1950’s – August 2022

By : Cozette Vergari

All aboard! For those time-travel machine passengers, we are once again jumping back on board our time-travel-machine. We continue our adventures into the past, and, as a reminder, we board each time from amidst today’s Westchester/Playa geographic footprint. Though standing still, our time machine has magically taken us from 65,000 B.C. forward.

Our last adventure took us through the 1940s, where we witnessed women pole-vaulting into what had been a predominately male workforce, due to the impact of WW II. We saw a huge explosion in the development of housing, primarily within the Westchester community, to support those working in the massive local arena of defense and aerospace industries. We also witnessed the first commercial buildings constructed along Sepulveda Boulevard, to support these same families with necessities, as well as the construction of three movie theatres, bringing entertainment to those supporting the war effort.

Our time-travel machine is now propelling us forward into the 1950s, where we are witnessing another explosion. Where there are families, there are kids. We see kids everywhere! These are the kids later to be known as the baby boomers. And what did these baby boomers need? Schools.

By now, we see the Westchester/Playa community has become identified and broken into several neighborhoods, with five new public elementary schools being built or already completed to accommodate the baby boomers. At the eastern edge is Osage Elementary, then moving westwardly across La Tijera toward Sepulveda, we see the newly constructed Westport Heights Elementary. Once crossing west over Sepulveda, we pass by two elementary schools running along the Emerson Avenue corridor, Kentwood Elementary and Cowan Avenue Elementary. Then, traveling further west, we are seeing the completed Loyola Village Elementary.

Visitation Catholic School has opened in 1947. We are seeing Westchester Lutheran School opening in 1950, followed by St. Jerome’s School in 1952 and St. Anastasia Catholic School in 1953.

To accommodate the older students, wishing to attend public school, we witness the newly opened campus of what is now Orville Wright Middle School, splitting its day between the high school students, 10^th through 12^th grade attending classes in the morning hours, followed by the 7^th through 9^th graders taking their classes in the afternoon. The high school students are attending Westchester High School, while the 7^th through 9^th graders are attending Westchester Junior High School. We learn from our time travel machine that prior to this campus opening, high students in the area wishing to attend public school, went to Dorsey High School.

Aviation continues to be a major driver in the Westchester/Playa community. The Los Angeles Municipal Airport has just become rechristened Los Angeles International Airport, and we are witnessing plans for major expansion to the west.

Expansion of the commercial properties in the Westchester area is also happening. We see the development of what today is known as the Triangle, which is now recognized by the City of Los Angeles as an historic commercial district.

As we look down from the bluffs of Westchester and Playa del Rey, over and beyond the growth and development of the Howard Hughes holdings and airfield just below, we see the beginnings of the development of Marina del Rey.

We also see that pioneer Ella Drollinger has successfully built and leased her commercial buildings to three tenants, Thrifty Drug Store, department store Quigley’s and grocery store Jim Dandy, starting at the southeast corner of the intersection of Sepulveda and La Tijera Boulevards, now Citibank, and moving directly south through what was Bed Bath and Beyond.

It is truly exciting to see the quickly expanding development and collaboration in the growth throughout the Westchester/Playa footprint during the 1950s. Stayed tuned for next month’s travels through the 1960’s.

Due to the many positive responses to our articles on the history of the Giant Holiday Candles, the historical society will be taking reservations for Candle Making Workshops happening the month of October. If you are interested in making your own red or blue giant holiday candle to display in your front yard, please contact us at info.wphistorical@gmail.com.

This month is the one-year anniversary of the grand opening of the Discovery Center. I wish to acknowledge and thank the Westchester/Playa Historical Society Board Members and Donors who have made this first year possible. We are so thankful to our donors and have acknowledged each of them on our website. Please visit https://wphistoricalsociety.org/support.

The Westchester/Playa Historical Society Discovery Center, located in the Westchester Triangle at 6207 W. 87^th St., is open to the public on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. VISIT OUR CURRENT EXHIBIT “MAPS: Telling the story of a city, a community and its people.”