POINT LOMA ASSOCIATION REMEMBERED
In this section of our web site, we want to compile a detailed history
of the Point Loma Association as remembered by our current and
past Officers, Board and active members. To get us started, Klonie
Kunzel has written the brief history below. We hope that
our long-time members will read what Klonie has to say and remember
other pieces
of the history to tell us.
If you have historical information or reminiscences
to add, please email your thoughts to us at information@plaweb.org.
We will post your thoughts in your own words in this section
following Klonie's'
article.
This is very much like an oral history project, except
we're doing it by email. Help us build something special in this
section!
History
of the PLA
By Klonie Kunzel
In 1961, a small group of dedicated Pt Loma residents
began meeting in the back room of “The Quarter Deck",
a quality women's clothing store on Rosecrans Street. Under the leadership
of Larry Duff, Celeste Trepte, Don Hartley, Janet Richards, Del Burnham
Rice, Barbara Hallen and Tom Wilson discussed ways to improve the
Pt. Loma Village. Their first project, with a small amount of donated dollars, was
to purchase containers, in which they planted bottlebrush plants,
donated by the City.
In 1964, Pt. Loma Village Beautiful was formally founded,
inspired by the work of the Pasadena Beautiful Foundation, and Los
Angeles
Beautiful.
The 200 founding members met at the San Diego Yacht
Club on September 29, 1964 for their first fundraising dinner. The
cost was $25.00 per couple.
Money was raised to plant 65 Jacaranda trees along Rosecrans.
In 1967, an attack was made on billboards. Of the 11 originally
standing, only 2 remain.
Undergrounding utilities became a focus. Over 100 poles have come
down, with more to come.
Rosecrans, with its twirling Kentucky Fried Chicken
bucket, an enormous Jack popping out of his box, and a huge donut,
was further enhanced
in 1973 by the addition of 4 massage parlors. One especially incensed
the then current chairman Vice Adm. Marshal Dornin, ”The Little
Admiral.” He complained to the City Council and secured the
removal of all four parlors.
In 1974, PLVB replaced the ugly advertising benches
at the bus stops along Rosecrans. They served us for almost 30 years.
Now damaged
beyond repair, they are being replaced with new attractive wooden
benches as we have donors .
Through the years, more Jacarandas have been added
along Rosecrans and adjacent streets. Other landscaping projects have included the Gold Medallions by Cabrillo
School, Sycamores and Pepper trees along Canon Street, Dewey School
enhancement, landscaping along Nimitz Blvd, Acacia and morning glories
cascading down the embankment on Nimitz, the “Pork Chops” at
Nimitz and West Point Loma Blvd.....and more.
The name has evolved from Point Loma Village Beautiful,
to Point Loma Beautiful, to Point Loma Association.
Landscaping has not been our only focus. Point Loma
Association sponsored the 2003 Concert Series at the Little League
field, has
helped support the 4th of July fireworks, among many other community
activities. Garden awards have been awarded to deserving homes, and
PLA has represented its members in recommendations to the City.
In the first communique to prospective members in 1964, we said:
WE ARE FOR: