Sovkueff

Appellant and respondents own contiguous parcels of commercial property fronting on Blackstone Avenue in the City of Fresno, respondents’ parcel bordering appellant’s property on the south. In 1908 Garabed Oroian and his wife acquired the entire property in a single 20-acre parcel described as the northwest quarter of Lot 8 of Wolters Colony. The 20-aere parcel was bordered on the west by Blackstone Avenue and on the north by Shaw Avenue, title extending to the center of both roadways. In 1910 the Oroians deeded the south half of their property to respondents’ predecessors. Oroians retained the north half, bordered by Shaw Avenue, and that portion remained in the family ownership until distributed, one-half to appellant’s predecessor, by decree of distribution in the Estate of Garabed Oroian June 19,1950.

The controversy arises because the 1910 Oroian deed to respondents’ predecessors described the property as the south half of the entire parcel. Specifically, the question is whether the Oroians conveyed one-half of their property measured from the section line in the middle of Shaw, or one-half of the usable portion of their property commencing at the lot line at the edge of…