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Devonshire Downs

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Devonshire Downs, sometimes informally called The Downs, was a horse racing track and multipurpose event facility in Northridge, California. It was located at the southwest corner of Devonshire Street and Zelzah Avenue,[1] east of Reseda Boulevard. The site is now owned by the California State University, Northridge (CSUN), which renamed it North Campus, and leased in part to Medtronic MiniMed.[2][3][4]

1940s

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In 1943, Helen Dillman and Pete Spears purchased 40 acres for $80,000 with plans to construct a harness racing track, but a wartime construction moratorium temporarily put the project on hold. Weekly Sunday afternoon harness races, called matinees, began in 1946. The State of California bought the property for $140,000 in 1948, at which time it also became the home of the 51st District Agricultural Association's annual San Fernando Valley Fair.

1950s

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During the 1950s, as the San Fernando Valley's population boomed and tract housing rapidly replaced Northridge's citrus groves and small ranches, the venue increasingly served to host a wide variety of mostly non-equestrian expositions, festivals, carnivals, concerts, swap meets, rallies and other events.[5][6][7] These alternative uses eventually predominated. A new California State College campus was built on adjacent land and opened in 1958 as San Fernando Valley State College, which soon became the owner of Devonshire Downs.[8]

1960s

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During the 1960s, poor track maintenance and declining interest in the sport led to the end of horse racing at the facility. The last race horse was removed in 1971.[9] In the same year, the college, which became California State University, Northridge (CSUN) in 1972, built a football stadium on some of the acreage. Other parts of the property continued to be put to diverse uses. During the first half of the 1980s, Devonshire Downs was the venue for numerous hardcore punk rock shows. Devonshire Downs is most widely known for hosting the three-day Newport Pop Festival in June 1969, also known as Newport '69, featuring Jethro Tull, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Cocker and nearly thirty other top acts.[10] With over 200,000 people attending the festival over three days, it was, by far, the largest music event in the United States up to that time.[11] News reports at the time indicated that hundreds were injured in a melee during the festival, and 200 police officers were deployed to restore order.[12]

1970s

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While the San Fernando Valley Fair utilized Devonshire Downs as its venue as early as the 1950s,[13][14] the fair hit its heyday in the 1970s and 1980s,[15] finally moving away from Northridge in the late 1980s.[16][17] Political pressures pushed to sell the property, starting in the early 1960s and continuing into the mid-1970s, but CSUN maintained ownership throughout this time period and beyond.[18][19]

Later years

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In 2001, the football stadium and practically everything else was razed and most of the land was leased out for development as a private industrial park,[20] with part of the area taken over by Medtronic MiniMed.[4][21] CSUN also developed part of the property for housing needs related to the University.[22]

References

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  1. ^ "Early Views of the San Fernando Valley". Water and Power Associates. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  2. ^ "North Campus Development Corporation". California State University, Northridge. 18 April 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  3. ^ Gregory J. Wilcox for the LA Daily News. 11 June 2015 Medtronic Diabetes laying off more than 400 at Northridge site
  4. ^ a b Lucas, Michael P. (May 9, 2000). "CSUN and MiniMed Seek Synergy on Campus". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  5. ^ "11th San Fernando Valley Fair Will Open Today: Polkas and Square Dancing Scheduled; Horse Shows Also Billed for Evenings". Los Angeles Times. August 30, 1956. p. B1. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  6. ^ "San Fernando Valley Fair Will Open Today: Exposition and Rodeo Queens Crowned as Prelude to Event at Devonshire Downs". Los Angeles Times. August 27, 1958. p. B1. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  7. ^ An undated flier touts the facility's amenities and versatility. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
  8. ^ "Huge Stadium Included in College Master Plan: Trustees Approve Program Calling for 45,000-Seat Facility at Devonshire Downs". Los Angeles Times. June 15, 1962. p. B8. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  9. ^ Murphy, J. "The Downs: Though Harness Racing's Bustling Sights and Shrill Sounds Have All Faded, Sparkling Memories of the Sport Linger On". The Los Angeles Times, 1985-10-27. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  10. ^ Beardsley, J. "Newport '69, a retrospect". LA Observed, 2009-06-17. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  11. ^ Wharton, David (August 6, 1989). "The Lost Love-In : It was the Woodstock they forgot: Newport '69, Los Angeles' own weekend of music, masses and mayhem". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  12. ^ "Disorder at Devonshire Downs". Los Angeles Times. June 24, 1969. p. A8. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  13. ^ "San Fernando Valley's Fair Opening Today". Los Angeles Times. August 30, 1951. p. 32. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  14. ^ "Devonshire Downs Fair Will Open Tomorrow". Los Angeles Times. August 27, 1952. p. B9. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  15. ^ O'Shaughnessy, Lynn (July 18, 1985). "Beginning Four-Day Run : Fair Officials Stay Hopeful Despite Cloudy Past". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  16. ^ Lozano, Carlos V. (July 12, 1988). "Fair Opens for a Last Fling at the Old Stand". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  17. ^ Puig, Claudia (February 12, 1988). "Valley Fair to Be Held at CSUN; Move to Pierce College Delayed". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  18. ^ McCurdy, Jack (March 13, 1963). "C of C, Legislator Fight Devonshire Downs Sale: 22-Acre Parcel Considered Necessary for Expansion of Valley State College Campus". Los Angeles Times. p. A8. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  19. ^ Lubas, Ken (June 22, 1975). "CSUN Fights to Keep Control of Devonshire Downs". Los Angeles Times. p. SF_A1. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  20. ^ Garvey, Megan (May 14, 1998). "Officials OK CSUN Development Plan: Land use: Unanimous vote approves proposal for biotech park, entertainment complex and academic buildings--but no stadium--on 65-acre North Campus". Los Angeles Times. p. VYB8. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  21. ^ Kowalick, Vince (September 16, 2000). "Northridge Preparing to Leave Shabby Home". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  22. ^ Senzee, Thom (November 2007). "Remember the Ponies at Devonshire Downs? They're Coming Back -- Or at least the Downs Are" (PDF). Community News. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
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