The Street Seen: 2429 Beverley Avenue
2429 Beverley Avenue between Hollister Ave and Ocean Park Blvd
The 5-room residence at 2429 Beverley Ave is constructed in 1912 for Leonard, a former Chicago florist and now Ocean Park businessman, and his wife, Elizabeth Kill.
In 1912, Leonard Kill1 obtains a permit for a one-story 5-room $1,400 house at 2429 Beverley Ave, atop a steep slope with west facing views of the Pacific Ocean.2 The California ranch-style house features a low-pitched wood roof, exterior wood siding, and an open interior.
In 1912, Beverley Ave is dominated by the Ocean Park Water Company’s 1906 reservoir, and the street is sparsely developed even into the 1920s. In 1911, Kill joins with 20 Beverley property owners petitioning the City Council for Beverley Ave to be graded and oiled; curbs and sidewalks placed; a sewer constructed; and an arc light placed on the street. In 1912, Kill obtains a permit for a $250 stand-alone concrete garage built into the hillside on Beverley. At the same time, his neighbor, E.C. Japs at 2511 Beverley Ave, obtains a permit for his $500 stand-alone garage.
In 1918, the Beverley Avenue house is sold to Main St butcher, Washington Irving Braddock (1871 – 1955) and his wife Emma Gammon Braddock (1874 - 1965). In 1952, the next owner, M.F. Carter, builds a 32-ft long retaining wall adjacent the Beverley Ave sidewalk.
Leonard Kill (1872 – 1944). Born in Chicago. In 1897, Kill marries Elizabeth Kronenberger (1871 – 1928). He is a nephew of Chicago politician and florist Peter A. Reinberg (1858 - 1921). In 1908, Kill is elected president of the Chicago Florists’ Club.
In 1911, Kill moves to Ocean Park (2814 3rd St) and enters the real estate business. He buys the vacant property at 2544 3rd St and in 1912, builds a house which he quickly sells. In 1912, Kill builds a 5-room house at 2429 Beverley Ave, where he lives until 1918. In late 1912, Kill opens a plastering contractor business at 177 Pier Ave. In 1913, Kill and his Beverley Ave neighbor, E.C. Japs, open Japs-Kill - real estate, insurance, and loans - at 177 Pier Ave. In 1914, Japs, Kill & Joyce moves to offices in the newly built Auto Inn Garage at 171 Pier Ave. In 1914, Mayor Dudley appoints Kill to the Santa Monica Parks Commission - although, with the change in the form of city government, the commission ceases to exists after 1915. Elizabeth Kill is listed in real estate transactions and is very active with Miercoles Tarde (Wednesday afternoon woman’s club). In 1915, Kill’s real estate firm becomes Seng, Kill & Joyce - Japs has gone, and J.T. Seng is a Chicago investor. In 1918, after 7 years in real estate on Pier Ave, Kill obtains the California franchise for Curtis farm tractors. In 1918, Kill sells all the 2429 Beverley furniture, and sells the house to W.I. Braddock. In 1919, Kill returns to Chicago, where Elizabeth dies in 1928 (aged 56). In 1930, Kill is again a Chicago florist. In 1940, he marries Irene Ardel Baganz Kill (1888 - 1984). They move to 520 S. Commonwealth Ave, Los Angeles.
The 50-ft by 160-ft 2429 Beverley Ave property (APN 4287-004-005) is comprised of 25-ft strip of Lot 19 and 25-ft strip of Lot 20 of Block C of the F.P. Howard Tract. Many of the properties on Beverley Ave overlap the subdivision lot lines.
