The story of Huntington Drive begins with the purchase of the Rancho Azusa de Duarte by
Alexander Weil in 1868. Weil held his 6,300 acre purchase intact until 1872, when he had
the rancho subdivided into 40 acre parcels and began selling them through his local agent,
Eugene Meyer.
As new settlers moved into the area, narrow dusty roads were established along the
east-west boundary lines between those 40 acre parcels. What we now know as Royal oaks
Drive, Huntington Drive, Central Avenue, and Duarte Road all followed this pattern.
Eleven years after Alexander Weil subdivided his purchase, E.J. "Lucky"
Baldwin, who had purchased Rancho Santa Anita in 1875, subdivided the eastern portion of
his purchase. His surveyor plotted a number of new streets, among which was Falling Leaf
Avenue.
When the new town of Monrovia was established in 1886 on a portion of both ranchos,
Falling Leaf Avenue was extended east through the new tract.
Two years later, the Monrovia Planet reported that Falling Leaf Avenue was being opened
all through Duarte, with the intention of continuing it into Azusa. But there was one
obstacle–the San Gabriel River!
Being a good newspaper editor, J.W. Harvey editorialized on the subject and stated that
county money spent on the construction of a bridge over the river would be money well
spent.
Another year was to elapse before Harvey's suggestion saw some action. In March of 1889
a petition was circulated among local residents addressed to the county board of
supervisors and requesting the construction of a bridge. Glendora was now involved, too,
and local community boosters envisioned a "splendid boulevard" extending east to
Pomona.
The petition was presented to the supervisors in April, 1889 by representatives from
Monrovia, Azusa, and Glendora. The supervisors also had before them a petition requesting
a bridge between El Monte and Puente, and they stated that they had the funds available
for one project only. (Some things seem to never change!) Funds were allocated for both
projects, however, and the bridges completed in July of 1889.
The formal opening of the new San Gabriel River bridge on August 31, 1889 was
celebrated throughout the San Gabriel Valley. The four county supervisors were present, as
well as community leaders and newspaper reporters. The bridge, a simple single span 29
feet wide and 200 feet long, was supported by six cables. It had already been tested by
loading it with 100 tons of granite, and it had passed the test with flying colors.
In response to a question from the press, the chairman of the board of supervisors
predicted that Falling leaf Avenue would be the main east-west thoroughfare of the San
Gabriel Valley.
And so it became–but not as Falling Leaf Avenue. Huntington Drive, named for Henry
E. Huntington whose Pacific Electric Railway had tremendous impact on this region, was
extended eastward and joined Falling Leaf Avenue in Arcadia. By February of 1919 the
Huntington name was extended eastward through Duarte as well and Falling Leaf Avenue
passed into history. The old bridge passed into history also four years later when it was
replaced by the present concrete span.
But what of the competition? Foothill Boulevard was a top contender for the major
thoroughfare title as well. It, too, was extended to the east, and its route for a time
created a street schizophrenia in Duarte.
What we now know as Royal Oaks Drive was originally named Duarte Avenue. As part of the
eastward expansion of Foothill, it was given that name as far as Highland Avenue. Then the
portion of Huntington Drive east of Highland Avenue was given the Foothill Boulevard name
also. One street but two names! This dual personality existed when Route 66 was
established in 1926 and continued until the late 1940's.
What did a traveler find in Duarte 70 years ago on the newly established Route 66? Not
much! That is, not much in the way of businesses.
Orange groves abounded on both sides of the highway. East of Mt. Olive at 2463
Huntington was Albert C. Mayer's "Honeyville." There was a cluster of six
businesses near the intersection of Huntington and Bradbourne Avenue. East of Bradbourne
on the north side was Calvert's Soft Drinks at 2161 Huntington and Hazel Loop's Restaurant
and Gas Station east of Calvert's.
West of Bradbourne on the north side was the Duarte Garage at 2063 Huntington and
Marigold Garden at 2039 Huntington. On the south side of the highway was Randall's Gas
Station and Fruit Stand at 2040 Huntington, and Fishman's Fruit Stand to the east across
Bradbourne Avenue. Four additional businesses were located near the intersection of
Highland and Huntington.
Charles V. H. Jones maintained a real estate office at 1827 Huntington Drive, while
Ralph White, who later established "My Old Kentucky Home", had a restaurant at
1800 Huntington Drive. Brown's Restaurant occupied the northwest corner of the
intersection, while John Millett operated a gas station at 1735 Huntington Drive. And the
last business, appropriately enough, was an auto camp on the north side of Huntington near
Buena Vista.
From this modest beginning evolved the Huntington Drive business district of today, a
commercial area owing its early growth to the influence of Route 66, the Mother Road. How
fitting to pay tribute to that highway and its long association with Duarte's history.
