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 contact@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!

Click here for History Timeline of the PLA

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. Beautification 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: