Early Home has a Unique History

By Maureen Neeley 

Photography by Ellen Butler 

Imagine Belmont Heights in 1928 and, in particular, the area to the northwest of the Colorado Lagoon, part of the Alamitos Bay wetlands. The Pacific Electric Red Car ran just across the field, and Recreation Park was the site of State Picnics held under the many eucalyptus trees. Oil derricks dotted the hills of Alamitos Heights as hopes of another Signal Hill oil rush lingered. Indeed, in 1927, a plea by Virginia Gundry was denied by the City Council to drill for oil on 6treet west of Park Avenue (at the time, Park was named Santa Fe). That seemed to settle the matter, making this area ripe for housing development.  

Enter Sylvester and Susie Rice. Sylvester (1876-1959) moved from Oregon to Long Beach while in his mid-twenties where he was involved in development and real estate. He was an owner in the nearby Bay View Heights Tract. Susan “Susie” Smith Rice (1877-1949) was native to Wisconsin. The couple married in Long Beach in 1906 and had one child, Earl. They built 4719 E. 6th Street in 1928. This tiny home of 780 square feet held two bedrooms and one bath. At one time, the Rice’s probably owned the whole corner, as a 1950 Sanborn Map shows the 6th Street house joined to a lot at 616 Roycroft (c. 1940).  

This Sanborn map from 1950 shows the footprint of buildings in the area just west of Colorado Lagoon. Notice the old name for Park is listed in small print (Santa Fe).

 For the first few years, Sylvester inhabited the house, perhaps using it as a retreat by the water or maybe as an office to sell lots in Belmont Heights. After 1931, Sylvester primarily used 4917 E. 6th as a rental property, dividing their time between 2800 E. First Street (at Molino) and Lake Elsinore. The Rice’s sold the house in 1944. 

Today, owner and resident, David Holden, remembers moving into the house in 1945 when his parent, Stanford and Vera Holden, bought it. Stanford was a carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. At the time, the house had no real bedrooms, so David, his brother, and his grandfather, slept in the garage. His parents slept on a “disappearing” bed in the house. Later, the Holdens added the bedrooms.  

David remembers when the diving towers were erected for the 1932 Olympics and how the current fire station had water up to its doors plus a boat house behind it. He remembers how the military bivouacked in Recreation Park during World War II. He has plenty more memories of early Belmont Heights up his sleeve. Perhaps another article is possible; but, in the meantime, enjoy walking by this early bit of history in The Heights on 6th Street near the old Red Car tracks.  

This 1928 aerial gives a bird’s eye view of early Belmont Heights, the Lagoon, and the house at 4917 E. 6th across from the Red Car line. [UCSB library]