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u~-~•~~g ~ ~UU~Qw~~y~ U~UUllUUaa, a~SU ~
fine swimming pool. This pool, second to
none, was the results of three yea.rs of
intensive effort on the part of Supervisor
MaDonough and myself. With the splendid
cooperation of the Government during the
days of the W.P.A., it finally became a
reality and was dedicated in 1940. The
pool has proved to be a main attraction
to young and old alike and has proved to
be a source of health and happiness also,
during the summer months.
Soma of the first houses in Val Verde
were built by me, and now a.a the little
community has grown, m8.ll3' prominent busi-
ness and professional men and wmen are
A M.AN--AND IllS DRE.AMS
owners of beautiful homes in the Valley.
By Harry Waterman The population today is approximately five
Realtor, Val Verde Properties LTD. hundred.
Val Verde maintains an organization
I all!l the· only original developer of Val · known as the va1-verda Improvement A.asooia.-
Verde Properties who is now living. I waa tion. I was one of its organizers.
born in Peet, Michigan just seventy-nin~
yea.rs ;.'l.g'O. I succeded m:, fathe:r in the San Martinez Chi tqui to, the main .
mercantile business and was eminently suo- throughfaxa which cuts through the heart
oessful. Because of ill health, I daoided of Val Verda, vaa built by the County and
to move my family· :to·· the sunshine of Calif- in the further development of the sub-
ornia:; locating in San Diego i'n 1915. Th division, I laid.out and financed all of
Three years later I moved to Los Angeles, the connecting roads.
where I have since ~esided. Becoming inter-
ested in Real Estate, ·1 purchased the land Then began the long struggle for an
".ihich :i.s now know ~ Val Verde Properties.· ad.aqua.ta water supply for the residents.
The equipment and installation ot the
l-0oking with the eyes of a d.raam u:pon water system was financed by myself'. Later,
·the sun-kissed vall·ey and :vooded hills, I a water distriot was organized. and in 1952
I sold out ~ L,tarasta to the new water
had an inspired vision of the future posai-
bilitiea of· this valley. I envisioned it district.
as some day becoming a vari table paradise -VM Verda is surely standing on the thres-
for my fallo~en and their families as they hold of~ new erm. The rscently proposes
1)ecame c-•m~:rs of comfortable hom-es in thi1J
development by the Newcall Land and Fn-:n-
idyllic. s:pot. That was my dr~am thirty- ing Compa.n:, for a model business snd resi-
·~wo years :91~ and in '!1Iy characta.ristic bu.a- dential city embracing 8,500 acres of land
iness-lika Jlallner, I aet about tt:> zna..."{e H adjacent to Val Varda, rill be tha means
come trua.
of opening the doors of __ y al:~ !:~;rd~~H¥L.~o a
bright future of unlimi-fe~poss~bilitiee.
I dcn.9,tc:d. fifty--three acrsa of my land
to Los Angeles County with the provision
The dream is taking shape. In speaking
th~t it was to be developed .and maintained to my friend.a of the early days o:f the
as a county park. TI;Le park was ciadicated struggle I have atateds "At times it was
and opened -to the public in 1929, It is hard going to even make a. living during
no :1 known ;;.1..:-3 Val Verda County Pru:-k. the depression. My family- and friends
1
begged me to drop the whole thing, but my
This park, located in tha he~·t of Yal faith was still strong. I had given the
Yarde, has now a.11 the facilities for out- people my 'W'Ord and I couldn't let them.
door :a.nd. indoor an.joyment, including ~ down.. I am slad. I havs li--:red long enough
continuad
