DockRat
02-15-2010, 06:15 AM
Read this book today 'A driving tour of Palos Verdes Peninsula' 1992 by Barbara Dye
Anybody Remember This ?
' In 1974 after more than 100 cars were removed from PV beaches by giant Sikorsky helicopters.
A big storm in 1981 washed 43 more cars offshore and some of the Dominator wreckage '
143 Cars on the rocks ? WTF Can these numbers be accurate ? By 1974 I was surfing Haggerty's The Cove and Indicator and remember a couple rusted cars out by Indicator but 100 ?
From the same book.
The Neighborhood Church above Haggerty's surf spot at Malaga Cove.
The Neighborhood Church was a grand mansion built in 1928 for J.J. Haggerty the owner of Haggerty's exclusive New York and Los Angeles department stores. Haggerty wanted nothing but the best. He imported artisans and painters from Italy to create cieling murals, carved balustrades, a huge baronial fireplace, wrought iron gates, and monogrammed decorations everywhere.
The house stretched for 290 feet and had 20 rooms, 2 garages, a large conservatory, subterranean lodge, trophy room,and a drawing room 28' by 63'.
The grounds were equally spectacular. there was a 30 foot thick seawall, a outdoor swimming pool, a miniture golf course, and gardens designed by Olmstead which had waterfalls, lily ponds and walkways. A pier extended into the ocean, falsley rumored to be used for smuggling.
Unfortunately Mrs. Haggerty never liked the place and the family spent most of thier time homes in Los Angeles and Long Beach.
It was eventually sold to financier Harry Wheeler who decorated it in his own unique style, consisting largley of representations of the unclothed female figure. To Wheeler No Nudes is Bad nudes. He had statues in the gardens and stairwells, bronze and silver lamp bases, and paintings of nude women everywhere. For some reason Mrs. Wheeler too preferred thier other home.
After Wheelers death in the late 40's the house was put on the market for $250,000. By 1950 it had been reduced in half but still no buyers were interested. Finally the members of The Neighborhood Church made an offer of
$60,000 which was accecpted. An auction was held to dispose of the works of art, which included bedroom sets from the palaces of Louis 14th, 15th, and 16th; art objects from the palace of Czar Nicholas; 18th century English silver, and a hand-ttufted Austrian rug 57 feet long valued at $40,000. The Palos Verdes Homes Association placed many conditions on the approval but finally in 1952 the beautiful seaside mansion became the home of
The Neighborhood Church.
$60,000 !!! What a deal on a mansion with a pier.
DR
Anybody Remember This ?
' In 1974 after more than 100 cars were removed from PV beaches by giant Sikorsky helicopters.
A big storm in 1981 washed 43 more cars offshore and some of the Dominator wreckage '
143 Cars on the rocks ? WTF Can these numbers be accurate ? By 1974 I was surfing Haggerty's The Cove and Indicator and remember a couple rusted cars out by Indicator but 100 ?
From the same book.
The Neighborhood Church above Haggerty's surf spot at Malaga Cove.
The Neighborhood Church was a grand mansion built in 1928 for J.J. Haggerty the owner of Haggerty's exclusive New York and Los Angeles department stores. Haggerty wanted nothing but the best. He imported artisans and painters from Italy to create cieling murals, carved balustrades, a huge baronial fireplace, wrought iron gates, and monogrammed decorations everywhere.
The house stretched for 290 feet and had 20 rooms, 2 garages, a large conservatory, subterranean lodge, trophy room,and a drawing room 28' by 63'.
The grounds were equally spectacular. there was a 30 foot thick seawall, a outdoor swimming pool, a miniture golf course, and gardens designed by Olmstead which had waterfalls, lily ponds and walkways. A pier extended into the ocean, falsley rumored to be used for smuggling.
Unfortunately Mrs. Haggerty never liked the place and the family spent most of thier time homes in Los Angeles and Long Beach.
It was eventually sold to financier Harry Wheeler who decorated it in his own unique style, consisting largley of representations of the unclothed female figure. To Wheeler No Nudes is Bad nudes. He had statues in the gardens and stairwells, bronze and silver lamp bases, and paintings of nude women everywhere. For some reason Mrs. Wheeler too preferred thier other home.
After Wheelers death in the late 40's the house was put on the market for $250,000. By 1950 it had been reduced in half but still no buyers were interested. Finally the members of The Neighborhood Church made an offer of
$60,000 which was accecpted. An auction was held to dispose of the works of art, which included bedroom sets from the palaces of Louis 14th, 15th, and 16th; art objects from the palace of Czar Nicholas; 18th century English silver, and a hand-ttufted Austrian rug 57 feet long valued at $40,000. The Palos Verdes Homes Association placed many conditions on the approval but finally in 1952 the beautiful seaside mansion became the home of
The Neighborhood Church.
$60,000 !!! What a deal on a mansion with a pier.
DR