Echo Park Historical Society News

EPHS taking nominations for board election

2011-11-26T15:28:00.000-08:00

The EPHS will hold its annual Board of Directors election next month on Saturday, Dec 10 at 6:30 p.m. (location TBA). Four seats on the seven-member board are up for election. Three of the seats are currently held by Matthew Dubois, Holly Hampton and Dave Ptach . The fourth seat is vacant. If you are interested in being a candidate, here are the rules:

* Eligible candidates are those who are paid members of the society and who have been members for at least one year previous to the nomination. Individuals can nominate themselves. Directors serve two-year terms

* Nominations should be received no later than five days before the election. Individuals can nominate themselves.

* Nominations can be be emailed to ephs@HistoricEchoPark.org; called in to (323) 860-8874; or send by mail carrier to EPHS, P.O. Box 26946, Los Angeles, CA 90026.

* If there are more eligible candidates than available seats, EPHS members in good standing (paid memberships) will cast ballots during the quarterly meeting and election on Dec. 10. Candidates will have an opportunity to make a brief presentation before ballots are cast.

* Who can vote? Those with paid membership that have not expired can cast a ballot. Members will be notified of the location via email.

Former Echo Park resident shares her memories and photos of Fellowship Parkway

2011-11-12T11:58:00.001-08:00

Submitted by Mimi Kalland

My family moved into 2340 Lemoyne Street right after WWII, probably 1946. This is the walk street portion of Lemoyne that begins with the steps next to the water tower. We were told the house was built in the early 1900's and served, originally, as a bird sanctuary center. The house next door was owned by Reverend Marshall, who must have been the son of the Reverend Marshall you mention on Altivo. He was the pastor at the church across from Echo Park Lake. Our house had a stone and cement arch at the entrance with metal letters spelling out "Dawnhurst." The last time we visited, the arch was still there. My mother lived in the house until she was 83, which was 1991.

Fellowship Parkway was, basically, a dirt path that started (or ended) in front of our house on Lemoyne. Harwell Harris, the architect, lived in a tiny house on Fellowship Parkway across from us. it was coincidental that he had designed a house for my parents before WWII that never got built. Too bad. It probably would have been a landmark.

2011-10-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

The Echo Park Challenge (Scavenger Hunt)
November 12, 2011 11:00, 12:30, and 2:00pm $30

Join Out of the Box Events and the Echo Park Historical Society on an adventure through Echo Park to uncover the nooks and crannies around Echo Park Lake as well as the secrets of the park. Echo Park is where the famous pie-in-the-face joke was born and a favorite Tramp came to life. This LA neighborhood was also the backdrop to a little Pulp Fiction becoming reality. No prior knowledge of Echo Park necessary. Just bring a sharp mind, a charged camera and comfortable shoes for this challenge. Prizes to the winning team!
A portion of the admission benefits the Echo Park Historical Society; The Echo Park Historical Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing Echo Park's cultural and historic heritage.
*$30 per person
*up to 6 people per team
*Bring one digital camera per team
*Starting location revealed upon registration

https://outoftheboxevents.webconnex.com/echopark

Explore the history of Elysian Park

2011-10-10T21:27:00.001-07:00

Please join us on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 10 am for the Elysian Park Walking Tour. The Elysian Park Tour focuses on the lesser known but historically rich eastern edge of the park.

This tour takes about two hours to complete and includes walking up and down hills and upon unpaved trails. Reservations are required and can be made to ephs@HistoricEchoPark.org. The tour is free to EPHS members and $5 for all others. The tour begins at the Fremont Monument (pictured at left) near North Broadway and Elysian Park Drive. Please visit the Walking Tour section of www.HistoricEchoPark.org for information about our other tours.

Reminder: EPHS Quarterly Meeting will be held Saturday, Aug. 13

2011-08-11T13:32:00.000-07:00

Writer and historical consultant Rory Mitchell will discuss his research into the early built environment in Echo Park, its transformation from rural gardens to urban oasis and some of the first bohemian intellectuals in the neighborhood during the Echo Park Historical Society's Quarterly meeting on Saturday, Aug. 13 at 1 p.m

He will also discuss current efforts regards historic activism, including the SurveyLA program and opportunities for the membership to get involved.

The meeting is open to the public and will include an update on historical society activities.

Quarterly Meeting:

Date & Time: Sat. August 13 @ 1 p.m.

Location: Williams Hall at Barlow Hospital, 2000 Stadium Way.

"Echo Park in the 19th Century and our Continuing Legacy of Activism

2011-08-05T19:53:00.000-07:00

He will also discuss current efforts regards historic activism, including the SurveyLA program and opportunities for the membership to get involved.

The meeting is open to the public and will include an update on historical society activities.

Quarterly Meeting:

Date & Time: Sat. August 13 @ 1 p.m.

Location: Williams Hall at Barlow Hospital, 2000 Stadium Way.

Recent questions, memories & info from the EPHS Message Boards

2011-07-09T07:37:00.001-07:00

Here's a round up of some recent questions and stories left on our History and Restoration message boards. If you can provide an answer or more information, please click on the links below to leave your response:

Windows Builder:
"Can anyone please recommend a custom wood window builder? I need to rebuild a true 3 light, hinged window."

Anyone Remember Studio One Theatre?
"We lived on marion ave. just off sunset blvd. back in the 60s. we used to go to the studio one movie theater. they would always show a double feature. saw many elvis presley movies there. i also attended cortez elem. school, then our lady of loretto on union ave."

Ada Mae/May Sharpless
"I would like information on Ada Mae Sharpless. I knew her Parents, Sister and Niece in 1952 in Santa Ana. I know her parents have passed away as I am sure she has also. I believe she was born in 1904. Did Ada Mae move back to Hawaii after living in LA for a while?
Does anyone have any information on Ada Mae's niece, Sally Sharpless? Sally would be about 77 years old now."

Sign up now for this month's Elysian Park Walking Tour

2011-07-05T01:44:00.000-07:00

Please join us on Saturday, Juy 23 at 10 am for the Elysian Park Walking Tour. The Elysian Park Tour focuses on the lesser known but historically rich eastern edge of the park.

This tour takes about two hours to complete and includes walking up and down hills and upon unpaved trails. Reservations are required and can be made to ephs@HistoricEchoPark.org. The tour is free to EPHS memers and $5 for all others. The tour begins at the Fremont Monument (pictured at left) near North Broadway and Elysian Park Drive. Please visit the Walking Tour section of www.HistoricEchoPark.org for information about our other tours.

EPHS testing new email newsletter

2011-07-02T16:59:00.000-07:00

Hello. The Echo Park Historical Society will be testing a new e-mail service to send out newsletters and announcements to members and other supporters. More than 800 people have signed up to receive email news and announcements from the EPHS. The new email service called MailChimp (yes, that its real name) should make it easier to communicate with our membership. Instead of waiting a month or more in between email newsletters, EPHS email subscribers will receive news and announcements shortly after they appear on the home page of our website at HistoricEchoPark.org. Let us know if you have any problems as we test the new service.

Sign up now for the Elysian Park Walking Tour!

2011-07-01T21:13:00.000-07:00

Pedal your way through Elysian Park history

2011-04-19T12:09:00.000-07:00

The EPHS Elysian Park Bike Ride will be held on Saturday, April 23 at 10 am. Explore the historic highlights of the Elysian Park's western edge (the route is limited to paved roads) during this 90-minute, guided tour headed by Matthew Dubois. Stops include Barlow Hospital, the old Navy Armory and Police Academy. Space is extremely limited. The tour is free to EPHS members and $5 for all others. RSVP to ephs@HistoricEchoPark.org

The tour begins in the parking lot of the Grace Simons Lodge off Stadium Way. See map below.

View Larger Map

"Secret Stairs" author to speak at EPHS quarterly meeting

2011-03-01T09:43:00.000-08:00

Author Charles Fleming as he discusses and signs Secret Stairs: A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles at the Echo Park Historical Society Quarterly Meeting on Wednesday, March 16 at 7 p.m. at Rec Center Studio in the historic Jensen Recreation Center. The entrance is located at 1161 Logan, Los Angeles, CA 90026.

EPHS will also hold its annual Board of Directors election. Members in good standing (paid memberships) will cast ballots during the quarterly meeting. Candidates will have an opportunity to make a brief presentation before ballots are cast.

There will also be a short tour of the remnants of the Egyptian themed mural in what once was the bowling alley. For more information visit

EPHS Taking Nominations for Board Seats

2011-02-02T15:38:00.001-08:00

The EPHS will hold its annual Board of Directors election next month on Wednesday, March 16 at 7 p.m. (location TBA). Three seats on the seven-member board are up for election. Those seats are currently held by Christine Peters, Jesus Sanchez & David Schnepp. If you are interested in being a candidate, here are the rules:

* Eligible candidates are those who are paid members of the society and who have been members for at least one year previous to the nomination. Individuals can nominate themselves. Directors serve two-year terms

* Nominations should be received no later than five days before the election. Individuals can nominate themselves.

* Nominations can be be emailed to ephs@HistoricEchoPark.org; called in to (323) 860-8874; or send by mail carrier to EPHS, P.O. Box 26946, Los Angeles, CA 90026.

* If there are more eligible candidates than available seats, EPHS members in good standing (paid memberships) will cast ballots during the quarterly meeting on March 16. Candidates will have an opportunity to make a brief presentation before ballots are cast.

EPHS schedule of 2011 Tours *

2011-01-18T07:29:00.000-08:00

Echo Park Historical Society announces the schedule of the 2011 Tours:

Feb. 26th 10am – Echo Park Lake Tour (POSTPONED) This tour has been postponed until Sat., March 5 at 10 a.m

March 26th 10am – Elysian Park East Tour
April 23rd 10am – Elysian Park West Biking Tour
May 28th 10am – Echo Park Stairway Tour
June 25th 10am – Echo Park Lake Tour
July 23rd 10am – Elysian Park East Tour
August 27th 10am – Echo Park Stairway Tour
September 24th 10am Echo Park Lake Tour
October 22nd 10am Elysian Park East Tour

For further information, check out our website

Highlights of the 2010 Echo Park Home Tour

2010-11-28T10:42:00.000-08:00

More than 250 people attended the 2010 Historic Echo Park Home Tour on Sunday, Nov. 14. This year's tour, Eco Echo Park: Urban Sustainable Living, featured 10 homes and gardens that feature lifestyles of the ecologically minded. Visitors got a first-hand look at gray water systems, solar power, natural light and circulation as ways to reduce dependency on public utilities as well gardens that include elements of urban farming, native plants, drought-tolerant landscaping and no dig gardening and chicken coops. The historical society would like to thank tour director Holly Hampton and the more than 100 volunteers who made this event possible a big success. If you were not able to attend, please enjoy the gallery of photos taken by Martin Cox or read some of the stories below that appeared in area newspapers and TV news programs:

Vintage and green in 'Eco' Echo Park

Eco Echo Park tour includes terraced garden where the spirit of sharing runs deep

Echo Park Home Tour in the News

Echo Park Home Tour makes L.A. Times

2010-11-11T19:28:00.001-08:00

The Los Angeles Times paid a visit to one of the gardens that will be featured in this Sunday's Historic Echo Park Home Tour. Here's what they found:

"The garden, one stop on the Eco Echo Park tour Sunday, is a compelling argument against what so many people do when they move into a new home: Rip out the landscape and start over. When Beavers bought his house a decade ago, he knew he needed time to get acquainted with it.

"Something special had gone on here," he says, "but I had to wait a while to find out what it was."

While he waited, there was work: He spent the first year hauling some things out — trees, rocks, dead plants — but he left terraces built by a succession of owners. That included a patio at the house level, trellised by a grapevine.

Then he began hauling in native stone, which he used to build dry-stacked walls. He brought in more stone for paving, which he dry-laid in sand, to allow water to seep into the soil. He built a dry stream bed for capturing runoff."

Buy your home tour ticket online now for $15 and save $5. Click here for the details.

Echo Park Home Tour in the news

2010-11-01T20:30:00.000-07:00

The upcoming 2010 Echo Park Home Tour was featured in a segment on the KTLA Morning News today. The tour, which features 10 homes, is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 14. Tickets are $20 on the day of the tour - but you can save $5 by purchasing the tickets in advance online. Click here to purchase your tickets now.

Sign up now for the Oct. 23 Elysian Park Walking Tour

2010-10-09T11:46:00.000-07:00

Please join us on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 10 am for the Elysian Park Walking Tour. The Elysian Park Tour focuses on the lesser known but historically rich eastern edge of the park.

This tour takes about two hours to complete and includes walking up and down hills and upon unpaved trails. Reservations are required and can be made to ephs@HistoricEchoPark.org. The tour is free to EPHS memers and $5 for all others. The tour begins at the Fremont Monument (pictured at left) near North Broadway and Elysian Park Drive. Please visit the Walking Tour section of www.HistoricEchoPark.org for information about our other tours.

Volunteers needed for Historic Echo Park Home Tour

2010-10-05T20:34:00.000-07:00

Dear friends of Echo Park,

After a two-year absence, the Historic Echo Park Home Tour is back! This year's tour, Eco Echo Park: Urban Sustainable Living, will be held on Sunday, Nov. 14 and focus on the charm, character and environmental aspects of nine homes in the neighborhood.

As always, the Echo Park Historical Society can't stage this event without generous help from volunteers. Organizers of this year's tour are looking for people who can contribute two hours of their time on the day of the event, serving as docents, selling tickets or performing other miscellaneous tasks. Anyone who takes a volunteer shift will receive free entry to the tour -- as well as the no-frills, high-fun after-party.

We have three shifts available on the day of the tour: 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and 2:15 to 4:15 p.m. To get involved, please contact me via email or call (323) 666 8583. Please provide your name, phone number and the shift you would prefer. We appreciate any help you can offer!

Sincerely,

Dave Ptach
Docent Organizer
Historic Echo Park Home Tour Committee

Contact:
Click to send an email
(323) 666 8583

Join us for the Echo Park Lake Walking Tour in September

2010-09-14T20:05:00.000-07:00

The EPHS will hold its Echo Park Lake Walking Tour on Sunday, September 26 (This tour has originally be scheduled for Sept. 25). The tour starts at 10 am and will include some of the neighborhood’s most prominent landmarks, such as Jensen’s Recreation Center, Angelus Temple and, of course, the lake. The tour takes about two hours to complete and includes several stairways. Building interiors are not included. Reservations required. The tours are free for EPHS members; we ask a $5 donation of all others. Please see the Walking Tour section of HistoricEchoPark.org for details.

Echo Park hillside bungalow court declared historic landmark

2010-07-15T20:59:00.000-07:00

The Lento Brick Court on Sunset Boulevard has been declared a historic-cultural monument by the City of Los Angeles . The 1928 complex built by an Italian immigrant and hat maker was nominated by the Echo Park Historical Society as a “rare example of a mixed use complex of commercial store fronts and a residential hillside bungalow court.” The Lento Brick Court, located in the 1200 block of Sunset Boulevard, is one of several hillside bungalow courts found on both sides of Sunset Boulevard between Elysian Park Avenue and Marion Street. This type of courtyard housing was popular among builders and residents during the early part of the 20th Century. In Echo Park, the builders of these bungalows courts adapted their developments to the hilly terrain, creating terraces of tiny homes that climbed the steep hills.

Historian Charlie Fisher researched the property and filed the landmark nomination on behalf of the EPHS. Click here to read the landmark application with more details about the Lento Brick Court.

Echo Park Home Tour Searching for Candidates

2010-07-15T20:41:00.000-07:00

The Echo Park Historical Society is looking for properties to be featured in this year's tour, "Eco Echo Park: Urban Sustainable Living." The home tour committee is looking for homes that take advantage of water saving features, solar power, natural light as well gardens that include elements of urban farming, native plants and drought-tolerant landscaping. If you are interested in having your home considered, send an email to Home Tour Chairperson Holly Hampton at ephs@HistoricEchoPark.org

Echo Park Residents Help Restore Lummis Home

2010-07-15T20:40:00.001-07:00

El Alisal, Charles Lummis' historic home in Highland Park, recently received a new window designed and built by Echo Park-based United Environment Architecture. Charles Lummis, early preservation advocate, renowned columnist and founder of the Southwest Museum, built El Alisal from local arroyo stone and other found materials between 1897 and 1910. Today, the house is open as a museum hosted by the Historical Society of Southern California. Using surviving original windows as a template, United Environment Architecture built a new window using methods accurate to Lummis' construction of the house.

EPHS Joins Archive Effort:

2010-07-15T20:38:00.001-07:00

In conjunction with other Northeast Los Angeles history and preservation groups, EPHS is working with Occidental College to create ties between the various archives that groups and individuals have created. The group's first effort will be to digitize the many local newspapers that once covered the area, including Echo Park's own Parkside Journal. These papers existed for much of the 20th century. Their photos and stories are a great source for local news items rarely carried by the larger citywide papers. The EPHS has a few yellowed copies of the Parkside Journal but is seeking to expand its collection for this effort. Please contact the EPHS if you have copies to donate.

Coming July 24: Echo Park Lake Walking Tour

2010-07-15T20:36:00.000-07:00

The EPHS will hold its Echo Park Lake Walking Tour on Saturday, July 24. The tour starts at 10 am and will include some of the neighborhood’s most prominent landmarks, such as Jensen’s Recreation Center, Angelus Temple and, of course, the lake. The tour takes about two hours to complete and includes several stairways. Building interiors are not included. Reservations required. The tours are free for EPHS members; we ask a $5 donation of all others. Please see the Walking Tour section of HistoricEchoPark.org for details.

Join us for the Elysian Park Walking Tour on June 26

2010-06-18T15:42:00.001-07:00

Please join us on Saturday, June 26 at 10 am for the Elysian Park Walking Tour. The Elysian Park Tour focuses on the lesser known but historically rich eastern edge of the park.

This tour takes about two hours to complete and includes walking up and down hills and upon unpaved trails. Reservations are required and can be made to ephs@HistoricEchoPark.org. The tour is free to EPHS memers and $5 for all others. The tour begins at the Fremont Monument (pictured at left) near North Broadway and Elysian Park Drive. Please visit the Walking Tour section of www.HistoricEchoPark.org for information about our other tours.

Echo Park Stairway Tour coming your way on May 29 (CANCELLED)

2010-05-20T19:14:00.000-07:00

Please join us for the Echo Park Stairway Walking Tour on Saturday, May 29 at 10 am (This tour has been CANCELLED. Please check back for a new date). The walk includes the Baxter Stairs as well as Fellowship Park as well as discussion about the modernist Harwell Harris house and Red Hill History. Starting Place:Elysian Heights Elementary 1562 Baxter St. at Echo Park Ave Reservations are required. Click here for details

Join us for the Echo Park Lake walking tour!

2010-04-23T17:06:00.000-07:00

The EPHS will hold its Echo Park Lake Walking Tour on Saturday, April 24. The tour starts at 10 am and will include some of the neighborhood’s most prominent landmarks, such as Jensen’s Recreation Center, Angelus Temple and, of course, the lake. The tour takes about two hours to complete and includes several stairways. Building interiors are not included. Reservations required. The tours are free for EPHS members; we ask a $5 donation of all others. Please see the Walking Tour section of HistoricEchoPark.org for details.

Elysian Park Walking Tour canceled

2010-03-24T17:23:00.000-07:00

The EPHS has canceled the Elysian Park Walking Tour scheduled for Saturday, March 27. Please visit the Walking Tour section of HistoricEchoPark.org for future dates.

Take a hike! Elysian Park Walking tour this Saturday

2010-03-22T21:02:00.001-07:00

Please join us on Saturday, March 27 at 10 am for the Elysian Park Walking Tour. The Elysian Park Tour focuses on the lesser known but historically rich eastern edge of the park.

This tour takes about two hours to complete and includes walking up and down hills and upon unpaved trails. Reservations are required and can be made to ephs@HistoricEchoPark.org. The tour is free to EPHS memers and $5 for all others. The tour begins at the Fremont Monument (pictured at left) near North Broadway and Elysian Park Drive. Please visit the Walking Tour section of www.HistoricEchoPark.org for information about our other tours.

Two More Echo Park Landmarks

2010-03-09T21:49:00.000-08:00

Top left photo by Have2Ask; top right by Kansas Sebastian/Curbed LA

Not everyone wants to demolish Echo Park. The City of Los Angeles recently declared two homes in the Elysian Heights section of Echo Park as Historic Cultural Monuments. Both properties are connected to the Shire family, whose members include artists and brothers Peter and Billy Shire. The new landmarks include their family home, the Henry Shire residence (top right photo), on Princeton Street and the Shire Art House (top left photo) on Cerro Gordo . The Henry Shire residence was one of the homes featured during the 2007 Historic Echo Park Home Tour.

What does it take to become a cultural historic monument? Visit the city's Office of Historic Resources for details.

Housing Project Threatens the Historic Heart of Echo Park

2010-03-09T21:40:00.000-08:00

The Echo Park Historical Society is voicing its opposition to a planned 75-unit apartment complex proposed for Glendale Boulevard and Park Avenue across from Echo Park Lake. The project calls for the demolition of several Buildings threatened with demolitionolder buildings that are part of a new design district created last year to protect the historic character of the area west of Echo Park Lake. Those smaller buildings - which reflect the scale and architecture found near the lake - would be replaced by a massive, three-story, block-long complex. If this project is approved in its current form, then certainly other developers could also seek to build such massive structures. One only need to look across the street, to a 75-foot-high, 500-space parking structure rising on Glendale Boulevard, to realize how the landscape of Echo Park will change if such mega projects continue to be built in the historic core of the neighborhood.

The EPHS has asked the developer, an affiliate of the Angelus Temple, to preserve the older buildings and construct new buildings on some adjacent empty lots it also owns. The developer has refused, offering to make the older buildings available for relocation but offering relatively little financial assistance to complete such a move.

The EPHS will be submitting a request that the 75-unit complex undergo a more thorough environmental review on the impact on historic resources. Stay tuned.

EPHS Quarterly Meeting & Election coming up this Sunday

2010-03-09T21:32:00.000-08:00

Please join us this Sunday, March 14 at 3:30 PM for the EPHS Quarterly Meeting & Annual Board Election. The meeting will be held in the new of home of the Danny Munoz archives, an extensive collection of historical material gathered by historical society-co founder Danny Munoz. An update on EPHS programs, events and other issues of interest will be presented during the meeting. Please RSVP to ephs@HistoricEchoPark.org for location information.

EPHS Board Elections: The Echo Park Historical Society will hold its annual board of directors election during its quarterly meeting on Sunday, March 14. Members in good standing can cast ballots for four open board seats. The following are the board seats and directors that are up for election: Seat No. 1, Kevin Kuzma; Seat No. 3, Matthew Dubois; Seat No. 5, Holly Hampton, Seat No. 7, vacant. Nominations should be received no later than March 9.

Individuals can nominate themselves. Nominations be emailed to ephs@HistoricEchoPark.org; called in to (323) 860-8874; or send by mail carrier to EPHS, P.O. Box 26946, Los Angeles, CA 90026.

Eligible candidates are those who are paid members of the society and who have been members for at least one year previous to the nomination. If there are more interested candidates than available seats, EPHS members will cast ballots during the quarterly meeting. Board directors will serve two-year terms.

The Elysian Park Walking Tour is back!

2010-03-01T22:02:00.000-08:00

Update: This tour, originally scheduled for March 6, has been postponed the tour until March 27.

Please join us on Saturday, March 27 * at 10 am for the Elysian Park Walking Tour. The Elysian Park Tour, which is co-sponsored by Citizens Committee to Save Elysian Park, focuses on the lesser known but historically rich eastern edge of the park.

This tour takes about two hours to complete and includes walking up and down hills and upon unpaved trails. Reservations are required and can be made to ephs@HistoricEchoPark.org. The tour is free to EPHS memers and $5 for all others. The tour begins at the Fremont Monument (pictured at left) near North Broadway and Elysian Park Drive. Please visit the Walking Tour section of www.HistoricEchoPark.org for information about our other tours.

Today's Echo Park Stairway Tour postponed

2010-02-27T08:40:00.000-08:00

The stairs, sidewalks and streets are still pretty slick out there from last night's rain. So, the Echo Park Stairway Tour has been postponed until Saturday, March 13 at 10 AM. Go to the Walking Tour section of HistoricEchoPark.org for reservations and other tour info. Also, the Elysian Park Walking Tour is scheduled for next Saturday, March 6 at 10 am. More info on that tour as well on HistoricEchoPark.org

Just one more test

2010-02-15T22:16:00.001-08:00

Just one more test

Echo Park Historical Society gets social

2010-02-15T17:43:00.000-08:00

EPHS members and fans of Echo Park history can now connect with the historical society on Facebook or stay in touch with the latest EPHS news and events on Twitter.

You can sign up for EPHS tweets by going to Echo Park History on Twitter.

If Facebook is more your thing, click here and become a fan of Historic Echo Park.

Test

2010-02-15T17:40:00.001-08:00

Test

Where is the EPHS quarterly newsletter?

2010-02-15T13:43:00.000-08:00

The EPHS is looking into scrapping the printed version of the EPHS quarterly newsletter. We normally print about 1,000 copies of the newsletter and mail out about 250 to paid members and other key supporters. However, in an effort to save m [Edit Image] oney and take advantage of less costly electronic alternatives, the EPHS may stop mailing the newsletter and print only a limited number for distribution at neighborhood locations and special events. This proposal comes as the EPHS has been unable to find volunteers who can consistently write stories and create content for the quarterly newsletter - as well as help in its distribution. That has made it difficult to produce and distribute these paper and electronic publications.

The EPHS already relies on this monthly email - which goes out to more than 600 people - and our News blog to get the word out about events. Please let the EPHS know if you have any thoughts about halting mail deliver of the EPHS News.

EPHS seeking candidates for board election

2010-02-15T13:40:00.000-08:00

The Echo Park Historical Society will hold its annual board of directors election during its quarterly meeting on Sunday, March 14. The following are the board seats and directors that are up for election: Seat No. 1, Kevin Kuzma; Seat No. 3, Matthew Dubois; Seat No. 5, Holly Hampton, Seat No. 7, vacant. Nominations should be received no later than March 9. Individuals can nominate themselves. Nominations be emailed to ephs@HistoricEchoPark.org; called in to (323) 860-8874; or send by mail carrier to EPHS, P.O. Box 26946, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Eligible candidates are those who are paid members of the society and who have been members for at least one year previous to the nomination. If there are more interested candidates than available seats, EPHS members will cast ballots during the quarterly meeting. Board directors will serve two-year terms.

Questions? Send an email to ephs@HistoricEchoPark.org

Save a Saturday in 2010 for an Echo Park Walking Tour

2010-02-07T15:24:00.000-08:00

We have (finally) posted our walking tour schedule for 2o10. The first tour - Echo Park Stairways - will begin on Saturday, February 27 (POSTPONED until March 13 at 10 AM). The following months also include tours of Echo Park Lake and Elysian Park. The tours, which require reservations, are free for EPHS members and $5 for all others. Click here for the 2010 schedule.

Take the Echo Park Lake Walking Tour on Sept. 26

2009-09-15T19:59:00.001-07:00

The EPHS will hold its Echo Park Lake Walking Tour on Saturday, Sept. 26. The tour starts at 10 am and will include some of the neighborhood’s most prominent landmarks, such as Jensen’s Recreation Center, Angelus Temple and, of course, the lake. The tour takes about two hours to complete and includes several stairways. Building interiors are not included. Reservations required. The tours are free for EPHS members; we ask a $5 donation of all others. Please see the Walking Tour section of HistoricEchoPark.org for details.

A Tribute to Edendale and the 100th anniversary of the first L.A. film studio

2009-07-23T16:51:00.000-07:00

The Echo Park Historical Society and the Echo Park Film Center invite you to attend an outdoor presentation and silent film screening at Echo Park Lake to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first Edendale film studio. The free event will be held on Saturday, July 25 at 7 PM on the north end of Echo Park Lake near the bridge. Bring snacks and a blanket to spread out on the grass and enjoy the evening show.

The presentation begins at 7 PM and will be followed at 8 PM with the screening of silent film shorts accompanied by live music. The Edendale tribute is the featured attraction of the EPHS quarterly meeting, which is free and open to the public. Here is the movie and music line up for Saturday night:

* Edendale Follies:The Bear Essentials (EPFC Youth Film Class homage to Sennett with a recorded soundtrack by the one and only Bob Mitchell from a live performance in 2007)

* Making A Living - Charlie Chaplin; music by Non Credo

* Mabel's Married Life - Charlie Chaplin, Mabel Normand; music by Marshweed

* Barney Oldfield's Race For A Life - Mack Sennett, Mabel Normand; music by Team Andrew

* A Muddy Romance - Mabel Normand, Keystone Kops; music by Professor Cantaloupe

* Lonesome Luke - Harold Lloyd; music by Magic Gas

* Law & The Outlaw - Tom Mix; music by The Grizzly Owls

Echo Park Lake Walking Tour - Sat., July 25

2009-07-23T16:48:00.000-07:00

The EPHS will hold its Echo Park Lake Walking Tour on Saturday, July 25. The tour starts at 10 am and will include some of the neighborhood’s most prominent landmarks, such as Jensen’s Recreation Center, Angelus Temple and, of course, the lake. The tour takes about two hours to complete and includes several stairways. Building interiors are not included. Reservations required. The tours are free for EPHS members; we ask a $5 donation of all others. Please see the Walking Tour section of HistoricEchoPark.org for details.

Old images of Echo Park, Delta and Morton Avenues

2009-07-19T10:01:00.000-07:00

The EPHS would like to thank Mike Balmer for sending photos of some of the businesses that used to be located at the crossroads where Echo Park, Delta and Morton Avenues meet. The top photo is of Jack's gas station, where Magic Gas is currently located. Les & Golda's bar and cafe (demolished) used to be located at the northwest corner of Echo Park and Delta avenues. The cafe site had been empty lot for several decades until work began on a condo project (since delayed). Here are some details that Mr. Balmer provided about the cafe and bar:

"Les and Golda Page had this bar for many years. Golda passed away and some years later Les sold his license to Jack Kent Cook. I don't remember Golda well, but Les was a real great guy. Les also had a training shoe from Citation hanging over his bar for luck. He dug it out of his garage and brought it to me when I bought my bar. I had it hanging there for many years as well."

EPHS seeking support for Echo Park design guidelines

2009-06-22T22:21:00.000-07:00

The Echo Park Historical Society is urging its members and residents to voice their support for a proposed set of city guidelines to protect the small and historic scale of buildings west of Echo Park Lake.

The guidelines for what planners call a Community Design Overlay would make it much more difficult to demolish historic structures. It would also recommend that any new structures and renovations fit into the historic character and scale of the existing neighborhood. The guidelines would not prohibit new construction or prevent property owners from remodeling their homes. They would simply protect the historic features of the neighborhood and force developers of giant projects, such as a 200-foot-long housing development proposed by Angelus Temple, to come up with smaller alternatives.

If you would like to support our effort, please contact us at ephs@HistoricEchoPark.org

Two Echo Park buildings declared historic landmarks

2009-04-11T09:47:00.001-07:00

The Los Angeles City Council voted last week in favor of declaring the Echo Park branch of the Bank of America and the former Echo Park Clubhouse as city historic-cultural landmarks. The two buildings were nominated by the Echo Park Historical Society, which hired Charlie Fisher to research the properties and file the application. Monument status not only recognizes the building's architectural and historic value but also provides additional protection against demolition or changes that would change the properties' historic features.

The Echo Park Clubhouse at 1004 Echo Park Avenue was built by the city in 1906 and was originally located on the current site of the Echo Park Recreation Center on Bellevue Avenue, south of Echo Park Lake. The Craftsman-style building was designed prominent Los Angeles architect Sumner P. Hunt as the city's second recreation center. Click here for more history and the landmark application.

The Bank of America building at the southeast corner of Sunset Boulevard and Echo Park retains much of its original character since being constructed in the late 1920s. A Bank of America office has operated from the same corner for about 80 years, making it one of the bank's oldest branches to operate from the same location. Click here for more history and the landmark application.

The two buildings join the growing list of city landmarks in the Echo Park area.

Pedal your way through Elysian Park history

2009-04-06T18:01:00.000-07:00

The EPHS Elysian Park Bike Ride will be held on Saturday, April 25 at 10 am. Explore the historic highlights of the Elysian Park's western edge (the route is limited to paved roads) during this 90-minute, guided tour headed by Matthew Dubois. Stops include Barlow Hospital, the old Navy Armory and Police Academy. Space is extremely limited. The tour is free to EPHS members and $5 for all others. RSVP to ephs@HistoricEchoPark.org

The tour begins in the parking lot of the Grace Simons Lodge off Stadium Way. See map below.

View Larger Map

It's here: the EPHS eNewsletter for April

2009-04-06T17:58:00.000-07:00

You can read an archived version of our monthly e-Newsletter for April by clicking here. Want to be put on our e-mailing list? Click here to sign up.

Angeleno Heights Historic District Workshop

2009-03-25T22:14:00.000-07:00

What is an HPOZ and what does it mean for those who live or own property in Angeleno Heights? Find out during this city-sponsored workshop on Saturday, March 28 from 10 am to 1pm at 534 E. Edgeware Rd. (click here for workshop details). Residents will also find out about resources to help maintain their historic properties. The workshop is free and open to all.

Tour the historic heart of Echo Park

2009-03-22T18:31:00.000-07:00

The EPHS will hold its Echo Park Lake Walking Tour on Saturday, March 28. The tour starts at 10 am and will include some of the neighborhood’s most prominent landmarks, such as Jensen’s Recreation Center, Angelus Temple and, of course, the lake. The tour takes about two hours to complete and includes several stairways. Building interiors are not included. Reservations required. The tours are free for EPHS members; we ask a $5 donation of all others. Please see the Walking Tour section http://www.historicechopark.org/ for details.

EPHS e-News for March 2009

2009-03-17T21:59:00.000-07:00

You can read an archived version of our monthly e-Newsletter for March by clicking here. Want to be put on our e-mailing list? Click here to sign up.

EPHS members invited to Historic Torrance Silent Auction

2009-03-13T06:24:00.000-07:00

As members of the Echo Park Historical Society, The Olmsted Districts Preservation Association--working to Save Historic Old Torrance for the kids of tomorrow would like to invite you to take advange of the "Members Only" pricing for our Preservation Extravaganza, a Very Fun Fund Raiser--Dinner & Silent Auction. The event will be held this Saturday night, March 14, at 6:00 PM at the Torrance Marriot South Bay, 3635 Fashion Way Torrance,California 90503. Ticket are $50 a person, BUT for MEMBERS ONLY the price is TWO for ONE--Two persons for $50 or $25 per person.

Please call to purchase your tickets and reserve your spot for this great evening which features the beautifully renovated Terrace Ballroom, a cash bar, great auction items, wonderful raffle items, a great dinner and dessert and of course, like-minded people who care about preserving the historical treasures of the past for the kids of tomorrow. CALL 310 493-5312 or 310 320-0269 right always.

Here are photos of last year's event: http://www.savehistoricoldtorrance.com/Extravaganza.asp

A bike ride through Elysian Park history - Sat. Nov. 1

2008-10-27T10:55:00.000-07:00

The EPHS Elysian Park Bike Ride will be held this Saturday, Nov 1 at 10 am. Explore the historic highlights of the Elysian Park's western edge (the route is limited to paved roads) during this guided ride. The 90-minute tour headed by Matthew Dubois will include stops at Barlow Hospital, the old Navy Armory and Police Academy. Space is extremely limited. The tour is free to EPHS members and $5 for all others. RSVP to ephs@HistoricEchoPark.org

The tour begins in the parking lot of the Grace Simons Lodge off Stadium Way. See map below.

View Larger Map

Climb the stairways of Echo Park this Saturday, Oct. 25

2008-10-21T22:08:00.000-07:00

Please join us for the Echo Park Stairway Walking Tour on Saturday Oct., 25 at 10 am. The walk includes the Baxter Stairs as well as Fellowship Park, Red Hill and the modernist Harwell Harris house (exterior only). Starting Place:Elysian Heights Elementary 1562 Baxter St. at Echo Park Ave Reservations are required. Click here for details

Echo Park Lake Walking Tour -- Aug. 30 (new date!)

2008-08-14T19:03:00.000-07:00

The Echo Park Lake Walking Tour originally scheduled for Saturday, August 23 has been postponed one week to August 30. The tour starts at 10 am and will include some of the neighborhood’s most prominent landmarks, such as Jensen’s Recreation Center, Angelus Temple and, of course, the lake. The tour takes about two hours to complete and includes several stairways. Building interiors are not included. Reservations required. The tours are free for EPHS members; we ask a $5 donation of all others. Please see the Walking Tour section http://www.historicechopark.org/ for details.

Judge blocks school district building plans

2008-07-18T20:36:00.000-07:00

The Right Site Coalition scored a major legal victory in the fight to prevent the Los Angeles school district from demolishing more than 2 blocks of Echo Park homes for a new school -- even though enrollment has been plunging. The school district now has to basically return to the beginning of its selection process or appeal the judge's ruling

The EPHS, a member of the coalition, has opposed the proposed 9A site because of the needless destruction of scores of old homes near Alvarado Street and Sunset Boulevard.

More details in the LA Times.

Elysian Park Bike Tour - Sat. July 19

2008-07-09T21:32:00.000-07:00

The EPHS launches it's first-ever bicycle tour on Saturday, July 19 at 10 am. Hit the historic highlights of the Elysian Park's western edge (the route is limited to paved roads). The 90-minute tour headed by Matthew Dubois will include stops at Barlow Hospital, the old Navy Armory and Police Academy. Space is extremely limited. The tour is free to EPHS members and $5 for all others.

The tour begins in the parking lot of the Grace Simons Lodge off Stadium Way. See map below.

View Larger Map

Explore Elysian Park

2008-06-21T09:25:00.000-07:00

Please join us on Saturday, June 28 at 10 am for the Elysian Park Walking Tour. The Elysian Park Tour, which is co-sponsored by Citizens Committee to Save Elysian Park, focuses on the lesser known but historically rich eastern edge of the park.

This tour takes about two hours to complete and includes walking up and down hills and upon unpaved trails. Reservations required. Please visit the Walking Tour section of www.HistoricEchoPark.org for details.

The Story of Room 8 Cat

2008-05-05T14:53:00.000-07:00

The EPHS Quarterly meeting on Wed. May 14 at 7 pm will feature Roger Vargo and his presentation on Room 8 Cat, the feline who reigned supreme at Elysian Heights Elementary School during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Come share your Room 8 Cat stories and photos.

The meeting will be held at the Barlow Library and Barlow Hospital, 2000 Stadium way. The presentation on Room 8, which is free and open to the public, will be preceded by news and updates on historical society events and issues of interest to members.

Echo Park Lake Walking Tour - Sat., May 24

2008-05-04T08:42:00.001-07:00

The Echo Park Lake Walking Tour starts at 10 am and will include some of the neighborhood’s most prominent landmarks, such as Jensen’s Recreation Center, Angelus Temple and, of course, the lake. The tour takes about two hours to complete and includes several stairways. Building interiors are not included. Reservations required. The tours are free for EPHS members; we ask a $5 donation of all others. Please see the Walking Tour section http://www.historicechopark.org/ for details.

Church alters parking plans

2008-04-27T09:03:00.000-07:00

Some good news (we hope) regarding Angelus Temple's plan to build a giant parking structure between the Temple and businesses along Sunset Boulevard. In a recent meeting with EPHS, church officials indicated that they now plan to build the multi-level structure along Glendale Boulevard, sparing, at least for now, several old buildings along Lemoyne Street. This is an option the EPHS has suggested in previous meetings.

Locating the parking structure along Glendale Blvd. would still require the demolition of some church-owned buildings from the 1940s (they already demolished an older apartment court). However, keeping the parking garage on Glendale Blvd. (already a busy highway fronted by similar large commercial structures) would preserve the small-scale, older buildings on Lemoyne Street, which forms a pedestrian-friendly link between Echo Park Lake and the Sunset Boulevard business district. This plan would give the church the parking it craves and help preserve the area's historic fabric.

In another encouraging sign, EPHS president Kevin Kuzma and EPHS member Matthew Pope have been meeting with an Angelus Temple contractor working on several buildings the church owns nearby (Angelus Temple is perhaps Echo Park's single largest property owner) to inform them on building materials and designs that fit in with the neighborhood's historic character.

Explore Echo Park Stairways

2008-04-12T13:43:00.000-07:00

Please join us for the Echo Park Stairway Walking Tour on Saturday, April 26 at 10 am. The walk includes the Baxter Stairs as well as Fellowship Park, Red Hill and the modernist Harwell Harris house (exterior only). Starting Place:Elysian Heights Elementary 1562 Baxter St. at Echo Park Ave Reservations are required. Click here for details

The story of Room 8 Cat appears in Daily News

2008-04-01T22:14:00.000-07:00

The Daily News on Wednesday will present a special feature on Room 8 Cat, the feline mascot of Elysian Heights Elementary School. Don't miss it.

LAUSD Fails to Learn

2008-03-16T13:20:00.000-07:00

L.A. City Beat takes a look at the school district's effort to demolish more than two blocks of Echo Park to build a new school on Site 9A despite a sharp drop in enrollment and a flawed selection process. The story focuses on the the Villanueva family, which was forced to sell their home under the threat of eminent domain. Here's an excerpt:

"A year later, the family was served an eminent domain notice that they would be evicted from the house in which they had lived for 26 years. They ended up moving around the block, and have now joined other Echo Park community members engaged in a legal battle entering its third year over the massive swath of 49 mostly modest stucco homes that the school district has swallowed up in this once tight-knit neighborhood.

Declining elementary school enrollment and fierce local opposition raise questions not only about the district’s tactics in the name of its aggressive building program, but whether the upheaval in the neighborhood was even necessary. It’s hard to imagine that voters – if they could have known about the ruin it would mean for dozens of families here – would have generously approved three bond measures, totaling nearly $10 billion."

Click here for the full story.

Fargo Hill Climb This Sunday

2008-03-13T20:51:00.001-07:00

If you have not read it, the Spring quarterly issue of the EPHS News features a two pages of stories on the steep streets of Echo Park and Elysian Heights. If you want to experience these hills first-hand, then maybe this Sunday's annual Fargo Street Hill Climb is for you (or you can at least watch from the sidelines).

Elysian Park Walking Tour - Sat., March 15

2008-03-08T22:49:00.000-08:00

Please join us on Saturday, March 15 at 10 am for the Elysian Park Walking Tour. The Elysian Park Tour, which is co-sponsored by Citizens Committee to Save Elysian Park, focuses on the lesser known but historically rich eastern edge of the park.

This tour takes about two hours to complete and includes walking up and down hills and upon unpaved trails. Reservations required. Please visit the Walking Tour section of www.HistoricEchoPark.org for details.

L.A. Heritage Day This Sunday, March 2

2008-02-27T21:38:00.001-08:00

The Echo Park Historical Society will be present at the first-ever Los Angeles Heritage Day on Sunday, March 2 from 12 pm to 4 pm. The event will be held at Heritage Square in Highland Park. More details on the Franklin Avenue blog and Heritage Square Museum

Echo Park Lake Walking Tour -- Feb. 16

2008-02-06T21:56:00.001-08:00

The Echo Park Lake Walking Tour originally scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 9 has been postponed one week to Feb. 16. The tour starts at 10 am and will include some of the neighborhood’s most prominent landmarks, such as Jensen’s Recreation Center, Angelus Temple and, of course, the lake. The tour takes about two hours to complete and includes several stairways. Building interiors are not included. Reservations required. The tours are free for EPHS members; we ask a $5 donation of all others. Please see the Walking Tour section http://www.historicechopark.org/ for details.

School District Loses Legal Battle

2008-02-04T15:21:00.000-08:00

A state court of appeal blocked the Los Angeles Unified School District from demolishing more than 2 blocks of Echo Park for a new school. Read the court ruling. The 9A site has been opposed by the Right Site Coalition, which includes the EPHS, in light of the destruction of historic resources, a flawed selection process and a sharp drop in enrollment that makes a new campus unnecessary. The demolition will be delayed as the lawsuit challenging the site returns to a lower court for review. More about 9A.

Signs of History

2008-01-25T10:40:00.001-08:00

Jensen's Recreation Center was designated a Los Angeles cultural historic landmark about 10 years ago but a monument sign was finally installed today. The sign is one of the first that will crop up around Echo Park as the city, at the urging of the Echo Park Historical Society, installs the signs in front of official landmarks around Echo Park. Thanks to Kabira Stokes Hochberg from the office of Councilman Eric Garcetti for her help in getting the signs installed. Visit the Landmarks section of HistoricEchoPark.org for maps and more info about significant sites.

Photo courtesy of Malcom Schenot.

LAUSD Targets Echo Park History

2008-01-23T09:33:00.001-08:00

A front-page story in the LA Times today describes how a sharp drop in enrollment has forced the school district to scale back or eliminate new campuses. However, that approach does not include the 9A site in Echo Park, where the district wants to build a nearly 1,000 seat campus despite community opposition and a steep drop in student population.

The historical society as a member of the Right Site Coalition has opposed the site because of the destruction of nearly two-blocks of homes and businesses, some nearly a century old. While residents have been forced to move under the threat of eminent domain, the project is on hold pending the outcome of a legal challenge brought by the coalition. More details.

Leo Politi's Life & Times

2008-01-16T14:40:00.001-08:00

The L.A. Times published a story about the life of artist and author Leo Politi, whose accomplishments will be celebrated this year, the 100th anniversary of his birth. Politi is best remembered for his work that captured images of Olvera Street and Bunker Hill. But he lived in Angelino Heights, at 945 E. Edgeware Rd., for more than 30 years. The intersection of Echo Park Avenue and Sunset Boulevard will be named in his honor later this year.

As part of this year's events, Leo's son, Paul Politi, will speak about his father and his legacy at the Echo Park Historical Society's quarterly meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 7 pm. The meeting will be held at Williams Hall, 2000 Stadium Way. The presentation is free and open to the public.

Echo Park Stairway Tour - Jan. 26

2008-01-07T21:25:00.001-08:00

Please join us for the Echo Park Stairway Walking Tour on Saturday Jan., 26 at 10 am. The walk includes the Baxter Stairs as well as Fellowship Park, Red Hill and the modernist Harwell Harris house (exterior only). Starting Place:Elysian Heights Elementary 1562 Baxter St. at Echo Park Ave Reservations are required. Click here for details

Lady of the Lake Damaged

2007-12-05T10:08:00.001-08:00

Part of the left hand of the Lady of the Lake statue has been broken off. The statute, which is located on the eastside of the lake near the boathouse, was returned to public view in 1999 after spending several years in storage. The EPHS will seek to have the damage repaired by the city.

Echo Park Lake Walking Tour - Dec. 22

2007-12-04T11:22:00.000-08:00

The Echo Park Lake Walking Tour on Saturday, Dec. 22 starts at 10 am and will include some of the neighborhood’s most prominent landmarks, such as Jensen’s Recreation Center, Angelus Temple and, of course, the lake. The tour takes about two hours to complete and includes several stairways. Building interiors are not included. Reservations required. The tours are free for EPHS members; we ask a $5 donation of all others. Please see the Walking Tour section http://www.historicechopark.org/ for details.

The Boats are Back!

2007-11-30T07:29:00.001-08:00

Paddle (or pedal) boats will return to Echo Park Lake this Saturday, Dec. 1. The boats were put into dry dock earlier this year and their future was clouded because of financial reason. Details on the Chicken Corner blog. Recreation boating, including nightime boating parties, have been a favorite pasttime at the lake since it opened more than a century ago. Photo by Martin Cox via LA Observed.

Echo Park Literacy Center Opens

2007-11-30T07:03:00.000-08:00

EPHS members and supporters are invited to get involved in the new Adult Literacy Center at the Echo Park Branch Library. The center will focus on building the skills and confidence of adults who read English below the sixth-grade level. The center is looking for both students and tutors for this free program. For details, contact Lisa Hsia at hsia@lapl.org or at (213) 623-4078 ext. 10890

Bungalow is History

2007-11-13T10:04:00.001-08:00

Only two days after the Historic Echo Park Home Tour celebrated the neighborhood's cultural heritage, a nearly century-old bungalow was demolished Tuesday morning. Details on the Chicken Corner blog. The EPHS has waged a nearly 3 year-old effort to relocate the Delta Bungalow. We are checking to make sure a demolition permit was issued.

Echo Park Stairway Walking Tour - Nov. 24

2007-11-12T15:46:00.000-08:00

Did you miss our home tour? Then please join us for the Echo Park Stairway Walking Tour on Saturday Nov., 24 at 10 am. The walk includes the Baxter Stairs as well as Fellowship Park, Red Hill and the modernist Harwell Harris house (exterior only). Starting Place:Elysian Heights Elementary 1562 Baxter St. at Echo Park Ave Reservations are required. Click here for details

More than 300 attend Home Tour

2007-11-12T06:53:00.001-08:00

Despite the cool and cloudy weather and threat of rain, more than 300 people attended the 2007 Historic Echo Park Home Tour on Sunday, Nov. 11. We had visitors come to the tour from all across Southern California. We would like to thank our tour sponsors and the more than 100 volunteers who made this year's tour, headed by Holly Hampton, possible. More details.

Buy Your Echo Park Home Tour Tickets Now

2007-11-02T13:58:00.000-07:00

Discounted $15 tickets on sale through Nov. 3: After that, general admission tickets are $20. Buy tickets online now with a credit card. You can also pay by check or money order by printing or downloading the ticket order form in PDF format. EPHS members pay $15 regardless of when they make their purchase. Not a member? Join now and save.

Flights of Fancy: The Stairway Homes of Echo Park" will feature homes located on or near the more than 30 public stairways that scale the hills of Echo Park, Angelino Heights and Elysian Heights. The homes range from a 1920s era Spanish-Colonial compound overlooking Echo Park Lake to nearly century old Craftsman bungalows in this hills of Elysian Heights. For the first time, the tour features a newly constructed structure, a post-and- beam style house that is among the first new homes built on an Echo Park stairway in decades. More details.

Date & Location: Sunday, Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. - 4 pm. Start the tour by purchasing tickets and picking up a program and map at Williams Hall, 2000 Stadium Way.

Stop by Our History Book Display

2007-10-18T11:14:00.001-07:00

This Saturday, Oct. 20 from 12 pm - 3 pm at the Edendale branch library, 2011 Sunset Blvd. Take a peak at the books on local history and historic preservation that we are donating as part of our Ron Emler Memorial BookProgram (a similar display was set up at the Echo Park branch in October). EPHS volunteer Rowena Magana will staff a display of the books as well as historic photos and other materials. This year's titles range from a book on watercolor artist Phil Dike to a book of bungalow blueprints. We would like to thank generous donations from the Greater EchoPark Elysian Neighborhood Council- District 3 and Carla Ballard for defraying the costs of purchasing the books.

Paddle Boat Economics

2007-10-18T11:12:00.001-07:00

The LA Weekly looks at the financial questions raised by the shut down of the paddle boats at Echo Park Lake.

Paddle Boat Show Opening This Saturday

2007-10-11T16:37:00.000-07:00

A group of residents concerned about the shutdown of pedal boat operations at Echo Park Lake and MacArthur Park have organized two photo shows to help raise awareness about the issue. Here are the details:

SAVE THE BOATS!!
Boats have been operating at Echo Park and MacArthur Park for over 100 years—and now they are shut down. Why? Apparently they operate at a loss, but not a very large loss—one easily borne by the City of Los Angeles. It's simply a matter of priorities and whether or not the City will support all city residents, including the Echo Park and Pico Union's predominately Latino and working class neighborhoods, by maintaining and protecting a wonderful and historic recreational activity—the simple pleasure of riding a pedal boat on a city lake with friends and family.

Boating on the beautiful Echo Park and MacArthur Park lakes needs to be preserved as an important cultural and historical treasure. With some pressure, the City will find the relatively small amount of money needed to save the boats. We hope you will get involved.

With this in mind, a group of photographers, part of the Los Angeles League of Photographers, will have 2 photography exhibitions to highlight the issue and to mobilize support for the boats. Please see the announcement below. In October, the photo exhibit will be at Mama's Hot Tamales Restaurant at 2124 W. 7th Street across from MacArthur Park (opening on Saturday October 13th between 1-3 p.m.) and in November, the photo exhibit will be at the Downbeat Cafe in Echo Park located at 1202 N. Alvarado Street (opening reception on Saturday November 3rd from 6-8 p.m.).

TAKE ACTION!!

Please take action now to let the decision makers know that you want the Echo Park and MacArthur Park boats to operate year-round for the benefit of the city and its residents by calling and writing the following people (and periodically following up with them until the boat operations are fully restored at both lakes):

1. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
200 North Spring Street, Room 303, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Telephone: 213/978-0600 Fax: 213/978-0750
E-mail: Mayor@lacity.org

2. General Manager Jon Mukri, L.A. City Department of Recreation and Parks
1200 W. 7th Street Suite 748, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Telephone: (213) 928-9033
E-mail: jonkirk.mukri@lacity.org

3. Daniel Grunfeld, President of the Board of Commissioners
L.A. City Department of Recreation and Parks
1200 W. 7th Street, Suite 762, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Telephone: (213) 928-9040 Fax Number: (213) 928-9048
E-mail: rap.commissioners@lacity.org

4. City Councilmember Ed Reyes (City Council District 1--for MacArthur Park)
200 N. Spring Street, Room 410, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Telephone: (213) 473-7001 Fax: (213) 485-8907
E-mail: councilmember.reyes@lacity.org

5. City Councilmember Eric Garcetti (Council District 13--for Echo Park)
200 North Spring Street, Room 470, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Telephone: (213) 473-7013 Fax:(213) 613 0819
E-mail: councilmember.garcetti@lacity.org

Also, encourage your local neighborhood organizations to get involved with this issue and PASS THIS EMAIL ALONG TO OTHERS. For more information about the boats or the Los Angeles League of Photographers, contact Martin Cox at photos@martincox.com.

Monument Plaque Salvaged

2007-10-02T09:33:00.001-07:00

Hollywood Heritage say a brass plaque once attached to the Mack Sennett monument is in safe keeping but the heavily damaged obelisk itself cannot be saved. More details on the Chicken Corner blog.

Just Say "Tex"

2007-10-01T10:17:00.001-07:00

In 1927, Marius Taix Jr. opened a downtown restaurant featuring 50-cent chicken dinners served at communal tables (25 cents more got you a private booth). Eighty years later, Taix French Restaurant is still going strong under its third generation of family ownership at its "new" Echo Park location, which opened in 1962. Marius' grandson, Michael Taix, will present the colorful story and vintage photos of this restaurant that has survived eight decades of intense competition and constantly changing tastes. This presentation is part of the EPHS' quarterly meeting, which is free and open to the public.

Date & Time: Wednesday, Oct 10 @ 7 p.m. Location: Barlow Library at Barlow Hospital, 2000 Stadium Way

Libations for Litigation Fundraiser

2007-09-25T09:13:00.001-07:00

Los Angeles Archives "Bazzar"

2007-09-24T10:20:00.001-07:00

Students, teachers, historians, and local history enthusiasts will find a treasure trove
of L.A. history at the 2nd Annual LA History Archives Bazaar. Presented by L.A. as Subject,
a research collective hosted by the USC Libraries, the Bazaar offers numerous resources
for exploring the rich histories of L.A.'s diverse communities and virtually any subject related
to the Los Angeles region.

Held at the Huntington Library, the Bazaar will feature exhibits by 43 local historical
collections, museums, and archives. Attendees can browse collections, schedule research
visits, and consult with experts. Educational Programs will also be
available throughout the day.

Location: Huntington Library, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA
Date: Saturday, September 29, 2007
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Info: http://www.usc.edu/arc/lasubject

SCHEDULE OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN OVERSEER'S ROOM
11:00 a.m. What is LA as Subject? --- Ken McGuire & Phil Ethington
11:30 a.m. DNA – The Archive of Your Ancestry --- Doug Miller
12:00 p.m. Get Involved – National History Day --- Lourdes Morales
12:30 p.m. You Can't Take It With You: What to do With Your Collection When Your Kids Don't Want it --- Carol Wells &
Michael Palmer
1:00 p.m. There's No Time Like the Present To Explore Your Family's Past --- Paula Hinkel
1:30 p.m. Going Digital – Research Collections in the Electronic Age --- Todd Grappone
2:00 p.m. Everybody's a Star: Preserving Your Home Movies --- Lance Watsky
2:30 p.m. Researching in Your Jammies: An Introduction to Accessing Archives from Home --- Jennifer Allan Goldman
3:00 p.m. Preservation 101 – Basic Tips for the Household Archivist --- Michelle Light
3:30 p.m. What is LA As Subject --- Ken McGuire and Phil Ethington
FREE light lunch, refreshments, attendance, and parking.

LIBATIONS FOR LITIGATION

2007-09-14T13:52:00.001-07:00

Fundraiser for the Right Site Coalition

15% of all proceeds + 100% of your generous tips Donated to the Right
Site Coalition

Wednesday September 26th
6:00 - 9:00 PM
Damon's Steak House - Mai Thai's, Chi-Chi's and Great Food

The Right Site Coalition is an umbrella group of concerned community
groups and residents leading the effort to preserve 50 historic homes in
Echo Park threatened with demolition by LAUSD to build an unneeded
elementary school. Help us raise funds to support our efforts to
overturn LAUSD's swiss cheese of an EIR for the project, and have a
great time doing it!

Damon's Steak House, 317 N Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91203 ph: (818)
507-1510 www.damonsglendale.com

For further information on this event, please contact Andrew at
323.702.1647 or by e-mail andrew.garsten@sbcglobal.net

Mistaken Monument

2007-09-11T09:59:00.000-07:00

The demolition of the Bertco Graphics building on Glendale Boulevard has generated concern about the fate of the monument dedicated to silent film pioneer Mack Sennett. (photo by City of Angels .) The memorial obelisk was established in the 1950s to honor the filmmaker on the site of his studio, where Charlie Chaplin, the Keystone Kops and other silent film greats began made their first films. The problem is the monument is in the wrong place. Read the messages on a silent film user group.

Sennett's studio was located about two blocks south at 1712 Glendale Boulevard, which is Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument N0. 256. One of the studio buildings is currently used as a Public Storage facility. The Bertco buildings occupied part of what may have been the Selig Polyscope studio, which opened in 1909 as the city's first permanent film studio (sorry, Hollywood was not in the picture at this point). A string of studios operated here along the Echo Park-Silverlake border in an area then known as Edendale.

One person who spoke to a member of the demolition crew said the marker was to be placed in storage and moved to another location.

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Read On - History Books Arrive

2007-09-08T14:56:00.000-07:00

Stop by the Echo Park Branch Library on Thursday, Sept. 13 from 5:30 pm - 8 pm to take a peak at the books on local history and historic preservation that we are donating to the Echo Park branch library as part of our Ron Emler Memorial Book Program. EPHS volunteer Rowena Magana will staff a display of the books, photos and other materials. We will present books to the Edendale branch on Saturday, October 20 from 12 pm - 3 pm. This year's titles range from a book on watercolor artist Phil Dike to a book of bungalow blueprints. We would like to thank generous donations from the Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council- District 3 and Carla Ballard for defraying the costs of purchasing the books. We would also like to thank Skylight Books in Los Feliz for a genersous discount. Happy reading.

Summer is Over for Paddle Boats

2007-09-06T14:19:00.001-07:00

The paddle boats at Echo Park Lake go into hibernation after this weekend and it's not clear when or if they will return. More details on the Chicken Corner blog.

Western Heights Home Tour

2007-09-04T09:22:00.001-07:00

EPHS members are invited to attend the Western Heights Home Tour on Sunday, Sept. 9. Please visit www.WesternHeightsonline.com for details.

Judge Rules Against Right Site Coalition

2007-09-02T13:11:00.001-07:00

The judge would not make a permanent a tempory restraining order that prohibits the school district from demolishing homes on the 9A site. More info on the Chicken Corner blog.

Boathouse Gets More Funding

2007-08-27T11:02:00.001-07:00

The Echo Park Boathouse will receive a $1.45 million grant from the California Cultural and Historical Endowment Fund to complete a second phase of renovations. The grant was announced by Assemblyman Kevin de Leon and Los Angeles Councilman Eric Garcetti. A previous federal grant, which was obtained with the help of Congressman Javier Becerra, along with city support funded the first phase of boathouse renovations, including rebuilding the underwater piers, restoring the red-tile roof and relighting the lighthouse of the 1932 building.

L.A. Preservation News Update

2007-08-24T11:12:00.001-07:00

PreserveLA Update
August 2007

In this issue:

- Los Angeles Citywide Survey Project
- L.A. Considers Changes in Demolition Policy
- Office of Historic Resources Newsletter
- Demolition Begins in Echo Park
- Los Angeles Conservancy E-Newsletter
- Alexandria Hotel Rehabilitation Underway
- Crescenta Valley's Dirty Laundry Tour
- Blarney Castle for Sale
- Zephyr Surf Shop is Landmarked
- Western Heights HPOZ Home Tour
- Garvanza Historic Preservation Overlay Zone
- 2007 List of 11 Most Endangered Places

Have news or putting on an event? Know of an historic resource that is threatened, lost, or has been saved? Be sure to let us know. With your help, we can get the word out to a much broader constituency - that and many of us are just plain interested!

Submit notices using the online form at: http://www.preservela.com/contact.html
Or send an email to editor@preservela.com.

Church Seeks Exemptions on Demolitions

2007-08-23T11:15:00.001-07:00

Angelus Temple is seeking an exemption from the city to demolish the remaining apartments buildings it owns on Lemoyne Street south of Sunset Boulevard to build a giant parking structure, according to the Los Angeles Garment & Citizen.

The city imposed a moratorium on new construction and demolitions in the area as it looks to study the creation of a possible historic district around Echo Park Lake. The church had received two demo permits before the moratorium took effect. A spokesman for Los Angeles Couniclman Eric Garcetti told the newspaper that Angelus Temple officials "plan to seek a waiver on the moratorium for additional demolitions related to the project."

Councilman Garcetti's office has called a meeting with church officials and other neighborhood groups in early September to discuss the church's plans. The historical society has urged the church to preserve the two-story buildings, dating from the 1920s and 1930s, that create an inviting and walkable link between the Sunset Boulevard business district and the lake. Instead, the church wants to build a 60-foot tall parking structure with no store fronts or apartments at ground level.

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Ross House For Sale

2007-08-13T22:16:00.000-07:00

One of Echo Park's most significant residential homes, the Ross House, designed by modernist architect Rafael Sorriano, is up for sale for $859,000. The Ross House, 2123 Valentine St., was built in 1938. The International Style Modern design is regarded as one of his best works, according to "Architecture in Los Angeles. The home was later occupied by Oscar nominated movie art director Albert Nozaki.

Judge Halts 9A Demolitions

2007-08-06T10:34:00.001-07:00

A judge temporarily stopped the school district from demolishing structures on the 9A site near Sunset and Alvarado Street. More details.