Wife Bertha hated it. The Neighborhood Church has a unique origin story beginning with a mansion. John Joseph Haggarty, a wealthy department store owner, built the mansion in the mid-1920s. Haggarty founded the New York Cloak and Suit House. He and his wife lived in a fashionable area of Los Angeles. They also owned a weekend retreat in Long Beach.
The Haggartys bought five lots in Palos Verdes. They planned a 15000-square-foot Florentine mansion. It would feature a six-car garage and two waterfalls. A pool and formal garden were also planned. The mansion was finished in ten months. But Bertha disliked the location. It was too far from her friends.
The Haggartys never moved in. In 1930, a pier was added. The stock market crash impacted Haggarty’s business. In 1931, the Haggartys sold the residence. They reacquired it months later. In 1933, they sold it again to John Thistle. He added two lots. J J Haggarty died in 1935.
In 1936, Thistle sold the property to the London Exploration Company. Mr. Wheeler used it to house his art collection. He never moved in.
Meanwhile, neighbors had been meeting for church services since the late 1920s. They called themselves the Neighborhood Church. In the mid-1930s, they used the Malaga Cove School auditorium. Influential people attended. These included Charles Laughton and Ray Milland.
In 1949, the school needed the auditorium for classrooms. The Neighborhood Church sought a new location. The Haggarty mansion was considered. It had sat vacant for years. The price was 250000 dollars.
In 1950, the members toured the property. They voted to pursue purchasing it. They offered 60000 dollars. Ralph and Lois Jester contributed. Gracie Armstrong and Dennis Smith also helped. The London Exploration Company accepted the 60000 dollars as full payment. The Neighborhood Church owned the property.
The property was zoned residential. The city initially denied its use as a church. The women converted the mansion for church use. They sold off furnishings. The building was a fixer-upper. Ralph Jester designed the chancel and choir loft. Two lots were sold to finance renovations.
A publicity campaign influenced the city. In 1952, a Conditional Use Permit was issued. The church affiliated with a major denomination. On October 5, 1952, the first services were held.
The Neighborhood Church continued to grow. A Sunday School building was added. Dennis Smith Hall was completed in 1958. The property has remained relatively unchanged since then. Today, the Neighborhood Church stands as a testament to community spirit. It also represents perseverance. It began as a mansion unwanted by its owners. Now, it is a cherished place of worship.