The History of Corona del Mar Timeline of Events

Prepared by Laura Dietz, Centennial History Chair with the assistance of the following: Dr. William Hendricks and staff, Sherman Library & Gardens; Phil Brigandi and Chris Jepsen, Orange County Archives; Opal Kissinger, Peg Haapa.

Preface

Originally part of Rancho San Joaquin, Corona del Mar was purchased by a Northern California group in 1864 that included: James Irvine, Tom and Benjamin Flint, and Llewellyn Bixby. In 1876 James Irvine became sole owner, hence the Irvine Ranch, followed by his son, James Irvine, II. Needing to liquidate some property to cover drought-related agricultural losses, Mr. Irvine in 1904 sold 706.8 acres to developer from Los Angeles, George Hart. That acreage was named by Mr. Hart, “Corona del Mar.”

1904-1914

1905: January construction of pleasure pier begins at today’s CDM State Beach; several storms damage pier until it is destroyed in 1912.

1905: The Pacific Electric Railway owners decide not to extend rail like south through CDM; visitors used boats to access CdM from Balboa Peninsula.

1905: Construction on Hotel del Mar begins at Carnation and Seaview to attract visitors from primarily Los Angeles; Mr. Hart marries a “beautiful LA society woman.”

1907: George Hart opens land route (today’s Bayside Drive) to entice potential buyers.

1908: First telephone line (still no paved streets or sidewalks), extended across channel via poles placed on sand across the bay entrance (pre-jetty), allowing people in CDM to telephone grocery orders, etc.

1908: Opening of the three story Hotel del Mar with 30 rooms, visible for miles; George Hart deeds back 359.8 acres.

1909: Bella Burton builds first personal residence in CDM on Ocean Blvd; years later, daughter Mary Burton, an attorney, rescued what is Corona Del Mar State Beach from development by its landowner (Citizens Bank of Los Angeles) in the 1940’s.

1912: Completion of filming of The Sands of Dee in CDM on Ocean Blvd.

1915-1924

1915: Corona Del Mar now has a total of 15 homes; developer George Hart sells remaining portion of CDM lots to F.D. Cornell Co.; Mr. Cornell wants CDM to be named “Balboa Palisades,” hoping to attract more buyers but locals resist name change; street names change from numbers to flowers.

1916: Film, The Lash, filmed off of future Cameo Shores development.

1917: Fishing dock and landing built to receive visitors by boat to Mr. Cornell’s Palisades Hotel (aka Hotel del Mar).

1919: OC Harbor Commission makes plans for weather station on cliffs to signal books by lights/flags.

1921: Film, Monte Cristo (Fox Studios), filmed in CDM.

1923: Citywide vote (181 voted yes, 32 no) for annexation of Corona Del Mar to Newport Beach. Main issue was related to water supply (a reliable source of fresh water had not been available to date, impeding the sale of lots).

1925-1934

1925: Property assessments for all structures in CDM assessed by W.S. Sparrows at $5700; most lots assessed individually at $100; construction of a beach club as part of the hotel initiated.

1926: Pacific Coast Highway completed to link CDM with Laguna Beach and communities southward.

1926: City Council votes to build a reinforced concrete footbridge across Pacific Gulch, aka Goldenrod Footbridge.

1927: The east jetty is constructed.

1928: CDM Surfboard Club hosts Pacific Coast Championships on August 5. First surfing contest on mainland with famous surfer, Duke Kahanamoku. (Event was discontinued in 1941 due to the war in Pacific).

1929: Palisades Beach Club Boat and Bath House purchased by California Institute of Technology and converted to Kerchoff (benefactor) marine biology research facility headed by Professor George McGinitie (1932-1953), an expert on feeding behavior of marine invertebrates.

1929: Filming begins on All Quiet on the Western Front in Harbor View Hills (wins 1930 Academy Award for Best Picture).

1931: Construction begins on underwater tunnel to link Balboa Peninsula to CDM State Beach. (The 1922 Long Beach earthquake is blamed for its destruction).

1935-1944

1936: Hurley Bell Inn (now the Five Crowns) built by Mtilda MacCulloch, a replica of England’s Ye Olde Bell, an inn at Hurley-on-Thames. It became a hideaway for celebrities including Howard Hughes and Rita Hayworth; Peter Lorre and wife, Lana Turner; Bette Davis, Ava Gardner, Humphrey Bogart, and Lauren Bacall.

1938: Disastrous storm pounds coastal areas, causing major flooding in Orange County.

1941: First blackout in Southern California area ordered on December 10th, after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor.

1942: On February 25th, OC air raid sirens sounded as unidentified target spotted 3 miles offshore of Los Angeles (fear of Japanese submarines continued).

1947: The Irvine Company relinquishes Corona Del Mar State Beach Park.

1948: California State Banking Committee grants permit for bank in CDM. Corona Del Mar Elementary School opens, between Dahlia and Carnation/2nd and 4th; “The Silhouette Shop” opens, featuring stylish ladies lingerie.

1949: Corona Del Mar Improvement Association formed.

1949: The California State Park Commission approves a revised shoreline. Acting Postmaster Verne Watson announces that mail delivery begins in CDM, having exceeded receipts of $40,000 in 1949.

1950: Postal Service determines that Corona Del Mar will be Corona del Mar. Oil drillings near Corona Highlands by Shell Oil granted by county. Corona del Mar’s Col. Andrew W. Smith cheers for Michigan in the Rose Bowl, and reminisced about his suggestion that there will be a football game after the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena. He refereed the first Rose Bowl in 1916 ( Washington State defeated Brown University, 14-0).

1951: Sherman Foundation established for non-profit philanthropic, educational, and humanitarian purposes.

1952: Four lots comprising Inspiration Point are offered for sale on the condition that the area be preserved as a park. The owners, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Adams, have agreed to donate $27,500 towards the purchase. A dollar ($1) per square foot is the price that the Inspiration Point committee, chaired by Lester Jones, is asking in order to raise funds to purchase the lots for preservation as a permanent park.

1953: Harbor View Elementary School opens its doors in September with a capacity of 560 K-5 students.

1954: Corona del Mar Youth Center established by Grant Howald; residents of 708 Larkspur report that they spotted UFO’s.

1955-1964

1955: Corona del Mar’s Coast Highway widened to 76 feet, curb to curb.

1957: Oceanfront lots selling for $15,000.

1958: Sherman Library & Gardens founded.

1959: Corona del Mar Library Branch opens on Marigold.

1961: Commodores Club launches first Sandcastle Contest at Corona del Mar State Beach.

1962: New Corona del Mar High School opens on 321 acres.

1963: CdM High School hosts Dick Clark’s Where the Action Is TV show, including Paul Revere and the Raiders, Mary Wells, and The Yardbirds. Paul Revere leaped into school pool as part of footage the program used with opening credits.

1963: Chamber of Commerce opposes 5th Avenue Freeway, as community united to defeat.

1964: Harbor Day School (K-8) opens on Pacific View Drive.

1965-1974

1965: Five Crowns Restaurant opens April 14th in original Hurley Bell, at corner of Poppy and PCH.

1967: Fashion Island opens (as does South Coast Plaza).

1968: CdM’s Patricia Hitt appointed Assistant Secretary for Community and Field Services, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

1969: Newport Harbor Ensign newspaper receives top national award for weekly reporting.

1971: Sylmar earthquake shakes area.

1973: Cameo Shores property at 4515 Tremont for sale at $124,000.

1974: Oasis Senior Citizens Center opens at 800 Marguerite Avenue, serving entire Newport Beach seniors.

1975-1984

1978: CdM’s initial Christmas Walk held, an event that remains a community highlight and annual event.

1981: Corona del Mar Elementary School closes. Initial CdM 5K Race held in June, inaugurating an annual event.

1985-1994

1989: Corona del Mar Residents Association established.

1992: Lincoln Elementary School renovated for reopening in fall.

1993: Laguna Beach fires threaten sections of CdM but a change in winds pushes the fire up Newport Coast toward Irvine.

1995-2004

1997: El Niño related storm batters coast in December, causing considerable problems with raging waters down Corona del Mar canyon areas.

1999: Corona del Mar Business Improvement District (BID) set up to promote businesses and improvements along PCH.

2002: CdM’s Goldenrod footbridge funded for major repairs.

2003: Port Theatre receives designation as a historic landmark. Citizens launch committee to develop plans for the Corona del Mar Centennial Celebration (1904-2004).

2004: City Council approves plan to retake authority over PCH from Caltrans, providing local control through CdM.

2004: On July 15th, the Corona del Mar Centennial Celebration kicks off at Sherman Library & Gardens with historic photo display and art show. October 14th-17th designated as actual birthday weekend for the village and various events occur for entire community including a Black Tie Gala, and two parties and CdM State Beach.