What a different 102 years makes. In this 1922 aerial photo, we’re looking northwest across Beverly Hills toward the Hollywood Hills. These days, of course, every square inch of all that empty land is filled in with manicured lawns, outsized swimming pools, and enormous mansions. But without them, we can see more clearly how Beverly Hills was planned along gently curving lines. That road along the bottom thickly lined with trees is Charleville Blvd. What a shame those blocks and blocks of lush greenery couldn’t survive the march of progress.
Andie P. said: “My dad told me that the early Beverly Hills “covenants” required all residential properties to be at least 2.5 acres and many were 5 acres. The reason was that the city organizers envisioned the city being for horse owners, and many of the early residents also had at least one cow.”
This is roughly how that view looked in January 2024:
Santa Monica is the horizontal line crossing just above the image center. On the right edge is the lumber yard operation where the two PERy routes met and the first station was close to that convergence. The long heavy tree line bordered the lands where the auto racing track stood on their southwestern side. Railroads generally planted more trees than they ever removed except in deep forest lands. But you couldn’t build much without felling some live ones to make lumber.
Dear Friend….. Loved the pictures of BH. As I think you already know, I was raised in BH……. My parents bought their second home there at 704 North Rexford Drive in 1936, for $12,000. It was built in 1912 by the Craven Family. I lived there until I got married in 1949. I am now 96.
Happy New Year…..
Best, Joan Lewis
Oh, Joan! $12,000 for a home on N. Rexford! It boggles my mind!