With all the interest in the new Katie Wheeler Branch Library (which looks like James Irvine's home), I thought it would be fun to post this 1913 image (top) of the actual Irvine family ranch house. The second photo (in color) shows the ranch in 1976, transitioning from agriculture to its current state. This aerial view overlooks the industrial part of Irvine..
Where street names have changed, old maps can be difficult to compare to modern ones. Nowhere in Orange County is this more true than in Irvine. Compounding this difficulty is the fact that some of the streets that do retain their old names are now in somewhat different locations. A few examples of Irvine street name changes follow:
- Central Ave is now Sand Canyon Rd.
- Como Rd is now Harvard Ave.
- Crosstown Rd is now University
- Lane Rd is now (more or less) Main St.
- Laguna Rd is now Laguna Canyon Rd.
- Myford Rd is now Old Myford Rd. (and another Myford Rd has been created.)
In the 1976 picture, that looks like the 55 South in the bottom... with Red Hill in the center. Macarthur and the airport in the back.
ReplyDeletewow.. that is an amazing aerial photo once I got my berings! It took me a while to see where the runways of OC Airport are... no 405 freeway... the big curve of MacArthur Blvd...
ReplyDeleteLook at all the open space! Are you sure this was only 1975!
incredible to think that all of that is covered with concrete, asphalt and tall buildings now!
and Jeronimo became??? I know part of Jeronimo is still around, but the rest of it is _________.
ReplyDeleteWalnut?
ReplyDeleteI remember when McArthur went STRAIGHT past the Santa ana airport (no curve). Of course, the runway was a lot shorter.
ReplyDeleteI finally got out to Katie Wheeler library today! Un-blinking-believable! You GOTTA see this thing! And then poke around down the old original road into the place, where Irvine Blvd used to run. Wonderful old bungalows, bunk houses, etc. Even the old Irvine Fire Dept is out there. Field Trip!!!!
ReplyDeleteATTN: itsnotaplace.
ReplyDeleteThe 405 is in that pic, that streak going along the entire top 1/4 of the pic, right below the airstrip. I know it's there, because I used to take it to work every night at Smith Tool off Von Karmen.
When I first moved to Irvine in 1973, Moulton Parkway ran through Irvine to LTA. It later became Irvine Center Drive. But for years afterwards, lots of folks still called it Moulton.
ReplyDeleteFrom top to bottom and left to right there is the San Joaquin Hills and at the base UCI and the San Joaquin Marsh; CdM, Newport Center/Fashion Island, Newport Beach/Balboa and Back Bay; Jamboree and the Irvine Business Complex south of the 405, MacArthur, and Orange County Airport (won't be John Wayne for another three years); the 405, MacArthur (again), Red Hills Ave (name probably changed), the rest of the IBC, Dryer/Barranca, and the 55. Alton btw is tiny.
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