In the early 1900s, California was growing at a rapid rate as westward expansion turned from the gold rush to a real estate boom.
The massive variety of development on the island also included the construction of a golf course and a spring training camp for the Chicago Cubs, ranching and farming, film and entertainment, an exotic bird park, and more.
Through force of his marketing and advertising prowess, Wrigley had amassed a fortune with which he financed the majority of the projects Renton undertook for the company.
Two bungalow courts are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:[7] Renton's first major solo job was the construction of the observation tower of the Mt.
[1] When William Wrigley Jr. solicited bids for new construction on Catalina Island, Renton was awarded the first contract to build new summer bungalows.
[8] After purchasing Catalina Island, William Wrigley Jr. commissioned Renton to design and build another private residence on a hill overlooking the south end of Avalon Bay.
[15] Separating the silver, lead and zinc was further helped by an accidental addition of kerosene and linseed oil which naturally precipitated iron pyrites.
[3] Water development culminated in 1924 in the construction of a 100,000,000 gallon reservoir, contained by the Thompson Dam, which was connected to supply the town of Avalon via 12 miles of pipeline from the island interior.
[1] In 1927, Wrigley and Renton decided to construct a tile factory using Catalina clay from the hills that they had analyzed to produce building materials and other fine items.
[20] The idea was to meet the demand for roof and enamel tiles in the major construction that was booming in California, in conjunction with the Spanish Mission revival architecture style.
Beginning with construction materials to be sold on the mainland, Renton experimented with other products including souvenirs, vases, bookends and figurines.
Using red and white clays found on the island, the products were fired with enamels of local mineral oxides to produce distinctive Catalina colors.
By 1931, business was promising enough that Renton decided to open branches on the mainland: in both Hollywood and the Mexican style section of Los Angeles known as Olvera Street.
A Los Angeles Times article ("Ancient Pottery Art Revived" December 27, 1931) noted that "Avalon-ware is recognizable for its flint-like hardness and beauty of form and color..." The business was sold by Philip K. Wrigley to the Gladding, McBean company in 1937.
Wrigley often referred to Renton as his "hands" in being trusted to carry out their plans, but they also shared a certain type of energy and enthusiasm for thinking ambitiously and creating something where nothing stood before.
The plans for the tomb used Catalina materials, flagstone and tiles, in a magnificent 80-ft high resting place that is now a part of the Wrigley Botanical Gardens.