The Westchester/Playa Historical Society participates in the 2019 parade. The nonprofit will be celebrating on August 1 when they open their new Discovery Center.
Celebrating on the Fourth of July
As we celebrate the Fourth of July, we think of American Independence Day. However, how much do we really know about the historic date, July 4, 1776, the day the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, which would become the day representing the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation? When the Revolutionary War broke out in April of 1775, those colonists who desired complete independence from Great Britain were few and considered radicals. However, by the middle of 1776, the tide had turned due to a bestselling pamphlet “Common Sense,” published by Thomas Paine earlier that year. The growing hostility against Britain had gained momentum. By June 7, 1776, when the Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, Virginia Delegate Richard Henry Lee called for the colonies’ independence by
introducing a motion that was aggressively debated. Congress tabled the motion and formed a five-man committee, which included Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert Livingston of New York, charging the five with the task of creating a formal statement, justifying such a break with Great Britain. On July 2, 1776, the 13 Colonies of the Continental Congress finalized the debate and voted to claim independence from Great Britain. Two days later, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence. Philadelphia held the first annual commemorative celebration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1777, while the Continental Congress was still occupied with the ongoing American War of Independence, later to be known as the American Revolutionary War that lasted from April 19, 1775 through September 3, 1783.
While you’re waiting for the Fourth of July Parade to start, test your Westchester/Playa knowledge with this trivia challenge courtesy of the Westchester/Playa Historical Society. Visit us at facebook.com/thehtn and find our trivia challenge post and let us know how many you got right, and we’ll pick one participant at random to receive a $20 gift card to The Book Jewel. You can also email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com with your score!
1. What is the name of the first house that was built in the area that includes Westchester/Playa to the north and Redondo Beach to the south, and was constructed in 1835? 2. Where is that house located? 3. Who promoted the sales of land parcels known as Palisades del Rey in the 1920s? 4.. What Playa del Rey business now operates out of the original land office for Palisades del Rey? 5. What was the first name given to and the artist is Millard Sheets. 12. Paradise Theater. 13. Milliron’s, Broadway and Mervyn’s. 14. The Discovery Center located
in the Westchester Triangle. 15. It opens on August 1, 2021.
Page 28 • July 2021
4th of July Parade Program
The tradition of setting off fireworks began in Philadelphia on July 4, 1777, during the first organized Independence Day celebration. A ship’s cannon fired a 13-gun salute in honor of the 13 colonies. On the same night, the Sons of Liberty, founded by Samuel Adams and John Hancock, set off fireworks over Boston Common. The patriotic tradition became more widespread after the War of 1812, after again facing Great Britain in battle. By 1870, the United States Congress proclaimed the Fourth of July a federal holiday. Independence Day remains an important symbol of patriotism, reflected in the tradition of displaying the American flag. John Adams always believed July 2 should have been the date dedicated to celebrating American independence and, in protest, repeatedly turned down invitations to appear at Fourth of July events. Coincidentally, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, our second and third presidents of the United States, respectively, both died on the 50th
what is now Los Angeles International Airport? 6. When did the original airport open? 7. Who built the first commercial building in Westchester in the early 1940s? 8. Where is that building located? 9.. Who built the Spruce Goose? 10. What is the name of LMU’s mascot? 11. Where is the “Horse and Man” statue located and what is the name of the artist commissioned by United
anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1826. This year marks the 245th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, and the Westchester/Playa Historical Society will be participating in a parade entry that celebrates our past, present and future. We hope you will join us in learning more about our local history, when our Discovery Center opens next month on August 1. In the meantime, check your Westchester/Playa knowledge with some fun trivia below and learn more at wphistoricalsociety.org. Cozette is a lifelong resident of Westchester and is leading the charge to reinvigorate the Westchester/Playa Historical Society’s nonprofit status. Together with a group of dedicated volunteers, the organization is working on creating new programming and events to celebrate the history of the area and engage the community in preserving it for future generations.
*Republished in part from the HTN’s July 2020 edition.
Savings Bank to sculpt it and other works of art throughout the Los Angeles region? 12. Where were star-studded movie premieres held in Westchester in the 1950s? 13. Name at least two other stores that have occupied the space that is now Kohl’s Westchester. 14. Where is the home of the Westchester/Playa Historical Society? 15. When will it be open to the public to explore all of the above and more?
1. Centinela Adobe. 2. Eastern edge of Drollinger. 8. Citibank on Sepulveda and La Westchester on Midfield. 3. Fritz B. Burns. Tijera in Westchester. 9. Howard Hughes. 4. Tanners Coffee. 5. Mines Field 6. 1929 7. Ella 10. Iggy the Lion. 11. IHOP in Westchester
By Cozette Vergari
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
