This street opened in 1927 on a tract owned by Maytor (1878-1952) and Lillian (1882-1950) Hoppenyan. The idea behind its name is a mystery. There is evidence that Hoppenyan’s father Bernard mined for iron and magnetic ore (a.k.a. magnetite) in Wisconsin, so that’s one theory. Or perhaps “MAgnetic TERrace” was a play on “Maytor”? (You will note that there is a Maytor Place on the other side of the hill; it wasn’t named until 1959.) Anyway, at some point in the 1930s, the Hoppenyans, who had come here in 1921, changed their surname to Lillian’s maiden name: McKinley. The family was in the funeral business, both in their previous home in Ashland, WI and here in Los Angeles. Utter-McKinley Mortuaries was established in 1936 by Maytor Jr. and is still in operation today.
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