H. J. Whitley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hobart Johnstone Whitley
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| Born | October 7, 1847 |
| Died | June 3, 1931 (aged 83) |
| Burial place | Hollywood Memorial Cemetery |
| Education | Toronto Business College |
| Known for | Land development in California |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret Virginia Whitley |
| Parent(s) | Joseph Whitley Eleanor Johnstone |
Hobart Johnstone Whitley (born October 7, 1847 – died June 3, 1931) was a Canadian-American businessman. He was known for buying and developing land, especially in California. Whitley is famous for helping to create the area known as Hollywood in Los Angeles. Many people call him the "Father of Hollywood."
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Whitley was born in Toronto, Canada. He was the youngest of seven sons. He grew up in Flint, Michigan, and went to Toronto Business College. In the 1870s, he became a citizen of the United States.
In 1887, Whitley married his second wife, Margaret Virginia Ross.
Starting His Career
Whitley moved to Chicago, where he owned a hardware store and a candy store. He became very interested in developing land. He worked for the Rock Island Railroad as a land agent, helping them buy and sell land. He also became part of their board of directors.
Whitley planned and organized many towns in an area called the Cherokee Strip. When Oklahoma became a state in 1912, he was offered the chance to be its first governor, but he said no.
Building California Towns
Creating Hollywood
Whitley arrived in California in 1893. The next year, he opened a jewelry store in Los Angeles.
At that time, Hollywood was just a small farming area with about eighteen families. Whitley had a big idea: he imagined Hollywood becoming a busy and popular neighborhood of Los Angeles. He bought 400 acres of open land and gardens. He then divided this land into smaller pieces for homes, and many more families moved there.
Whitley became a major owner in a company called the Los Angeles Pacific Boulevard and Development Company. He worked with other important people like Harrison Gray Otis. Whitley helped open a new area called the Ocean View Tract. He also helped build a bank at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland.
Whitley also built the famous Hollywood Hotel at the same Hollywood and Highland corner. It was finished in February 1903.
The neighborhood of Whitley Heights in the Hollywood Hills was another housing area that Whitley helped create.
Because of all his work, Whitley, along with Charles E. Toberman, is known as "The Father of Hollywood." People started calling him this as early as 1905.
Developing Corcoran
Whitley played a big role in building the city of Corcoran, California. He bought over 3,000 acres (about 12 square kilometers) to start this project. He was able to guide how the town grew by controlling several companies that worked together.
Whitley Gardens, His Last Project
Whitley's last big development project was never fully finished. He bought thousands of acres of land and started the town of Whitley Gardens. This area is about 10 miles (16 km) east of Paso Robles, California.
Around 1924, a writer named Lee Shippey said that Whitley became very fond of Paso Robles. He bought 48,000 acres of ranch land there. He dreamed of building one more great development. He was surprised that such good land with water, near a main highway and the ocean, could still be bought for about $50 an acre.
It was said that Whitley had made a lot of money, millions of dollars. However, much of this money was lost in this last big investment at Paso Robles.
Other Important Projects
In 1905, Whitley and others began developing large areas of land. This included 47,000 acres in the San Joaquin Valley and 50,000 acres in the San Fernando Valley.
In 1909, he formed a group called the Suburban Homes Company. This group included other important people like Harry Chandler and Henry E. Huntington. Huntington extended his Pacific Electric Railway (Red Cars) through the Valley to a town called Owensmouth (now Canoga Park). The Suburban Home Company then planned roads and created the towns of Van Nuys, Reseda (which was called Marian), and Canoga Park (Owensmouth). The farming areas around these towns became part of Los Angeles in 1915.
From about 1920 until he died, Whitley's company, Whitley Oil and Refining, drilled for oil in California.
Death
Hobart Whitley passed away on June 3, 1931. He was buried in the Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery, which is now called Hollywood Forever Cemetery. On his tomb, it says "The Father of Hollywood."
He was survived by his wife, a son, and a daughter.
His Lasting Impact
It is believed that Whitley helped start more than 140 towns during his life.
After he died, the Hollywood Citizen newspaper wrote about him. They said he was remembered by the loving name the community gave him: "The Father of Hollywood."
He was also involved in starting several banks, including Home Savings Bank and the First National Bank of Hollywood.
Whitley gave away large pieces of land and money for public use. These donations helped pay for public schools, libraries, parks, street improvements, transportation, lighting, and churches.
At the time of his death, he had lost a lot of his money in his last real estate projects.
Several streets and places are named after Whitley:
- Hobart Boulevard
- Whitley Heights, Los Angeles - a neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills.
- Whitley Avenue, Los Angeles - a street in Hollywood.
- Whitley Terrace - a street in Whitley Heights.
- Whitley Terrace Steps - a set of stairs in Whitley Heights.
- Whitley Avenue - a main street in Corcoran, California.
