HISTORY: Carol Pastor takes us back in time to 1922 in Coronado

Crown City History

IN COLLABORATION WITH CORONADO HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

The Roaring 20s 1922 in Coronado BY CAROL PASTOR CORONADO HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEER

Southern view of the Hotel Del featuring a streetcar, c. 1922

April has now come and gone. It brought us spring, spruced-up yards, Coronado Floral Association Home Front Judging and of course, the annual Coronado Flower Show. This year the Flower Show had special significance as we celebrated its 100 years from the first show in 1922.

With that in mind, I began to think about anniversaries and National Preservation Month sponsored here in town by the Coronado Historical Association (affectionately known locally as CHA). Every May, CHA reminds us of our history and heritage with the wonderful Historic Home Tour on Mother’s Day and lectures throughout the month. This year, as we think about Preservation Month, I thought I would share parts of our town with some significance that are celebrating an anniversary, perhaps some we have overlooked.

So much changed with the completion of the Hotel del Coronado. The village began to grow. By 1922, there was a construction boom and the railroad train ran through town delivering both passengers and supplies. Many of the mansions had been completed in the years between 1900 and 1920, so many of the elite came to visit and entertain throughout the year, especially during the time of the polo matches. Homes had electricity and until 1922 the hotel supplied power to the entire city. After that time, the city went back to getting power from San Diego.

Many summer guests stayed at Tent City near the hotel and beach. It was reported that as many as 500 guests were daily visitors there during the summer months. Rather than stay at Tent City, some people sought an alternative and thus construction of cottages began. These were designed for that part-time use although many became permanent residences.

This time became known as “The Roaring Twenties” and here in Coronado, you could feel it. Back in 1890 after the completion of the hotel, we had a population of 550 which swelled to 3,300 residents by the early 1920s. 1922 saw telephone history in Coronado when new telephone numbers were given to Coronado residents and a separate section was given to Coronado.

At that time Coronado also went through several newspapers, undergoing merger after merger.

It was a time when these residents wanted to see their names in print. There were regular reports of luncheons, garden parties, out-oftown guests, and on it went. That was the year that Coronado got its own flag thanks to a student who won the contest for the best design. Louis Millen’s design of green and white with the gold crown remains our city flag to this day. It was the same time that noted art collector John W. Mitchell moved here from Los Angeles and purchased an estate on Ocean Boulevard. Mitchell, with the help of architect Louis Gill, renovated the site which then housed the famous art collection and some 8,000 volumes for the library. Unfortunately, he died in 1925 and the contents were either taken by relatives or later sold off.

In February 1922, Coronado Masonic Lodge was requested to lay the cornerstone for the Coronado High School being built, and which still stands today at the corner of 7th Street and D Avenue. It was the same year that the parsonage was built for St. Paul’s Methodist Church on Olive Avenue at the back of the church. Later that year, the Coronado Cycle Club was formed by W.F. Holland, owner of Holland’s Bike Shop. In May, Coronado had the largest bike parade in all of Southern California. A track was built and a route was organized. From Los Angeles came a carload of antique bicycles to take part in the event. (Note: that is the same Holland’s Bike Shop that we see on Orange Avenue today.)

With more and more cars coming to the island, traffic became a problem. People were reckless in their driving on this little bit of land. This resulted in the police chief asking for funds to add two more motorcycles and officers to his staff.

Not all has been lost to history, as evidenced by the number of buildings built at that time and earlier that are still here. They may have been repurposed, but you will know them when you see them. Chronologically, we could start at the boathouse built before the Hotel del Coronado. It has been the Chart House restaurant for many years, later sold and once again operating as the Bluewater Boathouse Seafood Grill. On Loma Avenue near Orange was the Carey/Hizer home built back in 1890. For nearly 50 years now, that has been Chez Loma restaurant. A delightful boutique place to dine. Around the corner on Star Park is the yellow house more commonly referred to as the Wizard of Oz house where L. Frank Baum wrote some of his children’s classics. The home, like so many others, has been a family residence for years. And what about the Blue Lantern Inn on Park? You would know it today as Hotel Marisol, still in operation. There was the Hinde House, a beautiful large home that is now the Kirk House for the Presbyterian Church on C Avenue. These are just a few examples that can easily be viewed with a good walk of Coronado or a CHA Historic Walking Tour that departs from the museum and takes you on a trip back in time. You don’t have to be a tourist to take advantage of a historic stroll and a little exploring during Preservation Month.

First Methodist Church built circa 1887, now St. Paul's United Methodist Church at 700 D Avenue

• Carol Pastor and her family have lived in Coronado since the mid1970s. Mother of seven girls, many of whom still live here in the village, Carol has been involved in the community over the years with the Friends of the Library, Historic Resource Commission and most recently writing about Coronado history for the Coronado Historical Association. An avid history buff since her college days, exploring our local history is a perfect fit.