Brookside

How Rimpau Boulevard Got Its Name

Theodore Rimpau, a native of Hamburg, Germany, was proficient in six languages. He intended to open sugar factories in Cuba; however, he was detoured to the United States by the plague in Cuba, caught the gold bug and came to California in 1849. He set up a mercantile business, entered civic activities and married Francisca Avila, whose family owned Rancho Las Cienegas, a large land grant extending from Wilshire Boulevard south to Baldwin Hills. They built their first home near the Avila adobe on Olvera Street. Holding vast barley fields and pasture lands, the successful businessman was one of the founding fathers of Anaheim and eventually devoted himself to raising cattle as well as raising fourteen children.

In the 1920's, Theodore's sons Adolf, Benjamin and Fred formed Rimpau Bros. Realty on Pico Boulevard and subdivided part of Rancho Las Cienegas. One of Benjamin's sons, Edward, was active in real estate and helped develop over 700 lots between Olympic and Pico. He played a pivotal role in the Miracle Mile development along Wilshire Boulevard. One son, Edward, Jr., developed Beverly Manor and California Trailer Parks.

Another son, Theodore Rimpau, was honored by having a street named after him: Rimpau Boulevard. When Los Angeles High School was built on Olympic Boulevard, a connecting street to Wilshire Boulevard was needed, and, at the Board of Education's suggestion, it was named Rimpau Boulevard in 1906.