Neff Park covers ten acres including the Neff Estate’s three historic buildings: Neff Home, George House, and Neff Barn. The Neff residence was built in 1894 as headquarters for the ranch which was run by McNally’s daughter Nannie’s husband, Edwin Neff whom she married in 1893. In 1901 Andrew McNally turned over The McNally Olive Oil Company and Windermere Ranch to his daughter Nannie and her husband, Edwin Neff. The Neff’s appointed Robert McGill as the head accountant of the companies which flourished for 40 years under his care. After Robert McGill’s death in 1939 William “Bill” Neff and his wife, Mina, moved back to La Mirada to assume supervision of the property. As a nature lover, Bill Neff stocked the property with ducks, chickens and geese to encourage other wild animals to nest in the trees. He and Jack George constructed dams across the La Mirada Creek to form large resting ponds for migrating birds. This house is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places. World War II brought change to the ranch and Neff family. In 1953 the Neff family sold 2,218 acres of their property to Jack Spears of Pioneer Land and Reality Company of Los Angeles for $4,500,000 and retained 10 acres surrounding the Neff house. These 10 acres became present-day Neff Park.
The Historic Neff Estate is open for tours on the third Saturday of every month from 2-4 pm. The tours are provided by the La Mirada Historical Preservation Advisory Council. All tours are free, however, donations to aid the restoration efforts are welcome.
Click here to learn more about the history of La Mirada through our historical timeline. Click here for more information about touring the Neff Estate including the George House and Neff Barn.
Source & Photo Credit: City of La Mirada