Why Carthage Avenue to Stoner Avenue?
The street name “Stoner avenue” replaced the Patriotic Civil War Battle street name of Carthage avenue. Was the name “Stoner Avenue” given to “sway” Albert J. Stoner in favor of the new street naming system in 1926 by the progressive elite of Sawtelle who were bent on making a number of changes to the Sawtelle community, including removing the Patriotic Civil War Battle street names? The Civil War Street names represented everything the Sawtelle elite did not want, as discussed in other articles. Albert J. Stoner was a major pioneer and businessman of Sawtelle with rooted connections to many other Sawtelle pioneers. When looking back at Historical events, you can see a clearer picture as to why those events may have happened by reading thru the lines. I had to “dig”, to find out that Stoner avenue was named after Albert Stoner. Why was there no ceremony, no fanfare, no honoring of the man for the naming of the street? Why so secretive? Sorry to say it but the naming of Stoner avenue, in my opinion, has the earmarks of what is known as a “backroom deal”. The Patriotic Civil war Battle name of Carthage avenue is a beautiful sounding name for a street. The honorable Patriotic Civil War battle street name of Carthage should have remained and not changed in 1926, a dishonor to the valiant Veterans who fought to save America from ruin.
Sawtelle generally moved into different phases through the years.
1. 1899-1920 the Anglo Patriotic Veterans in Control of Sawtelle
2. 1920-1930 The new hard core Anglo Progressives in control of Sawtelle, changing the community name to West L.A., Sawtelle annexation to the City of Los Angeles, removal of Patriotic Civil War Street Names.
3. 1930-1940 The depression and infiltration of Minorities. Much of the old Veteran cottages became the Slums of Sawtelle
4. Whatever remained of Progressive control of Sawtelle was lost After WWII and by the 1950s thru 1960s, the demolishment and Gentrification of old Sawtelle took place and continues to this day.
Stoner Avenue named after Albert J. Stoner
Around August 1925, the Los Angeles City Council approved Street name changes for Sawtelle. Those street names are the Names we have today. The following article from the Santa Monica Evening Outlook, dated August 12, 1925 titled “Listen Here” gives us the first clue that Stoner avenue was named after A. J. Stoner, one of the most notable pioneers of Sawtelle. The people of Sawtelle were attempting to Petition the Los Angeles City Council in Protest against the Street Name Changes and the article “listen Here” attempts to Sarcastically discuss the issue.
See article on Albert J. Stoner with the Lions Club. 1922- SAWTELLE LIONS CLUB
Sawtelle Street names Chart
1926 Stoner Avenue Takes on its name as indicated in the Chart below. In 1921 the street was given a Civil War name “Carthage Avenue” but was renamed “Stoner Avenue” in 1926.
Armacost avenue was not a Civil War battle name but the street was named after nationally known Walter Armacost, Horticulturist, Sawtelle Pioneer and last Mayor of the independent city of Sawtelle in 1922. His residence and expansive Nursery was located on Armacost avenue. Walter Armacost in the 1930s moved to Brentwood, California but the Nursery remained in Sawtelle at that time. The name Armacost Avenue is the only remembrance of the “Armacost Dynasty”. See the following Link on Armacost: https://sawtelle1897to1950.wordpress.com/about/walter-armacost-moves-to-sawtelle/
Brockton avenue was not a Civil War Battle name but was substituted for Jonesboro which was a Civil War Battle name. The city of Brockton Massachusetts participated in the Civil War with Union Soldiers enlisted from that area. See the Link: https://www.enterprisenews.com/picture-gallery/news/2015/04/08/brockton-remembers-its-place-in/629886007/
Accomplishments of Albert J. Stoner
The following article is dated April 24, 1931 Independent LA Library. The Accomplishments of A.J. Stoner are listed.
Where did Albert J. Stoner Live?
The following article dated 1911 indicates A.J. Stoner and Family lived in the Heart of old Sawtelle at the corner of Federal avenue (9th street) and Nebraska avenue (Minnesota avenue).
In 1921 A.J. Stoner built and moved to a new House at 12130 Wilshire Boulevard between Amherst Avenue and Bundy Drive, on the “south side of Wilshire Boulevard” still considered Sawtelle, with the north side of Wilshire Boulevard considered Brentwood, just maintaining a residence in the “old lower income community Sawtelle” as if to not lose his ties and standing in the old community of Sawtelle but now maintaining a residence, that faced the upper income area of Brentwood. The 1920s was the second time period for construction in the Sawtelle community where many modest sized houses remain to this day. The drawback and “paying the price” to live on the south side of Wilshire boulevard (Sawtelle) was that, with the population surge on Wilshire Boulevard and the boulevard becoming a major commercial location in the 1920s and 1930s, a residential family house on Wilshire Boulevard was not a desireable place to live, in my opinion. The street noise, dangerous traffic, vehicle pollution and privacy needed are reasons, why not to “live on Wilshire Boulevard”.
Finally, we find the widow of A.J. Stoner, Margaret L. Stoner living in Brentwood itself at 12220 Dorothy Avenue, north of Wilshire Boulevard in the 1938 (Street Directory) during the Depression shown below. Also, we find Edward R. Stoner (Son of A. J. Stoner) President of the Sawtelle Lumber Company now living in Canoga Park in that same 1938 directory.
Mrs. A. J. Stoner is President of the Sawtelle Women’s Club in 1916
Passing of Albert J. Stoner
The following article on A.J. Stoner’s passing is courtesy of the Santa Monica Evening Outlook, July 12, 1935.
The following article on A.J. Stoner’s passing is courtesy of the West L.A. Independent, L.A. Library, July 19, 1935.
Doctor H.H. Stoner
There were two main personalities in Sawtelle with the surname Stoner in the 1920s, Albert J. Stoner and Dr. H.H. Stoner who lived on Stoner avenue before it was named Stoner.
Sawtelle California 1897 to 1950 