George Cate arrived in Redondo Beach before it became a city. Born in Quincy, Illinois, in 1864, Cate came west and settled in Redondo Beach in 1886, six years before the city’s incorporation. Trying his hand at small business, he decided to open the first livery stable in the small seaside settlement. When Redondo incorporatedContinue reading “George Cate, founder of Pacific Crest Cemetery in Redondo Beach”
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Los Angeles Harbor College in Wilmington has filled a crucial educational need since 1949
The end of World War II, and the subsequent return home of thousands of American soldiers, meant a ramping up of the social infrastructure on the home front to accommodate them. A crucial component in need of beefing up was education, particularly post-secondary schools. The community college idea, first pioneered in California by Fresno CityContinue reading “Los Angeles Harbor College in Wilmington has filled a crucial educational need since 1949”
The Tasman Sea found new life – but it took a few years
Most people would identify the Tasman Sea as that portion of the South Pacific located between Australia and New Zealand. San Pedro and Rancho Palos Verdes residents would identify it more as the rambling motel/restaurant development that used to be located on Western Avenue just across from Peck Park. The Tasman Sea Motor Hotel andContinue reading “The Tasman Sea found new life – but it took a few years”
No South Bay History blog post this week
The South Bay History week is taking this week off, but will return next week. Thanks for reading!
Barton Hill Elementary has educated San Pedro children for more than a century
Barton Hill Elementary School, sometimes referred to as simply Barton Hill School, opened on the north end of San Pedro in 1909. One of the oldest public schools in San Pedro, the distinctive one-building schoolhouse was built at 423 N. Pacific Avenue. (The original Fifth Street School, built in 1885 and no longer standing, wasContinue reading “Barton Hill Elementary has educated San Pedro children for more than a century”
The Westport Beach Club’s days in the sun in Playa del Rey
In an earlier post, we talked about the origins of Playa del Rey, the beachfront community south of Ballona Creek. The new settlement opened for business in 1902, when housing lots went on sale in the area. In 1924, the Minneapolis real estate firm of Dickinson & Gillespie began selling lots in the Palisades DelContinue reading “The Westport Beach Club’s days in the sun in Playa del Rey”
Inglewood’s commercial landscape once was dotted with movie theaters
Things are looking up in the city of Inglewood. City leaders and boosters point to MSG’s $100 million renovation of the Forum into a top-flight concert attraction — a series of Eagles reopened the venue in January 2014 — as the first sign that the city was turning around its negative image. The wholly redone,Continue reading “Inglewood’s commercial landscape once was dotted with movie theaters”
Even without planes, Los Angeles Air Force Base plays a vital role
Los Angeles Air Force Base is the Air Force’s only active duty facility in Los Angeles County. It also controls a separate housing and administrative unit at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro. The base, at 483 N. Aviation Boulevard, moved to its current location across the street from The Aerospace Corp. in 2006, next doorContinue reading “Even without planes, Los Angeles Air Force Base plays a vital role”
No South Bay History blog post this week
The South Bay History week is taking this week off, but will return next week. Thanks for reading!
Metlox’s long history in Manhattan Beach
The story of Metlox Pottery in Manhattan Beach begins with Theodore C. Prouty. Born in Michigan, T.C. Prouty, as he was known, was an inventor who came to specialize in industrial ceramics, though he first worked on inventing military equipment during World War I, including tachometers for airplanes. He moved to Southern California in 1918Continue reading “Metlox’s long history in Manhattan Beach”
