Introduction: Boyle Heights Historical Society Advisory Board member Rudy Martinez returns with another great post on the history of the community–this one relating to the pianist Hadda Brooks. The post will be presented in several parts, starting with an introduction to Brooks’ early life in Boyle Heights. – Paul R. Spitzzeri In April 1945 the…
All posts tagged Boyle Heights history
Historic Photos of Boyle Heights: Fleishman’s Cafe, ca. 1920s
The third photo purchased from Roger LeRoque, a local collectibles dealer, of rare Boyle Heights images is this one of a cafe, identified as Fleishmans, located on Brooklyn (now César Chávez) Avenue at Soto Street. This simple place has about fifteen stools along an L-shaped counter and a very compact cooking space. Three employees, two…
Historic Photos of Boyle Heights: A Store and Soda Fountain, 1916
This is the second in a series of historic photographs of Boyle Heights purchased from Roger LeRoque, a local collectibles dealer whose family resided in the neighborhood in the early to mid 1900s. Today’s image is a real photo postcard of what is described on inscriptions on the reverse as Klingenstein’s, a store that sold…
Historic Photos of Boyle Heights: Neuman Brothers Saloon, ca. 1910s
It’s been far too long since the last post, but here’s a great old photo of what was described in an inscription on the back as the Neuman Brothers saloon in Boyle Heights. Update, 25 August: The reverse of the card lists an address of 1248 E. 4th Street at or near State Street, though…
“The Siren”: Boyle Heights Junior High School Newspaper, Issue #2
A previous post covered the first issue of The Siren, the school newspaper of Boyle Heights Junior High, soon renamed Hollenbeck Junior High. The second issue, published on 26 October 1922, had a number of interesting components, some of which might be found in a similar publication today. One was a short front-age commentary by student…
Historic Photos of Boyle Heights: Los Angeles Cable Railway Construction, 1889
Here are a couple of really cool photographs showing the construction of the Los Angeles Cable Railway along First Street in Boyle Heights sometime in 1889.
Fred Sands and Daniel Thompson: Boyle Heights Figures Who Made History
This week the Los Angeles Times included an obituary of Fred C. Sands, who was one of the most successful real estate tycoons in Los Angeles (another more colorful figure in that word also from Boyle Heights is Donald Sterling.) Sands, who was born in New York, moved to Boyle Heights at age 7 in 1945 and…
The Forsyth Memorial School for Girls/Evergreen Hostel
Sitting at the corner of Evergreen and Folsom streets in Boyle Heights is a 1914 Mission Revival structure that has recently been nominated for the National Register of Historic Places. The facility was originally the Forsyth Memorial School for Girls, an institution established by the local Presbyterian Church as a facility to “Americanize” Latinas. The…
The Travels and Travails of the Haym Salomon Statue, Part Three
This is the third and final part of a post by Boyle Heights Historical Society Advisory Board member Rudy Martinez on a little-known statue for a largely-forgotten figure from the American Revolution, Haym Salomon. We hope you’ve enjoyed this post and come back soon for more posts on the fascinating history of Boyle Heights! –…
The Travels and Travails of the Haym Salomon Statue, Part Two
This is the second part of a post by Boyle Heights Historical Society Advisory Board member Rudy Martinez on a little-known statue for a largely-forgotten figure from the American Revolution, Haym Salomon. Enjoy and check back soon for the next installment! – Paul R. Spitzzeri After a good deal of planning was instituted for the…