Wilber David Cook a well-known landscape architect was hired to design the future city. This will also allow room for parking for the businesses along Broadway.”īecause of the potential to make Planada a “City of Destiny”, McCarthy said: “I intend Planada, the City Beautiful shall stand as an enduring testimony to my abilities as a city developer.” Broadway, the backbone of the town, to be lighted with handsome electroliers and be wide enough for automobiles and teams to turn. Leading from the station plaza will be 3 main streets lined with trees with wide parkways and sidewalks. Because of the fact that the railroad cuts through the property it was determined to make the railroad station the focal point of the main arteries of traffic.Īccording to plans of the day: “The station will be beautified with flowers and attractive night lighting. With the purchase of several thousand acres along the main line of the Santa Fe Railroad, the building of the model city was started. McCarthy organized the Planada Development Company with the intent of establishing a model city and farming community. Harvey McCarthy, took notice of the great potential of the area, and with his extensive background in California real estate became very involved and interested. It was being looked at as a great location for a young developing city.Ī real estate magnate from Southern California, J. It was also a stop for people wanting to travel to the recreation areas of the Sierras. Planada was surrounded by some of the richest agricultural ground in the Central Valley, a stopping point for the railroad and with its proximity to some of the richest mining towns in the Sierra foothills. In 1911 the railroad held a naming contest and the name Planada (Spanish for “The Plain”) was selected. The Geneva Post Office was opened in 1896 and a railroad station established. Planada was originally named Whitton and then renamed Geneva by a group of Swiss dairy farmers from the area. In the year 1912, Planada was celebrating the grand opening of the new and luxurious Hotel Ciquatan and what was hoped to be the beginning of a new prosperous “City Beautiful.” It had quite the list of entertainment events. The Official Program of the grand opening of the Hotel Ciquatan in Planada back in June of 1912.
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