Places Archives

July 15, 2020February 27, 2026

China Cove in 1953

Tom Heffernan

In a 1953 photo of China Cove from the OC Archives – the Kerckhoff Marine Lab is prominent and upon closer inspection a few other surviving homes can be found as well.

2700 Bayview: Looks very different today but the 1929 home is right at the top of the stairs going down to China Cove

214 Goldenrod: Appears identical to how it looks today although the 1930 house is currently flanked by construction sites as the houses on either side are recent teardowns

2608 Cove: 1949 cottage was just 4 years old at the time but looks to be identical to how it is today

2708 Cove: Tucked in the back is this 1946 cottage which retains a similar shape although the beachfront garage appears to have been wisely converted to a bedroom.

July 2, 2020February 27, 2026

One of our surviving historic treasures is the Kerckhoff Marine Lab in China Cove. While it became a Marine Lab when it was sold to Caltech, it was originally designed as a boat and bath house for the short-lived Balboa Palisades Club in 1926. The club ran into financial difficulty while it was still being built and they ended up selling it to Caltech in late 1929 for $50,000. The lab was acquired with funds donated by William G. Kerckhoff, a California businessman who made his fortune in power and gas.

May 3, 2020February 27, 2026

The China House Lives on in CdM

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.

April 24, 2020February 27, 2026

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.

April 2, 2020February 27, 2026

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

March 25, 2020February 27, 2026

CdM Village’s Widest Street

Tom Heffernan

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.

March 17, 2020February 27, 2026

From Rossi’s to CdM Restaurant

Tom Heffernan

In his column ‘The Verdict’, Judge Robert Gardner called Rossi’s Cafe “the finest Italian restaurant I have ever patronized.” He added, “Mama Rossi featured her pickled mushrooms, which had to be tasted to be believed. I have always thought that her pickled mushrooms were particularly good because Mama Rossi used wild mushrooms she picked on the hills surrounding the present Fashion Island.”

Rossi’s was located where CdM Restaurant is today at 2325 E. Coast Highway. According to an OC Register article, this location has also been the home of Matteo’s, Brio, Garlic Joe’s, Tiramisu, Belle Theresa, and more recently, The Crow Bar.

March 17, 2020February 27, 2026

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Influence in CdM

Tom Heffernan

Did you know…
Frank Lloyd Wright’s son, Lloyd Wright, designed a building along PCH in CdM?

A renowned architect in his own right, Lloyd designed the famous all glass “Wayfarers Chapel” in Palos Verdes as well as band shells at the Hollywood Bowl among other projects. Lloyd originally designed the building at 2850-2854 East Coast Hwy for the Ensign Newspaper and it had a big floor pit that contained the large paper rolls for printing production. The Ensign shut down in June 1989 after 41 years as “Newport Beach’s only home-based newspaper.” Today, the Lloyd Wright-designed building is home to Bellissima Resale, Tony Florez Photography, Home Loans by Jeff Edwards, and California Closets.

One of the features that sets this building apart from the other storefronts along PCH are the diagonal masonry walls facing the western sun that protect the diagonal glass show windows.

Another unique feature is the delicate wood eave pattern that was made of teak and has now been painted over in black.

The distinctive interlocking masonry corners can be seen at the start of the building on PCH by Bellissima or around the corner down Heliotrope at the back of the building.

Special thanks to CdM Architect/Artist Ron Yeo for sharing this info and these photos with us.

March 1, 2020February 27, 2026

From Hurley Bell to Five Crowns

Tom Heffernan

Corona Del Mar’s oldest restaurant, known today as Five Crowns was built in 1936 by Matilda “Tillie” Lemon MacCulloch. An American wife of a wealthy Scotsman, she lived in England but had grown up visiting Southern California as a child. She modeled it after Ye Olde Bell, an inn at Hurley-on-Thames, 35 miles west of London, England and called it the Hurley Bell. Local architect Shelby Coon used photographs of the inn to design it. Originally planned to be an inn, the MacCullochs ended up making it their home.

Shelton McHenry and Bruce Warren who ran the Tail o’ the Cock Restaurant in Los Angeles leased it for a new location in 1943 but it would only last for 3 years. Tillie and her daughter would revitalize the Hurley Inn for a few years until Tillie’s death in 1948.

Ye Olde Bell Inn in Hurley-on-Thames

After leasing it to a series of unsuccessful entrepreneurs, the restaurant was leased to the Frank and Van de Kamp families and was re-modeled and re-opened as the Five Crowns in 1965. It continues to operate today, having been purchased by Lawry’s Food Corporation in the 1980s.

February 18, 2020February 27, 2026

Dolphins in CdM

Tom Heffernan

You may have driven by and noticed that we have new ‘skinny’ dolphins in the medians along East Coast Highway at Marguerite. Local artist/architect/historian Ron Yeo was able to fill us in on the history of the dolphins, which goes back 27 years.

In 1993, the CdM Chamber of Commerce “Flower Power” committee expanded into a committee for “Revitalization”.

The initial thrust of the 1991 “Flower Power” Committee was to encourage residents to plant flowers to match the street name. Begonias on Begonia, Iris on Iris, etc. Chamber President Don Glasgow encouraged the committee made up of Ron Yeo, B.J Johnson, Toni Van Schultze & others to expand their efforts to include improving the commercial business along PCH.

The committee’s plan for revitalization called for improving the Village image to be warm, friendly, inviting, and creative. Some of the initial concepts that were installed included: hand-painted flower banners for each of the streets and the topiary dolphins.

Tag: Places

China Cove in 1953

Tom Heffernan

Kerckhoff Marine Lab

Tom Heffernan

The China House Lives on in CdM

Tom Heffernan

The Motel Era (1940-1980) in CdM

Tom Heffernan

Jamaica Inn (2121 E. Coast Hwy)

Del Mar Motel (1607 Coast Hwy / 2333 E. Coast Hwy)

Crown of the Sea (2600 E Coast Hwy)

Farm House Motel (1304 Coast Hwy / 2640 E Coast Hwy)

Lampert Motel (1222 Coast Hwy)

Bay-Ocean Motel (1201 Coast Hwy)

Sandy’s Motel (1015 Coast Highway)

Sea Crest Motel (2931 E Coast Hwy)

Kirkwood Motel (4030 E Coast Hwy)

Piers in Corona del Mar: A Short History

Tom Heffernan

CdM Village’s Widest Street

Tom Heffernan

From Rossi’s to CdM Restaurant

Tom Heffernan

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Influence in CdM

Tom Heffernan

From Hurley Bell to Five Crowns

Tom Heffernan

Dolphins in CdM

Tom Heffernan

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