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The Buzz this Month!

June is here and welcome to the eighth edition of the Torrance Centennial eNewsletter!  The Centennial celebration is in full swing and so many events and activities have really brought our wonderful community together.  The April Citywide Beautification project was absolutely spectacular!  So many neighborhoods, and groups came together to clean-up, pick-up, and spruce-up our community which shows what a great place Torrance is to call home.  We are so proud of the event organizers that sparked so much participation - a big tha

nks goes out to Debbie and Todd Hayes, and Charles Payne.  In May, a very special re-dedication event honored our  fallen

heroes at the Torrance Veterans Memorial Wall.  Volunteers took a moment to read off each and every name etched into the Wall.   Yet another example of the way Torrance shows its support of our men and women in uniform, thanks Janet Payne for bringing this event together!

 

I assume by now you heard we exceeded our goal of 600 Commemorative Personalized Bricks sold, but did you know due to popular demand, we extended the deadline to purchase and be included in the initial Centennial Plaza and El Prado Park to June 14th?  I know you've already purchased yours, but please pass this announcement on to neighbors, friends, and family that have yet to join us.

 

May was filled with excellent programs for our community.  The festivities included Students in Government Day, Mayor Frank Scotto's State of the City Address, Works in Progress - Visionaries - Amy Lowell, and many more.  This month the   Riviera Historic Homes Tour,  City Yard Open House and Car Show, Disaster Preparedness Expo and Environmental Fair, and Centennial AYSO Invitational Tournament - Girls Division are just a few.  Join us as we continue our year-long celebration of 100 years of community.

 

And you know I have to remind you, we've got Centennial programs on-demand produced by our very own CitiCABLE.   June features:  Torrance Transit - Past, Present & Future, Torrance Rose Float Association, 

JST Award Recipient Look back Al Isen & Sam Levy, Riviera Historic  Home Tour, Seaside Community, Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation Gala &

Centennial Celebration, and much more!  See the debut of each new program on Thursday's at 7 p.m.  You can also go to TorranceCentennial.Org/ or TorranceCA.Gov/CableTV/23738.htm.  

 

 

Leadership Torrance 2012 asks for entries to Centennial Photo Contest. Everyone can share memories of time in Torrance with photos and a story or two!  Leadership Torrance 2012, a program of the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, will work on a class project for the Centennial from June 1

through June 30 to collect and create a rich repository of images to capture the history of Torrance. Save the dates of June 10 (location to be determined), June 16 (at MacMall) and June 24 (Torrance Historical Society) from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. to scan your photos. 

Find complete information at  www.OurTorrancePhotos.com, email LeadershipTorrance2012@gmail.com or phone 424.999.5138 to leave a message.  

Be a part of History!

 

Donna Duperron

Editor-in-Chief

LOOKING BACK

Are you curious about the names on buildings or facilities in Torrance?  The first "named" facilities in Torrance were the Victor E. Benstead Plunge in 1956 and the Henderson Library (Isabel Henderson) in 1962.

Community Services Reference Librarian Michael George searched the Historic Resources Archive of newspapers to find photos of those two events for you.  There were many more movers, shakers and just plain folks who worked to make our community what it is today.

For a more complete list of named facilities go to www.TorranceCA.Gov/18763.htm 

Victor E. Benstead Plunge, Torrance Press 1956 choices

Note the big empty space between city hall and the pool. (Press, 1956)

In 1952, Victor E. Benstead served as a member of the Torrance City Council for 12 year.  Mr. Benstead assumed a leading role in providing the people of Torrance with parks, playgrounds, and other recreational facilities, which is why the Municipal Pool at the Civic Center was named in his honor.  In addition to his 12 years as a Councilmember, Mr. Benstead served as chairman of both the Parks and Recreation Committee and the Police and Fire Committee of the Council. 

Henderson Library (Isabel Henderson)

 The Henderson Branch Library is named after Isabel Henderson, the first Torrance Librarian. In 1913, the first public library was established in Torrance. The library was in the parlor of Mrs. Henderson's home located at 1804 Gramercy Avenue. The collection consisted of 300 books donated by her cousin, Jared Sydney, Torrance, the city's founder. The library was open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

By September 1914, the collection had increased to 510 books and 4 magazine subscriptions. There were 193 library card holders and circulation to date for the year as 1,935. Henderson held the post of city librarian for 22 years. During that time, the library had several homes, including a vacated school building on Cabrillo Avenue, the former Dominguez Land Co. office at Cabrillo and El Prado Avenue and finally, a cottage on El Prado. Her daughter, Mrs. Dorothy Jamieson, took over as librarian in 1935, and also held the post for 22 years. Isabel Henderson died in 1936, the same year that the library's first permanent home, a Works Progress Administration project, opened at 1345 Post Avenue.

Albert H. Bartlett Senior Center , Torrance Herald 1952

Albert H. Bartlett served as the second city clerk of the city of Torrance from 1922 to 1962. He settled in Torrance in 1912 and played a significant role in the City's development, having been an organizer of the Torrance Chamber of Commerce, Fire Department, Athletic Club, Kiwanis Club, and Lions Club. During his long and distinguished career, Albert, affectionately known as "Bart", conducted his office with efficiency, courtesy to the public, and with great distinction. 

DEADLINE TO PURCHASE EXTENDED UNTIL JUNE 15

Centennial Commemorative Brick 

For just $150, you'll be able to assist with the Torrance Centennial Plaza at El Prado Park construction and get to personalize your brick by engraving up to 3 lines with 16 characters per line.  The commemorative bricks will be an integral part of the Plaza where a 100-year time capsule will be housed.  The 3 5/8" x 7 3/4" bricks will be laid in walkways and the goal is to complete construction no later than August 2012.  Order today!