Hidden Histories of Long Beach — Lily Fremont

Lily Fremont

It happens so frequently I’m rarely surprised anymore.

Time and again, Long Beach was a way station for those of certain celebrity.

H. Gaylord Wilshire (of Wilshire Boulevard) lived here briefly; one of California’s most famous governors (Frank Merriam) and one of California’s most famous philanthropists, Dorothy Buffum (wife of Norman Chandler of the L.A. Times), also lived here; don’t forget Snoop Dog, Nicholas Cage and Billie Jean King in more recent years.

But, my native Californian roots were really tickled when I learned several years ago about Elizabeth “Lily” Benton Fremont’s brief stay in our seaside town. Born in 1842, Lily was the daughter of the (in)famous Captain John C. Fremont and his well-bred wife, Jessie Benton Fremont. She accompanied her parents on their many treks throughout United States and Europe. She never married, continuing to travel over the course of her life, living for a few months or years in one place before moving on.

John Fremont

In 1890 John Fremont died. Jessie died in 1902 in Los Angeles. At that point, Lily was fairly destitute. Her father’s numerous ventures rarely resulted in stable monetary success. After a trip or two to the family goldmines in the Yosemite and Bear Valleys in 1903, Lily came to Long Beach, ostensibly for her health upon the advice of her physician.

Another reason may have aided her decision to settle here: a branch of her mother’s family, the Bentons, was established here. Arthur Benton, and his better-known son, Ira Benton – both architects - lived and worked in Long Beach.

In 1905, Lily purchased two lots in what was still the Alamitos Beach Townsite, not yet annexed to the City of Long Beach. By some accounts she probably paid about $350 for them each. One was at 338 Junipero, near Carroll Park. She settled into this little wooden bungalow from 1905 to 1907. It is still there, the front porch not much different than it would have been over 100 years ago.

In 1908 she moved into her other property, located at the southeast corner of Temple and Second (now condos).

According to Long Beach historian, Roberta Nichols, Lily left her seaside Long Beach home in 1909 at age 67, moving six times throughout L.A., plus a stint in Hermosa Beach and Warm Springs, Georgia. She was part of the dedication of the Southwest Museum, donating some of her famous family’s artifacts to this endeavor. She died in 1919 at the age of 77. To Long Beach’s credit, her time in this city was one of the longest she spent in one place during her life.

338 Junipero

Temple & 2nd