Willits J. Hole
Encyclopedia
Willits J. Hole (often spelled Willitts J. Hole) was an American
businessman and real estate developer of Southern California
, during the early part of the twentieth century. He was known as the "father" of the city of La Habra, California
.
, the son of William and Matilda (Hasley) Hole, and the family moved to Louisville, Kentucky
. Hole became the owner of a chair factory in North Vernon
in 1889. In time he became a contractor and builder, and, studying architecture, designed his own buildings. In 1893, the health of his wife brought him to Southern California.
, Hole went to Whittier
and soon afterward began buying land in the La Habra Valley. He bought 3500 acres (14 km²) of Rancho La Habra
from the Sansinena heirs, and laid out and sold a tract of land that would become La Habra, and as a consequence he is known as the "Father of La Habra."
In 1897, Hole became resident agent at Los Angeles for the Stearns Rancho Company of San Francisco which owned over 180000 acres (728 km²), which Hole gradually sold off.
The Stearns Rancho Company property included Rancho La Sierra
that stretched from Corona
to Arlington. In 1910, after its owner was unable to repay the debt, Hole foreclosed on it, and it became the Hole Ranch, and he built a mansion on the property.
In the early 1920s, Hole took up boating. Naval architect, Leslie Edward Geary designed, and N. J. Blanchard built in 1923, the 115-foot motor yacht Samona for Hole. In 1931, the Craig Shipbuilding Company built the 147-foot, a steel-hulled long-range cruiser Samona II, which was bought by the US Navy in 1940, and commissioned as the USS Amethyst (PYc-3)
.
Willits J. Hole is interred in Evergreen Cemetery
, Riverside. Hole Lake is named for Hole, who had the dam built that forms the reservoir.
. In 1938, Agnes Hole Rindge donated the Willits J. Hole art collection
to the University of California, Los Angeles
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and real estate developer of Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, during the early part of the twentieth century. He was known as the "father" of the city of La Habra, California
La Habra, California
La Habra is a city in the northwestern corner of Orange County, California. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 60,239. Its related city, La Habra Heights is located to the north of La Habra, and is in Los Angeles County.-Origin of name:...
.
Early life
Hole was born in Madison, IndianaMadison, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,004 people, 5,092 households, and 3,085 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,402.9 people per square mile . There were 5,597 housing units at an average density of 654.1 per square mile...
, the son of William and Matilda (Hasley) Hole, and the family moved to Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. Hole became the owner of a chair factory in North Vernon
North Vernon, Indiana
North Vernon is a city in Jennings County, Indiana, United States. The population was 6,728 at the 2010 census.-Geography:North Vernon is located at ....
in 1889. In time he became a contractor and builder, and, studying architecture, designed his own buildings. In 1893, the health of his wife brought him to Southern California.
Southern California
After spending the first three months at Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
, Hole went to Whittier
Whittier, California
Whittier is a city in Los Angeles County, California about southeast of Los Angeles. The city had a population of 85,331 at the 2010 census, up from 83,680 as of the 2000 census, and encompasses 14.7 square miles . Like nearby Montebello, the city constitutes part of the Gateway Cities...
and soon afterward began buying land in the La Habra Valley. He bought 3500 acres (14 km²) of Rancho La Habra
Rancho La Habra
Rancho La Habra was a Mexican land grant in present day Los Angeles County and Orange County, California given in 1839 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Mariano Reyes Roldan...
from the Sansinena heirs, and laid out and sold a tract of land that would become La Habra, and as a consequence he is known as the "Father of La Habra."
In 1897, Hole became resident agent at Los Angeles for the Stearns Rancho Company of San Francisco which owned over 180000 acres (728 km²), which Hole gradually sold off.
The Stearns Rancho Company property included Rancho La Sierra
Rancho La Sierra (Sepulveda)
Rancho La Sierra was a Mexican land grant in present day Riverside County, California, United States. In 1846 Governor Pio Pico issued the grant to Vicenta Sepulveda...
that stretched from Corona
Corona, California
Corona is a city in Riverside County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 152,374, up from 124,966 at the 2000 census...
to Arlington. In 1910, after its owner was unable to repay the debt, Hole foreclosed on it, and it became the Hole Ranch, and he built a mansion on the property.
In the early 1920s, Hole took up boating. Naval architect, Leslie Edward Geary designed, and N. J. Blanchard built in 1923, the 115-foot motor yacht Samona for Hole. In 1931, the Craig Shipbuilding Company built the 147-foot, a steel-hulled long-range cruiser Samona II, which was bought by the US Navy in 1940, and commissioned as the USS Amethyst (PYc-3)
USS Amethyst (PYc-3)
USS Amethyst , formerly named Samona II, was a yacht in the United States Navy and served as a patrol boat during World War II....
.
Willits J. Hole is interred in Evergreen Cemetery
Evergreen Cemetery (Riverside, California)
Evergreen Cemetery, or Evergreen Memorial Park is a cemetery in Riverside, California, United States. The first burial occurred in 1872, and the cemetery became the resting place of many historic figures of Riverside.-History:...
, Riverside. Hole Lake is named for Hole, who had the dam built that forms the reservoir.
Family life
Hole married Mary B. Weeks (1865—1938) in 1887. Their daughter, Agnes Marion Hole, married Samuel Knight Rindge (1888—1968), son of Frederick H. Rindge, owner of Rancho Topanga Malibu SequitRancho Topanga Malibu Sequit
Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit was a Spanish land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California given by Spanish Governor José Joaquín de Arrillaga in 1804 to José Bartolomé Tapia.-History:...
. In 1938, Agnes Hole Rindge donated the Willits J. Hole art collection
Rembrandt in Southern California
Rembrandt in Southern California is a virtual exhibition of paintings by Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn on view in the "greater museum of Southern California." This collaboration was launched online in November 2008 by the Hammer Museum, the J...
to the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
.