Walgrove originated as the name of a tract set up in 1905 by Venice real estate agent Louella I. Sibley, who also named Louella Avenue for herself. Sibley’s ads touted a walnut grove growing on the property, and a corresponding newspaper article confirmed that “Walgrove” was indeed a portmanteau of “walnut grove”. Unsurprisingly, Walnut Avenue was born on the tract (as were Glyndon and Penmar); this street, however, was originally called Santa Monica Street. In November 1913, it was renamed Polytechnic Boulevard – a nod to Venice High’s original moniker, Venice Union Polytechnic High School, which was then under construction – but residents presumably nixed that idea, as seven months later it became Walgrove Ave.
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