Hands holding a street map

Some years back, La Jolla Light published an article that told the stories of some of La Jolla’s most treasured places. It proved that in addition to exquisite homes and beautiful beaches, communities in La Jolla possess noteworthy histories.

One of the most interesting aspects of La Jolla real estate is that neighborhoods within the Jewel often have novel stories to tell. Many of La Jolla’s communities had quaint beginnings, but grew in prominence. Over the years, La Jolla’s distinctive charm gained many admirers around the world. Since its humble beginnings in 1887, the Village has shared in this legacy.

History of the Village

La Jolla’s Village possesses a history that is as intriguing as those of the coastal communities it neighbors. The Journal of San Diego History published an article that touched on early development efforts in what is now the Village. In the 1870’s, John C. Hayes attempted to build up the lovely area, but wasn’t successful. According to La Jolla Light, the area remained a picnic spot until 1887, when Frank T. Botsford became its first developer. Some of the homes built during this period still stand today.

La Jolla grew, and by 1920, it boasted quaint homes and beach cottages. In time, the seaside village also became a popular vacation destination. People who visited La Jolla walked streets that had names they might have seen before, because Botsford named them after streets in New York, where he was from. La Jolla Light stated that the names were eventually changed to follow an alphabetical order and honor famous people of the period.

Village Street name origins

The article shared the origin of some of La Jolla’s street names, including Cuvier Street, which was named after Baron Georges Leopold Chretien Frederic Dagobert Cuvier. The French zoologist and geologist studied fossils and published writings that showed new evidence of species of salamanders, flying reptiles and extinct elephants. He was also a museum curator and developed a classification system for animals.

Draper Avenue honors John William Draper, an American academic. During his lifetime, Draper was a scientist, philosopher, historian and chemist. He also made advances in photography and took the first photo of the moon, among many other accomplishments.

Eads Avenue was named after John Buchanan Eads, an American engineer who designed a road and bridge in St. Louis. At the time, it was the longest arch bridge in the world.

Fay Avenue honors Theodore Sedgwick Fay, a novelist and editor. In addition, he served in diplomatic posts throughout Europe.

Girard Avenue was named after Charles Frederic Girard, an American zoologist who worked at the Smithsonian. Girard also served as a doctor during the Civil War.

Herschel Avenue honors Sir William Herschel, an astronomer who discovered the planet Uranus. He also designed large mirrors that improved the functioning of telescopes.

Today, the Village has a vibrant culture that celebrates La Jolla’s love of the arts and helps them to flourish. It also has some interesting street names that honor noteworthy individuals and heavily traversed places in New York City.

For more information about homes in the Village visit our Village real estate page or contact DeSouza Select Properties.

Posted by Dennis DeSouza on
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