Fall 2020 Whittier Conservancy Newsletter

FALL 2020

Birdseye view of Whittier, looking west from the high school, ca.1905, California Historical Society Collection, Calisphere

INCREDIBLE EDIBLES JOIN WHITTIER’S URBAN FOREST

Sustainable Garden adds new life to historic Campbell Hall at Whittier College

Conservancy Partners with College on Coffee-Avocado Grove

This micro-orchard sits on a template of Whittier’s not-sodistant agricultural past. As late as the 1950s, much of the southeast corner of the campus contained avocado trees. Almost all of East Whittier from College Avenue to La Habra was covered with citrus and avocado groves for the first half of the twentieth century.

The college orchard is an open, integral part of the campus, with benches placed in a center promenade for students, faculty, and curious neighbors to wander through while enjoying the pleasant surroundings. It is also a perennial teaching tool and laboratory for collaboration on research issues and the value of urban farming as it relates to edible landscaping. The goal is to have the coffee beans supply a campus café and to use the college-grown avocados in their own Campus Inn. Active engagement with the community has resulted in the Conservancy’s collaborative participation as a donor for the second planting in the college’s grove. In a joint collaboration, the Conservancy has funded the entire cost of the avocado trees. By reimagining sustainable practices that are relevant today, Whittier’s past can be transformed into part of its future. Whittier’s agricultural legacy comes full circle as edible urban farming becomes part of the local landscape once more.

Where does edible urban landscaping meet sustainability and historic context? Try Whittier College’s new coffee/avocado grove on Earlham Drive in front of historic Campbell Hall.

This interdisciplinary project aims to weave complex multi-layered narratives—agricultural, ecological, cultural, and historical—into what may be the state’s next Gold Rush: sustainable coffee growing.

In May of last year, 64 coffee trees derived from 16 varietals were planted on a 1/8th acre experimental plot at the college’s new urban grove.

By alternating rows of coffee with rows of avocado, “intercropping” mimics the type of planting currently being practiced by over forty growers in Coastal Southern California. This innovative approach maximizes ground cover while producing two crops simultaneously.

The soil then functions as a compost bin, regenerating and reinvigorating both with a continuous supply of recycled nutrients.

Dedication of Coffee-Avocado Grove with Conservancy Urban Forest Chair Dave Dickerson, President Mary Sullens, and project coordinator Professor Cinzia Fissore. Farm consultant Scott Murray gets ready to plant one of the specialty avocado breeds donated by the Conservancy.

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Restored Murphy Office Building on Whittier Blvd. in East Whittier

THE PRESERVATIONIST The Carnegie Library at the NE corner of Greenleaf & Bright

King Richards Antiques Center, TripAdvisor

The 1890 Murphy Office Blg. in the mid-20th century, courtesy CalDomestic.com

Whittier Citrus Association Building, circa early 20th century, Whittier Public Library Historical Photograph Collection, Calisphere

WHITTIER’S AGRICULTURAL LEGACY LIVES ON

Rancho del Fuerte—Harriet Strong House on Orange Drive

Preservation is not just about saving old buildings. It’s about recognizing & caring for the work of previous generations in order to capture and honor the history of our community.

Whittier was originally settled as a farming community, but soon became known nationwide for its production of citrus, avocado, and walnuts. Tons of product were shipped from the Whittier Packing House to market on the Southern Pacific Railroad line.

In 1867, before the fledgling town was even created, Charles and Harriet Strong purchased 325 acres from former Mexican Governor Pio Pico. Under Harriet’s direction, Rancho del Fuerte became a major source of oranges, English walnuts, pampas grass, and pomegranates.

She was an innovative proponent of water conservation and the only Southern California woman whose ideas were patented and replicated by others in the agricultural industry that put Whittier on the national map. Soon, East Whittier ranchers also formed a coalition to bring water over the Puente Hills to serve their growing concerns.

By 1902, Whittier’s population reached about 3,000 and the first railroad car of California oranges that shipped to the east coast that year came from Whittier. The region flourished with award-winning grapefruit, oranges, and avocados for decades until post-war housing replaced most of the agricultural land.

Whittier’s early economic success depended on three ingredients: water, transportation, and people. Simon Murphy with his early water system, the Southern Pacific Railroad, and entrepreneur Harriet Strong all contributed to Whittier’s reputation as a thriving enterprise with a sure future.

The Strong house still stands today as a local historic landmark and the Packing House next to the rail lines is another designated historic landmark known today as King Richard’s Antiques.

The East Whittier Water Co. eventually became California Domestic Water and was saved from the wrecking ball by the Conservancy in 2008. The original 120 square foot Murphy office building is also fully restored and stands today directly behind the art deco California Domestic Water headquarters on Whittier Blvd. across from the Whittwood.

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WHITTIEr CONSERVANCY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2020

INTERIM PRESIDENT

MARY GORMAN-SULLENS VICE-PRESIDENT

FRED KERZ TREASURER

MEL STURR SECRETARY

GWEN WOIRHAYE TANIA CRUSE DAVID DICKERSON CONNIE MILLER JUDITH PRATHER THERESA RIVAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

HELEN RAHDER P. O. Box 9114 Whittier, CA 90608

www.whittierconservancy.org info@whittierconservancy.org

FALL 2020

LIBRARY OAK TREE GETS SECOND CHANCE

In preparation for the addition and remodeling of the historic Central Library, the graceful holly oak tree on the patio of the children’s section had to be removed. Last April, while everyone was on lock-down, the Conservancy was busy collaborating with the City to “save” the tree by retrieving its best parts for future use.

A fifteen-foot section of the trunk along with several large branches were carefully removed by crane, sealed to capture their moisture content, and hauled to storage by city workers. Selected pieces have been set aside to be turned into furniture and other artifacts for the renovated library. By recycling the beautiful wood, the Conservancy will be funding a project that will benefit the community for years to come.

The sustainable reuse of the tree will not only “preserve” the iconic oak tree for future generations, but will be part of a teaching tool to show kids how the tree, though in a different form, still exists in another cycle of usefulness. While the beloved oak provided shade and beauty on its first round, it will soon begin its next chapter in the library’s own story.

The beautiful Holly Oak graced the children’s courtyard for over 60 years

CELEBRATING 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF TREE PROTECTION LAW The corner of Broadway and Greenleaf had been framed for decades with beautiful, healthy, mature street trees. It was one of the reasons people flocked to the neighborhood and relished its tranquil environment. One day in 1997, residents awoke to the sounds of chain-saws and grinders as crews removed and destroyed—without notice—the ambiance of their homes, street, and neighborhood in a scene that became known as “the Broadway Massacre.”

No one was more incensed than long-time Whittier resident Patty Flack, who sprang into action and took charge to make sure that this would never happen again. Her efforts spanned two and a half years in which she worked with the Parks Dept., the Public Works Dept., the City Council, and other community leaders to come up with an air-tight procedure that is now the law of the land. Known as the Tree Protection Ordinance, it is accompanied by detailed procedures outlined in the Parkway Tree Manual. This document explains how healthy city-owned trees are cared for and under what circumstances they can be removed. It also requires public notification to be tied to trees that are scheduled for removal so that residents are aware and can appeal, if necessary.

These rules apply to all city-owned trees and have made the protection of our Urban Forest a priority in all city projects that involve parking lots, streets, city parks, and the canopies that grace our tree-lined streets.

Street tree massacre at Greenleaf and Broadway in 1997

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THE PRESERVATIONIST The Whittier Conservancy P.O. Box 9114 Whittier, CA 90608-9114

NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID WHITTIER, CA PERMIT NO. 177

Return Service Requested

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The Nixon House at 15844 Whittier Blvd. faces possible demolition.

Go to www.whittierconservancy.org and click on the NEWS link for more information and to learn what you can do to help save this important piece of Whittier’s history

If you know of a street or neighborhood in need of trees, please let us know!

Mary Sullens and Maria Claver present Parks Director Virginia Santana with another $8,000 for the tree-planting program inspired by late community tree advocate Damon Cofer

TREES! COMING TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD During the five years of California drought, Whittier—like many cities—lost hundreds of street trees. Coupled with the record heat of the past several summers, Whittier’s remaining urban forest has taken a big hit.

Conservancy advisor Dr. Maria Claver has helped offset these losses by writing successful grants for us for the past ten years. Much of these awards, provided by Edison International, has gone to familiar sites: the Greenway Trail Rest Stop at Palm Park, the center medians on Hadley Street east of Painter Avenue, and many parkway trees that have replaced dead or diseased specimens.

For the past few years, the Conservancy has shifted its focus toward underserved areas of the community that are sorely in need of these benefits. Trees provide shade, beauty, and a respite from the unrelenting heat that can scorch neighborhoods that are

Mario and Dalila Barillas at their historic Washington Ave. home with newly planted trees

covered in concrete and devoid of foliage. They are a proven defense against Climate Change and can have psychological as well as physical benefits. They also add considerable economic value to both commercial and residential areas.

It is part of the mission of the Conservancy to correct some of the imbalance in city streetscapes by enhancing neighborhoods that are in need of an urban forest makeover.

We have donated most of the tree grant money from Edison International ($198,000 since 2008) to the City Parks Department, where seasoned employees have been fabulous partners in this collaborative effort.