Dr. Alan Gardner (1856-1931), physician and pillar of early Hollywood, was born Henry Hesketh Gardner in Michigan. He received his M.D. at Montreal’s McGill University in 1878; five years later, he had relocated to San Francisco. Dr. Gardner changed his first name to Alan in 1887 via a court order – he stated only that he wanted his father’s name – then moved to Santa Barbara and promptly married Ada Kruger (1868-1945), a Truckee girl. The couple came to the new settlement of Hollywood in 1893 and purchased this land west of town from Eugene “Don Eugenio” and Amparo Plummer, of Plummer Park fame. Ampara Avenue – a riff on Mrs. Plummer’s name – was rechristened Gardner Street in 1905. The childfree Gardners lived on their eponymous street for the rest of their lives.
Find it on the map:
