Charles Wister Groff
Encyclopedia
Charles Wister Groff was a renowned southern California
real estate developer and philanthropist
.
Groff was the son of Swiss-American landowner and philanthropist Ulysses Grant Groff
and Julia Page Quick (the daughter of Anglican Bishop
of Philadelphia, Charles W. Quick). He grew up in Amherst, Massachusetts
and upon serving a tour of duty in the U.S. Navy during the First World War aboard the , he migrated slowly westward doing odd jobs until reaching Los Angeles, California where he met his wife-to-be Virgie Ann McKouwn. They were married at Crown Point, Illinois on March 21, 1921.
The family struggled through the Great Depression
with two daughters and many family members living within the immediate vicinity and requiring assistance from time to time. It was only during the mid-1940s, after having taken a contractor's exam and received a license, that Groff became an increasingly successful entrepreneur in the building industry.
By the mid-1950s his company had built substantial tracts of the cities of Pomona
, Los Angeles and Costa Mesa
, California. While being noted for quality, long-lasting work and exceptionally economic use of resources, Groff was unusually popular and liked amongst his hired workers and subordinates. This led to a street in the city of Pomona (Groff Street) being named in his honor in 1954. Another street in Costa Mesa, Charlie Street, is also said to have been named in his honor.
By the mid-1960s he had acquired substantial landholdings and financial resources, and chose to retire and dedicate much of his time to philanthropic causes, including programs to support cultural literacy and learning. Groff was also a financial contributor to the Republican Party
and an honored veteran member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
Association.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
real estate developer and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
.
Groff was the son of Swiss-American landowner and philanthropist Ulysses Grant Groff
Ulysses Grant Groff
Ulysses Grant Groff was a large landowner and philanthropist noted for substantial donations to the City of Amherst, Massachusetts and to Amherst College....
and Julia Page Quick (the daughter of Anglican Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Philadelphia, Charles W. Quick). He grew up in Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts...
and upon serving a tour of duty in the U.S. Navy during the First World War aboard the , he migrated slowly westward doing odd jobs until reaching Los Angeles, California where he met his wife-to-be Virgie Ann McKouwn. They were married at Crown Point, Illinois on March 21, 1921.
The family struggled through the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
with two daughters and many family members living within the immediate vicinity and requiring assistance from time to time. It was only during the mid-1940s, after having taken a contractor's exam and received a license, that Groff became an increasingly successful entrepreneur in the building industry.
By the mid-1950s his company had built substantial tracts of the cities of Pomona
Pomona, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Pomona had a population of 149,058, a slight decline from the 2000 census population. The population density was 6,491.2 people per square mile...
, Los Angeles and Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 109,960 at the 2010 census. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a primarily suburban and "edge" city with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light...
, California. While being noted for quality, long-lasting work and exceptionally economic use of resources, Groff was unusually popular and liked amongst his hired workers and subordinates. This led to a street in the city of Pomona (Groff Street) being named in his honor in 1954. Another street in Costa Mesa, Charlie Street, is also said to have been named in his honor.
By the mid-1960s he had acquired substantial landholdings and financial resources, and chose to retire and dedicate much of his time to philanthropic causes, including programs to support cultural literacy and learning. Groff was also a financial contributor to the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and an honored veteran member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a congressionally chartered war veterans organization in the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, VFW currently has 1.5 million members belonging to 7,644 posts, and is the largest American organization of combat...
Association.