Beverly Hills Lead and Nails

[LS 4722]

The Beverly Hills Tract was a phased development so what I am about to tell you may not apply to all of that tract, but here it is anyway.

Back in the 1930's, the feds started a work program. It was entitled, WPA. This was to provide jobs for the unemployed and get the economy back on track.

If you have ever surveyed a lot in the Beverly Hills Tract, you may have come across two lead and nails near a lot line. The two leads are usually 2 to 3 feet apart that wont fit record or prorate from any centerline points, and usually leaves surveyors wondering how two seperate surveyors could miss such an easy lot line

Well, those leads are actually swing ties to the original staked lot corners. The people that set the leads were working under the WPA program, and their job was simply to walk along the sidewalk, set two lead/nail ties two feet from the original corner, and move on to the next 2x2 that marked the lot corners.

[Ian Wilson]

Paul!, you old dog!

Where on earth did you drag that bit of pratical historical trivia from?

That could be an extremely valuable piece of information for future surveyors. Is this in print anywhere of record?

Thanks for sharing!

Ian

[LS 4722]

Hi Ian..

Good to hear from you again, how's the diving coming along? Snag any lobsters?

I have known about this for 25 years now. Jack Little (LS 2883) was the one who told me about it. Jack is 83 or 84 now and still going strong.

I posted this trivia on RPLS a few years ago.

As far as being in print, it probably is under an archived WPA work order. It would be quite a task to uncover it I bet, something that I surely would not want to attempt. I did some search on the old WPA records though, but it's so easy to get lost in the archives I just tossed the towel in as far as that goes.

Anyway, this was common knowledge to any surveyor who was active in the mid 30 on eras. Unfortunately quite a few have passed away, and their knowledge passes with them.

Did you read the post on RPLS about the Allin Brothers records that were discovered by David Hobbs? It's quite interesting Ian, right up your alley bud :P

[Steve Martin]

The City of San Diego had a similar WPA program in the 1930's. Lead and tacks were placed in the sidewalks usually at a 7' offset to the property lines. While no Survey map was filed of this work, the Survey records department has what they call tie point sheets, a "D" sized sheet with an outline of the block and the offset set line shown. Perhaps LA had such maps at one time, and who knows where they are now. Perhaps they never had drafters work up such maps. The program to perpetuate old lot corners was a great idea. The execution could have benefitted from better recordation of maps and filing of field notes.

[RAM]

Seems like good info in any area of WPA projects. Even we have a section of town with WPA curb and gutter.

[LS 4722]

David..

If I remember correctly the City of Beverly Hills, who has gone through a move or two, charges five dolla! for an 8 1/2" x 11" xerox. I would need a loan from Chase Manhattan to get those records from the city, that is, if they even have them.

By the way..I am planning a trip to the Pasadena Museum of History and will delve into just what type of records they may have available. I was also thinking of calling the city hall to see if I could purchase their 'old outdated survey documents'.

Maybe the national archives for WPA would be a better bet for obtaining a copy of the work order, maps and limits.