05/09/2021
Where is Baird's Town??
Well over a century ago, the Baird Family made its way West to the Golden State and established a small development along the Pacific Electric Railway constructed by Henry Huntington. Before the brothers envisioned their own little town, the area selected was literally ‘No Mans Land’. We will take a step back a few years to get a better perspective of when and where Baird’s Town is and is not. The City of Los Angeles (Pueblo) was founded in 1781 and settled under Spanish Rule, it was not until 1851 that it received its land grant and established a 4 square league territory. On a small area of land in the State of California, outside the City limits the Baird brothers settled and decided to acquire the land for development purposes.
Historians have known for over a century, that the Baird Tract started outside the City limits and the brothers George and Llewellyn actually comprised much of the Batz, Navarro, and Lifur properties. It was in 1900 that the brothers began the subdivision and real estate business and declared the area as Baird’s Town. Prior to the Baird’s arrival, the land did transfer owners a few times but it was neither in the City of Los Angeles nor in the City of Alhambra. The Baird’s wanted to create their own municipality and started with a grocery store and Post Office. The area was actually part of ‘Public Lands’ since 1872 when Rancho Rosa de Castilla land grant was denied in Supreme Court. This Rancho included a large area which now covers parts of Monterey Park, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, South Pasadena, Hermon, Rose Hills, Monterey Hills, University Hills, Hillside Village, and Montecito Heights. It was in 1911 that a proposal to include Baird’s Town into the City of Los Angeles with the Arroyo Seco Annexation, along with Hermon, Sycamore Grove, Rose Hill, Mount Washington, and Belvedere, which was set to a vote of the people. It is expressed that the recalcitrant voters of Baird’s Town and Belvedere did not accept the proposal, so in 1911 it failed. This was a fine opportunity to be a part of the City of Los Angeles and receive City services, which were highly desired by many in the Arroyo Seco communities.
The following year, in 1912, with the 2 recalcitrant areas removed from the vote, the Arroyo Seco Annexation was approved on February 9, and the Arroyo Seco was now part of the City of Los Angeles. As we follow a progressive timeline, we note that Baird’s Town believed they could still hold on and provide water, street repairs, sanitation services, law enforcement, electricity, and so many other services to become its own municipality. It took several years until the people of Baird’s Town knew they had missed the boat on two (2) occasions and once again had a third chance to be part of the City of Los Angeles. The City had aggressive and ambitious visions as well, as they also wanted to extend the territory East with visions to annex Alhambra and even Pasadena. On June 10, 1915, a vote was taken of the people of Baird’s Town, and this time the annexation was approved. This provides a few facts, for those history buffs……
1) Baird’s Town declined to be part of the City of Los Angeles in 1911 and 1912.
2) Baird’s Town had no connection to Los Angeles until it was annexed in 1915.
3) Baird’s Town will have its individualized date and map of annexation.
4) Baird’s Town had a name change to El Sereno (Between 1915-1919).
5) El Sereno is limited to the Baird’s Town land development and its time line of annexation.
6) Rose Hills is within the Pueblo’s Boundary since 1851, in 1912 completely served by Los Angeles.
When a few people make an effort to express that El Sereno is all of 90032, we must take caution to not be deceived, since we know several facts that cannot be changed. The Pueblo extended 1 league in each direction of the cardinal winds. That 1 league distance stopped midway across the Rose Hills community. We also know that in 1912, the Arroyo Seco Annexation was approved completing the Rose Hills community entirely within the City limits. It is also noted that 3 years later, El Sereno was annexed in 1915 and it has an official limit that is verified by County records. These are clear examples that Baird’s Town and Rose Hills were 2 completely independent communities and it has stayed that way to this day. The North East Corner Stone is placed at the entrance to Debs Park in the community of Rose Hills, and it is an official marker of the Pueblos boundaries. Here are a couple questions that I know the answers to, since research is very time consuming and rewarding, I will ask to see if anyone else knows these answers.
What was the area called before the Baird Brothers arrived from Wisconsin?
What are the boundaries of Baird’s Town?
What year was Baird’s Town first connected to the City of Los Angeles?
These are not trick questions; I am sure even Clyde or nearly everyone else can answer them. We always appreciate the kind interest in history and following details and facts for years, and for the efforts of Rose Hills Review in making many archives digital, so they can be shared for a new generation. There are many little-known facts that are shared and a few that are still reserved for future release. Please stay involved and learn about our treasured past, both here and there.
