History Brentwood, Los Angeles

brentwood part of rancho san vicente y santa monica, mexican land-grant ranch sold off in pieces sepúlveda family after mexican-american war.

modern development began after establishment of 600-acre (2.4 km) pacific branch of national home disabled soldiers , sailors in 1880s. small community sprang outside facility s west gate, taking on name westgate. annexed city of los angeles on june 14, 1916, westgate s 49 square miles (130 km) included large parts of pacific palisades , small portion of today s bel-air. westgate avenue 1 of last reminders of namesake.

the sunset fields golf club, known brentwood country club since 1941, hosted running part of modern pentathlon event in 1932 summer olympics.

the preceding statement incorrect , caused confusion of olympic events & locations. brentwood country club known brentwood country club @ time of 1932 los angeles olympics. appears brentwood country club @ 590 burlingame avenue in los angeles city directory 1933, have been compiled in 1932. 1927 los angeles times article describes beginning of construction on sunset fields golf course near crenshaw boulevard between vernon avenue , santa barbara avenue (now martin luther king jr. boulevard). book, leimert park, states, sunset fields golf course in leimert park location of official olympic venue, running portion of modern pentathlon .... close proximity of olympic games neighboring community of leimert park brought attention development. xth olympiad: los angeles, 1932 - official report says, cross country run of modern pentathlon held @ 9:00 a.m. on course of sunset fields golf club of los angeles. distance 4000 metres, less two-thirds of laid on fairways of golf course, , on , through several of natural washes , gullies found on course. remainder involved climbing of steep hill, level of olympic village, thence down narrow draw winding path , across wide ditch golf club property again. start , finish short distance in front of clubhouse. map of various olympic venues , locations in same report shows olympic village being located southwest of intersection of vernon avenue , crenshaw boulevard, lies sunset fields golf course (an area occupied baldwin hills crenshaw plaza).

the confusion may have arisen because part of route of equestrian cross country portion of modern pentathlon may have crossed brentwood country club. event used route of phase d of cross country portion of equestrian three-day event competition. riviera country club in bel-air, east of brentwood, served headquarters of olympic equestrian events, map in official report shows equestrian course briefly following burlingame avenue in brentwood. in 1932, address of brentwood country club of los angeles still 590 south burlingame avenue.

archer school girls maypole tradition

local traditions include annual decoration of san vicente boulevard s coral trees holiday lights , maypole erected each year on lawn of archer school girls, carrying on set eastern star home housed there. building exterior establishing shot mar vista rest home provided key scene in 1974 film chinatown.

1961 brentwood–bel air fire

on november 6, 1961, construction crew working in sherman oaks in san fernando valley north of brentwood on far side of santa monica mountains noticed smoke , flames in nearby pile of rubbish. within minutes, santa ana winds gusting 60 mph (100 km/h) sent burning brush aloft , on ridge brentwood.

more 300 police officers helped evacuate 3,500 residents during 12-hour fire, , 2,500 firefighters battled blaze, pumping water neighborhood swimming pools douse flames. pockets of fire smoldered several days. firefighters battled become bel air disaster, fire erupted in santa ynez canyon west. blaze contained next day after consuming 10,000 acres (40 km) , 9 structures , burning within mile of bel air , brentwood.

the fires fifth-worst conflagration in nation s history @ time, burning 16,090 acres (65 km), destroying more 484 homes , 190 other structures , causing estimated $30 million in damage.

o.j. simpson trial

brentwood site of 1994 stabbing deaths of nicole brown simpson , ronald goldman, outside simpson s bundy drive condominium townhouse. nicole s ex-husband, football player , actor o.j. simpson, acquitted of murders, later found liable deaths in civil trial.