M. Penn Phillips: Difference between revisions
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'''M. Penn Phillips''', born Marion Phillips, (13 June 1887 – 24 May 1979) was an American entrepreneur and prominent real estate developer, born in [[Parsons, Kansas]]. |
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'''M. Penn Phillips''' led a western states development company called M. Penn Phillips Company that operated from the 1920's through the 1970's. He was responsible for the development of several communities, including [[Hesperia, California]]; [[Salton City, California]]; and [[Christmas Valley, Oregon]]. |
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He was founder of the M. Penn Phillips Company which, later, as a subsidiary of Holly Development Corporation, operated in the [[Western United States|Western states]] from the 1920s through the 1970s. His development projects built several new communities, including [[Hesperia, California|Hesperia]] and [[Salton City, California|Salton City]] in [[California]], and [[Christmas Valley, Oregon|Christmas Valley]] in [[Oregon]]. |
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| ⚫ | In 1923, Phillips opened the new subdivision of Clear Lake Highlands near [[Clear Lake, California]] which, in 1980, became part of newly incorporated [[Clearlake, California|Clearlake]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20120715133755/http://community-2.webtv.net/jbond008/lchist/page4.html ''Lake County History Timeline - Part Three (1903-2008)'']</ref> |
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In 1955, he was president of [[Hesperia Land Development]] and [[Hesperia Sales Corporation]] and conceived the [[U-Finish Home]] which was a concept involving homes which were completely finished on the outside leaving the buyer to complete the interior. |
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In 1955, he was president of Hesperia Land Development and Hesperia Sales Corporation, while conceiving the ''U-Finish Home'', mass-produced housing units that were completely finished on the outside leaving the buyer to complete the interior. In 1959 he served as a member of the committee to form the Mojave Water Agency (MWA), a regional water management agency that secured a contract with the State of California for an allocation of imported water supply from the State Water Project. The MWA serves a 4,900 square mile area in the High Desert of San Bernardino County, including the Hesperia area.<ref>[http://www.mojavewater.org/history-1.html Mojave Water Agency, ''History of MWA'']</ref> |
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In 1956, he was an alternate delegate from [[California]] to the [[Republican National Convention]]. |
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In 1956, he was an alternate delegate from Sierra Madre, California to the [[Republican National Convention]].<ref>[http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/phillips.html The Political Graveyard, ''Index to Politicians: Phillips'', M. Penn Phillips]</ref> |
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In 1958, M. Penn Phillips Company, which was a subsidiary of [[Holly Development Corporation]], mapped out [[Salton City, California]]; a community on the west shore of the [[Salton Sea]]. |
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Salton City, Phillips' largest community, was mapped out on the west shore of the [[Salton Sea]] in 1958.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110201105908/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,892298,00.html Time (magazine), ''Real Estate: The Desert Song'', 2 March 1959], article on Phillips and his Salton Sea project</ref> The ambitious resort development was laid out with 25,000 residential lots. Builders paved more than 250 miles of roads, and installed all necessary supporting electrical power, water, and sewage infrastructure.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Streitfeld|first=David|date=2007-07-01|title=Salton City: A land of dreams and dead fish|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jul-01-fi-salton1-story.html|access-date=2021-02-04|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> Urban planning by [[Albert Frey (architect)|Albert Frey]] included designs for the entire business district, as well as schools, churches, parks, community services, a championship 18-hole golf course, a $500,000 luxury hotel, yacht club, and the largest marina in California along the lake. The "Salton Riviera" resort began as a major success, with $4.25 million in land sales closed on its opening weekend.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sandiegohistory.org/exhibits/saltonsea/saltonsea.htm|archive-date=2014-01-02|title=In Search of Eldorado |website= San Diego History Center|date=2001|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102201223/http://www.sandiegohistory.org/exhibits/saltonsea/saltonsea.htm|access-date=2021-02-04}}</ref> Soon thereafter, it was attracting politicians, Hollywood and entertainment celebrities, and sporting events. Salton Sea had already established itself as the second most popular recreation spot in California in the early 1950s, and the resort guaranteed continued success through the 1960s.<ref>[http://www.institute.redlands.edu/salton/about/timeline.aspx Redlands Institute, ''Salton Sea Timeline''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415202153/http://www.institute.redlands.edu/Salton/about/timeline.aspx |date=2012-04-15 }}</ref> However, lot purchases were mostly made for investment and few homes were built. The community ended mostly in collapse by the end of the 1970s.<ref>[http://www.saltonseadoc.com/saltonCity.html "Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton City", ''Salton Sea''], documentary film site</ref><ref>[http://law.justia.com/cases/california/calapp3d/75/184.html Justia US Law, ''Salton City etc. Owners Assn. v. M. Penn Phillips Co. 75 Cal. App. 3d 184'']</ref> |
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Phillips died in [[Sierra Madre, California]] at his Estate where his wife died only a year later. He and his wife were major benefactors to [[Claremont McKenna College]], which named Phillips Hall in his honor in 1966.<ref>[http://ccdl.libraries.claremont.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/ccp&CISOPTR=6531&CISOBOX=1&REC=13 Claremont Colleges Digital Library, ''Phillips Hall Dedication''], photo of M. Penn Phillips</ref> |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Phillips, M. Penn}} |
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[[Category:1979 deaths]] |
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[[Category:People from Parsons, Kansas]] |
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[[Category:American real estate and property developers]] |
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[[Category:People from Sierra Madre, California]] |
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Latest revision as of 05:02, 12 April 2024
M. Penn Phillips, born Marion Phillips, (13 June 1887 – 24 May 1979) was an American entrepreneur and prominent real estate developer, born in Parsons, Kansas.
He was founder of the M. Penn Phillips Company which, later, as a subsidiary of Holly Development Corporation, operated in the Western states from the 1920s through the 1970s. His development projects built several new communities, including Hesperia and Salton City in California, and Christmas Valley in Oregon.
In 1923, Phillips opened the new subdivision of Clear Lake Highlands near Clear Lake, California which, in 1980, became part of newly incorporated Clearlake.[1]
In 1955, he was president of Hesperia Land Development and Hesperia Sales Corporation, while conceiving the U-Finish Home, mass-produced housing units that were completely finished on the outside leaving the buyer to complete the interior. In 1959 he served as a member of the committee to form the Mojave Water Agency (MWA), a regional water management agency that secured a contract with the State of California for an allocation of imported water supply from the State Water Project. The MWA serves a 4,900 square mile area in the High Desert of San Bernardino County, including the Hesperia area.[2]
In 1956, he was an alternate delegate from Sierra Madre, California to the Republican National Convention.[3]
Salton City, Phillips' largest community, was mapped out on the west shore of the Salton Sea in 1958.[4] The ambitious resort development was laid out with 25,000 residential lots. Builders paved more than 250 miles of roads, and installed all necessary supporting electrical power, water, and sewage infrastructure.[5] Urban planning by Albert Frey included designs for the entire business district, as well as schools, churches, parks, community services, a championship 18-hole golf course, a $500,000 luxury hotel, yacht club, and the largest marina in California along the lake. The "Salton Riviera" resort began as a major success, with $4.25 million in land sales closed on its opening weekend.[6] Soon thereafter, it was attracting politicians, Hollywood and entertainment celebrities, and sporting events. Salton Sea had already established itself as the second most popular recreation spot in California in the early 1950s, and the resort guaranteed continued success through the 1960s.[7] However, lot purchases were mostly made for investment and few homes were built. The community ended mostly in collapse by the end of the 1970s.[8][9]
Phillips died in Sierra Madre, California at his Estate where his wife died only a year later. He and his wife were major benefactors to Claremont McKenna College, which named Phillips Hall in his honor in 1966.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ Lake County History Timeline - Part Three (1903-2008)
- ^ Mojave Water Agency, History of MWA
- ^ The Political Graveyard, Index to Politicians: Phillips, M. Penn Phillips
- ^ Time (magazine), Real Estate: The Desert Song, 2 March 1959, article on Phillips and his Salton Sea project
- ^ Streitfeld, David (2007-07-01). "Salton City: A land of dreams and dead fish". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- ^ "In Search of Eldorado". San Diego History Center. 2001. Archived from the original on 2014-01-02. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- ^ Redlands Institute, Salton Sea Timeline Archived 2012-04-15 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton City", Salton Sea, documentary film site
- ^ Justia US Law, Salton City etc. Owners Assn. v. M. Penn Phillips Co. 75 Cal. App. 3d 184
- ^ Claremont Colleges Digital Library, Phillips Hall Dedication, photo of M. Penn Phillips