lagunabeachindy . com APRIL 28 , 2023 13
GUEST OPINION : FINDING MEANING
Beautiful Heisler Park at 101
|
By SKiP helleWell
We missed the centennial of Heisler Park last year , so I made a note to cover next week ’ s 101st anniversary . Doing a little research , I came across this social page item from the 1928 Santa Ana Register , “ Miss Anna Hills had as guest this week , Mrs . Lucia Fox Edwards of South Pasadena .” It wasn ’ t just a social visit . Anna Hills ( 1882-1930 ), you ’ ll recall , was an early Laguna artist , a founder of today ’ s Laguna Presbyterian Church , and a force in building the Laguna
|
Art Museum . But , what was she up to when she invited Edwards — who owned a lot on Goff Street but apparently hadn ’ t built yet — down to Laguna ?
First , the back story . In 1905 , Howard G . Heisler ( 1870-1941 ) and partners got James Irvine to sell them some ranch land and filed a plat to subdivide “ Laguna Cliffs .” The plans included an 18.5-acre park winding along the bluff . It was a visionary plan , as this was 22 years before the city was incorporated . Just five years before , the 1900 Census for Laguna listed only 11 families and 44 year-around residents . There wasn ’ t a decent road to Laguna , but the plans envisioned an electric railway to bring visitors .
The park wasn ’ t developed immediately , and Heisler made motions to divert the land to ocean-view lots . Elmer Jahraus , founder of Laguna Beach Lumber , took Heisler to court to save the park . The new Laguna Beach Art Association had ambitions to build a permanent , fire-proof art gallery and museum , and in 1918 , Heisler offered the current site at half price . ( It was an audacious project for a town with just 260 year-around residents ). Anna Hills , president of the Art Association , must have dreamed of a finished park to grace
|
|
|
the museum when she invited Lucia to visit . What did Lucia have that Laguna needed ?
Lucia Fox Edwards ( 1892-1973 ) grew up in Madison , Wisc ., the daughter of an industrialist . After attending the University of Wisconsin , she toured Europe studying the parks and gardens . Newspaper accounts later note her slide show presentations of Europe ’ s famous gardens , describing her as “ an artist and landscape architect .” In 1921 , Lucia married M . Guy Edwards , a fellow student and geologist working in Peru for a famous silver and copper mine . After a stint in the Andes , they moved to Los Angeles , where he joined Shell Oil when oil was discovered in the Los Angeles basin .
The year after Lucia ’ s visit to Anna , the Santa Ana Register announces , “ City Improves Beach Park in Laguna Beach .” The improvement of the 3000-foot strip along the ocean and Cliff Drive was starting , though with a modest budget . The County donated $ 2,500 , and Laguna Beach City , just two years old , scraped up $ 12,000 over several years . A bond for additional funds was proposed but rejected by the voters . One thing helped keep costs down — Mrs . Lucia Fox Edwards donated her services .
Laguna got a design inspired by the best European parks for free . Anna Hills knew what she was doing and you have to marvel how much Laguna ’ s boosters got for their money when they developed Heisler Park for just $ 250,000 in 2023 dollars .
Laguna threw a big party when the park was completed . The Los Angeles Times announced on May 1 , 1932 , “ Laguna Beach Will Dedicate Heisler Park ,” noting a three-day celebration , with a two-day tournament on the new bowling green . The Laguna Woman ’ s Chorus and Glee Club contributed musical numbers to the dedication ceremony . City leaders spoke , and the park was named , at Heisler ’ s request , for his wife , Lou Jane Heisler .
And that ’ s how Laguna got one of its most remarkable features — two blocks of beautifully landscaped parkland with walking paths along the bluff overlooking the ocean . What other city has such a beautiful park , done at such a modest cost ? There ’ s meaning in that .
Skip fell in love with Laguna on a ‘ 50s surfing trip . He ’ s a student of Laguna history and the author of “ Loving Laguna : A Local ’ s Guide to Laguna Beach .” Email : skip @ lovinglaguna . com .
Verdant springtime views from Harvest
Savor fresh , local ingredients , storied canyon views , all crafted in the artistry of Laguna Beach .
Harvest at The Ranch at Laguna Beach 31106 S . Coast Hwy . ( 949 ) 715-1376