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Month: May 2020

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FDR in CdM

Picture of Tom Heffernan

Tom Heffernan

FDR drives down Coast Highway in CdM in July 1938 (Photo: Sherman Library Collection)

We recently came across this photo of President Franklin D. Roosevelt driving through CdM in July 1938 on his way from LA to San Diego. The Sherman Library has an excellent blog posts that tells the backstory of this trip which you can find here.
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Looking at this photo, we were left wondering where exactly the ‘Corona Del Mar Civic Center’ was located. The photo says it was taken at Marguerite and Coast Highway but we wanted to pin down the exact location. Some of our group thinks it was just south of Marguerite, near the building with BofA and UPS while others think it was just north of Marguerite between Papa’s Liquors and Zinc.

What do you think? Does anyone remember this building that held the Civic Center in the 1930s and may have had other uses later on?

We believe this is roughly the stretch of road that was in the 1938 photo.
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Cottage Loss: 609 Jasmine (1920-2020)

Picture of Tom Heffernan

Tom Heffernan

A Bulldozer levels 609 Jasmine

609 Jasmine was demolished today. We featured it a few months back as it was one of only four homes in CdM that were over 100 years old and the oldest remaining home on the inland side of PCH. It was likely one of the first houses built on that side of PCH as much of the early development in the area centered around the Bluffs and was not that far back.
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The China House Lives on in CdM

Picture of Tom Heffernan

Tom Heffernan

Tucked away in the back of China Cove, you can still find a piece of the historic China House.  Long-time China Cove resident, John Hamilton, had the foresight to work out a deal to keep pieces of the historic structure when it was torn down by Jim & Martha Beauchamp and Ernie & Donna Schroeder to make room for their two rather unremarkable ‘luxury’ homes in 1987.  Hamilton told the LA Times that he was storing the pieces in a warehouse and that they would “someday, somewhere, some way” reappear as a reminder of the house that was.

The pieces of the roof ended up being used on a little building just above his garage on Way Ln, about 50 yards from where the original China House stood. Underneath, a painted ceramic tile plaque reads, ‘This is the original roof of the China House, restored in memory of Barbara ‘B’ Renard (1914-1996). She was China Cove.’ From a quick search, it looks like Barbara lived at 2708 Cove St., which means that from the front lawn of her home, the little building with the China House roof would have been visible. Can anyone share more about ‘B’?

We’re working on a longer post in the future about the fight to save China House, the people on each side of the issue, the condition of house in the 80’s, and where the different parties are today. From initial research, it looks like several of the neighbors who fought to save China House are still living in China Cove while Beauchamp and Schroeder may have each stayed for a few years before cashing out in the early 2000’s. 

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Coyote Safety

NBPD warns that coyotes are capable of hunting unattended small pets, including cats and dogs.  Residents who have lost pets to these predators are often unaware of coyote activity in their area. NBPD maintains an up-to-date Coyote Bulletin with information and tips for keeping family members and pets safe.  It is available here.

Below are a few quick tips on ways to protect your pets from nuisance animals like coyotes and other wildlife:

      • Fully enclose outdoor animal enclosures, including the top of the enclosure
      • Keep cats and small dogs indoors
      • Feed pets indoors
      • Store trash in covered heavy-duty containers
      • Keep yards free from potential shelter, such as thick brush and weeds
      • Enclose the bottoms of porches and decks
      • Eliminate potential food and water sources, such as fallen fruit and standing water
      • Never feed coyotes

For more information and tips for keeping family members and pets safe, please read NBPD’s bulletin here.