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The

gill home

R BY DS KO

n the 1940s, anhattan Beach was known as a friendly, small town without

much conestion. he homes looked very similar, from east of Sepulveda to the

waterline, offerin plenty of acreae with your purchase.

t was in December of 1941 that the gill family bouht the property at Sixth

Street and John: a 10,661 square-foot dirt lot, which would eventually become

a 2300-square-foot home in 1943. (he address was oriinally 825 Sixth Street.

However, after the home was sold in 1980 and subsequently torn down, the new

home built at this location is known as 609 John Street.)

Bob gill fondly remembers the home he rew up in as the focal point for the

rest of the close-knit neihborhoods activities. t was here that his friends would

meet up to han out, and on a Friday niht, head over to the amar heater.t was a reat place to live, said gill. he neihborhood was very close and

the families had children near the same aes. e did lots thins as a lare roup-

-visits to the beach bein a key form of entertainment. ost of the kids walked to

and from school toether and were in the same classes all the way throuh hih

school.

From the 1950s throuh the late 1970s, most lots in anhattan Beach consisted

of half house and half yard, and the home at Sixth and John was no exception. t

had three distinct terraces in the backyard, with numerous play areas for kids to

explore. he massive backyard featured yoporum owers. t was like oin off

into the wilderness, said James gill, randson of the oriinal owners.

he homes interior featured cork oorin, with carpet in the livin room and a

lare mural on the livin room wall. he kitchen included a lare, built-in breakfast

nook. One of the homes most enjoyable features was a picture window to enjoy the

ocean view; small compared to todays standards. here were a total of six rooms,

and a roomy, two-car arae. Sometime in the 1950s, the arae was converted

into a downstairs bedroom. he second story porch was enclosed and transformed

into what was referred to as the davenport room, a special area that faced the

ocean where one could retreat to read or watch television.

Startin in the 1980s, new home construction bean in the area which consisted

of buildin homes that covered the enti re lot. However, some oriinal homes remain

in this area. he home located at 823 6th street was the home located next door tothe gill Home and was built in 1949; it still remains today.

James gill recalled his randmother bein burlarized in the late 1970s and no

loner feelin comfortable bein alone. She sold the property to his father who

rented it out for a few years. James has warm memories of visitin his randparents

home frequently and enjoyin the unique features of the home.

One of my favorite memories was when we would come over and randma

wasnt home and the door was locked, said gill. y dad would lift me up into

a little door under the stairs. would crawl throuh sand on my hands and knees

under the house to open a lit tle door on the inside and drop into the house. would

then o upstairs and open the front door for everyone.

O O K g B C K

A GreAt PlAce to live

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Manhattan Beach 1940s facts:

IN 1940, THERE WERE aPPROxIMaTEly 3,200 HOMES; MOST lOcaTEd WEST Of

SEPulvEda. THE cITy Had 6,398 RESIdENTS.

IN 1941, MIlITaRy INSTallaTIONS WERE IN PaRTS Of THE cITy, INcludINg JOHN aNd

9TH STREET.

IN 1946, METlOx POTTERIES WaS SOld TO EvaN K. SHaW, aNd THE cOMPaNy SOON

bEcaME THE lEadER IN cERaMIc WaRE.

IN 1949, cENTER INTERMEdIaTE ScHOOl WaS buIlT.