HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Birth of a Company and a City - Huntington Beach Company Ll F
MAY, 1978
�G`py 4t4o0
SQ N
0 � R
1
TH -
HUNTINGTON BEACH COMPANY
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
I
We celebrate our 75th Anniversary because we are proud of the quality of
our projects and the contribution they make to the continual progress of the City.
The Huntington Beach Company is involved in a unique operation - changing an
oil field into a modern, attractive residential community. It doesn't just happen.
It takes lots of planning and cooperation between Landowner,oil operator,city,and
the community.
For 75 years,the Huntington Beach Company has been part of the community's
growth and an active participant in the City's economic development. Back in 1903,
there was a beautiful beach and a town site called Pacific City- but few people.
E.A. Hartsook, President Slowly the seaside village expanded and the Huntington Beach Company built a
water system, installed electric lights and telephones, and completed street
improvements.
Then in 1920, an event happened that had a major impact on the City and our
Company. Oil was discovered and almost overnight the once quiet seaside village
became a bustling center of the petroleum industry.Oil supplied energy during the
decades of our nation's industrial growth and was vital to national defense during the
war years. It also made many residents wealthy and paid for schools,parks and city
improvements.
Our Company plans to continue what began in 1903. We will maintain oil
operations in a productive and environmentally sound manner and to phase them
out when they are no longer productive.We will continue to build quality projects
that add to the beauty and economic health of Huntington Beach.
We believe this area will continue to improve but it will take the continued
cooperation of all parties and residents in the areawho have a very real interest in the
future of Huntington Beach.
4-,y
y
The Birth of Y -
a Company and a City
it all began a long time ago Colonel Bob Northam's
when there wasjust sand and sea and a home now a landmark at
vast expanse of land in Southern Calif- -`�, "uf Yorktown and Main Streets
ornia surrounded by many small,newly
formed cities. The year was 1903; a
time of growth,expansion and changes.
On this choice land with its sunfilled , ...." llu The first Huntington Beach
skies and cool sea breezes, several - company offices Ocean
men settled their families and began ' "' Avenue near Fifth Street
farming operations. Colonel Bob
Northam, who had purchased more �/ r
than 1400 acres on the mesa,moved a
home from the Northam Station area f '
and placed it on top of a knoll (now
Yorktown and Main Streets). In 1897
he doubled the size of the house which -
-
isnowtheoldesthouseinthecityanda '--
Huntington Beach landmark.
Along the beach,first known as Shell
Beach,forty acres had been purchased
by a group of Los Angeles business- -
men interested in building a city. The
West Coast Land and Water Company Mr. C.W. Gates, first Secretary for
was formed on August 1, 1901 to sell Huntington Beach Company.
lots and create a west coast resort,
called Pacific City,to rival NewJersey's
Atlantic City.
-v
Henry E. Huntington
The original Huntington Beach pier built by First Grammar School
the West Coast Land and Water Company.
Seacliff Breeze 1
THE PACIFIC ELECTRIC
RAILWAY
1' 1 _� ' , Getting to Pacific City was some-
el thing else! The few roads through
swamp marshlands around the infant
town were all but impossible. In the
Spring, horses had to wade belly-high;
Ed Manning, Ron Shenkman, _ _ - but, by a gift of rights-of-ways and real
first Mayor newly elected estate holdings from the Huntington
1909. Mayor 1978. First City Hall Offices- second floor of the Beach Company, the Pacific Electric
Bank Building. Railway agreed to extend the tracks
r�qr from downtown Los Angeles to Main
and Ocean in Pacific City.It was on this
4hr. I a' day,the Fourth of July, 1904,that a big
celebration was held in honor of both
the completion of the railroad and the
holiday.S.V.Vickers was the master of
ceremonies when the first railroad car
y arrived from Los Angeles carrying
Pacific Electric and Huntington Beach
Company dignitaries. All day long, rail-
road cars shuttled back and forth from
! downtown Los Angeles making each
' - trip in a little less than two hours.0
Second City Hall- 1923. City Hall- today in the new 188,125 sq. ft.
Civic Center.
HUNTINGTON BEACH
COMPANY FORMED ` ' ✓
It was apparent that the West Coast -
F�m
Land and Water Company could not
get the necessary financing needed to TRn s
create a city. On May 4, 1903, a new
company was formed called the Hunt-
ington Beach Company, headed by -'
S.V. Vickers, President. Purchasing
land belonging to Colonel Northam,the �-
Huntington Beach Company em-
barked on a most energetic plan to
develop a city and yet continue the
large ranching operations of Colonel
Northam.Their local office was opened _
on Ocean Avenue near Fifth Street so
that A.L. Reed, Huntington Beach Street scene in the"Horse and Buggy"days.
Company's first Manager, could be on
hand to supervise the many projects
under construction.
Labor camps were established near
Main and Ocean, and soon the Hunt-
ington Beach Company was busy con-
structing water, electrical, and tele-
phone systems, and 27 miles of street
improvements.Trees that were rare at
that time were planted by the Hunting-
ton Beach Company and streets -
named after them.Today these streets
still bear their names. More and more
families moved into Pacific City. Soon, j` {
there were enough children for six -
>.:.. ,
grades of school. A one room building
on the west side of Main Street was
rented for the fall term with Miss Clara � .
Christianson employed as their
teacher.0 _ 4
Built in 1904, the Huntington Inn at Eighth and Ocean Avenues was the first hotel and
restaurant between Long Beach and San Diego.
2 Seacliff Breeze
111
M - ,►
CHANGING OF A NAME L On this same Fourth of July day,
during one of the speeches at the
platform erected at Fifth and Ocean,
Mr. Vickers announced the name of , At
Pacific City was being changed to
Huntington Beach,in honorof Henry E. 'f , � +•
Huntington. On August 5, 1904 it was
recorded and became official. With a
population of lessthan 1,000,Hunting- r:
ton Beach was incorporated in 1909 as
the sixth city in Orange County. i
True to their original goals,the Hunt-
ington Beach Company conti n ued their
farming operationson mostofthe 1400 ip 3'
acres of mesa, raising feed grains of .0 —
barley, corn, wheat, oats, citrons and y ..
pumpkins. They operated a breeding
farm raising and selling large Percheron
horses, and also leased some of the 1 ..
land to a company to raise fruits and .-
vegetables for their cannery located on
what are now Clay and Huntington ? «c
streets.
e� r
Clockwise from top
Pacific Electric Railway-On July 4, 1904,a
big celebration was held in honor of the corn- -
pletion of the railroad to Pacific City and in a -- -
celebration of the 4th.
Vincent's Place - "A popular hang-out" in
1909.
Fourth ofJuly-Alwaysa big dayin Huntington
Beach.In the 30'4 a sea otcars,people,flags
and oil derricks.
Another Fourth of July - The Bicentennial
year 1976 . . . and it is still a big day for
celebration in Huntington Beach. A _ ! In �, y
1911-Happysummer days were spent at the
open air plunge with bathhouse.Built at the i • .E��t _
foot of Fifth Street on the beach
Seacliff Breeze 3
A SEA OF CANVAS
Beginning in 1906,the Grand Army
of the Republic held their yearly con-
ventions in Huntington Beach. Later,
four city blocks were made available by -
the Huntington Beach Company to the ANDS. I
Methodist Church which built a large —
tabernacle in the center with a camp t City" Meeting
surrounding it. The tabernacle was Ten ✓"
later used for the first high school until place for religious re-
als
the new building was completed on a Army of the Republic and the Grand Methodist Church Taber
site donated by Huntington Beach Army conventions. nacle was used as the first
Company at Union and Main. Besides High School. In 1924 it was
the G.A.R.Conventions,this"Tent City" destroyed by fire.
hosted many religious revivals during -
the summer. The tabernacle was de-
stroyed by fire in 1924 and never re-
built.0
WATERFRONT HAPPENINGS
In 1904, the Huntington Inn was
Through the ages, built. This three-story hotel located at
aq Eighth and Ocean Avenues was the
i I sand and sea finest hotel and restaurant between
have always been Long Beach and San Diego, and a
popular stop for tourists. Owned and
the main attraction. operated by the Huntington Beach
Company,the Inn was sold in 1917 to a
famous boxer, Tommie Burns, who
A city grows played host to many of his friends and
celebrities from Los Angeles.
In 1911, an open air plunge with
Huntington Beach pier as it looks today bathhouse was built at the foot of Fifth
Street on the beach. Fresh salt water
was pumped in twice a week and hot
salt water baths were available. Due to
°® the shortage of bathtubs in homes at
that time,hundreds of people used the
bathtubfacilities at the plunge regu-
lar)y,standin inlineawaitin
their turn.
HLLater, the plunge was covered over,
and heating and filtering equipment
was installed for enjoyable warm water
swimming year-round.The plunge was
dismantled by the Huntington Beach
Compay on March 7, 1962.0
n- lilt
Z- I
I - -
s
A bevy of bathing beauties in 1924 and now. -
4 Seacliff Breeze
y
All
Early beach scene- Year unknown. S -
The beach today-A few more people, a few less garments. f�
w
INDUSTRY ENCOURAGED
In 1912, Holly Sugar saw the town
and liked what it saw. Sixty acres were ^� -
given to them by the Huntington Beach _
Company for the building of a sugar 8 j
beet processing plant (Garfield and .
Main). Nearby sites were made avail-
able for the Beach Broom Company
and the Pacific Oil Cloth and Linoleum
factory.0 - ...
Holly Sugar Company - One of the firsts '
industries to locate in Huntington Beach. -
r -
Interior of Huntington Beach broom factory.
- f .
l
OIL DISCOVERED
In 1920, Standard Oil's Well "A-1"
r
came in for 100 barrels daily on a site - -
near Goldenwest and Reservoir Hill. z
Soon,several companies had begun to 1r
drill and Huntington Beach's first N .,
gusher, Bolsa Chica Number One,
blew-in with a roar heard 15 miles
away. Initially,these companies drilled
outside the main part of town. How-
ever, when the opportunity arose
during the early 30's, the residents of
the town joined in the oil boom by r
moving their houses, stores and them-
selves to other areas.This was to be the
second biggest producing field in the = .
state and many residents were to be
made wealthy.0 r
RIGHT
In 1920,Standard Oil's Well"A-1"came in for ANDARD Ill.COMP
100 barrels daily. Pictured is Bud Higgins. OF CALIFORNIA
Al
FAR RIGHT
J.Sherman Denny, retired.Joined Company
September, 1923.Appointed manager-1947.
Retired February, 1962. +
Seacliff Breeze 5
Inferior o/first library.
� I
t .t
r Y
mope 16 p ■
r.
_ I The new 75,400 square toot public library was com-
pleted in April, 1975.
r:
Union High School-Located at
GROWTH Union and Main, the site was
In the late 20's there suddenly be- donated by Huntington Beach
came a great demand for workers of all . M -- Company
kinds to fill the many jobs in the oil
fields. Word went out that it was
possible to be working within 30
minutes upon arrival in the city, and
n a few months the town grew from " h
1,000 to 5,000. Choice jobs were on moil
the drilling crews as they were paid the Aerial view taken in 1938.
highest wages. Fifteen men were re AR
-
quired for each rig working on three
shifts around the clock. Full-time rail
crews were needed to handle the con -' -`
tinuous stream of oil cars shipping oil
out and equipment in on six railroad
sidings built at Clay Street. Almost
overnight, new businesses were - ,�-
formed (neighborhood grocery stores,
banks, restaurants,garages, bakeries, 's
pharmacies, an emergency hospital, a ._-
Western Union office and small shops
of every type).
Streets and parks were laid out by .C' c
the city, utilities installed, houses and `'
apartments were built, and schools
constructed. But, housing remained
critical. Construction couldn't keep up
with the population growth. Men
shared a room on a"shift"basis,and a
great number of shacks and tents
sprung up along the bluff next to the
beach. Families of three or four per- '!
sons rented one room in a private home
for several months until living accom-
modations were made available to
them.A city block of small cabins con-
structed out of beaver board were built.
at Fifth and Main and called "Card-
board Alley."During these hectic times,
the city became engulfed by a forest of
wooden derricks. The rhythmic sound In the 60's-Many miles of underground pipeline were used to relocate oil storage
of wells pumping day and night became tanks and pumping facilities to"Drilling Islands."Above is typical of the thirtyislands
the heartbeat of the people.0 surrounded by six to eight foot-high walls with lush trees and foliage.
6 Seacliff Breeze
PPRIL 2, M9 HUNTINGTON BEACH NEWS
-- THE CON ARTISTS
With any boom town there comes
the fast buck people, and Huntington
Beach was no exception. Gambling,
bootlegging, prostitution and con
- - games became everyday activities.
Con men and swindlers bilked an
"eager to get rich"public with sales of
$800 ---: --- stock in fictitious oil wells, or sold the
w same small oil lease to as many as
The absel to aeassmee of the trod*line m Beata Am by Jury Beat mat^^oar 1,000 prospective owners. 0
Extraordinary Offer To
Homeseekers ! OIL —THE PULSE OF LIFE
all the more desirable aaa timely In spite of problems rapid growth
brings,oil has been very ki nd to the city,
April Z 1909-Huntington Beach News ran the following ad. the schools and the taxpayers as they
paid 85%of the taxes in the community
for a great many years,while supplying
lifetime jobs to thousands of its resi-
dents. Oil produced from the Hunting-
ton Beach field over the past decades
supplied the energy needed for the
growth of our nation's industries and
was vital for national security during
the war years. Oil heats homes, pro-
vides electricity, fuels cars, and is the
r workhorse of our economy.0
Luxury Seacliff single-family homes sur-
round the green golf course.
J
The beautiful Huntington Seacliff Country
Club and championship golf course.
-4
Seacliff Breeze 7
CLEANING UP
By the late 50's, it was most ap-
parent the derricks and clutter o
f the oil
fields were creating many hazards and
a clean-up program was undertaken T
along the beach and inland. The City +
Council aided by several oil operators, a .
landownerswrite plan.the The Huntgreed
ington
�y _ tl
on a master plan. The Huntington '�
Beach field was to be altered and Oil fields before the big clean-
turned into a planned city community _ ,_ up in the late 50's.
without interrupting oil production. -
Multiple land use was workable in this = '
semi-depleted oil field.
For its part as one of the major
landowners, the Huntington Beach i
Company was to be involved in a n ��
unique operation-changinganoilfield
into an attractive residential com-
munity. This was in the early sixties
when there began an extensive re-
location of oil storage tanks, pumping -
facilities and many miles of pipeline on
the land. Oil Wells were grouped into
thirty"drilling islands"of less than two
acres each, with six to eight foot-high
walls around the surface equipment.
This clustering of the wells and facil-
ities necessitated directional or slant
drilling to depths of 5,000 feet or more.
A tremendous task! But, it was nec-
essary to conserve surface land for
other uses, such as the championship
Huntington Seacliff Golf Course and
Country Club.
Huntington Center was built as a
pioneer in regional closed mall shop-
ping centers and is one of the city's _
leading sources of tax revenues _
($750,000 annually is the city's portion
of sales tax).This 58-acre complex built
by the Huntington Beach Company jr
consists of 60 stores located near the
San Diego Freeway.0
Aerial view taken in 1977.Look-
ing South from the Huntington
Center on the San Diego Free-
A MASTER-PLANNED way showing the development
COMMUNITY TAKES SHAPE of a planned community over a
During the 60's and 70's new people producing oil field.
began to arrive in large numbers Huntington Seacliff Planned Com- The Huntington Beach oilfield con-
(12,000 increased to 160,000 resi- munity. tinues to be the fourth largest in the
dents) and the city was proud to be
identified as the fastest growing in the In order to strength and broaden its state and a planned community is de-
entire nation. By mid-1976, families future income base,the Company has veloping over this producing oilfield.As
acquired,during the past several years, the largest landowner,the Huntington
had settledies surrounding
x ending lithe golfle- Beach Company will continue with
family homes surrounding the golf two industrial parks in the cities of
course and the last phase had been Torrance and Santa Fe Springs, an quality projects that add to the beauty
sold of the nearby award winning enclosed mall shopping center in the and economic health of the city.Future
y e City of Redlands and a large com- developments will depend upon the
B o residential
Townjects o These were mercial site in the City of Cerritos. support and approval of the city and
two residential projects of the Hunting- coastal authorities, several oil oper-
ton Beach Company. However, new By mid-1978,the Huntington Beach ators, and the community.
families created needs other than Company's 75th anniversary date, the The city of Huntington Beach will
housing; such as places to work and first office building had been com- continue to grow and the Huntington
shop. Seacliff Village, a theme shop- pleted by the Company and the second
ping center based on Southern Calif- is under construction within the ten- Beach Company,an integral part of the
ornia coastal region bird life,was com- acre, five office building complex city's past, plans to continue what it
pleted by the Company as part of the located near the Civic Center. began in 1903.0
8 Seacliff Breeze
HUNTINGTON BEACH COMPANY
Zt)
LAND
PLOYEES TODAY
WHERE THEY WORK
Jerry Shea
Vice President
Legal Stan Young
Vice President
General Manager
Ben Cole
Vice President
Shirley Holman, Management Steno; Engineering&Operations
Noella Jenner, Receptionist/Steno.
A
*Jokft
r
1
v
\ 1
{ _ _ Accounting Staff.Tom Rollins,Office Manager&Asst.Secretary;Leighton
�C7 Alt, Asst. Office Manager & Asst Secretary Lois Mabee, Accounting
Assistant; Cathy Beek,Accounting Assistant. Dick Kinz.Sr.Project Representative;Jack Wallace,
Gerry Goodwin, Project Representative/Financial; Gunnard Johnson. Project Assistant to the Vice President;Jess Davis.Legal
Supervisor/Architect;Utah Ware,Construction,Maintenance&Production Assistant
Supervisor.
HUNTINGTON BEACH COMPANY
I s.
✓ - � The beautiful Seacliff Village-A$6 million 130000
1 _ - square foot shopping center carries a "Bird
Theme" throughout the center. Murals some as
WEI large as 12 x 45 feet in routed wood and spec-
tacular handpainted tiles depict the life and habits
of 148 species of birds indigenous to the Southern
`��•—.. 6 California Seaboard. -
Huntington Seacliff- Oil, homes and golf course are a happy mix. e -
s 1
i
Beachwalk Homes
Seacliff office park-A$6.5 million complex —
planned to ultimately provide 120,000
square feet of office space in five two-story ,
buildings.
,1.
9
The Redlands Mall- _
A 172,000 square foot shopping -
center in downtown Redlands.
p t'{it
M ", II Y MY[11AilOA _
40
—rib W
. :•a . r ~' � - Huntington
Center