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Hobart Johnstone Whitley | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1847-10-07)October 7, 1847[1] |
| Died | June 3, 1931(1931-06-03) (aged 83) |
| Burial place | Hollywood Memorial Cemetery[2][3] |
| Education | Toronto Business College |
| Known for | Land development in California |
| Spouse | Margaret Virginia Whitley |
| Parent(s) | Joseph Whitley Eleanor Johnstone[1] |
Hobart Johnstone Whitley (October 7, 1847 – June 3, 1931) was a Canadian-American businessman and real estate developer. Whitley is best known for helping create theHollywood subdivision inLos Angeles. He is among those known as the "Father of Hollywood."[3][4][5][6]
Whitley was born inToronto, the seventh and youngest son of Joseph Whitley and Eleanor Johnstone.[1] He grew up inFlint, Michigan, and attended Toronto Business College. Whitley became anaturalized citizen of the United States in the 1870s.[7]
In 1887, Whitley married his second wife, Margaret Virginia Ross.[8]
Whitley moved toChicago,[when?] where he owned a hardware store and candy store. He became interested in land development, became a land agent for theRock Island Railroad and was elected to its board of directors. He plotted and organized towns in theCherokee Strip region of Oklahoma, and in 1912 he "declined the first governorship."[7][9]
Whitley came to California in 1893; the next year, 1894, he established the HJ Whitley Jewelry Store in Los Angeles.[8][10]
Hollywood was then a rural settlement of eighteen families; Whitley envisioned Hollywood "as a thriving suburb of Los Angeles." He subdivided 400 acres of open fields and gardens into a residential section, and more families came here to live."[9]
Whitley became a major shareholder, withHarrison Gray Otis and George W. Hoover, of the Los Angeles Pacific Boulevard and Development Company.[11][12] He orchestrated the opening of the Ocean View Tract and construction of abank on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland.[citation needed]
Whitely built theHollywood Hotel on the same Hollywood and Highland corner, with George W. Hoover as builder. Construction was completed in February 1903.[12][13][14]
The neighborhood ofWhitley Heights in theHollywood Hills originated as a residential housing development financed by Whitley.[15]
Whitley, along withCharles E. Toberman, has been called "The Father ofHollywood."[16][17][5][18] The first reference to Whitley by that title was in 1905.[6]
Whitley took the lead in building the city ofCorcoran, California. He purchased over 3,000 acres (12 km2) to start the development, and was able to control the town's development through an interlocking set of companies that he controlled.[19]
Whitley's last development was never finished. He bought thousands of acres and started the town ofWhitley Gardens.[citation needed] It is about ten miles (16 km) east ofPaso Robles, California. Around 1924, asLos Angeles Times columnistLee Shippey put it:
Whitley became a Paso Robles enthusiast, after the waters had given him new strength. He bought 48,000 acres of ranch lands there and dreams of putting through one more great development project. He can't understand how fine fertile land with water on it, on a state highway and within reach of ocean winds can still be bought for around $50 an acre.[20]
It was said that Whitley had amassed "a private fortune running into the millions" but "most of this wealth dwindled in [this] one unfortunate investment at Paso Robles."[9]
In 1905, he and others began the development of 47,000 acres of land in theSan Joaquin Valley and 50,000 acres in theSan Fernando Valley.[9]
In 1909 he formed the Suburban Homes Company, a syndicate, along withHarry Chandler, H. G. Otis, M. H. Sherman and O. F. Brandt.[21]Henry E. Huntington extended hisPacific Electric Railway (Red Cars) through the Valley toOwensmouth (now Canoga Park). The Suburban Home Company laid out plans for roads and the towns of Van Nuys, Reseda (Marian) and Canoga Park (Owensmouth). The rural areas were annexed into the city of Los Angeles in 1915.[22][23]
From about 1920 until his death, his company Whiltley Oil and Refining engaged in oil drilling in California.
Whitley died on June 3, 1931, at the Whitley Park Country Club on Ventura Boulevard near Van Nuys.[24][25] He was buried in the Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery, today namedHollywood Forever Cemetery. On his crypt is inscribed "The Father of Hollywood".[citation needed]
He was survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.[9]
It is estimated that Whitley founded more than 140 towns in his lifetime.[26]
TheHollywood Citizen said of him after his death: "He is remembered by the affectionate title which his community long ago bestowed upon him, the 'Father of Hollywood.'"[9]
He was identified with the founding of Home Savings Bank, the First National Bank of Hollywood, the First National Bank of Van Nuys, and the State Banks of Owensmouth (Canoga Park), Reseda, and Corcoran.[9]
Whitley donated large parcels of land and money for civic use. The donations were used to financepublic schools, libraries, parks, landscaping, streets, transportation, lighting and churches.[27]
At the time of his death, he was practicallyinsolvent, having lost heavily in real estate developments.[28]
Streets named after Whitley include:
H. J. Whitley, California real estate man known as the "Father of Hollywood ...