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Bixby, Llewellyn (audio interview #2 of 2)
INTERVIEW DESCRIPTION - Bixby was interviewed in his office in downtown Long Beach. 5/9/1984
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- 2020-10-28
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- *** File: cblbixby4.mp3 Audio Segments and Topics: (0:00-7:26)... Introduction. Bixby Land Company was incorporated in 1898. It's entirely separate from the Alamitos Land Company. George Flint became involved with the companies because he was one of the executors of his grandfather's estate. The Flints were Bixby cousins. Mr. Musgrove was one of the company's early secretaries as well W. N. Beach who had been a classmate of his dad at Pomona College. Beach was working for the companies when they moved from 22 Pacific into the Security Building on Pine. Norm Windes, one of the founders of Windes and Irvine which later became Windes and McClaughry, shared offices with the Bixby companies. Bixby joined the board of the Alamitos Land Company in 1945. Fred Bixby was president at the time. In 1960, Bixby took over the presidency of that company. (7:26-11:33)... George Flint was married to Maud Healey, the daughter of Charles Healey, the first surveyor of Long Beach. Healey also surveyed land for Bixby companies. Sarah Bixby Smith's son, Maxon Smith, was on the board of directors of the companies at the time of the interview. He drove down for board meetings in a red jeep. (11:33-14:16)... In the early days, the presidents of both the Alamitos and Bixby boards were pretty elderly, but many of them were pioneers. I. W. Helman, for example, became president of Alamitos Land Company in 1888 when it was first incorporated. He was replaced by Fred Bixby in 1921 and served until he died in 1955. Then V. H. Rossetti was president until 1960. Lewellyn Bixby, Bixby's granddad, was vice-president until 1896 when he died. (14:16-21:11)... The Bank of Long Beach became the National Bank of Long Beach in 1902. Jotham Bixby brought P. E. Hatch to Long Beach when the bank was started and Hatch stayed with the bank until he died. P. E. Hatch became president of the bank and Bixby's dad served as vice-president. The National Bank of Long Beach was later merged with Security First National Bank and Hatch, son, J. Elsworth Hatch, became a member of that bank's board of directors in Los Angeles. Security Bank building was constructed in 1925 and his family members were stockholder in the company. The Jotham Bixby Company built the Kennebec Hotel on the northeast corner of Ocean and Pacific. When Bixby was a child, that's where all of the company offices were located. That company also built a companion building across the alley on First Street. It had a grocery store in the cellar that he thinks was the town's first help-yourself grocery store. Across Pacific was the farmers market, so one could buy groceries at that store and go across the street and get fresh fruit and vegetables. (21:11-24:04)... The Softwater Laundry was started by his dad and her dad's friends, the Cook brothers, Bill and J. B. in the beginning of the twentieth century. It didn't make much money but it operated on the corner of Oregon and Anaheim until the 1940s or 1950s. Earl Fast managed it following his father-in-law, Mr. Beck. The Long Beach Diary and Creamery Company was closed after a hoof and mouth disease outbreak. The Amelia M. E. Bixby Company was formed by Amelia after the death of her husband, George H. Bixby. (24:04-27:29)... The Alamitos Land Company was incorporated in 1888. Its stock ended by being owned by Hellmans, Jotham and Lewellyn Bixby ,and the children of John Bixby. Each owned a third of the stock. John Bixby had just subdivided Alamitos Beach townsite and the company was organized to take it over when John died unexpectedly in 1887. Those same 3 parties divided the rest of Rancho Los Alamitos land when John died. End of tape *** File: cblbixby5.mp3 (0:00-5:10)... The boards of directors used to meet weekly and they met in Los Angeles. They moved the meetings to Long Beach after the turn of the twentieth century when the Jotham Bixby Company built the Kennebec Hotel and they moved their offices there. Bixby was first appointed to the Harbor Commission in 1965 and he was reappointed in 1971. He resigned in 1977. The city charger says commissioners are appointed by the city manager and confirmed by the city council. He discussed his chances of confirmation with city council members before he accepted appointment. John Mansell was the manager who appointed him. He resigned in 1977, along with Jim Craig, when city law was adopted that required them to reveal their assets. He and Craig believed their assets were no one's business. (5:10-12:14)... Bixby believes he and Craig did a good job as harbor commissioners. This was the time when container terminals were expanding. There was a problem until standard sizes of containers were adopted by most shippers. Long Beach was fortunate that its harbor was ready to expand when this big change happened. While he was on the harbor board, there was a proposal to build a natural gas pipeline terminal in the harbor. Long Beach also has deep channels, so big oil tankers can dock here. At the time of the interview, Bixby believed, people were becoming more aware of its contributions to the local economy. And Long Beach, headed by its independent commissioners, is run like a business. (12:14-15:34)... Most of the stock holders of the Alamitos Land Company are members of the Bixby and Hellman families. The Bixby Land Company is owned by descendants of Lewellyn and Jotham Bixby. Bixby is the only one of the whole tribe, except his daughter Jean and his grandsons, who still lived in Long Beach. All of the rest have moved away. Jean is now president of Bixby Land Company and he has resigned as chairman of the board. So now he says "Yes ma'm" to her. End of tape
- SUBJECT BIO - Llewellyn Bixby was president of Alamitos and Bixby land companies as well as a leader of additional companies owned by his family members. Bixby led the companies out of the Depression, when they were burdened by debt, and prosperity as post-WWII real estate developers. Bixby was born in Long Beach and grew up here before attending Pomona College. After graduation, he married Betty Lewis and they returned to live in Long Beach. When his father died, his cousin George's widow asked him to come to work in the family business and he did. Bixby found companies with large land holding, but little cash and plenty of debt. So he oversaw sale of large tracts of land, preserving land and especially corners along main streets with potential for commercial development. He then arranged for development of the remaining land and returned the companies to prosperity. Under his leadership, the companies began to expand their holding. In these 2 interviews, Bixby talks about his family's history in Long Beach and his own role in local developments. TOPICS - Topics on this side of tape include: family history; Alamitos Land Company; Bixby Land Company; Bank of Long Beach; Kennebec Hotel and Softwater LaundryTopics on this side of tape include: Jotham Bixby Company; Long Beach Harbor Commission; Alamitos Land Company and Bixby Land Company
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