Long Beach’s Los Cerritos

Families living in the Cerritos Colony petitioned the county for a school, and the first district was established in 1878. The Cerritos School District boundaries were Cherry Avenue on the west, the Los Angeles River on the east, the Dominquez School District on the north, and the ocean on the south. The Los Angeles County School District trustees were Mary Kent Vignes, William T. Cook, and Judge William True Moulton. The first school built by the county for the Cerritos District was located at 1415 West Willow Street, and it opened in 1881. After the subdivision of the Los Cerritos neighborhood, the trustees of the Cerritos School District at that time, George H. Bixby, Moulton, and Vignes, petitioned the county for another school. The petition was granted, and in 1912, the school district served the area north of Wardlow. The new school, located on San Antonio Drive at Pine Avenue, was called the “North” Cerritos School, to distinguish it from the old “South” Cerritos School on Willow Street. Opened in 1914, it was a one-room wood structure with a bell tower. The teacher, Marie Vignes, taught all grades to about 20 pupils.

As the population grew, a larger school was necessary. The school board purchased one acre of land for $3,000 near Los Cerritos Park, and Mrs. George H. Bixby donated the second. A new two-room schoolhouse of concrete and stucco was erected at San Antonio Drive and Del Mar Avenue. In 1921, the Long Beach School District attempted to annex the Cerritos School District. The South Cerritos School joined the Long Beach District, but 102 voters in Los Cerritos objected, so the North Los Cerritos school did not join the Long Beach District until 1924. In 1933, the Long Beach earthquake damaged the second Los Cerritos School. Children attended classes in bungalows and tents until the current school was erected. Los Cerritos School was not the only school in the neighborhood. In 1925, the Los Cerritos Military Academy was established in a homelike setting on American Avenue (now Virginia Road).

CERRITOS SCHOOL DISTRICT NOTICE. On July 7, 1881, colony resident Thomas B. Hayes sold the Cerritos School District one acre of land on Willow Street for $50 from the 40-acre parcel he purchased from the J. Bixby Company in July 1880. This August 15, 1881, notice is for an election for a $500 tax to finish the school. W.B.S. Lewis and J.M. Brady were listed as trustees. (LCS.)

FIRST LOS CERRITOS SCHOOL. The classes at the first Cerritos School (later called the “South” Cerritos School) were held in a one-room building located at 1415 West Willow Street. The first teacher, a Mr. Cummings, taught all eight grades. Katherine Robinson Bushong, who grew up in the Cerritos Colony, attended the school from 1882 until 1887. She recalled her teachers were Mrs. Zumwalt, Mary McClain, Mrs. Remington, Nellie Fitzmier, and Walter Bailey. (LCS.)

“SOUTH” LOS CERRITOS SCHOOL. By 1896, the Cerritos School District had 79 pupils. This is the second building, erected at 1445 West Willow Street, which served as Los Cerritos School in the Cerritos Colony. County records report this building having been erected in 1910, but other sources indicate approximately 1904. (HSLB.)

“SOUTH” LOS CERRITOS SCHOOL TODAY. The original second building used as the “South” Los Cerritos School is owned by the Willow Street Church of God and can still be found at the northwest corner of Willow Street and Delta Avenue in Long Beach. (Courtesy of John Mulvey.)

LUNCH UNDER THE ARBOR. After their family moved from Long Beach to a dairy on Watson property at Alameda Street and Wardlow Road, the Vignes girls attended the Dominguez School, next to the Dominguez adobe. Marguerite is leaning against the column on the left, her hand on the shoulder of sister Antoinette, who is left of sister Marie. In the back, Edwine is fourth from the left. Edwine graduated from this school in 1905. (LCS.)

“SOUTH” CERRITOS SCHOOL GRADUATES. The 1908 graduates shown here are, from left to right, Ruth Wood, Antoinette Vignes, and Evelyn Moulton. Wood’s and Moulton’s families were living in the Los Cerritos Colony. (LCS.)

W. TRUE MOULTON. Judge W. True Moulton was a trustee for the Los Angeles County School District, along with Mary Vignes and William T. Cook. Moulton, along with Vignes and George H. Bixby, petitioned the board to establish the second school in the Los Cerritos area. The school was first known as the “North” Cerritos School but eventually took on the name Los Cerritos School. (LCS.)

JOHN LOUIS AND MARY KENT VIGNES. The Vigneses ensured that all their daughters were educated. Mary Vignes was instrumental in the founding of the Dominguez School and the original Los Cerritos “North” School, where her daughter became the first teacher. (LCS.)

MARIE VIGNES. Marie Vignes, the daughter of John and Mary Vignes, was born in 1892 and attended the Los Angeles Normal School, graduating from the Professional School in June 1913. She was the only teacher at Cerritos “North” School, the one-room schoolhouse at the corner of Pine Avenue and San Antonio Drive. She is seen here riding to work. (LCS.)

MARIE VIGNES’S GIRLS. Marie Vignes taught all eight grades in one room during the years 1913 and 1914. She poses here with her female students. The girl sitting on the bench, second from the left, is Loretta Underkirchner, who became local historian Loretta Berner. (LCS.)

MARIE VIGNES’S BOYS. The Los Cerritos North School was located on Pine Avenue and San Antonio Drive. Teacher Marie Vignes lined boys on one side, girls on the other. In this 1914 photograph are, from left to right, (first row) Alfred Encinas, David Bixby, unidentified, Stephen Bixby, and the rest unidentified; (second row) two unidentified students, John Cumming, Paul Grisham, Elvera Encinas, Pauline King, and Amelia Vignes. (Courtesy of Ellen Collins.)

LOS CERRITOS STUDENT BODY. Teacher Marie Vignes stands with her class on April 29, 1915. Shown here are, from left to right, (first row) David Bixby, Stephen Bixby, Jewel King, Andrew Encinas, and Archie King; (second row) Marjorie King, Roberta Stewart, and three unidentified students; (third row) John Cumming, Alfred Encinas, unidentified, Rosalie Turner, Muriel Grisham, two unidentified students, and Marie Vignes; (fourth row) Don Christensen, two unidentified students, Pauline King, Elvera Encinas, and Amelia Vignes. (LCS.)

NEW LOS CERRITOS SCHOOL. A school with two classrooms was built at 515 West San Antonio Drive. By 1920, two additional classrooms and a kindergarten were added. Joining the Long Beach School District in 1924, this was the last district school to maintain all eight grades, becoming an elementary school in December 1949. The school is seen here in 1915. (LCS.)

LOS CERRITOS COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM COVER. The 1916 graduates were Donald Christensen, Elvera Encinas, Amelia Vignes, Pauline King, and John Cumming. All lived in Los Cerritos except Encinas, whose father was a laborer on a beet farm until he bought the ranch across the river from the school, and Cumming, who lived in Compton.

COMMENCEMENT SCHEDULE. The 1916 program indicates that students were instructed in music and instruments. Commencement ceremonies in those days typically included musical performances and skits. W. True Moulton, the president of the board of trustees, presented the diplomas.

PICNIC DAY. Evelyn Moulton, a 1908 graduate of the original “South” Los Cerritos School, became a teacher at Los Cerritos School in 1917–1918 and served as principal in 1919 and 1920. Here, she takes her students on a picnic by the Los Angeles River. (LCS.)

LOS CERRITOS SCHOOL PLAYGROUND. In this photograph from 1917 or 1918, the boy on the top ring is Frankie Jordan. Loretta Underkirchner is in the center, hanging on the rings. Also pictured are Eleanor Johansing, Margaret Johansing, and Simon McDonald. (LCS.)

WILLIAM HUFF. Huff was principal of Los Cerritos School from 1929 to 1936. He made sure classes continued in tents after the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. (LCS.)

MARGUERITE VIGNES, PTA FOUNDER. Marguerite Vignes, wife of Bert Walp and daughter of John and Mary Vignes, was the founder of the Los Cerritos PTA in 1923. She served as president for two years, as well as acting as scholarship aid chairman and art and poster chairman. (LCS.)

GENERAL STORE AT LOS CERRITOS SCHOOL. This store was probably set up to teach math. The girl in the print dress is Edith Merrell. This photograph was taken in 1932. (LCS.)

LOS CERRITOS SCHOOL, FIRST-GRADE CLASS. Seen here in 1935 are, from left to right, (first row) Helen Newcomb, Barbara Enloe, Ronalie Smith, Rosemary Kelch, unidentified, Joan Updike, Mollie ?, and unidentified; (second row) Melvin Beckett, Dean Smith, Gene Hancock, Bobby McQueen, unidentified, Fred Ten Eyck, Dick Curtis, Bill Edwards, and unidentified. (LCS.)

1934 GRADUATING CLASS. Shown here are, from left to right, (first row) Dorothy Hynes, Juanita Cozart, Nebra Boardwell, Charlotte Kennedy, and Helen Caron; (second row) Doris Cole, Marialice DeCoudres, Edith Merrell, Norma Campbell, and Emma Lou Robertson; (third row) Natalie Aquilar, Melissa Munn, Janet Sigworth, Virginia Coronado, Dixie Nobel, Marian Duncan, and Louise Aquilar; (fourth row) Hal Heckman, Chuck Walker, Bill Becker, Dick Buffum, Rod Rothgeb, Bob Broxholme, and Joe Deeble. (LCS.)

LOS CERRITOS SCHOOL AFTER EARTHQUAKE. This aerial photograph, dated March 4, 193?, shows the Los Cerritos School constructed after the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. The architect was H. Alfred Anderson. The school was first occupied in 1935.

LOS CERRITOS SCHOOL WOOD SHOP, C. 1940. The one-room schoolhouse located at San Antonio Drive and Pine Avenue was moved behind the new Los Cerritos School on San Antonio Drive and Del Mar Avenue. The bungalow was then used for wood shop classes, where students learned to make their own planes. (LCS.)

BOY SCOUTS. This 1940 photograph shows a Scouts color guard from Los Cerritos School. From left to right are Fred Ten Eyck, Lester Callahan, Pete Updike, and Bill Edwards. (LCS.)

RED CROSS PAPER DRIVE. With the motto “A Ton a Day Keeps the Axis Away,” seventh grader Jerry Cassidy chaired the paper drive committee with Bill Edward, Randy Smith, Charles Kibbie, and “Chick” Buffum, who was publicity chairman. They vowed to knock on every door in Los Cerritos. (LCS.)

PAPER DRIVE WORKERS. This 1940 photograph shows the results of the multiday effort undertaken by the paper drive committee to help the Red Cross. Every time 10,000 pounds was collected, paratroops leaped from a model transport plane designed by “Chick” Buffum and floated down to earth, advertising the campaign success. (LCS.)

THE BOYS OF 1941. The Los Cerritos eighth-grade graduating class of 1941 included 14 boys. They are, from left to right, Llewelyn Mahieu, Bill Bussie, Jack Miller, Bill Brinkman, Roscoe Wilkie, Cedric White, Louis Gonzales, Harry Ames, Bob Bristol, Kenny Walker, John Wallace, Wayne Wells, Gil Walker, and Edger Bourne. (LCS.)

EIGHTH-GRADE CLASS. The 1941 graduates shown here are, from left to right, (first row) Betty Cree, Lorene Simmons, Barbara Inman, Phyllis McPheeters, and Cora Barker; (second row) Jewell Mars, Marjorie Merrell, Margaret Wilkinson, Carolyn Clock, Renee Mae Nagy, Gloria Moore, Llewelyn Mahieu, and Tillie Galaz; (third row) Jack Miller, Kenny Walker, Roscoe Wilkie, John Wallace, Bob Bristol, Gil Walker, and Cedric White; (fourth row) Louis Galaz, Bill Bussee, Edgar Boune, Wayne Wells, and Harry Aine. (LCS.)

LOS CERRITOS STUDENT NEWSPAPER. The students of Los Cerritos produced their own newspaper, the Beacon. In prior years, the newspaper was called the Los Cerritos Star. The eighth-grade class started the newspaper when they were fifth graders. The 18-page-long paper included the honor roll, class activities, sports, book reviews, and several pages of large type for the lower grades. (Courtesy of Margaret Wilkinson Mahannah.)

HISTORY OF THE 1941 CLASS. The April 28, 1941, edition of the Los Cerritos student newspaper traces the school history of the graduating class, from their kindergarten year of 1932. Margaret Wilkinson was the editor-in-chief in 1941 and wrote this column. (Courtesy of Margaret Wilkinson Mahannah.)

1941 COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM. On June 14, 1941, Los Cerritos School graduated 27 pupils. At that time, Elizabeth Steele was the principal. Several members of this graduating class still live in or near Los Cerritos, and many are still in Long Beach. (LCS.)

GRADUATING CLASS OF 1942. The eighth graders shown here are, from left to right, Fonita Lane, Lucille Murphy, Edwina Olsen, unidentified, Rosemary Kelch, Gene Hancock, Barbara Decker, Roger Freeman, unidentified, George Winslow, Patricia Bishop, Helene Erickson, Ronalee Smith, Ronald Freeman, Barbara Enloe, Bill Edwards, Joan Updike, Fred Ten Eyck, Patricia Spencer, Dick Curtis, unidentified, and Nancy Kirkwood. (LCS.)

ORIGINAL SCHOOL BELL MONUMENT. On the left is Evelyn Moulton Coigdarripe, the second teacher at the “North” Los Cerritos School. With her is Long Beach historian Loretta Underkirchner Berner, who attended school in the one-room schoolhouse in 1914. They are shown at the dedication of the original school bell monument in 1958. (LCS.)

LAST SCHOOL BOND. The bond to construct the first one-room Los Cerritos North School was issued on May 1, 1913. This newspaper photograph depicts officials burning the final bond in May 1953. Pictured from left to right are Dr. Dwight Sigworth, vice-president of the board of education, holding the bond; Paul Grisham, superintendent of mails at the local post office, who attended the one-room school; and supervisor Burton Chace.

MOTHERS PROTEST. Calling themselves “crossing guard gangs,” mothers blocked traffic on Pacific Avenue in 1953 to “awaken the City Council” to their children’s safety. For three years, the Los Cerritos Improvement Association had appealed to the city for traffic relief. Resident Ruth Craig Merrell told the press, “it’s action we want and it’s action we’ll get, no matter how long we have to keep this up.”

DEMOLITION OF ORIGINAL SCHOOLHOUSE. The original one-room schoolhouse building was moved to the current school site when the second “North” Los Cerritos School was built in 1915. The bungalow served as a woodshop and caretaker’s quarters until it was demolished in June 1970. (LCS.)

FOUNDER’S DAY CELEBRATION. The Los Cerritos Parent Teacher Association celebrated Founder’s Day in February 1971. Honored guests were Mrs. Bert Walp (founder and president from 1923 to 1924), Mrs. P.C. Nix, Mrs. B.S. Parson, Mrs. I.S. Clarke, Mrs. Robert Broxholme, Mrs. Frank Parr, Mrs. Charles Decoders, Mrs. Ray K. Person, Mrs. Gerald Beck, Mrs. Dwight S. Sigworth, Mrs. Ruth Hall Mills, Mrs. Marion Lower, Mrs. Don C. Wallace, Mrs. Charles Z. Walker, Mrs. Ruth Craig Merrell, Mrs. Milton McGrew, Mrs. Gus A. Walker, Mrs. Leland T. Edwards, Mrs. Douglas A. Newcomb, and Mrs. Warren Ten Eyck. Shown here in the front row are, from left to right, Encinas, DeCoudres, Ten Eyck, Gernert, Edwards, Stacey, Burrell, and Walp. (LCS.)

CAMERON DIAZ IN SIXTH-GRADE PRODUCTION. The sixth-grade class performance of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown in March 1984 included student Cameron Diaz. Diaz grew up in Long Beach and attended Los Cerritos and Long Beach Poly High School. She rose to prominence in the 1990s with leading roles in films such as My Best Friend’s Wedding and There’s Something About Mary. (LCS.)

LOS CERRITOS MILITARY ACADEMY, 1926. The Los Cerritos Military Academy opened on September 8, 1925. The president was T.M. Welch, and board members were John H. Betts, president of B.H. Transportation; C.A. Buffum, president of Buffum’s Department Store; E. J. Wightman, president of Marine Trust & Savings Bank; E.J. Colbert, physician; and R.H. Fowles, capitalist. Maj. Wilbur Watkins was headmaster. (HSLB.)

ADVERTISEMENT FOR LOS CERRITOS MILITARY ACADEMY. This 1927 advertisement in the Los Angeles Times indicated the school was at 4299 American Avenue (now Virginia Road). Other sources indicate the location as 4141 American Avenue. Norma Campbell Craig said the school was across from her house at 235 Claiborne Place. School board members owned both 4141 and 4201 American Avenue. In August 1927, the school announced the addition of its third unit to its building program, so it likely occupied homes at 4141, 4123, and 4125 American Avenue.