Go here to find some history articles about Oak View: https://www.oakviewca.org/History_of_Oak_View,_CA.htm
This one might be of particular interest, as it mentions the width of the road through town: https://www.oakviewca.org/In_1908,_Oak_View_had_seven_farm_houses.htm
“The main road through Oak View was begun in 1917 and was finished in 1919. It was 16 feet wide and was made wider from time to time. The Oak View community actually started growing in the 30’s. Many houses were built in the few years before World War II. A great deal of building has occurred since the war.”
Source: Oak View Sentinel: by Martin Etcheverry and Laurent Aincy as told to Chuck Hill (1958)
And this one: https://www.oakviewca.org/Oak_View_Gardens_No._1_and_2_by_Percy_Watkins_to_Chuck_Hill_03.13.58.htm
Editor’s Note: This is another in a series of articles about the history of the Oak View area as told by Percy Watkins to Chuck Hill (1958)
It was in the early and middle 1920’s that Oak View really started to become a community. If you ever wondered where Apricot, Olive, Bundren and Mahoney streets got their names, then read on.
That land on which “Oak View Gardens” was developed originally comprised part of the broad acres of the Mahoney Ranch. There were about 55 acres on this ranch which originally belonged to a man named Sherwood before the turn of the century. It was later sold to Mahoney.
Imagine, if you can, one house standing on these oak-covered acres. This was the Mahoney house built in the typical two-story style of those days, straight up and down boards with a lean-to built on the side. This house has long since disappeared, but was situated a little east and north of what is now Straw’s Olive Street Market.
The drive from the old grade road to the Mahoney house started at about the location of the house at 785 N. Ventura avenue which is now occupied by the John Proctors. (2023 update: this address is now adjacent east of
Green’s Nursery)
This drive was tree lined from the old grade road to this house. Olive trees lined the south side of the drive. On the north side, the trees alternated palms and sour orange trees.
It was in the 20’s, as mentioned before, that Oak View started to grow. A subdivider named Moffett bought land from George Bundren which started Oak View Gardens No. 1. Oak View Gardens No. 2 was made up of Mahoney land by the same subdivider. Oak View Gardens later just became Oak View.