Victorian Mansions in Los Angeles
“You were made Perfectly, to be loved and surely, I have loved you, in the idea of you, my whole life long. “- Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
Red tiled roofs, whitewashed, hacienda style architecture is how most people imagine homes in Southern California. Of course, there are exceptions, and huge estates with quirky and interesting architecture can definitely be found around this area. We’ll take a look at some of these in coming weeks and months.
Spurred on by a quest to look for interesting options for a Summer Social for my book club I came upon the Heritage Square Museum and many pockets of Victorian homes in and around various neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Apparently from 1837 t0 1901 Los Angeles was transformed from a dusty Mexican outpost into a Gilded Age American boom town. I have no means visited all the neighborhoods and homes on a map that I was able to find but let me share what I did find and visit.
A few homes in downtown Los Angeles are hidden behind tall fences and vegetation that prevent lookie lookers from being able to view and take pictures but by and large I found quite a few that I can share.
The Perry Mansion was built in 1876 in Boyle Heights and moved to the Heritage Square Museum in 1975. Commissioned by William Perry who helped shape Los Angeles into a metropolitan city. He was known for bringing gas lamps to the city and was President of the Los Angeles Water Company and on the board of Farmers and Merchants Bank.
This mansion is open for tours led by docents clad in period costumes. Unfortunately, my visit to the museum was pretty impromptu and the tour was sold out, so I only got to wander around outside.
Hale House was built in 1887 in Highland Park and moved here in 1970. This is an example of a middle-class family home equipped with both electricity and a full bathroom.
The Lincoln Avenue Methodist Church was built in 1897 in Pasadena and moved in 1981. It is an example of Gothic and Queen Anne. Early parishioners of this church were founders of Pasadena and Caltech.
Caroll Ave in Echo Park has the highest concentration of Victorians. Almost all of these homes are occupied and some such as this one seems to be divided into multiple apartments.
When I first started wandering in Los Angeles, I had visited Echo Park with its swan paddle boats and beautiful views of downtown Los Angeles. Little did I know of the bounty to be found less than a mile from the park.
Phillips House, one of the most celebrated houses on Caroll Street built in 1887 for hardware merchant Aaron Phillips. I simply parked my car at this address and walked the entire street, enthralled.
I saw several people drive up and walk around appreciating the homes and taking pictures. There was a house that was holding a yard sale and the two young ladies who were sitting out there were gracious enough to chat and let me take pictures of them.
The silhouette of downtown Los Angeles was visible from street corners and I’m sure from many a home with windows facing the right direction. Homes ranged from impeccably restored, beautifully maintained to ones with sagging roofs and shabby yards.
The Octagon House built in 1893 in Pasadena and moved to the Heritage square in 1986. It is one of only five known Octagon houses built in the 19th century in California and the only one in more or less its original condition. The house was built by Gilbert Longfellow who also owned an almost identical Octagon house in Maine. His grandson Walter Hastings lived most of his life in this house and arranged to have it moved to the Heritage Square when he was ready to move out.
The Shaw House, a French influenced cottage built in 1883 in Lincoln Heights and moved in 1971.
Wright Mooers House built in 1894 is located in the South Bonnie Brae Historic District and is on the National Registry of Historic Places. Guarded behind a fence, and foliage one can only get a glimpse of this multi-colored wonder from across the street.
Stimson House is an elaborate 30 room “castle” of millionaire lumberman Thomas Stimson built in 1891 in the West Adams area of the historic district of Los Angeles.
There are many more Victorians in Pasadena, Eaglerock, and Glendale that I never got to visit this go around but I hope that I’ve shared a glimpse of the history of Southern California and an understanding that not all the wealth was concentrated in Northern California or the East Coast of the United States.