Kay Finch Ceramics
Kay Finch was a ceramicist who lived in Corona del Mar. She and her husband, Braden, moved to the area in 1939 and opened a ceramics studio. In 1941, the Finches expanded their studio by purchasing five adjoining lots on Coast Highway and the corner of Hazel from the city for $1,850. During World War II, Kay Finch Ceramics became popular as imports from Europe and Asia were scarce. By the end of the War, Kay Finch Ceramics employed over 60 people, many of whom were wives of servicemen. Kay Finch Ceramics was able to survive the post-war flood of imports due to its high quality and loyal customers. The company's ceramics were eventually sold in exclusive stores such as Marshall Field's, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Kay closed her studio and showroom after Braden's death in 1963, but her ceramics remain popular with collectors.Crown Cove assisted living facility is now located on the site of Kay Finch Ceramics.
Five Crowns
Perhaps the most iconic building in Corona del Mar is the tutor-style Five Crowns. Built in 1936 and modeled after a guest house in England, the building is also one of the oldest in Corona del Mar. Originally named The Hurley Bell, it was the inspiration of Matilda MacCulloch, an American woman who lived in England for many years. After the death of her son in World War I she returned to the United States, settling on Balboa Island. Some years later in 1935, while visiting England she chanced upon Ye Olde Bell an inn at Hurley-on-Thames and became enamored with the building. Armed with photographs of Ye Old Bell, MacCulloch hired Shelby Coon, an architect, to replicate the building in 1936. MacCulloch’s original plan was to open a restaurant, but she chose to use the building as her home. In 1940 she decided to lease her English inn to two prominent restaurateurs, who owned the Tail O’ The Cock in Hollywood. Thus for a short time the English inn was also The Tail O’ The Cock. Yet, it was not successful, so in 1943 Mrs. MacCulloch took control, renaming it The Hurley Bell, and operating it until her death in 1948. When the property was acquired by Lawry’s Restaurants in 1965 the name was changed to Five Crowns.Be sure to watch the video by William Lobdell.
Goldenrod Foot Bridge
The Goldenrod footbridge, which spans Bayside Drive, is a charming structure that represents a bygone era when Newport Beach city officials were looking for new ways to attract new residents to Corona del Mar. In the late 1920s, the majority of homes in Corona del Mar were located on the bluffs overlooking the ocean. The view was one reason for this, but the other was that scrambling up and down the steep slope to cross Bayside Drive, sometimes known as "Pacific Gulch," was a deterrent for potential home buyers. In 1926, the section of Coast Highway that runs through Corona del Mar opened, making the inland area easily accessible for the first time. However, the expected development boom did not occur immediately. In 1927, the City Council began discussing the possibility of building a footbridge across Bayside Drive so that people could reach the beach in minutes. City officials believed that improved beach access would also boost property values. Despite objections from property owners in the assessment district who would have to pay for the bridge, the council approved the project. The 243-foot steel-reinforced concrete bridge was built by contractors between mid-May and early August 1928. While the bridge's completion did not result in a land rush in Corona del Mar, it has become a beloved part of the community. Artists Rex Brandt and Joan Irving Brandt eventually built their home and studio, Blue Sky, on Goldenrod next to the bridge. They taught classes at Blue Sky and hosted other artists for many years. The bridge was a popular subject of their paintings.
Sherman Library & Gardens
Sherman Library & Gardens includes a 2.2-acre botanical garden and a research library with collections about the history of the Pacific Southwest. This beautiful and tranquil cultural center dates back to 1955, when its founder, Arnold Haskell, purchased a charming adobe house (now part of the library) at the corner of Coast Highway and Dahlia. Over the course of a decade, Haskell managed to acquire surrounding lots, until he owned the entire block in 1967. In that same year, he donated the land to The Sherman Foundation, which he named after his mentor, Moses Hazeltine Sherman. The Sherman Foundation opened the first part of the Gardens in 1966. Between 1966 and 1974 the magnificent facilities took shape as Haskell oversaw the construction of the entire block, including the conservatory, central garden, gift shop, café and library.
Merle's Drive in
Merle’s Coffee shop opened in 1951 at the corner of Coast Highway and MacArthur Blvd., a space now occupied by the Corona del Mar Plaza. Merle’s, which billed itself as a drive-in, offered a typical menu of coffee shop staples. In the early 1960s, the restaurant changed ownership and Merle’s became The Zoo drive-in. Perhaps the most memorable feature of The Zoo was the gorilla-costumed employee who stood on the corner to attract customers.Be sure to watch the video by William Lobdell.
Jamaica Inn Motor Hotel
Today, there are no hotels on Coast Highway in Corona del Mar. In past decades, however, there were hotels and motels all along this stretch of the highway. The grandest of these was the Jamaica Inn Resort Hotel, which open in 1956. The property includes a cocktail lounge, French restaurant, two heated swimming pools and two tennis courts. When it opened, you could rent a room for $15 dollars a day. the hotel lasted until the mid-1970s.In 1980 the Bank of Newport took the place of the Jamaica Inn at Coast Highway at Avocado. The bank building was designed by Newport’s famous architect and America’s Cup winner – Bill Ficker and incorporates remarkable wall sculptures designed by Tom Sant.
