Rolling Hills Estates Celebrates 68 Years By Writer and Contributor NJ Jaeger
Rolling Hills Estates nationally recognized for its unique scenic beauty and equestrian lifestyle became Los Angeles County’s 60th municipality on September 18, 1957. This year Rolling Hills Estates marked its 68th year of incorporation with a city celebration at Ernie Howlett Park. One of four cities on the majestic Palos Verdes Peninsula, Rolling Hills Estates sits on the north east side and includes the highest peak of the Peninsula at 1480 feet. Home to a handful of sheepherders and gauchos grazing a few thousand cattle, the remote raw beauty of the Peninsula remained undeveloped for decades until the last roundup by the Bixby family in 1912. Today as in the past, preserving open space, the Peninsula’s irreplaceable asset, requires the best efforts of our elected leaders and residents.
Rolling Hills Estates Beginnings
Mayor Debby Stegura says the City continues the founding pioneers’ vision: to preserve the beauty of the land and a semi-rural lifestyle for residents, visitors and businesses. Mayor Stegura is a former litigator, Peninsula Verdes Library District Trustee and current University of California at Davis Foundation Trustee. Each elected city council has made a mark on the city during their term, on this occasion Mayor Stegura shares these thoughts about the day:
“We know this year’s celebration looks and feels a little different, and we appreciate everyone’s cooperation as we quickly pivoted to bring you new activities. While we may be missing the equestrian element this year, we hope you enjoy the variety of experiences we’ve prepared to honor our City’s unique heritage."
"Events like this are only possible thanks to the hard work of our City staff, volunteers, and community partners. Their dedication reflects the spirit of Rolling Hills Estates and our commitment to bringing people together."
"The 68th Annual City Celebration is a wonderful reminder of what makes Rolling Hills Estates so special—a strong sense of community, a proud history, and a shared vision for the future. Thank you for joining us to celebrate our City’s birthday!"
Mayor Debby Stegura, Janice Hahn Staffer Kelly Cross
City Council members in attendance included: Mayor Debby Stegura, Mayor Pro Tem Frank V. Zerunyan, Council Member Pam Brown Schachter and Council Member Britt Huff along with Parks and Activities Commission Vice Chair Lisa Pope.
Members of Troop 258 Conduct Flag Ceremony Taylie Saga-Narikawa, Cora Berwanger, Ella LaFlash
Mayor, City Council, City Manager, City Staff, State Senate Representatives
Scouting innovation enjoys a strong tradition on the Peninsula. Troop 258 Natures Warrior, officially opened the City Celebration Program with a flag ceremony. Troop 258 is the only all-female Scouts BSA Troop in Palos Verdes, proudly serving the community since 2009.
The first mounted troop of the Boy Scouts of America in the nation, the Rolling Hills Mounted Troop, launched on Sunday March 10, 1940. With blue skies above residents enjoyed Rolling Hills Estates 68th Birthday Celebration with food, fun and interactive experiences for kids of all ages.
Rolling Hills Estates enjoys a well-earned reputation as one of the finest run cities of its size due in no small part to City Manager, Greg Grammer, a professional administrator with 25 years of service. Greg leads by example and his friendly staff which includes Alexa Davis, Assistant City Manager, Rosa Pineulas, Community Services Supervisor and Mike Morrow, Community Services Coordinator, created a memorable city celebration in spite of the last minute change of venue. This great team effort included Mike Goldsmith, Maintenance Supervisor and entire staff.
Historical Snapshot
The peaceful Tongva were seafaring agriculturalists who inhabited the Peninsula, Los Angeles Basin and Southern Channel Islands for thousands of years.
Geri Jimenez Gould plaque on the Tongva monument at Abalone Cove Park
The acreage of Rolling Hills Estates was part of the first private land concession in Southern California granted in 1798 to Juan Jose Dominguez by the new Governor of Alta California.
Modern ownership of land on the Peninsula passed through many hands, including a contentious developer syndicate purchase in 1913. When finding new investors for the Palos Verdes Project failed, The Commonwealth Trust Company, a new entity acting as trustee revived it. The Commonwealth Trust Company merged into Bank of America on September 28,1923.
In 1935 the six mile completion of Palos Verdes Drive North established the first boulevard loop around the “Palos Verdes Hills”.
In 1953, Frank A. Vanderlip Jr. sold the final 7,165 acres of the Palos Verdes Corporation land inventory to the Great Lakes Carbon Corporation and its transformation into Rolling Hills Estates began.
Open space preservation standard bearers Frederick Law Olmsted, Charles H. Cheney and Myron Hunt remained with the Palos Verdes Project and established restrictions such as roof pitch so vistas to the sea would not be despoiled.
Rolling Hills Estates land owners were dedicated to a pastoral semi-rural lifestyle. Situated on the doorstep of a metropolis residents became concerned about annexation, and in 1957 they voted to incorporate as a general law city to prevent urbanization and preserve its natural beauty.
From 1959 to 1966 the city grew adding 15 new adjacent land sites and finalized its boundaries with the purchase of the Palos Verdes Landfill.
Now the city of Rolling Hills Estates is home to a population of 8,200 residents who enjoy 175 acres of park area spread across 30 neighborhoods each represented by its own Homeowner Association.
Fun History Facts
¨ In 1934 a copywriter coined the name “Rolling Hills” in a caption for the original brochure, “these lovely rolling hills are your front lawn”.
¨ The first postmarked mail left Rolling Hills Post Office on September 1, 1937
¨ Rolling Hills Estates and Rolling Hills were both incorporated in 1957.
¨ From photos recorded in the early 1900s until pre-development of the shopping plaza Peninsula Center was a gently sloped lake bed that filled with seasonal water.
¨ During WWII years the intersection of Armaga Springs and Highridge Road was home to 151 telephone poles and one of the largest amateur beam antennas in the U.S.
¨ The cost to build an average home in 1937 was $4.00 per square foot.
Digital Photos: https://www.rollinghillsestates.gov/government/community-services/city-celebration: Horses on Trail
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCupYk: Field View
Historic Photographs: A.E. Hanson, The Early Years, 1978 Published by the City of Rolling Hills, pgs. 37, 49, 59.
NJ is a storyteller who has written in many voices for clients in health, education, entertainment, food, sport and politics. Her firm managed publicity for documentary films, book authors and the U.S. Championships. NJ received the Lynn Weaver Award from the Entertainment Professional Publicists Society for her lifelong commitment to philanthropy and community volunteerism.