Remembering When
by
Jerry Person
Huntington Beach City Historian
Dedicated to the people of Huntington Beach
Remember the Assistance League of HB Thrift Store
Assistance League at 223 Main Street in 1983 Photo Jerry Person
To the warmth, understanding and unity of purpose- we dedicate this room to those who give and to those who receive, so were these words spoken at the dedication of the Assistance League of Huntington Beach's new thrift store on February 19, 1954.
But its history goes back to 1941 when several local ladies organized a local branch of the Assistance League of Orange County. At first the league operated their thrift shop in various locations, the first one in Orange County, but in 1946 the league purchased a small store. This store was sold in 1952 because the league needed larger quarters. The ladies began looking around for a new site that would serve their needs.
The league received a $5,000 grant from the Irvine Foundation in 1952 and former Huntington Beach mayor Marcus M. McCallen gave the league $200 to start the building fund. The league put on teas, style shows, rummage sales and even had a booth in a carnival to raise funds.
A site was selected at 301 Walnut for their thrift shop and a building committee was formed. This committee consisted of Dorothy Terry, chair, Ila Dabney, Ruth Robertson, Katherine Kettler and Hazel Whittaker.
It was on September 3, 1953 that a model of the new building was shown to the league's membership. This new building was designed by Marvin W. Renfro and built by the firm of Bazil and Wells.
Work was begun on the building in October 1953 and as construction progressed a Fixture Committee was organized. This committee consisted of Gussie Kettler, chair, Helen Crosby, Jimmie Overmyer, Glen Farquhar, Margaret Elloitt, Bertha Tovatt, and Mary Hopkins.
The thrift store was formally dedicated Friday afternoon on February 19, 1954 by league president Florence B. Tunis with Reverend Lambert of the Methodist Church giving the invocation.
The Pledge of Allegiance was said before an American flag that had been presented to the league by the Woman's Relief Corps. on December 7, 1950. Mrs. John McDonald was selected as thrift shop chair on the league's various committees.
The league held their June 1954 meeting at Lake Park Clubhouse and Mrs. Jack Colvin was named president.
By February 1955, a year after opening the thrift store, the Assistance League was able to pay off their mortgage. They were now able to pay that mortgage with money obtained from an oil well drilling lease between the league and Pacific Drilling Company. The Huntington Beach league was the only league to boast of having its own oil well. The Long Beach drilling company used slant drilling under the league's property and that well produced 1,140 barrels of oil a day.
The thrift shop was relocated to 223 Main Street in the 1970s and the old store at Third and Walnut served as the league's offices until sold to in the early 1980s during redevelopment of the downtown. The thrift then moved to Gothard and Heil and was called the "Bargain Box." Today the thrift shop is located in a building the league owns at 8071 Slater Avenue.
Throughout the years of service to our community the league has kept the motto of "Service for all and all for service."