Manchester Square sparked to life out of the unique balance
between the hog farms and the small airport of Mines Field
Soon we would come to know Mines Field as LAX
It would later devour Manchester Square
1921
First communities develop along the coast
One of which is Surfridge just West of Mines Field
1928
Mines Field selected as site for a small municipal airport for Los Angeles
Speaking: Denny Schneider
President of the Alliance for a Regional Solution to Airport Congestion
A longtime advocate for regionalization of Los Angeles area airports
Westchester Resident for over four decades, Denny bravely rallies support and tirelessly battles for the rights of his community.
The region expands
Housing develops on all sides of Mines Field
The community hosts an equestrian event in the 1932 Summer Olympics
1939
With the onset of World War II, the community booms.
Thousands of new homes are built for war workers
Mines Field is designated for military use
By the end of the war
the community proliferates
Speaking: DJ “Duke” Dukesherer
Author of the paeans of Westchester, Playa del Rey, and Playa Vista: Beach of the King: Playa Del Rey/Westchester/Playa Vista, A Personal History
Member of the Los Angeles Historical Society, the Los Angeles Conservancy, and the Westchester-Playa Del Rey Historical Society
Life-long resident of Westchester and former resident of Manchester Square
Speaking: DJ “Duke” Dukesherer
Author of Beach of the King: Playa Del Rey/Westchester/Playa Vista, A Personal History
On the affordability, safety, and nostalgia associated with post-WWII Westchester and its Manchester Square. It was an ideal community.
Life-long resident of Westchester and former resident of Manchester Square
1945
And with the end of the war
enters the jet age
Mines Field transforms into Los Angeles International Airport
Beginning of commercial flights
1946
Manchester Square flourishes as community
Much of the community working in aerospace engineering and in aviation
Speaking: DJ “Duke” Dukesherer
Author of Beach of the King: Playa Del Rey/Westchester/Playa Vista, A Personal History
On how, after living in Manchester Square when he was born, he moved back years later, remembering the dense population of aerospace engineers who participated in the Space Race and were tremendous players in developing the aviation technology in World War II and beyond.
Life-long resident of Westchester and former resident of Manchester Square
With jets and heightened air traffic
came noise and need for expansion
Speaking: Denny Schneider
President of the Alliance for a Regional Solution to Airport Congestion
On airport's support of its surrounding communities...The airport will sound mitigate, or insulate homes to alleviate airport-related noise; but, how, even after decades and mitigation-wear, the homes will not receive renewed installations.
Westchester Resident for over four decades, Denny bravely rallies support and tirelessly battles for the rights of his community.
Surfridge disappears when the City of Los Angeles declares eminent domain due to noise concerns and need for airport expansion
1967 - 1975
Speaking: Denny Schneider
President of the Alliance for a Regional Solution to Airport Congestion
On how, after eminent domain was declared and Surfridge City was rendered obsolete, the airport declared it would not expand further into the communities. This was a clearly a misrepresentation.
Westchester Resident for over four decades, Denny bravely rallies support and tirelessly battles for the rights of his community.
