Burcham Elementary School 5610 E Monlaco Rd, Long Beach, CA 90808 David Burcham has been credited for the strong moral fiber that ran through Long Beach Polytechnic High School for many decades. Burcham dedicated 34 years to the “home of scholars and champions” as its principal from 1907 to 1941. He earned the nickname “Daddy” because his word was taken as law and he was a leader during many years that were challenged by local and national events. Burcham saw his communi

A pioneer Long Beach resident named Elvia Bartow Astle, the daughter of a prominent hotel owner named J.V. Bartow, proposed many of the street names in the center of town to the City Council in the early 1900s. She loved trees, so naturally that’s why we have an Elm, Locust, Pine, Cedar and Chestnut streets. When Elvia was in her nineties she could still be seen painting the city views from the sunroom of her ocean front property on Ocean Boulevard. Barbara Britton Britton Th

Joan Van Blom Bridge By Paul Slater Pacific Coast Highway at the Los Cerritos Channel Legendary Olympic rower Joan Van Blom, who passed away in August of 2015, was an icon in her sport and will never be forgotten by the city of Long Beach. In March of this year, the two-time Olympic silver medalist was honored for her triumphs on and off the water, as the bridge that covers the channel along Pacific Coast Highway next to the Marina Pacifica shopping center, now bears her name

Lloyd Whaley’s Los Altos Neighborhood Library 5614 E. Britton Dr, Long Beach, CA 90815 Lloyd Whaley had a vision. It was much larger than a massive master-planned community aimed at expanding Long Beach to the east. It was about creating a place for families to come together, neighbors to converse and the residents of Los Altos to grow roots. Lloyd knew that community didn’t just come in a housing tract. It came from the gathering centers within it. So he made sure that hi

Willmore, Huntington, Drake, Nieto, Bixby —names you see and hear around Long Beach – the second largest city in the county. So, let’s explore the reasons behind some of the neighborhood names in Long Beach. Neighborhood map available for sale at welovelb.com Belmont Shore One of the more unique communities in Southern California, Belmont Shore’s major development began in 1920, although the area had been a part of the Naples tract that was purchased in 1903 by Henry Hunting

What’s in a name? Well, for California State University, Long Beach the question is more accurately – What is your name? Throughout the University’s 68-year history, it has had no less than five official names, one interim name and one name that only the athletics program uses. Sheesh. No wonder the campus is having a bit of an identity crisis. Let’s take a look at the history of the many names of that-state-college-in-Long-Beach. 1949: Los Angeles-Orange County State Colle

Picking a name for a school is no easy venture, in particular when so many seek to have their chance at shaping history. Names are chosen in hopes that the schools will reflect their namesakes’ characteristics and move toward the future with the same fervor those people had in their lifetimes. Long Beach Schools are no exception. Let’s take a further look into the names behind East Long Beach’s schools! Minnie Gant Gant Elementary School 1854 N Britton Dr, Long Beach, CA 90

Ever wonder what’s in a Long Beach street name? Like what’s a Woodruff? And what’s the story behind the street no one can spell, or pronounce, for that matter -- is it Ximeno as in X-Zimeno or Hee-may-no Avenue? While not an exhaustive list, here’s what’s behind some of the colorful, creative, wacky, absurd and downright confusing street names you will encounter driving through Long Beach. ¿Qué paso? Long Beach’s Spanish Street Names The year was 1784. A magical year, at