Community Corner

1976: Lemon Grove Fights for Cityhood

News from the Jan. 1, 1976, edition of the Lemon Grove Review.

A look back at Lemon Grove, 36 years ago this week.

Would-Be City Struggles: Lemon Grove struggled throughout 1975 and all of 1976 to gain approval from LAFCO (Local Agency Formation Commission) to get on the ballot and give voters a chance to vote up or down on cityhood for a town originally formed between 1888 and 1892.

Lemon Grove Incorporation, helmed by James Dorman, Karen Thomsen and Dell Lake, had lost on three previous ballot attempts. But, undeterred, the intrepid threesome trekked from meeting to meeting for months, promoting the town's interests.

Find out what's happening in Lemon Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“We're at the bottom of the ladder for state and county funding," said Dorman, who would later become Lemon Grove's first mayor. "Cityhood would change that."

"The Big Lemon has a big heart and big dreams," said Dr. Robert Burns, who would win a seat on the first council and later become mayor.

Find out what's happening in Lemon Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The major stumbling block was boundaries. Land-hungry tigers were at the gates. San Diego had already annexed College Grove. La Mesa itched to claim 300 acres north of Route 94, the Vista La Mesa vicinity, Rolando Knolls, and the southeastern Blossom Hills area. All four areas had active anti-Lemon Grove city movements, with the northerly groups desiring to stay in La Mesa and Blossom Hills desiring to stay in Spring Valley. Population shifts played into La Mesa's argument as Lemon Grove lost 903 residents in 1975, while La Mesa gained 3,015.

LAFCO proposed setting the boundaries pretty much as they are today, with Route 94 on the north, Sweetwater Road on the east and 69th Street on the west.  Having a state freeway within the northern boundary would mean more state income for the city.

Dear readers, many of you know the upshot:  After more months of campaigning, Lemon Grove won cityhood in the March, 1977, election.

Freeway Access At Last:  On Jan. 1 the town was just a week away from having a freeway ramp system to Route 94.  At the opening, Imperial Avenue between Route 94 and Jamacha Road would officially be renamed Lemon Grove Avenue. The name started moving into use in December 1974 when work on the ramps began. The Campo Road-Spring Street interchange was still under construction. Hitherto, Lemon Grovians had accessed Route 94 via Federal Boulevard.

Bicentennial Launch: 1976 was the nation's 200th birthday and colorful, patriotic events would dominate the calendar in all 50 states. The first bicentennial event was the Pasadena Tournament of Roses parade on New Year's Day. Riding on the California Credit Union float was Lemon Grove beauty Pat Newberry, the 1976 Miss Credit Union. The float won the Sweepstakes Prize for "most beautiful."  

The fledgling Lemon Grove Historical Society, as yet unincorporated, planned a public lecture series on "national history" to be held at Lemon Grove Junior High.

The $17.76 "Bicentennial Wave" was the grand opening special at Cherry Bea's Beauty Boutique on Jamacha. Offered through July 4, 1976, the permanent was not a gals-only deal.  

"Men, we want you, too," trilled the ad. "A curl for every guy!  Show your girl your patriotic style!"

The garden section of the Lemon Grove Women's Club planned a "bicentennial beautification plant exchange" at the Big Lemon, corner of Imperial Avenue and Broadway. People could bring their plants and exchange them for others noted Mrs. Paul Hockenberry, chair of the event.

17 Going On 24: The Lemon Grove Review carried a major story on Sixties singer Janis Ian, 24, who struck gold with her million-selling platter, At Seventeen, the paean to youthful alienation that she debuted on the first show of Saturday Night Live in fall 1975.

Bronx born and Greenwich Village bred, Ian had sprung to fame with Society's Child, her first song to plumb the considerable depths of teen angst. Her live performances more than three decades ago are now a staple of YouTube.

Musical Champ: Barbara Wharff, 13, first flautist and woodwinds leader in the Lemon Grove Junior High Band and Orchestra, gave a performance on Jan. 5 on "Musicians in the Making" at the Jewish Community Center, San Diego. Barbara studied with Fritz Baker and was also first flautist with the Civic Youth Orchestra II in Balboa Park. Also proficient on piccolo, violin and piano, she won superior ratings in the San Diego Solo and Ensemble Festival and two consecutive scholarships to the Southland Music Camp.

New Twist: Three different apartment dwellers on London Lane, Lemon Grove, were robbed by someone who twisted off their front door knobs with vice grips. The apartments lacked dead bolts, making them easy prey for the "handyman crook."  The thief swiped cash, 8-track tape decks and television sets.

London Lane, a cul-de-sac just off Massachusetts Avenue and a heartbeat from Broadway, was a hotbed of crime for years. In an effort to help change its reputation for new residents, the city renamed it Westview Place. In what year? The first correct guess wins a copy of the pictorial history, Images of America: Lemon Grove. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here