NAPLES (Continued)
 | On July 27th, 1905, the following full page advertisment by
an optimistic real estate firm ran in the Daily Telegram: "Naples of America at
Alamitos Bay. Naples stands alone in its grandeur. Never before was such work
undertaken by man. What money — combined with the grandest natural advantages
can do, will be demonstrated in the next two years."
Rather exaggerated statements to make at that time, but
present residents will testify that they have in part come true, and that
Naples is now one of the most unique and picturesque spots in California.
The lowlands west of us were not created until about 1920,
when fills were made to create Belmont Shores. In 1923 the Marine Stadium and
Colorado St. Lagoon were |
dredged, and the lowlands north and west of Alamitos Bay were filled in to
create the district now known as Belmont Park. A total of more than seven
million cubic yards of material was moved to create this residential district.
This same year, 1923, the Alamitos Bay district east of Nieto Ave. was annexed
to the City of Long Beach.
The Colonnade originally was a canal and the Parsons planned
to build a restaurant across the southerly end with gondolas sailing beneath
the restaurant and on to the other canals. This restaurant was never built. The
original brochure showed another canal, the Gabriella Canal, which was to flow
along what is now Second Street.
In 1909, the economy was better and land started to sell
again, but it was not until four years later, in 1913, that the bridges were
built across the canals. Around 1919 Belmont Shore development began, Alamitos
Bay was dredged and the shore filled at this time. The west end of Treasure
Island was dredged away as part of the fill for Belmont Shore. The Colonnade
Canal was also filled in at this time and became a street.
In 1907 the Naples Co. became part of the Huntington Land Co.
founded by H. R. Huntington. The Huntington interests were later sold to Warren
McGrath and Samuel A. Selover, who finished the project.
Mr. Bond Harpole, prominent realtor, who was Sales Manager
for the McGrath and Sel-over Co. that developed Belmont Shores and Naples,
offers some interesting sidelights on the early days in this area.
"The original sales pavilion was at Bay Shore Ave. and 2nd
St., where the library now stands. The development of Belmont Shores began in
1921, and in the fall of 1923 the opening of the Naples development was ready.
An advertising agency began a big campaign of publicity and set the date for
the grand opening about two weeks in advance. So many people began calling
immediately, asking to be let in on the ground floor, that sales were begun in
advance of the 'Grand Opening."
"One Sunday, the week preceding the opening, a crew of 22
salesmen and myself sold $192,000 worth of lots in one afternoon. No lots went
for less than $1,650, and these lots were off the water. A prominent oil man
from Los Angeles drove down in his Cadillac, and in 15 minutes a salesman sold
him five 25-foot lots at the end of the Colonnade for $17,000." |