diego began to carry the ‘New’ automobiles from about 1900. These new rides began to squeeze out the horse and buggies as well as the bicyclist by the 1920’s. In 1925 the Federal government designated the Coast Highway as US Highway 101. It followed the route of Hill Street in Oceanside, which was changed recently to Coast Highway. In 1998 the State of California designated the old and existing Highway 101 as Historic.

619 South Coast Highway In 1922 Lizzie R. Frankenfield bought this property and erected 10 clapboard beach cottages, each were 8 x 16 feet. The cottages contained a kitchen and a sleeping room. The name auto court was used to promote the property in 1934. The auto courts were the first motels.

602 South Coast Highway In 1924 Ernest and Hannah Ekegren(The Ekegrens built and operated the 101 Café) purchased this property and constructed the Oceanside Funeral Parlor. The name change to Johnson-Ekegren Funeral Parlor brought about the purchase of a new Nash Special 6 ambulance, which added to a new dimension to the funeral business. While changes have been made to this property it remains a funeral parlor today.

530 South Coast Highway Immediately following the war in 1945 the Thill family had the one and a half story Modern brick and stucco building erected. The edifice fit neatly into the Chamber of Commerce modernization efforts, which followed the war. Furniture was sold from the opening.

525 South Coast Highway The M. H. Golden Construction Company purchased the property in 1945 and constructed the 1-2 story Post World War II Modern stucco and Brick commercial building here in 1946. Van’s Supermarket operated here and was one of the early local chains, catered to the post World War II population boom in Oceanside and remained at this location until 1955.

501 South Coast Highway Joseph A. Giro purchased this property in 1948 and erected his Pontiac showroom and garage here, which was completed in 1949. Consider the most modern dealership at its time. Later when the Pontiac dealership was sold the Long family purchased the property and began to sell AMC’s.

405 South Coast Highway C.M. Pilgrim purchased this property and constructed a garage and auto sales showroom. This 1927-1928 building was modernized in the late 1940s with the installation of aluminum framed plate glass windows and doors. It refleceted the look the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce wished to show to Highway 101 customers. It was tghe location of a Studebaker Agencey for many years.

Historic Highway 101 Walking Tour 631 South Coast Highway Oceanside, CA 92054 Toll Free: Phone: 760-439-1319 Fax: 760-722-0941 visit our web site

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