Cottage Profile: 512 Larkspur
The Motel Era (1940-1980) in CdM
Tom Heffernan
While the stretch of PCH that runs through CdM today is essentially a row of banks and real estate offices with a few restaurants and bars mixed in, there was a time when there were motels all along Coast highway starting in the 1940’s, peaking in the 1960’s, and ending in the 1980’s. In an article written for CdM Village Living, the Sherman Library explained this trend, “As more people could afford automobiles, motels sprang up near California’s national parks, amusement parks, and state beaches, especially along Pacific Coast Highway. While hotels were often out of middle America’s budget, motels were budget friendly and offered people a place to stay near prime tourist designations.”
Let’s look at nine motels that formerly lined PCH, from the north end of the Village heading south. In some cases, the motel building is still there but has been re-purposed, in most instances, it was replaced.
Jamaica Inn (2121 E. Coast Hwy)
Located on the NW corner of Avocado & PCH, where today there is a medical office building. It was built in the 1960’s and it was replaced by the Bank of Newport around 1980. For more on the Jamaica Inn, see our post from Jan 27.
Del Mar Motel (1607 Coast Hwy / 2333 E. Coast Hwy)
Located between Acacia & Begonia, at the address where Panini Kabob Grille is located today. Was popular in the 1950s. There is some similarity between the back of Panini and the motel so maybe it uses a similar footprint but looks to be a newer building.
Crown of the Sea (2600 E Coast Hwy)
It looks to have been located on the SE corner of Dahlia in the beautiful building on the corner that today has @sennacosmetics in it.
Farm House Motel (1304 Coast Hwy / 2640 E Coast Hwy)
If you have ever noticed that the Fernleaf Courtyard look a bit like a motel – it is because it used to be the Farm House Motel according to the 1955 city directory.
Lampert Motel (1222 Coast Hwy)
Was located between Fernleaf and Goldenrod on the inland side, it would have likely been closer to Fernleaf so perhaps located between the Villa and Valia buildings.
Bay-Ocean Motel (1201 Coast Hwy)
This was the first motel in CdM, it was listed in the 1941 City Directory. It would have been located on the NW corner of Goldenrod, perhaps near Brueggers or in/near the Seven Gables building. If anyone knows more about its location, we would be interested to hear from you in the comments.
Sandy’s Motel (1015 Coast Highway)
Was located between Heliotrope and Iris, likely south of the Port Theatre. Years of operation are unknown – does anyone recognize the year of the car in the parking lot?
Sea Crest Motel (2931 E Coast Hwy)
Was also located between Heliotrope and Iris, it possibly replaced Sandy’s or was just north of it. You can see the Port Theater in the background of the photo. It has the same address that Mayur Cuisine of India has today.
Kirkwood Motel (4030 E Coast Hwy)
This motel likely had the longest tenure, it was in a 1955 directory and lasted until 1989. It was located at the corner of Seaward and PCH, where 401 Seaward, a multi-unit condo complex, is located today.
Cottage Profile: 709 Larkspur
Tom Heffernan
The 1979 photo of this week’s cottage is courtesy of the Sherman Library. The Sherman Library is partnering with CdMRA and CdM Historical Society to collect information and photos on the cottages of CdM for an upcoming exhibit.
This week’s cottage was built in 1948 and retains many great original details inside and out. The outside features a unique original trim around the windows and tall, steeply pitched dormers for each of the upstairs bedrooms.
The inside features exposed beam ceilings and bricks. The front house has 3 beds and 2 baths in 1,700 sq ft.
From permit records, it looks like the first owner of the house was Voss Herrington, a surfing pal of famed surfer and surf equipment innovator ‘Whitey’ Harrison.
Full Gallery of 709 Larkspur:
The Orson Welles of Animation
Tom Heffernan
Chuck Jones, the legendary animator and director who gave life to cartoon greats such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Road Runner was a longtime Corona del Mar resident. In an almost 70-year animation career he directed more than 300 films, three of which won Academy Awards, received an Oscar in recognition of his life’s work, and created some of the most famous and beloved cartoon characters. He is credited as a co-creator of Bugs, Daffy, Elmer Fudd, and Porky Pig and as the sole creator of Road Runner & Wile E. Coyote, Marvin Martian, Pepe Le Pew, Michigan J. Frog and dozens more memorable characters.
After three decades at Warner Brothers, he started his own studio, Chuck Jones Enterprises in 1962 and produced cartoons for MGM including Tom & Jerry shorts and a TV adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. He continued to write, direct, and produce for many years with his last major film ”Chariots of Fur” featuring Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote, being released by Warner Brothers in 1996.
In 1992, his Bugs Bunny cartoon, ‘What’s Opera, Doc? (1957) was added to the National Film Registry and he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1995. Perhaps his greatest honor was when Robin Williams presented him with an Honorary Oscar at the 68th Academy Awards in 1996. Williams concluded his impassioned introduction of Jones by calling him “The Orson Welles of Animation.”
Chuck Jones lived in a 1961 single level home on Cameo Shores at 4527 Tremont Lane and was a regular at Five Crowns until he passed away in 2002 at age 89. It appears he bought the house on Tremont where he had his home office, in 1979. When it was sold in 2018, it appeared to be largely original at that point. It was subsequently torn down in 2019 and there is a new house going up now.
He founded the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, a non-profit in Costa Mesa that encourages creativity through art classes, exhibitions, film festivals, and their online community. They have some great virtual projects that you can work on from home if you are looking for something to do while stuck indoors.
Cottage Profile: 619 Iris
Tom Heffernan
619 was sold in December 2019 and an earlier 2017 listing for the house suggests that there are city approved plans to put in condos. Hopefully this 72 year old front house is around for at least a few more years.
Despite its diminutive size, it manages to have 2 fireplaces. It was built in the same year as several other survivors on the 600 block of Iris. 604 & 606 across the street were both built the same year and each have their own privacy from the street. 611 & 621 were also built in 1948 and are set up a bit from the street.
619 was sold in December 2019 and an earlier 2017 listing for the house suggests that there are city approved plans to put in condos. Hopefully this 72 year old front house is around for at least a few more years.
Piers in Corona del Mar: A Short History
Tom Heffernan
Did you know Corona del Mar used to have 2 piers? When George Hart bought all of CdM from James Irvine II in 1904 and was trying to attract buyers for the lots he advertised that CdM would have 2 piers – one on the bay and one on the ocean. In laying out the streets at the time, one of our Flower Streets was called Pier Ave. as it led down to the ocean pier on Big Corona Beach. Later it would be re-named Marguerite.
The Pier on the Bay ended up having the most utility as it was used to go back and forth between Balboa Pavilion and that is how most visitors and prospective buyers generally reached CdM before the construction of PCH in 1926.
Within a year of being built, the ocean pier was damaged by waves and it would continue to be damaged and occasionally rebuilt for about a decade until it was washed away in 1917.
Thanks to Ron Yeo and Sherman Library for the info on the piers. Sherman Library has written some great blogs illustrated with wonderful historic photos. To see their blog post on the Pier at Big Corona Beach go here: Big Corona Then and Now