THE HISTORY of an Iconic Neighborhood

More than a century ago, the town of Ventura ended at Cemetery Memorial Park, where people now come to watch the sunset or exercise their dogs. But this grassy knoll holds a secret. Once the original cemetery for Ventura, more than 3,000 pioneers and war veterans are still buried here. William Dewey Hobson, the man considered the father of Ventura County, for negotiating the separation of Ventura County from Santa Barbara in 1873. He was a visionary, a builder, business owner, and rancher. But in 1923, it was his son, Abram Lincoln Hobson, who had a vision for the future.

Lucky for us, Abram and Helen Hobson’s house still stands in its modern-day form on Barnard Street, but the landscape and the house looked much different over a hundred years ago. Dirt roads, rolling hills, and an old pepper tree were all that stood on this piece of hillside land on the San Juan Barranca.

The development launched with great fanfare. The first parcels develop the first parcels developed were named Encinal Court. Frank and Florence Brigham were among the first prospective buyers. They would have received the royal treatment. A phone call to number 95 and a private driver would pick them up and take them on a tour of their future home site.

For $1,250, the first residents snatched up their own piece of the American Dream and started to build. Today, their house is known as the Brigham Beeman Residence, landmark number 103 located on Poli street. Soon, other people jumped at the chance to own their own slice of the American Dream.

With the expansion of Hobson Heights 1, the neighborhood grew from the east side of Live Oak Drive to the west side of Pacific Avenue. Fast on its heels, Hobson Heights 2 ran up the west side of Lincoln Drive from Main Street, Old Conejo Road, to Oceanview, now Poli Street. 

More notable families flocked to Hobson Heights to build their dream homes. John and Ida Lagomasino, both from famous pioneering families, found the perfect spot for their six children on Lincoln Drive. Their three -car garage became the birthplace of a school run by the Holy Cross nuns and the property hid a secret speakeasy during Prohibition. 

Hobson Heights kept growing. Hobson Heights 3, 4, 5, and 6 were added to the neighborhood. More Spanish and Italian style homes welcomed guests with their original street numbers and ocean views. 

Some of these houses even welcomed world famous guests. In fact,1637 Poli Street became the refuge of one of the most famous actors of the 1930s, Clark Gable, who used to sneak out of his friend’s parties in Hobson Heights and smoke cigars in the past owner’s “Gun and Smoke Room.” 

The next addition to the neighborhood still presides over Hobson Heights, celebrating each passing hour with a bell that started a rivalry between two churches. Community Presbyterian Church is the oldest Presbyterian church in Southern California, founded in 1869, this fourth and final location, designed by Harold E. Burkett and built in 1929, cost $100,000 to construct. The iconic church sanctuary is steeped in Mediterranean architectural influences with an exquisite honeycomb ceiling and luminous stained-glass windows by the Judson Studios of Los Angeles, the oldest family run stained glass company in America, still in business for over 125 years.

A rivalry began between Ventura Mission and Community Presbyterian Church. Each wanted to be the first to own a metal church bell. In 1873, CPC won the competition when Mrs. Elizabeth Bard, mother of Senator Thomas Bard, gifted the bell to the church. Until that time, the mission bells were the only bells of Ventura, and they were wooden. The melodic hymn of the modern chimes is still a favorite feature for the Hobson Heights residents.

Over the last one hundred years, Hobson Heights has lived through oil booms, economic depressions, world wars, cold wars, and in 2017 the Thomas Fire that turned several well-loved homes to ashes, but the passion for this neighborhood  and the indomitable spirit of Hobson Heights continues to live on, etched in the hearts of those of us who are lucky enough to call it home, ensuring its vibrant history and architecture continue to inspire generations to come.

Toni Guy  |  Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties
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