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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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
This 1951 Spanish style cottage was renovated in the early 2000s but maintains a great updated, original look. Wood floors, exposed beams, curved doorways, and vintage-looking doors maintain the great character of this cottage that features great indoor and outdoor space.
Despite being on a half lot, this house has an amazing patio off the side with an outdoor fireplace and heat lamps.
When it was sold in 2010, it came with plans and a rendering (see photo) for a second story addition that would have doubled its size but the cottage is very charming in its current 800 sq ft, 2 bed, 1.5 bath configuration.
Guess…
what street in Corona del Mar Village has the widest right of way?
No…
it is not the 80 foot right of way of East Coast Highway.
No…
it is not the 110 foot right of way of Ocean Blvd., where the additional space beyond the road pavement provides a pleasant ocean view walkway.
Yes…
it is the 130 foot wide right of way of Bayside Drive.
It was originally called “Electric Way” but when the planned “Pacific Electric Railway” did not make it as far as the Village, the road name was changed. And the wide right of way gave the opportunity for the current scenic parkway. Another GREAT asset for the Village.
Another wide street is Avocado which was doubled in size in 1953 when Irvine Terrace was developed.
Another interesting note about street width…
Most of the Village street right of ways are 50 feet wide, while the City’s General Plan street requirements for two lanes undivided is 56 feet. The City Public Works Standard for local streets is 60 feet. That extra 6 feet or 10 feet would certainly make driving around the flower streets a lot easier.
Thanks to Ron Yeo for sharing this blog post with us.
