La Linda Drive History begins in 1887 with George Hathaway Bixby (eldest son of Jotham Bixby), who at the young age of 23 and newly married began construction of a house located at 11 La Linda Drive. The original house, located on a 10 acre lot, was about 3000 square feet.
In 1890 George, his wife Amelia and their family moved into the home and it became headquarters for the farming operation of the ranch. It was considered to be the finest home in Long Beach at that time.
In the years following, a series of buildings were constructed on the 10 acre estate including a large barn, stables, bunk house, gardener's home, carpenter shop, wagon shed, tank house and a slaughter house. The home was referred to as the Bixby Ranch House.
In 1904. George commissioned the San Francisco based architects, Coxhead and Coxhead to reconstruct the original home. When it was completed, the main house had more than doubled in size to approximately 7,000 square feet. The Bixby Ranch House was then referred to as The Bixby Mansion. Today, it is the oldest remaining wooden structure in Long Beach.
During the renovations, the grounds also underwent new and improved landscaping. Two large Lily Ponds, which ran north from Bixby Road towards the house were installed to anchor the elaborate gardens.
In the 1910 Federal Census, the address was simply the Bixby Farm on American Ave (later renamed Long Beach Blvd.). The Bixby family consisted of 7 children (4 boys, 3 girls) and 7 servants.
By 1919, plagued by failing health, George Bixby was forced to retire from his duties of banking, real estate and ranching. By 1920, the surrounding area had been subdivided (Rancho Los Cerritos Tract) leaving the 10 acre Bixby estate untouched. The Bixby family lived at 11 La Linda until the 10 acre estate was purchased by Thomas Gilcrease (oil refiner and banker from Oklahoma) in January 1920. George Bixby died Dec. 30, 1922.
Thomas Gilcrease subdivided the 10 acre estate in 1922 into 45 parcels (see surveyors map recorded 11/4/22). At the southern entrance (Bixby Road), the western part of the gate was moved to double the width. Also, the Lily ponds became community property (Lot M) for all the owners to include a walkway across the "island" stretching from #8 to #50. The original subdivision (see plot map) included Lot L "Public Park" with a long walkway, Lot N "Tennis Courts" and Lot K "Privately Owned and Maintained Roadway". Initially, Gilchrist sold a 1/50th share of the common areas with each lot. He maintained a controlling interest of approximately 55% ownership of the common areas.
Gilcrease and O.B. Kee (investor and former Banker from Oklahoma), and Dr. Arnold were active in the promotion of the new subdivision. The first home completed after subdividing in 1924 was #25 (O.B. Kee).
There may be others built in 1924 or 1925 but, a lot of conflicting information around construction dates. And, the homes would have been vacant.
Thomas Gilcrease mostly likely died in abt. 1925 (need 2nd source). His wife (Wanita) and son (Thomas) lived at the Bixby Mansion until abt.1929. The mansion was vacant until Ramen Komaroff purchased the property in abt. 1938.
Who's Who, Pacific Coast, 1913
Early Photo of Bixby Mansion
Los Angeles Herald, Number 62, 13 January 1920
Los Angeles Herald, Number 157, 3 May 1921. note: misspelled Gilcrease
Source unknown
Long Beach City Directory 1927. No homes listed … all had Long Beach Blvd addresses.
Long Beach City Directory 1930. First time listed with updated house numbers. #1 now has Long Beach Blvd address. #11 was vacant so, not listed.
In 1926, the subdivision was named "La Lindo Drive". The Spanish translation of "Lindo" is "Beautiful". By abt. 1934, the name changed again to "La Linda Drive". "Linda" also translates to "Beautiful" or "Pretty". Several homes maintained Long Beach Blvd addresses until abt. 1940. In fact, addresses in this area along American Ave (now Long Beach Blvd) changed several times before stabilizing around 1940. For example, #11 and #25 (La Linda) started off as 3601 and 3614 American Ave. In 1928, changed to 3801 and 3815 American Ave. Then, Long Beach Blvd followed by La Lindo Drive to present day #11 and #25 La Linda Drive.
Note: City planners changed American Ave to Long Beach Blvd in phases starting in downtown moving North over several years in the 1920's.
Surveyor's Map 11/4/22 showing original subdivision of Bixby 10 acre estate
circa 1976 Map with "Jungle"
In 1921, Oil was discovered in Signal Hill and later was discovered within the newly subdivided tract and all owners unanimously decided to lease the tract to an oil company. The stables were converted to garages for commercial vehicles, and the trees and shrubbery were removed. Oil drilling ended in the late 1920's. There were 6 or 7 houses completed by 1929 (not all were occupied).
By end of the Great Depression (1940), La Linda consisted of 13 homes. At the end of WW2 (1945), La Linda consisted of 16 homes.
By 1950, Lot L was subdivided into two residential lots #22 and #24 and the tennis courts were divided and sold to #48 and #50. (need title search at Norwalk to get exact dates)
The electronically-controlled gates and chain-link fencing along the alley were installed in 1979, ending public access to our Private Drive.
In 1981, The Long Beach Cultural Heritage Committee declared the George H. Bixby house a Long Beach Historical Landmark.
In 1995, Lots Q,R,S,V,W,X,I and J were purchased by the association to form a Park (common area). Prior to the acquisition, early association maps identified this area as the "jungle".
In 2003, the Lily ponds were restored and are now called reflection pools and once again belong to the Bixby Mansion. The tip of Lot M as you enter from Bixby as shown in the circa 1976 map is community property which three eucalyptus trees are growing.
In 2006, the Long Beach Heritage presented Duane Rose with the Merit Award for the restoration of the Lily Ponds.
In 2012, the last La Linda lot (#56) was developed.
In 2016, La Linda Drive Association was incorporated.
Today, La Linda Drive is a gated community that includes 35 homes located along the Private Roadway (Lot K).