O.C. Beck (Developer of Bell Gardens)
Otto street in Bell Gardens
OTTO CLAIR BECK (Developer of Bell Gardens)
O.C. Beck, his familiar name, was born in Nebraska in 1890 to Mr. and Mrs. Alois J. Beck, farmers holding thousands of acres in west Nebraska. Many times the large family had to make a hasty run to the nearest Fort Vincent for protection against Sioux Indian attacks. The father was a native of Westphalia, Germany, coming to his county in 1881 to New York and then to Fremont, Nebraska. Young Otto went to school in Omaha.
His first business experience was at the Standard Automobile Tire Company in Lincoln from 1908 to 1912 when he became manager and bought the company.
But as a young man of 22 was struck with a restless urge to travel and while on his way to South America, a stopover in Los Angeles in 1912 was as far as he got as he met the lovely Miss Tillie Adams and they were married in St. Viviana's Cathedral in 1913.
He went to work at the old Hamburger Store now the May Company as manager of Auto Supply Department. His next position was that of sales manager of Rider-Up-Right Manufacturing Company, finally holding an interest in the firm in 1918. Selling out the business in 1920 he traded a ranch in San Fernando Valley for a 5-acre tract in Bell.
REAL ESTATE WORLD
Following the massive effor to support the First World War in armament the housing industry was ignored until the war was over and people were desparate for living quarters. Two bedroom houses rented for $125.00 a month in Hollywood, the landlord merely accepted the highest bid from long lines of anxious renters. So the subdivisoin industry became a very active part of the scene. An the young Mr. Beck took advantage of it by opening up an office at 4081 Baker (Gage) in Bell in 1920. Prices of land skyrocketed. In 1923 he consummated a deal that at the time was a record for prices paid for acreage when he paid $25,000 an acre or $15,000 for an orange grove at Gage and Atlantic, which later became the site of the California Back on the corner and the Alcazar Theatre to the west, plus other buildings.
Mr. Beck began building houses for sale in Bell in 1921, starting out with 3-room cottages partly finished and in all built 700 homes valued at $2,100,000. He subdivided and sold 7 large tracts and smaller ones valued at $1,000,000. Also he built apartment houses, store buildings and plants. His first subdivision in Bell in 1920 was at Bear and Beck streets, purchasing property from a Mr. Holt. That tract sold for $25,000 when the population of Bell was only 700 persons.
In 1922 George Tweedt came to Bell and joined Beck in 1925, forming the firm known as George Tweedt and Beck.
In 1930 Earl R. Nordyke joined the firm which was then called B-N-T Realty Co.
More subdivision in Bell followed and building houses and land sales occupied the company's interests. They opened up a 40 acre tract in Downey, their largest, having purchased it from Mr. Palett (not sure of their spelling).
In 1923 the Bessonette property at Gage and Atlantic was subdivided for a cost of $198,000. Their 3rd subdivision was the Menou property at Florence and Otis which sold for $90,000. In 1929 in February lots in Bell on Florence measuring 43 1/2 feet wide and 135 feet deep sold for $465 cash. Also in August of 1929 the firm moved to their new offices at 4008 Baker. By this time the firm was building bigger and better houses as the public was demanding more bedrooms and better construction. The country was in boom times and prosperity meant much business. By now the firm was making loans to people.
BELL GARDENS
In February 1929 Tweedt and Beck opened up the first subdivision in Bell Gardens, called "Bell Gardens Industrial Estates," which is now bounded by Priory, Live Oak, Hornsey, and Jaboneria Road.
Lots measuring 45 feet wide and 255 deep or 1/4 acres were offered at terms of $100.00 down, $14.75 a month at 7% interest, at a full cost of $1,475.00.
Their first real estate office was at Clara and Eastern when they subdivided the Dimmitt brother's tracts, and the main office was built at Eastern and Florence.
On January 16, 1933, O.C. Beck, head of realty, loan, escrow, insurance and building operations in the district and named it "Bell Gardens," at 5700 Florence Avenue. The previous sales activities took place in the Bell office.
The Demmitt brothers ranches were first cut up in 1933 and the rapidity of sales convinced the other ranchers to follow. The 30 acre Judge George Kauffman tract across the street on Clara sold out in 30 ways likewise the Xelis Gephart tract across from the elementary school sold. The Chanslor tract on the east bank of Los Angeles River consisting of 30 acres and the Specht ranch were subdivided to eager buyers, and the Ramish tract of 40 acres on Clara Street near the Rio Hondo all sold in 1934. Late in 1935 the John Barberena ranch at Jaboneria Road and Priory sold lots.
Terms of $20.00 down and $10.00 a month for lots costing around $400.00 and up were met by the home buyers who did most of their own building.
BELL GARDENS: (As I saw it....by Ernest Read)
Pioneer buyers who came to Bell Gardens-- this was in the 1930's paid $20.00 down and $10.00 a month for small farms. People were in distress; some thought the world owed them a living. They put up a tent, generally speaking and an outdoor privy, built chicken coops, bought nanny goats for milk, had chickens for eggs, rabbits for meat, and sold hides, and grew their own vegetables on the rear of the lot. Thus, with the feeling of ownership they became good Americans by rehabilitating themselves. They would start with a little lumbar; build shacks and later on decent structures.
As farming during the Depression was unprofitable and the landowners had a time paying their taxes, Mr. O.C. Beck entered into agreements with the them to subdivide their farms into "small farms" or oversized lots. Out of the $20.00 down payment, $10.00 went to the farmer and $10.00 to Mr. Beck. The $10.00 monthly payment was divided up $5.00 to the farmer and $2.50 to Mr. Beck and $2.50 to the salesman which took care of sales commissions. Some lots were 1/4 acre or bigger and generally measured 70 feet wide and 170 feet deep.
Buyers bought land on Option Contract and were paying on the Option to Buy and if they didn't fulfill their payments they would be immediately declared delinquent and then they would assume the status of tenant and we would sue them as tenant under the terms of the contract and serve Notice to Pay Rent or Quit with a 3-day notice to vacate or pay up. This may sound heartless but Beck was on the fence with the landowner on one side and the buyer on the other side. As they finished their contracts and paid off in full they would be entitled to a deed from the landowner.
SUBDIVISION OFFICE ACTIVITIES
As subdivider, Otto C. Beck filed maps and laid out streets, naming several of them after his crew of more than 40 who started selling lots for the Clarence Demmitt tract that opened up on Clara at Eastern in March of 1933. The Highway Construction Company was his close associate and they formed a subsidiary with Park Water Company with President Henry Wheeler. They put 25 foot strips of pavement down the middle of streets.
I came to work for Beck as a bookkeeper in June of 1938 after a friend of mine named Watson visited me in my mountain retreat in Topanga Canyon and talked me into joining the O.C. Beck Organization which besides the salesman had a dozen office employees, among them Jane Dunwiddie who did secretarial work for so long for them.
The Collection Department was run by Clay Cherry. I was in charge of delinquent collections from my knowledge of the books. I would investigate the non-payment of contracts which were due on definite dates and had to be paid then.
ESCROW OFFICE OPENED
As parcels were paid off an escrow was necessary to transfer title and other data so I was delegated to open an escrow department around 1940. I did escrow until after 1947 when the Bell Gardens bank purchased the Beck Escrow Department with me as Escrow Officer. In the fall of 1947 I engaged James Lilly as Escrow Officer.
REAL ESTATE FIELD
During this time Mr. Beck requested me to study and take examination for real estate salesman about 1939 or 1940, and later on the Broker's license also insurance agent's licenses and notary public. Beck opened up branch offices with 3 salesman in small "2x4" offices on main corners. The first one was at Clara and Eastern. Beck got 1/2 of payments until his commission was paid out. The farmer got $10.00 month payments less collection fee.
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Churches were necessary in a community of any sort and in this community Mr. Beck, although he and his wife, Tillie, were Catholics, contributed to every church that was started in Bell Gardens, regardless of denomination.
On Christmas he collected money from the landowners and from other who were willing and able to contribute and each year he would get volunteers to pack baskets which he would distribute to about 100 needy families. (Mr. Read acted as Santa Clause for many years.)
As street pavements, curbs, and sidewalks were needed the different parcels of property were taxed by the County and in cases where the homeowners were unable to produce the money he loaned money to them and made it possible for them to join the program.
For his success in founding Bell Gardens he was called back east to Washington, D.C. to testify before Congressional Committees interested in learning his experiences in selling land at such low terms.
He named the community Bell Gardens because of its proximity to Bell and he had a dread of a garden community, because the average sized lot would hold a large planting of vegetables and trees.
He rehabilitated hundreds of people for he sold over 16,000 parcels of land.
BANK TALK
In 1942 Mr. Beck suggested to me that we have a bank in Bell Gardens and he asked my opinion as I had worked in banks and if I thought it would be a good idea to open a back in Bell Gardens because we were making real estate loans and didn't have enough finances and not enough landowners to meet the demand for loans. We also could not find enough banking cooperation from other banks outside of Bell Gardens. So in 1944 we started the bank going--the preliminary activities. Beck contacted W.G. Ross who had been a banker in the area. It took about 3 years to complete arrangements. Beck put up $25,000.00, Ross $12,500.00 and I put $10,000.00. Then we incorporated for $100,000.00. Much more than that would be required today to form a bank. Beck was Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ross was president and I was secretary-treasurer and cashier. We three and Dr. O.M. Moore, Charles Gould, Boris Elieff, Robert Hatcher, T.O. Thompson, and Arthur J. Baum, completed the first Board of Directors in June of 1947. Dr. Moore, Mr. Gould, Mr. Baum and I still, remain on the Board. We sold shares of stock to residents and other investors and called the bank Bell Gardens Bank.
BUILDINGS
O.C. Beck's first office was at 5700 East Florence at Eastern in 1933. A larger building was built later at same location which he converted into suitable banking quarters and in his generosity he charged the bank only $100.00 a month rent. He was very enthusiastic about the new bank and did many things in connection therewith. So he built a new building just south on Eastern at 7216 for his real estate business and moved in. When the bank outgrew the original quarters they moved into this location.
BRANCH OFFICE OPENED
I was in the bank for a year as Operations Officer. After the bank was functioning properly I left the bank and went into partnership with Ben Beck, a brother of Otto in 1948 at Gage and Eastern but retained my position as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the bank and also retained my position as Secretary-Treasurer of the bank. The office was a branch of the Beck Organization and Ben left after about a year, and I was in full charge of branch office there until about 1957.
BECK LEAVES AREA
In March of 1956 Mr. Beck moved his office to Pomona Boulevard in East Los Angeles. He started liquidating trust deed and collections. He quit selling real estate in 1956.
BANK CHAIN STARTED
In April of 1952 we opened up the South Gate office in Hollydale, at which time we changed the name of the bank to Golden State Bank. In July 1955 we opened the Downey branch and in 1962 the Los Nietos office opened. In July 1966 we merged with Bank of Pico Rivera. "In the summer of 1970 the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation approved the addition of Citrus National Bank of Covina and West Covina, making them numbers 6 and 7 of the Golden State Bank chain."
ABOUT MR. READ
Ernest Read came to Bell Gardens in June of 1938 to serve O.C. Beck Organization as Credit Manager and Escrow Officer. Originally from Ohio and living in Topanga Canyon, Malibu Mountain, he entered the pioneering field in growing with the new community by also becoming active in the civic and service club endeavors. He was an organizer and charter member in 1938 and Past Commander of Post 465 American Legion of Bell Gardens, Treasurer and member of the Board of Directors of Bell Gardens Red Cross for 12 years. Also an organizer and member of Board of Directors of Golden State Bank continuously since its formation in June 1947, an organizer of Bell Gardens Escrow Company, Bell Gardens Hospitality Hut during World War II, an organizer and charter member and Post Master of Bell Gardens Two Rivers Masonic Lodge, and Chairman of Boys State Committee and School Awards committe for Bell Gardens for several years. After 23 years with the Golden State Bank as Director and Secretary of the Board is still active and interested in its progress.
Info Courtesy of: Bell Gardens Library