Guide to Materials Relating to the Neighborhood Church 055

Monique Sugimoto

Palos Verdes Library District, Peninsula Center Library. Local History Center.

2023 Sep 19

701 Silver Spur Road

Rolling Hills Estates, California 90274

localhistory@pvld.org

URL: http://www.pvld.org/localhistory

Contributing Institution: Palos Verdes Library District, Peninsula Center Library. Local History Center.

Title: Collection of Materials Relating to The Neighborhood Church

Identifier/Call Number: 055

Physical Description: 6 Folders

Date (inclusive): 1938-2003

Abstract: Collection documents the early development of the Neighborhood Church and its fellowship hall.

Physical Location: Local History Center

Language of Material: English .

Container: SC 5

Related Materials

Local History Center Subject and Biographical File Collection (Heading: Churches -- Neighborhood Church.)

Weber Photo Collection of the Neighborhood Church on the Library's digital repository

Weber, Emerson A. "The Neighborhood Church : a history: 1925-1985" August, 2002. Local History Center and General Collection, 726.5 WEBER

Scope and Contents

Includes church histories, early organizational records, newsletters, fellowship hall construction file and worship programs.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by folder title; thereunder chronologically.

Processing Information

Initial rehousing and stabilization of materials by Local History Center volunteers. Final arrangement and description by Michele Fricke and Monique Sugimoto, September, 2023.

Preferred Citation

[Name of item], Collection of Materials Relating to The Neighborhood Church (Collection 055). Local History Center, Peninsula Center Library, Palos Verdes Library District, Rolling Hills Estates, CA.

Biographical / Historical

The Neighborhood Church had its beginnings in 1924 when residents seeking religious instruction for their children organized bible study classes which were held in residents' homes. A formal sunday school was organized two years later under the sponsorship of the Palos Verdes Women's Club.

Planning for adult services started in 1935. The first adult church services were held in 1937 in the auditorium of Malaga Cove School with 40 members. The sunday school which formed in 1926 was incorporated into the new church.

The Neighborhood Church adopted a constitution in 1939 and officially filed incorporation papers with the State of California as the Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes the same year. The congregation became affiliated with the United Church of Christ in 1961.

The Church continued to hold services at Malaga Cove School until it acquired its current site, the former "Haggerty Mansion". The first service held there was in 1952.

Designed by architect Armand Monaco, the 32-room Haggerty Mansion was built for John Joseph Haggerty, a wealthy department store merchant, as a summer residence. The residence was completed in 1929. When Haggerty's business dealings fell on hard times, the property passed through a series of owners including a bank, a British syndicate, and a mid-west inventor and financier, Harry Wheeler, who used the site as a personal museum.

In 1950, the Wheeler Estate put the property on the market for the asking price of $125,000 (reduced from $250,000) but had no buyers. The Neighborhood Church bid of $60,000 was accepted and the Church started the process of making the residence suitable for worship purposes including getting zoning variances from the Palos Verdes Homes Association and desigining a pulpit and chancel, etc. A fellowship hall and kitchen were added in 1993 from former garage space and servants' quarters.

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the Local History Center for access information.

Conditions Governing Use

The collection is open for research use.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Assembled from various donations and materials collected by the Local History Center.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Neighborhood Church (Palos Verdes Peninsula, Calif.) -- History

Church buildings--California--Palos Verdes Peninisula--History

Newsletters

Constitution and bylaws of the Neighborhood Church 1947

Neighborhood Church early organization records 1938-1940; 1947

Scope and Contents

Includes letter (1938) to congregation outlining Church constitution and bylaws; letter (1939) outlining Church history, organization, committees, and site acquisition; and treasurer's report (1947).

Neighborhood Church histories 1980s; 1984; 1989; 2003

Scope and Contents

Includes history written by Jean Landon Taylor covering period 1924-1984; 50th anniversary brochure documenting 1939-1989; and brochure documenting the history of the stained glass at the Church.

Neighborhood Church newsletters 1947

Scope and Contents

Includes five issues of Church newsletter "The Visitor From Your Neighborhood Church" and mailer with Church services, sunday school, and new minister information.

Public review file for construction of social hall 1981; 1984; 1987

Scope and Contents

Includes plans prepared by architect Howard H. Morgridge and Associates for plumbing and exterior elevations and room finish schedule for social hall addition; initial study for draft environmental impact report for addition; and public meeting notices issued by the City of Palos Verdes Estates.

Worship programs 1940; 1956; 1987