an esplanade original

by denise kano

in tHiS pHoto taken froM tHe 1920S, a field of corn GroWS outSide tHe nortHern part of tHe HoMe, and a field of ice plant extendS out to tHe cliff overlookinG tHe pacific. an entrance on tHe nortHern part of tHe HouSe WaS added in later yearS.

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vieW of tHe HouSe lookinG toWardS tHe coaSt on eSplanade. tHe adJacent Half lot iS part of tHe property and WHere tHe GaraGe currently SitS.

oriGinal 1920S Built-in SHelf- tHey dont Make tHeM like tHiS anyMore!

Back of HouSe lookinG SoutH doWn tHe coaSt toWardS paloS verdeS

georgeouS ocean viewS from the living room

along the esplanade, tucked in between the larger, more modern residences and massive apartment buildings, stands one of the few remaining original beach homes dating back to the early 1900s. on a lot size of 6781 square feet, the light green home located at 715 esplanade was built in 1905 at the end of the victorian era, at a cost of approximately $2,000 to $3,000. at a total of 4,493 square feet, the home was originally built as a single family home. However, it was also used at one time as a home for boys, which was common for residences in that location and time period. typical period details of the home included large, double-hung windows, clapboard siding, and exterior brick chimneys, in a mixture of victorian and craftsman style, characteristic for many homes of that time period. Gas fixtures were customary and adorned the ceilings, as electricity was still considered somewhat a fad at that time, and unreliable. a large field of ice plant stretched out toward the pacific ocean, and in later years, corn stalks stood tall outside the home. it was rumored that the residence to the south of 715 esplanade, constructed in the 1920s, was at one time the vacation home of Slim Summerville, a popular silent movie actor. and in the 1940s, the home belonged to a redondo Beach councilman. Many of the homes and cottages built in the early 1900s in redondo Beach featured an ornate style that was considered elegant for the time period. they were built overlooking the seashore, along the main street then known as ocean view. the name, esplanade, as an exclusive residential street, first came into being around the turn of the century, when redondo Beach was on the brink of becoming a bustling harbor and beach community, albeit with a population of less than 2,000. Several redondo Beach landmarks were located within walking distance of homes on the esplanade: the Hotel redondo (where veterans park stands today), which

was built in 1889 and stood until 1926, and the plunge, which was then advertised as the largest indoor salt water heated pool in the world. throughout the years many changes and reinforcements have been made to 715 esplanade. due to several major storms, supports were initially constructed so that the front windows overlooking the pacific were not blown in. additionally, there are now three layers to the home: the original wood siding, subsequent green shingles, and finally, aluminum siding which was applied in the late 1970s in order to weatherproof the exterior. the concrete steps and chimneys have also been reinforced. another addition is a small dormer off the upstairs kitchen, which was sometimes used as a small bedroom. today, most of the interior has been refurbished. However, walking through the home, there are small reminders of unique design features from the past, such as small nooks, original brass doorknobs, and built-in storage spaces. a drop-down wooden desk decorates the living room of the main residence. Sometime prior to 1957, the home was converted into four separate apartments, with the main residence located on the middle level. remaining was an interior, twostory staircase connecting the middle residence with the upper apartment and one of the lower apartments. the home was last sold in 1957 to nell and phil oreilly. at the time of their purchase, there was another half-lot next to the home onto which a detached garage had been erected by a former owner. Mr. and Mrs. oreilly were a familiar presence in the neighborhood. every evening while they lived at 715 esplanade, they enjoyed sitting outside on their deck chairs, drinks in hand, and waving cheerily to all passersby. although the oreillys have both passed on, the home remains in their family, and stands as a testament to what the esplanade used to look like a true original.

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