The Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University, holds the Workman Family Papers, an archival collection of importance to all persons interested in the history of Boyle Heights. William H. Workman was the chief developer of Boyle Heights in the late nineteenth century, and the records of his development…
Historic Photos of Boyle Heights: The Robert and Carlota Wirsching House
Still standing at 539 Brittania Street, although stuccoed and significantly altered, the Robert and Carlota Wirsching House is one of the older houses of Boyle Heights that dates to the late 19th-century. Like many houses, the Queen Anne-style structure has an interesting story relating to its original owners.
Historic Photos of Boyle Heights: The Joseph M. Workman House
As has been stated previously on this blog, Boyle Heights was developed in the 1870s and afterward with an eye to attracting well-to-do residents of Los Angeles. Boyle Avenue, in particular, had a number of large, well-appointed “Victorian” houses built among it, many of which survive. In some cases, some of the early houses became…
Historic Photos of Boyle Heights: The William H. Workman House
Last month’s post concerned the 1858 brick home of Andrew Boyle, namesake of Boyle Heights. After Boyle’s death in 1871, the house passed on to his daughter, Maria (pronounced Mariah) and her husband, William Henry Workman. Four years later, Workman subdivided much of the Boyle property and created the community of Boyle Heights.
Historic Photos of Boyle Heights: The Andrew Boyle House
Long before there was a Boyle Heights, the area was occupied by the Lopez and Rubio families who had adobe houses there. Perhaps someone descended from those families has photographs and the history of those important early settlers and their homes to share on this blog. Meantime, in 1858, Irish native Andrew Boyle, recently arrived…
Isaias W. Hellman: A Partner in the Founding of Boyle Heights
Hanukkah begins on December 12, so this seems an appropriate time for this post, because the history of Jewish people in Boyle Heights is an essential part of the community’s legacy, especially in the years between the First World War and just after World War II. Few people have known, however, that a Jewish man…
John Lazzarevitch: A Partner in the Founding of Boyle Heights
In the 8 April 1875 edition of the Los Angeles Evening Express, a small article, seen to the left, announced the subdivision of Boyle Heights by founder William H. Workman and his two partners, Isaias W. Hellman (see next month’s post on him) and John Lazzarevitch. This latter, in fact, had a direct connection to…
William Henry Workman: Founder of Boyle Heights
As Paredon Blanco, the area that became Boyle Heights, passed from ownership by the Lopez and Rubio families to Irish immigrant Andrew Boyle, the change to the landscape was minimal. Boyle tended the vineyards that had been there before him and built a brick house, but little changed until Los Angeles began to experience its…
Andrew A. Boyle, Namesake of Boyle Heights: An Immigrant’s Story
The naming of the Los Angeles neighborhood of Boyle Heights in 1875 by William Henry Workman and his partners, Isaias W. Hellman and John Lazzarovitch, was in honor of Workman’s father-in-law, Andrew A. Boyle, whose land was the basis for the community. Boyle’s life was not particularly long, only fifty-two years, but he had a…
Origins: The Founding of Boyle Heights
The neighborhood of Boyle Heights will mark its 135th anniversary in Spring 2010 with the founding of the community in Spring 1875 by William Henry Workman and his associates in honor of Workman’s father-in-law, Andrew Boyle. There’ll be more on this blog about the founders of Boyle Heights in coming weeks, but this entry focuses…