Exhibits ZCC and ZEE2. A WPA map of pre-World War II shows only six houses in all of Westside Village but a heavily built-up area between Overland Ave. on the east and the Palms Middle School site lies on the west, the houses in the latter area arranged in a strikingly similar land-use pattern to the rest of PALMS.
This small area, which had the same kind of modest, single-family homes as the rest of PALMS, was linked to PALMS on its east for two reasons: First, there were no homes or businesses westward until the outbreak of World War II, and, second, the present Palms Blvd (old Ocean Park Ave.) was not cut through to Sepulveda Blvd. on the west; it dead-ended at the present Palms Middle School campus. (Exhibit CC, above.) That’s why today there is a tunnel under Palms Blvd. to unite the campus. (Exhibit ZEE2, below.) |
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My 50 Years in Palms
by David I. Worsfold
This is the last in a series of articles on the history of Palms written by Mr. Worsfold, a recognized historian and civic leader who celebrated his 50th year in Palms on October 8, 1964.
In 1940, I started the campaign for Palms Junior High School. In the meantime, I circulated petitions for storm drains, street lights, street name changes, boulevard stop signs, traffic signals and alley paving jobs, worked for a park, schools, street improvements and anything the community needed. Although locally I was not given much recognition, in my office I was called the "Mayor of Palms." . . .
My work for a junior high site was ended when the School District bought my recommended site. It was at that time that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941. . . .
I joined the "Seabees" on June 20, 1942. I was on active duty from Nov. 1, 1942, to Dec. 7, 1945. . . .
A month after my discharge, I saw the business manager of the School District to see the status of Palms Junior High School. War had stopped any construction on the site which had been owned for four years. Mr. Nibecker said the school was contingent upon a proposed bond issue and they couldn't start the plans until they had orders from superintendent of schools. I wrote the superintendent, Mr. Kersey, and asked for action.
It was ironic that my two pet projects had to be in conflict. The school district made plans for the Junior High to straddle Ocean Park Avenue, now Palms Boulevard. I suggested a Junior High south of the highway, an elementary north of the highway.
The City required the opening and paving of Ocean Park Avenue, but when the school contract was let in 1948, the plans showed two fences across Ocean Park Avenue to block the highway.
Then the fight began against the highway and I was right in the middle of the battle favoring the highway as essential to the City and several hundred people strongly against it.
The greatest and longest controversy in the history of Palms lasted eight years and was decided by the courts so that the highway was opened and paved with a tunnel under it connecting the two parts of the school. When the highway was passable for five miles it was silly to have four names on it so I circulated a petition and obtained signatures of owners of two-thirds of the frontage. An ordinance City Council signed by the Mayor established the name Palms Boulevard.
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