Because of all the disruption in Long Beach politics a board of freeholders was elected October 1, 1906, to draft a city charter which would set more stringent rules for city government. The charter was adopted by Long Beach voters on February 7, 1907 and went into effect January 6, 1908. The city was no longer a “general law” city, operating under the general laws of the state, but a charter city. A charter, in a sense the city’s own constitution, gave cities more autonomy for matters considered “municipal affairs.” A new city council replaced the previous board of trustees. The first mayor under the charter was Charles H. Windham (110/13/1865-4/11/1932, buried Forest Lawn/Sunnyside). Councilmen included Charles T. McGrew (1/29/1869-2/15/1941,…show more content… During his term as city manager he alleged he had been hounded to the point where it was no longer worthwhile to fight his political adversaries. Callahan resigned. Callahan asserted that since he took office he had been shadowed and constantly followed by two private detectives looking to besmirch his character. The climax was reached on December 6, 1928, when he received an anonymous phone call telling him that unless he resigned he would be publicly accused of immoral conduct with a "pure young woman." These charges, he asserted, were "absolutely false and groundless." Callahan reached the conclusion "to let someone else stand the persecution which seems to be the only compensation of one who attempts to act in good faith for the better interests of Long Beach." He resigned on December 28, 1928. In his resignation letter he charged persecution by the council and attempts to usurp his duties. As you can see not much had changed in the 20 years since the city charter had been adopted. He is buried at Sunnyside with his wife Augusta Young (8/1/1872-12/20/1962) and daughter Thelma (3/3/1900-8/14/1919) who died after a four year…show more content… The native New Yorker came to Long Beach in 1896 and became the first cashier at the First National Bank which his father James B. Heartwell had organized. He gained the title “colonel” when he became a lieutenant colonel in the California National Guard in 1907. In 1898 he married LaVerne Lowe, a daughter of William W. Lowe, Long Beach’s first merchant and postmaster. He served on the State Agricultural Board for ten years and later became Chief of Claims and Disbursements in the State Department of Finance. A staunch Republican he served 16 years as a member of the California Republican State Central Committee and 24 years on the Los Angeles County Republican Committee. In 1939 the Long Beach Water Board, in honor of its then chairman, Charles Heartwell, named Heartwell Park in his honor. Charles Heartwell is buried at the Forest Lawn/Sunnyside Mausoleum next to his wife LaVerne Lowe Heartwell (12/1875-3/7/1935), who died while listening to a program on the radio. His mother S. Jennie Heartwell (10/1844-8/27/1935) and father James B. Heartwell (7/1843-2/5/1913) are also buried in the family
