HISTORY OF GRANADA HILLS
 

The area now known as Granada Hills was acquired in about 1881 by George K. Porter, a pioneer of the north San Fernando Valley and one of the founders of the city of San Fernando. The land was used primarily for farming, beans and wheat being among the usual crops. Granada was also known for the Granada Rabbit – which is discussed later in this article.
 

In 1917 the land between Balboa and Zelzah Avenues, north from San Jose Street into the hills was bought by J. H. Moshier, a wealthy oil man from Oklahoma. Mr. Moshier built a large house, dairy barns, silos and other buildings at the foot of the hills and named his property Sunshine Ranch.  

Between 1917 and 1924 over 1200 acres of the ranch was planted with citrus of various kinds. In 1925, however, Mr. Moshier tired of his project, and the Sunshine Ranch was offered for sale. It was bought by Suburban Estates, Inc., which was a holding company organized by Edwards and Wildey Company prominent subdividers of that time. 

The lower sections of the ranch was subdivided into large lots in 1926. The lots varied in size up to 7 acres, and the tract office was built at 17645 Chatsworth Street. The large lots did not sell as anticipated, so in 1927 about half the original tract was subdivided into smaller residences and business lots as they exist today, and the present streets were laid out. A large pavilion was built and people by the bus load were given free trips from Los Angeles, complete with lunch, so that they might see and hear about the great opportunities that existed in Granada. As an added inducement Granada was promoted as a rabbit raising colony, and most of the 80 houses that were built for the first Granada residents had barns suitable for rabbitries. 

The first house in Granada was built by Captain and Mrs. J.L. Butler on the corner of Kingsbury and White Oak Avenue. Captain Butler was Chief of Police in Los Angeles under Mayor Woodman. The original house is still there. 

The Granada pavilion served as a meeting place for the Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Club and the Granada Rabbit Association, an organization for publicizing the “Granada Rabbit” which soon became recognized for its excellent meat.
By 1929 the picture of Granada had begun to change somewhat from the optimistic outlook of 1927. Many residents found rabbit raising not nearly as profitable as they had anticipated. Furthermore, many people found it too far to drive to work since transportation had not materialized yet. 

The subdividers put up a bold front and continued intermittently with street and utility improvements through 1931 and they paved over 14 miles of streets, sidewalks and curbs. We can thank them for that today. 

In 1942 Granada was renamed Granada Hills, and after World War II the area began to grow with new homes and the opening of businesses and schools. Today we have “The Valley’s Most Neighborly Town A slogan adopted for Granada Hills in 1958.
Granada Hills is a thriving city with a charter High school, Award winning schools, shops, sports and everything that a major city has, but with a small town feeling. 

The above information and photos are from the San Fernando Valley Historical Society
Thanks to all the people who donate their time and energy into preserving our history. 

San Fernando Valley Historical Society – a non-profit organization
10940 Sepulveda Blvd. Mission Hills 818-365-7810
 

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