TABLE OF CONTENTS :
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A Genealogy of the Naud Junction Neighborhood (Now Under the Terminal Annex and CA Endowment Buildings) INSIDE: LA's Early Immigrant Entrepreneurs ...and Their Erased Enclaves by Damian Gatto Introduction A year and a half ago, I released my genealogy of the La Loma neighborhood of Chavez Ravine. My sample size was the neighborhood’s five remaining streets: Bouett, Brooks, Spruce, Aqua Pura, and Phoenix. My data sources were the United States Censuses from 1900 to 1940, historic building permits, land surveys, home titles, and grant deeds. I went lot-by-lot along the remaining La Loma streets documenting the builders and subsequent occupants of the homes until they were demolished. Media portrayals of Chavez Ravine during the era of its slow demise depicted the community as a ramshackle bunch of shanties and corrugated steel shacks. However, I knew based on my lifelong relationships with some of the uprooted (known as Los Desterados) that this was a vast misrepresentation. Indeed, I found that nearly every building in this five-street remnant of La Loma had a new construction permit attached to it. Another thing that fascinated me about communities like Chavez Ravine, Dogtown, Diamond Street (amongst many others) is how they were all selected to be razed and replaced with public (and sometimes private) improvements. In light of new documentation and testimonials, it is now no secret that these communities were perfectly healthy communities, but they simply had the misfortune of being built upon land that was too valuable for public and private use to be in the hands of working-class folk. The Naud Junction and Macy Street neighborhoods, which now lie, respectively, under the Terminal Annex and Union Station, were two of these such neighborhoods. This article focuses upon the Naud Junction Neighborhood, the Northern 8th Ward. The vast majority of homes were built before 1924 (when dozens were immolated, ostensibly to fend off the plague) or the mid-1930s (when they were eminent domained to build the the USPS Terminal Annex Building. When it comes to development and government improvement projects, it is easy to look to "blighted" areas (i.e. working class neighborhoods) and figure that they have to be improved upon.
Above: The American Foundry. (Source: USC Digital Libraries)
The Naud Junction Neighborhood
From 1889 to 1909, prior to the establishment of the modern City Council representational system consisting of council districts, Los Angeles was divided into nine wards. The northern part of the Eighth Ward, which we will be strolling through today, was also called “Naud Junction” after Frenchman Edouard Naud, who built a warehouse near the modern-day William Mead Homes in 1878.
Naud Junction was marked by a signal tower built at Alameda and Ord streets in 1898. Naud Junction was also the location of the city of Los Angeles' primary boxing pavilion. USC students exchanged jabs there, and it also hosted the likes of Tommy Burns, Marvin Hart, and Abe Attel. The 8th Ward was also the site of the city's first orphanage, Institucion Caratitiva, as well as one of its most prominent infirmaries, the Los Angeles Infirmary. My motivation to do a genealogy of the Eighth Ward neighborhood was similar to Chavez Ravine. For one, I was interested in how the community was constituted demographically. I knew that the community was one of Los Angeles’ earliest melting pots. Persons of Mexican, Indigenous, Chinese, and Italian descent resided here, unable to find housing in other areas of the city due to “deed restrictions” (i.e. racial covenants) and other forms of discrimination. I was also aware of the neighborhoods role as a launching pad for numerous immigrant entrepreneurs, such as Gladding McBean & Co., the Italian-immigrant founded American Foundry, and the German immigrant-founded Kerckhoff Lumber Co. I had also heard of community institutions like the Macy Street School, designed by the famed architect A.C. Martin (of Los Angeles City Hall fame), which lasted all of 15 years before being demolished. A further motivation for performing this and other genealogies was that I wanted to further substantiate how, historically, working class communities in Los Angeles were the go-to communities that were razed in order to construct government buildings and other forms of urban redevelopment. Finally, following the illuminating results of my Chavez Ravine genealogy, I was inspired to document the daily life in the northern Eighth Ward--the community's geography, its goings-on, and its economic activity. I wanted the displaced villagers of Naud Junction to be known to future historians and Angelenos.
CLICK "READ MORE" BELOW for A Genealogy of the Eighth Ward
A Genealogy of Naud Junction, the Neighborhood Under the Terminal Annex Building
For starters, here is a map I reconstructed based on a combination of ZIMAS and the 1910 and 1921 Baist Survey.
Source for basemap: ZIMAS.lacity.org; Original work of the author.
A note before we proceed: If you are wondering why you do not see entries for Apablaza Street, Avila Street, Clara Street, Benjamin Street, Concha Street, Marchessault Street, Jeanette Street, Juan Street, and Ramirez Street---As well as the alleys Cayetano Alley, Ferguson Alley, Mary Lane, as well as the infamous alley that begins with a certain N- word that was the site of the Chinese Massacre... …these streets were part of the Southern Eighth Ward, which is under Union Station, not the Terminal Annex. The Southern 8th Ward, at one time called the Macy Street neighborhood, was the focal center of the 1924 plague outbreak. Though some plague-afflicted victims resided in the northern 8th Ward (Naud Junction), I will dedicate a separate article entirely to the southern 8th ward, and to the topic of the 1924 plague, in the coming months.
KEY: Rm = "Room" Sty = "Story" SFD = "Single-family dwelling" MFD = "Duplex, tenement, or other type of multiplex" Built on… = "Date permit was approved on…” House # in Red= "A property housing a plague victim"
Above: Street scene in the 300 block of Bauchet Street. (Source: Calisphere Digital Library)
BAUCHET STREET
304 – Antonio Moreno of 730 Date Street – New construction of 4-room “house for rent”. -Contractor: Juan Gonzalez of __ Elmira Street. Permit stamped March 5, 1906 -Moreno built another room in 1909. Permit stamped March 4th. 305 – Giovanna Antonioli of 304 and 338 Bauchet Street. 4-room frame house, 1907. -Contractor: John B. Bettegar of 430 N. Main Street. 308 – Lee Mead of 8226 Atlantic Blvd. Bell, CA. 3 room residence. 1919. -Demolished it in 1937. 309 – Antonio Moreno of 730 Date Street. Addition of one story to existing 1902 dwelling. -Contractor: Juan Gonzalez of _???_ ; Permit stamped February 24th, 1906. 311 – John Waine of 820 Date ; Construction of 4-rm. 1- story house. Permit dated 8/26/1907. -Contractor: L.A. Peters of 228 S. Avenue 66 312 – Lee Mead of 8226 Atlantic Blvd. Demolition of 1 sty. 4-rm. Dwelling. 8/6/1937. 313 - Abbino Alberta of 319 Bauchet of 319 Bauchet; 1 story, 4-room residence. -Contractor: John Howard of 810 Rosabell 315 – Abbino Albera of 315-19 Bauchet -Relocation of 1-story, residence from “212 Railroad Street” -(Railroad Street is now Ann Street, near the Dogtown Projects) 319 – Sunset House Movers of 7501 S. Central Ave. -“Move 1-story SFD to the City of Bell, CA? - Permit dated Feb. 3, 1936
320 – Mrs. Lourdes C. Ramos of 322 Bauchet Street. Construction of 1-sty, 4-rm, 16’x36’ SFD
-Contractor: J.H. Mehrtens of 5155 S. Wilton Place. Permit stamped 10/13/1914. 321 – B.M. Olivas of 321 Bauchet. Addition to 1-sty 4-rm SFD. Permit stamped 12/9/1907 -Contractor: David Coto of 468 DuCommun Street -Moved 1907 house in 1915, then built 5-house court on-site; permit dated 11/11/1915 -Owner in 1922: Lazaro Diaz -12/19/1935: Fred Gallizzi -Olivas also had property @ 109 East Market Street -Fred Gallizzi of 3448 Whittier Blvd. moved 2 of 5 homes to 1112 Dactotah, 12/9/1935. - It remains there today, having barely dodged the path of the 10 Freeway. 322- “Mrs. Nainer” of 322 Bauchet. 1-sty, 6-room house -Contractor: John Howard of 810 Rosabell Street -Mid-1910: Raises the house 4 feet, probably to mitigate flooding from the LA River. -1914: Louise Deramas (or Deramos) purchased it and installed plumbing. -A. Mari (or Hari) was the contractor. No address for the contractor. 324 – Joe Benchet of 518 Aliso Street (sometimes misspelled as Benkert) -Contractor Joe Knickrehm of 762 East. 9th (or 94th) Street -(The Knickrehms were some of the most prominent house movers in Los Angeles. ) -The Benchets purchased this home in 1907 and moved it to this address, 324 Bauchet. -1922, Ms. Benchet added one story and replaced the foundation. 327- J.W. Watson of 501 San Fernando “Street” (now San Fernando Road) -1-story, single-room “Study room”. -Contractors: Pacific Portable Construction of 1420 S. Hill Street -There was an existing chapel on-site, per the description in the permit, built c. 1904. -1919: Los Angeles Baptist City Mission Society builds additional 6-room church for $6K. -Built by the congregation. Their legal address was “Room 501, Columbia Building” 330 – Mrs. C.H. Muller of 415 Bauchet Street. -Relocation of 1-story SFD from 813 Center (DATE) -Mover: W.M. Knickrehm of 762 East 9th (or 94th) Street -The Knickrehms were some of the most prominent house movers in Los Angeles. -1919: M.L. Muller added an outdoor lavatory. Imagine that! 332 – M.L. Muller builds single-story duplex, 1914. -Owner-built. Muller used the address “Box 17, Florence CA”. 333 –J.W. Watson builds a church-related building, 1903. -This building was the plague victims' quarantine site. -1935: Building demolished by Mead Wrecking of 8226-38 Atlantic Blvd, Bell CA. 335 – C. Pieri of 830 Clara St. Addition of a brick cellar underneath an 1895 SFD. Early 1907. -Architect J.P. Krempel; Builder S. Preter -SEE PICTURE BELOW. -Preter listed his address as “159 S. 45”. -(Might be 159 S. Avenue 45. which is now E. Avenue 45) -Rotary Club of LA owned it by the late 1910s. -May 1919: Los Angeles Settlement House builds a 2-story store/residence -Address listed as “Care Rotary Club at the corner of Avila and Bauchet” -June 1919: They built another 1-story, 3-room building “for administration” -Their address was by now City West Bank, 457 S. Spring Street -Contractor was Milwaukee Building Co. 337 – Cesare Pieri built a two story, three-room house (that’s one open house) in 1907 -In 1935, Mead Wrecking Demolished it. 338 – Jose Pimentel - 20'x30' workshop - Built sometime in mid-1910 - One plague case here. (See photo below) 339 – Thos. (Thomas) R. Foote built a 2-room single-family dwelling in 1911. 340 - Pamela Abbotto moved her 4-room SFD from 946 N. Main St. (DATE) -Knickrehm Movers of 762 E. 9th Street -The Knickrehms were some of the most prominent house movers in Los Angeles. 355 – F. Messina demolished a story a 2-story apartment-store combo (DATE) -Contractors: ACME Wrecking of 8935 S. Alameda Street
Below: 335 Bauchet Street. As someone who appreciates construction, this building stands out. In an unusual step, Mr. C. Peiri actually lifted up the existing wooden-frame 1895 Queen Anne cottage and built a brick addition underneath (rather than removing the roof and building the addition on-top), and subsequently founded a space he called the "Guardian Angel Center". (Source: Calisphere Digital Library)
(Above: One bubonic plague case was detected in the above workshop, 338 Bauchet. )
(Source for both: Calisphere Digital Library) (Below: The neighborhood's Mission-style Church was used as a quarantine area.)
The church was located at the corner of Avila and Bauchet, roughly where this wall curves.
(Source: Google Street View) Continuing down Bauchet Street.....
Above four: Street scene in the 300 and 400 blocks of Bauchet Street.
(Source: Calisphere Digital Library)
401 – Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal – 1938 Construction of “Section Tool House”.
-Designed by Bocknoble Architects. -Above bottom left photo depicts roughly where this Section Tool House was built. 402 – Cesare Ruggiero of 402 Bauchet. 1-story 15x30 shed. Owner-built. 1904 - CT 404 – P. Gravino of 410 Bauchet. Owner-built. 4-room, 1-sty dwelling, 1905. -Frank Pe _ _ _ e built 3 more rooms in 1906. 405 – Augustine Marcotti of 405 Bauchet, 1910 construction of 1-story, 5-room dwelling. -Contractor: P. Lippi of 105 Ord Street 406 – Felix Merlo of 406 Bauchet; Shed, 1908 -Made another “1.5 story” addition (maybe a story with a cupola) -Still owned it after completion of Terminal Annex. In 1955, he demolished the shed. -He lived at 3234 Division Street at the time. -After his death, Adele Merlo of 3610 Verdugo Terrace demoed the main house. 410 – P. Gravino. Addition to 4-room 1-story SFD -Gravino owned 404 Bauchet and 410 Bauchet. ------------> William Maul owned all of 410-422 Bauchet (Alternate address 959 to 971 Vignes) by 1960. He used the various remaining buildings for storage. He demolished all of the remaining buildings on 12/22/1960 and sold the land to the government. The even-numbered side of the 400 block of Bauchet Street was then vacant until 1986, when four warehouses were built. 405-07 – American Foundry Co. of 906 Date Street. “Building to house Core Baking Oven”, 1927. -Contractors: Pozzo Construction of 421 Macy Street. Brick exterior construction. -They built another core room in 1927, shortly after the first one. Then another in 1930. -Contractor for the 1930 building was “O. Connor” of American Foundary Co. -Demolished in 1938 to build a Yardman’s locker building was built -Owner, LA Union Psgr Terminal of 726 N. Alameda St. -Engineer was CLA Bockmobile -Gladding McBean Clay Co. built “piers for the future monorail” in 1943. -Their address was 2901 Los Feliz Boulevard. -This was also the site of the Franciscan Pottery Factory. 407 – LA Union Psgr. Terminal of 726 N. Alameda Street – New construction of Gas compressor building. 409 – 1-story SFD for Joseph L. Pedrotti of 206 S. Spring, 1904. -1940: He and son Charles H. wrecked it to sell the land and make way for the Annex. -Cleveland Wrecking of 175 E. Jefferson did the job. 411 – LAUPT – foundation for incinerator – 1939 – Architect Walter H. Hagedom 415 – Addition of water tank in 1938 – Architect: Chicago Bridge and Iron Co. of 608 S. Hill Street 417 – Sanitary Can Damp 419 – Frank Arconti of “Broadway No. 2487” (unsure if this is North or South Broadway) -New construction of 1-sty, 4-room SFD, 1909; Contractor J. Dice of “Vignes Street” 423 – Stefano Parque of 423 Bauchet St. New construction of 1-story, 4-room SFD, 1915 -Visenti Parque is the owner 2 yrs. later in a City directory. Added 1 more room in 1923. -Moved to 2902 Worthen Street in 1937. -This lot was home to a prolific house moving business. 425 – Gladding McBean and Co. of 2901 Los Feliz Blvd. – Tile Storage and Mixing facility – 1920 <CT. 430 – 1963 construction of Storage Building. Now it’s a bail bonds outlet. 431-435 – Mrs. C.H. Miller relocated a SFD from 810 Center in [YEAR] -Demoed in 1942 and became a storage lot for clay bins 438 – Salvador M. DeAnda – 1957 demolition of 1-story 25x30 metal and wood shed SFD. -He had moved to 11911 Culver Blvd. He sold the land to the government afterword. 439 ½ - Paul Wetzel of 3417 Grand Avenue, Huntington Park -Moved 1-story SFD out of City. Self-contracted. -439 (a 5-rm SFD) was moved 3 months later on 11/5/1936 441 – G. Tapparo of 439 Bauchet. New construction of 3-rm SFD, 1922 -Contractor: Clark Bacon of 215 Record Street, City of East Los Angeles -Tapparo lived in the house until the construction of the Men’s Central Jail -…which happened in 1960, and then again from 1970 to 1973 443 – (Same property as 439-439 ½) 445 – August Ailenstein (or Allenstein) of 750 Clara Street – 1-story, 5-room SFD, 1905 -Contractor: John Hirman of 1020 47th Street 447 – F. Anda and T. Anda of 447 Bauchet Street – Relocation of 1-sty, 4-rm, SFD from [LOC] 490, 496, and 498 were all built in late 1945 - early 1946 when the neighborhood was already cleared and displaced. Bauchet originally ended after the 400 block, but the 500 block was added when the jail was built.
Above and below: Street scene in the 400 block of Bauchet Street, with the building permit for the study room at 327 Bauchet Street.
(Source: Calisphere Digital Library and LADBS, respectively.) AUGUSTA STREET
Above: Permit for 209 Augusta Street (Source: LADBS)
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118 – Oil Well Supply Co. of 934 N. Alameda St. New Construction of Office, 1915 -Contractor: A.L. Danielo of 934 N. Alameda 128 – Mrs. E. Braun of 128 Bauchet Street. Repairs to 1910 Single family home, 1929. -Contractor: Hillard-Baud Co. of 254 East 27th Street. 157 – Domingo Zavala of 155 Augusta Street. 2 room single-family home, 1908. 201-203 – Trans-Continental Freight Co. of 226 West 5th Street (owners in 1905) -New construction of wagon shed, 1905. Owener-built. -New construction of wagon shed, 1912. ---> Purchased by Fidelity Storage & Moving Co. of 623 S. Spring Street in 1910 -New construction of wagon shed, 1912. -Contractors: Davidson Construction Co. of 501 Union Oil Bldg. -New construction of “shack for barn hand to live in” in 1913. Owner-built. ---> Property purchased by Eureka Supply Co. of 244 Queirolo St. in 1910 -(later moved to 901 N. Main St.) -New construction of bottle-washing building, early 1930. -Architect: E.S. Stiff. ; Contractor Bucholtz & ____? of 3577 Avalon Blvd. -Addition of storage building, late 1930. -Builder: Grinnell Co. of 520 Mateo Street. -Addition of mezzanine to main building, 1933. -Builder: Frank L. Stiff -Installation of fire sprinklers, 1934. -Contractor: Grinnell Co. of 520 Mateo Street. The last certificate of occupancy for Eureka Co. was issued in 1947. This seemed to be one of the few LARGE buildings from the 8th Ward to outlast the construction of the Terminal Annex. In 1956, the U.S. Postal Service eminent domained the property and put up a parking lot. 203 – Cesare Vainucci of 209 Augusta St./481 San Fernando Rd. New 1-story SFD, 1910. -Builder: Frederick Napoleon of 200 Ord Street. (Probably an Anglicized Italian name.) -He refers to the building to be constructed as a “California House”…love it! 215- Eliza M. Flores of 610 Witmer Street. -New one-story, 4-room, 40x82 SFD; permit stamped Aug 14, 1912. -Contractor Manuel M - - - erino of 532 DuCommun Street Owner in 1938: Andrew Abdo. Self-built a two-car garage. Permit stamped 10/29/1945. -Another example of a building that outlasted the annex construction. 230 – California Eureka Bottling Corp. of 244 Queirolo Street. -New bottle washing pit, 1933. -Contract: Bucholtz & Sons of 5823 ½ Sunset Blvd. -Architect: Frank L. Stiff
DATE STREET
Above: Date Street's oldest palms, in the front yard of Joseph J. (J.J.) Rodriguez, Number 49 Date Street. (Source: Huntington Digital Library)
702-718 block
702 – Oscar Runion of 334 Ogier; Move 2-story 30x40 home to 339 Ogier, 1909. -Contractor: W. Knickrehm of 762 E. 9th Street -The Knickrehms were some of the most prominent house movers in Los Angeles. 702-718 – F. Pilgrim Iron Works – New Construction of machine shop – 10__? N. Main Street -60x128 and 30x60. 1-story. Owner-built. [DATE] 702 – Fisher S. Otis of 702 Date – New construction of Shops – Permit stamped 6/28/1912 -Contractor A.A. Guzman of 560 Gallardo Street 702 – Pilgrim Iron Works – Light wood work building – Owner-built. Permit Aug 22, 1912. -J.S. Going: add’n of office, 5/26/26. Contractor: Universal Cabinet Co., 232 W. 1st Street. 702-706 – Pilgrim Iron Works – repair fire damage, 8/11/1924 707 – Kerckhoff-Cozner Lumber Co. of 902 N. Alameda. -(The families still have a tract named after them under the Annex Building) -Warehouse addition of 70x200 feet, 7/8/31. -Contractor: B.D. Kronnick Co. Architect A.C. Mayer. 708 – Wilson Mah (?) Co. of 900 N. Main Street – 20x30 Factory and forge shop. April 7th 1920. -Contractor: Nance Construction of 846 Linden Street 702 to 706 by 1926 was owned by Advance Roofing Co. of 1316 S. Alameda Street. -Added partitions in Feb. 1928, and an interior platform and loading dock in April 712 – 1-sty SFD from 1901 demolished 8/6/1937 by Lee Mead Wrecking Co.
726 Date Street – Also 307 Ogier Street – The Sepulveda Ranch and Adobe. It was built in the early 19th century by Fransisco Javier Sepulveda, patriarch of the prominent family of Spanish settlers. The address originally fronted Calle Principal (Main Street). As more streets were platted west of the property, the address was changed to Ogier Street, then Date Street.
Upon his death in 1788, the property went into the hands of his grandson Jose Dolores Sepulveda. Jose lived there with his wife, Louisa Domingo and their surviving son Plutarco. Louisa’s mother Reymunda owned much of Rancho Verdugo and Rancho Los Feliz, which are now parts of Glendale and Los Feliz, respectively. Jose died in 1905, Reymunda in 1908, and Louisa in 1912. The valuable corner lot was also the site of Judge Isaac Stockton Keith Ogier’s home. Judge Ogier was one of the legal impetuses behind the invalidation of the Rancheros' and Californios' claims to their land in Los Angeles County following the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 and California Statehood in 1850. Many of his decisions lacked legal precedent, instead catering to his and others’ racist views, thirst for gold, and all-around disregard for non-Whites. In 1931, the property went into he hands of a one Mrs. Agnes Farrington of 1308 W. 88th Street. She repaired fire damage to the property in 1931. The work was done by a one R. Kimberly of 3442 Montrose Ave. in La Crescenta. Finally, there is a 1938 permit for: Demolition of 1-story, 20x30, 5-room SFD by L.A. Wrecking Co. of 810 E. 9th Street.
730 – Antonio Moreno of 730 Date Street. New construction of 4-rm, 1-sty dwelling, 1906.
-Contractor: Felipe A. Gonzalez of 311 Lafayette Street -R.S. Seymour owned it by 1926. Added a 10x18 Addition in early 1927. -Contractor (Illegible) of 1330 S. Hill Street. -730 Date was another plague house. The two cases originally lived at 742 Clara Street. Once nearly all of their fellow boarders died, they realized they had better get out before it was too late. Unfortunately, it already was. Both had contracted the illness while attending a funeral of another plague victim. Both died. -Incredibly, of all the houses that were burned, 730 Date Street was not. In 1937, as the USPS Annex was being built, H. J. Baker of 2428 Riverdale Avenue owned it and had it moved. Knickrehm movers of 3319 S. Central Ave. moved the building to 2118 Barclay Ave. The River was widened a few years later. 730 Bauchet was thus demoed. The Knickrehms were some of the most prominent house movers in Los Angeles. 732 – T. Garcia of 150 Utah Street – 20x20 SFD, 2 rooms. -Addition of indoor bathroom Jan 18th 1929. 734 – H.T. McFarrell of 1718 Magnolia. Construction of 20x30 Residence, 1902. -Roof repair, 1906. -1929: Anna A and James F Matteson of 1561 N. Alexandria Avenue build garage. 736 – S. Frangelico of 738 N. Date Street built a 16x26 “California home” -Contractor F.R. Molino of 762 ___? Street -A resident, Peter Civerolo, fought in the 364th Infantry in France and Belgium. -He returned in 1918, a decorated veteran of the military. 738 – No record pre-demolition in 1938 (by Mead Wrecking, of course). 742 – Electric Transformer Vault for LA Union Passenger Terminal, 1938. -This was originally the site of a 24x32 residence built before 1905. 746 – The L.W.F. Garibaldina Society – Retrofit roof of hall with reinforced steel. Dec 15, 1915.
Above left: Street scene in front of 824 Date Street. (Source: Calisphere Digital Library)
Above right: Newspaper announcement for construction of a barn at 823 Date Street.
800 – Lee Mead Wrecking of Bell CA. Demolition on 10/9/1937.
804 – Mrs. L Ferrele of 742 Date. Permit stamped 4/5/1912 for a 24x32 house. -Architects and contractors: Pozzo Construction of 421 Macy Street -J.H. Ferrele appears on the 1911 deed. She added an indoor bathroom in Nov. 1912. -Architect/contractor: JT (or JS) Olivas (or Olivo) of 412 Wall Street 807 – Suzanna de Moreno of 807 Date Street. 1-story, 20x30 SFD, 1901. -General repairs by JA Gonzalez of 654 ½ (or 664 ½) Buena Vista Street, 9/26/1905. -de Moreno had another 30x20 residence built on 10/26/1927 810 – Lee Mead. Demolition of 26x30 house on 8/6/1937. 815 – C. Donadimon of “McCollum Street” (no house # listed). New 30x40 SFD, Dec 3rd 1931. -Contractor Willard Brent Co. of 254 East 27th Street 819 – J.D. Cornwall + Mary M. Cornwall of 823 Date Street. 30x30 2-sty home/shop, 1888. -J.D. died sometime before 1898. -Mary had repairs done on 6/13/1905 by John Howard of 319 Bauchet Street. -Owned in 1941 by D.B. Bodoria of 1016 Aragon Avenue. -By then, the bottom floor had become the neighborhood POOL HALL! -Demoed 10/24/1949, 12 years after the Annex’s opening 820 – Mrs. Lucia Maini of 1024 S. Serrano Street -Addition of 24x36 Store Building in front of existing residence. -H.F. Giada of 735 Ditman Street, contractor. Permit stamped 11/9/1920. $10K 821-823 – J.D. Cornwall + Mary M. (also Mary J.) Cornwall. 22x29-story home, 1885. -J.D. died sometime before 1898. -Mary added 2-rooms on 8/10/1908. -Contractor: John Howard of 319 Bauchet/808 Rosabell St. 827 – Tranquilo Muño built himself a 18x28 Duplex and 9x16 garage. 7/26/1923. 830 – Cesare Pieri – New 26x42 SFD. -Architect: John P. Krampel ; -Builder: John B. Bettegar of 674 San Fernando Street (now ROAD) 831 – G.H. Benjamin – 1-story addition to 1901 residence. Permit stamped 8/15/1906 -Mrs. B. Bodorio added 2 new buildings, one 12x20 and one 23x14; July and August 1916. -Contractors: Hawthorne Building & Contracting Co. of Hawthorne, CA, both times. -Mrs. Bodorio lived at 1350 N. Hobart Blvd. by 1927. -Made an addition to a 44x26 building, w/ 3 other SFDs already on the lot. 3/24/1927 -Contractor: Angelo Rojer of 3857 Whiteside Avenue, City Terrace. 835 – Francisca Satarain of 661 Buena Vista Street -Hired A. Reyes to build a new shed/bard on 6/27/1905 -J.M. Munio (or Murio) of 835 Date Street bought it two years later. -Added a 12x18 room on 3/7/1907. 839 – Mrs. J. L. Terrile of “Pepper Avenue 2621.” 18x38 store building. Day labor. -Permit stamped on Feb 7 1916. 840 – Mary E. Cobb of 143 East Avenue 32 built a 15x20 shed. -Contractor: A.D. Watson of 2117 S. San Pedro St. 841 – Elizabeth Flores ( lists address as “JP Stockyards, Los Angeles” ) -Built a 22x21x24 SFD on Aug 8 1905 -Builder was L.J. Hudson of 924 Macy Street -(The “JP Stockyards” refers to the Los Angeles Ltd. Union Stockyards, which were located in the vicinity of Downey and Bandini Boulevards in the City of Vernon, then an unincorporated part of Los Angeles County.) -John Terrile of 732 Date Street purchased 841 Date two years later. He made alterations on 2/21/1907, and hired Pozzo Construction of 501 Macy Street to do the job. -N. Abdo owned the property by the early 1920s. -He built a 16x40 grocery store addition himself. Permit stamped 12/29/1924. -He and his wife Cindy added converted their garage to a 58x27 2-room unit in 1929.
Above: the grounds of the Los Angeles Brick Company and founder Charles H. Frost. (Source: Los Angeles Public Library)
900 – William F. Sterns of 6__? DuCommun Street. 2-story, 40x45 duplex. Owner-built, 4/2/1904.
-May have been a store-residential combo given the adjacent land use. -Demoed in 1928 by Whiting-Mead Co. of 2260 E. Vernon Avenue. 901 – Mrs. J.B. Reilum; New 12x24 1-story, 2-room SFD – July 20 1911. -Contractor: S. Ott of 2933 Brighton Avenue (South Central) 902 – Paul Pieri. New 2-room, 12x24, 1-story SFD. Permit stamped Jul 15, 1912. -Built another one a year later, except it was 12x26. Permit stamped Feb 20 1913. -Built both himself. -In 1913, he hired Chas Pedrotti of 836 Rosabell St. to install plumbing and gas. -L. B_ _e? owned it by 1929, wherein he repaired fire damage sustained. -Owner lived at 907 S. Westlake Avenue -Contractor was Nick Sciurba of 425 S. Avenue 20; Permit stamped Apr 4 1929. 904 – LAUPT (LA Union Passenger Terminal) – Flood Light, 1949 – Engineer: C.U. Pyne 905 – Dominic Meaglia of 906 Date St. – Demo 25x30 1-Sty SFD, Apr 7 1927 -In the “Notes” section of the demo permit, he says “to be used for firewood”…hahaha. -Son Richard S. Meaglia served as VP of American Foundry for 40 years from ‘49 to ‘89. 906 – AMERICAN FOUNDRY – New Foundry Building, 52x100. Cost= $9000. Permit stamped 4/21/1923. -Before the foundry was built, the owner of the house on-site, N. Abdo, moved the 10x20 3-roomer to 918 Date. Abdo lived at 841 Date at the time. -Contractor for main foundry building: Union Iron Works of 5125 Santa Fe Avenue. -American Foundry built a 10x20 office on 9/17/1923. -On 3/25/1926, they added steel reinforcement. -On 1/27/1929, they added a lean-to on one side of the building. -Contractors for reinforcement and lean-tos: Llewellen Iron Works of 1200 N. Main St. -This is where Llewellen Street in Dogtown derives its name. -American Foundry added a corrugated steel building on Feb 21 1930. -Contractors: Union Engineering Building of 5905 Pacific Blvd. in Huntington Park. By December 10th, 1935, there were four buildings on the Foundry’s 906 Date property: a 450’x160’ foundry, a 25’x30’ office, 30x60 lean-to frame, and a 20’x40’ storage building. One of the latter two was extended to 35’x80’ on 12/10/1935 by C.W. (or E.W.) Erickson of 826 Santa Fe Avenue. The whole property was demolished by the Railroad Companies on April 14th, 1937.
908 – Whiting-Mead Co. of 2260 E. Vernon Avenue demolished a 2-story, 40x45 dwelling on Nov 2 1948.
910 – American Foundry of 7710 Telegraph Road, City of Commerce. -Kenneth H.M. Co. of 4633 E. 3rd Street moved a foundry office building out of the City. -Permit stamped 5/4/1937, around the time when most of the neighborhood was being cleared. 912 – Home ___? Foundry Union (American Foundry) of 922 Date Street -New 20x24 office, 12/10/1929. (Lean-to addition 8/19/1931) -Contractor: Carlo Bongiorni of 2561 Canyon Dr. -The same contractor built a vault in the room in Jan 1930. 918 – Naum Abda of 841 Date St. - Relocation of 10x20 SFD from 906 Date St. on 4/18/1923 -Built an additional 18x36 “double bungalow” on 6/12/1923 -Contractor: J. Johnson 1312 ½ E. 48th Place -He then built himself a 20x24 addition on 12/15/1926 -…and a 18x20 garage on 1/29/1929. 920 – Naum Abda of 841 Date built a 6-room, 1-story duplex. -Contractor: J. Johnson of 1312 ½ E. 48th Street 06/12/1923 921 to 923 – Owner: John Redzo (?) Moved 6-room SFD along with 923 to 166-168 N. Clarence Avenue -Move happened in Jun 1923. Redzo added one more room after move. 922 – Sam Meaglia of 2711 Michigan Avenue -Construction of new “Hay and Coal Barn” 50x50 feet. Permit stamped March 12th 1920. -2 existing buildings on lot, both built before 1905. -Nephew Richard S. Meaglia would serve as VP of the American Foundry for 40 years (’49- ‘89.) 924 – Naum Abda of 841 Date St. – New 25x55 SFD. “1 and a half stories” -Architect: RT Barton Co. Contractor: J. Johnson (no address for either) 927 – Mr. T. Sady -Installation of plumbing by Frank Cordano (or Cordono) of 828 Rosabell Street on Jan 13th 1915. 946 – Great Western Wrecking Co. of “4th and Colyton Streets” -Repairs to an existing 2-story brick building on 4/22/1907 947 – Whiting Mead Co. of 415 East 9th Street -Wreck 1-story SFD, Dec 24th, 1913 949 – Harvey A Sahl, J. Faberstine, and W.B. Faberstine of 409 Isabell Street -Construction of 40x80 3-room warehouse for $3K. Permit stamped 5/12/1923. -They added a 16x20 addition on Aug 1 1923. -Contractor: Grover C. Cronk of 2629 Halldale Ave. -Sahl lived in Taft, CA before moving to Los Angeles. 952 Date St. – This is the last address number on Date Street, and it was the grounds of the Los Angeles Pressed Brick Co. They owned the land from before 1910 until at least 1927. They had plants and offices in the Naud Junction, in Downtown at 105-119 S. Broadway, and on the corner of Cleveland and College Streets in present-day Chinatown. It was founded as Los Angeles Pressed Brick and Terra Cotta Co. by Charles Henry Frost in 1887. The Frost Building in Downtown is derived from his family surname. The company outgrew its plant at College and Cleveland streets and moved to the 952 Date Street site in 1916; no permit is available for the main plant.. The large property spanned most of the northern tip of the Eighth Ward neighborhood, reaching just south of the present-day Dogtown district. It was at this plant that superintendent Gustaf Larson invented the first floating tiles, which he called Larsite. Having initially discontinued terra cotta products in the early part of the century, the popularity of Mission and then Spanish Revival architecture prompted the company to revive its terra cotta production in the late 1910s. The Date factory employed 50 workers, and initially had curing rack capacities of 9,000 bricks and tiles. At their height produced some 50,000 bricks and terra cotta roof tiles per day. The company used the entire sixth floor of the Frost Building to showcase its nearly four-dozen varieties of brick. On November 30th, 1924, towards the end of that year’s plague outbreak, the main building at the Date factory was completely destroyed by a fire. This did not stop the company, nor did it stop production. Well, it did for 62 days. But in that timeframe, the company very quickly rebuilt the main building—three stories this time— and carried right on with what they did best for another two years. In 1926, the founder’s son Howard decided to retire, and he sold most of the company’s holdings to Gladding, McBean, and Co. Gladding decided to keep LA Pressed Brick Co. operating as a subsidiary, but recognizing the Spanish and Art Deco architectural fad taking hold, Gladding decided to take direct control of terra cotta production. Gladding operated the 952 Date pant until 1951, which is the last year a catalog was issued with the Date Street address; business directories cease listing them as active producers by 1952. In 1956, Gladding sold the property to the County, and in 1962 it was demolished to build the the Men’s Central Jail and parking lot. There is a good chance your house or Downtown office building is build with LAPB or GMB bricks; if you see those initials on bricks around the City, one of those two companies are the guilty parties! 31 building permits are available between 12/2/1910 and 2/28/1938. However, for a much more glorious and detailed description, check out historian Dan Mosier's brilliant narrative on the subject. OGIER STREET
Above: Street scene on Ogier Street. (Source: Calisphere Digital Library)
307 Ogier – Also 726 Date Street - The Sepulveda Ranch and Adobe. It was built in the early 19th century by Fransisco Javier Sepulveda, patriarch of the prominent family of Spanish settlers. The address originally fronted Calle Principal (Main Street). As more streets were platted west of the property, the address was changed to Ogier Street, then Date Street.
Upon his death in 1788, the property went into the hands of his grandson Jose Dolores Sepulveda. Jose lived there with his wife, Louisa Domingo and their surviving son Plutarco. Louisa’s mother Reymunda owned much of Rancho Verdugo and Rancho Los Feliz, which are now parts of Glendale and Los Feliz, respectively. Jose died in 1905, Reymunda in 1908, and Louisa in 1912. The valuable corner lot was also the site of Judge Isaac Stockton Keith Ogier’s home. Judge Ogier was one of the legal impetuses behind the invalidation of the Rancheros' and Californios' claims to their land in Los Angeles County following the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 and California Statehood in 1850. Many of his decisions lacked legal precedent, instead catering to his and others’ racist views, thirst for gold, and all-around disregard for non-Whites. In 1931, the property went into he hands of a one Mrs. Agnes Farrington of 1308 W. 88th Street. She repaired fire damage to the property in 1931. The work was done by a one R. Kimberly of 3442 Montrose Ave. in La Crescenta. Finally, there is a 1938 permit for: Demolition of 1-story, 20x30, 5-room SFD by L.A. Wrecking Co. of 810 E. 9th Street.
Above Left: Margaret Ogier Above Right: James Ogier (Source: mariposaresearch.net)
Above: Street scene in the 300 block of Ogier Street (Calisphere: Calisphere Digital Library)
308 – Geo B. Camel – New construction of 12x26 “shanty”, built by T. Nakagawa of 229 N. San Pedro St.
312 – Pilgrim Iron Works of 1000 North Main Street; New 60x128 + 30x60 Machine shops. -Contractor: F. Pilgrim 313-315 – Mary E. Patterson; Tenement House; 2-story, 18-rooms 85x68. 1904. - Permit for installation of toilets and sinks. Permit stamped May 5, 1922. 321 – A. Mickil (?) - 10x14 Shed and store room -Contractor: Redmeade Building CO. of 2610 Santa Fe Ave. Permit stamped Aug 8, 1921. 326 – No documentation 330 – Lily Hawthorne – 5-room, 1-story, 16x22 SFD -Contractor: F.H. Simmiano of 816 Hemlock ST. Permit stamped Jun 10 1905. -On Oct 24th, 1935, J.t. Payne (lived at 3602 N. Broadway) bought 330 Ogier and moved it to 5047 Lynnfield Street, where it remains. It has been heavily remodeled, but you can see how it was basically a Queen Anne-style Victorian. [PIC] 333 – J.W. Edmonds, 4372 ½ Huntington Dr. moved a 23x43 SFD to 2367 Mariondale Avenue, 1/2/1936. -This was demoed to build some buildings for Cal State LA near Valley Blvd. -The 1936 permit indicates a former name of “Jouga” or “Jonga” for Ogier Street. 334 – John Cotti – 1-story, 2-room residence, 1895. General repairs on 12/8/1905. 335 – Jose Gonzales of 326 Ogier moved a 28x39 residence to an industrial yard at 251 N. Mission Road. Unknown if its still there. 337 – Mrs. Dora Kling – 21x46, 2-story duplex, 1897. - Angelo Marchisi- Foundation repair to an unknown size single-family dwelling, Apr 30 1909. 338 – Leroy David Davidson (registered chauffer), New 1-story, 2-room SFD, 1895. -William Thomas moved it to 1315 E. 110th Street on Nov. 22 1935. -Its still there, just plastered over and with small additions. 339 – Oscar Runion – Moved 702 Date (a 6-room, 21x41 SFD) to 339 Ogier, 4/24/1909 -Contractor: W. Knickrehm of 762 E. 9th Street. -(The Knickrehms were some of the most prominent house movers in Los Angeles.) -Angelo Marchisi bought it 1 week later. 341 – Joseph Fares, Ellis G. Sawaya, and Michael G. Sawaya -Converted a home to a store, Jul 1 1913. -Incorporated as Fares and Sawaya Grocers. 342 – A. Jabire (from Djabire) – New construction of 20x18 Residence -Contractor: L. George of 1542 Pleasant Avenue 343 – Charles Shibley – 4-room, 18x36 Single Family Dwelling. 1902. -H. Jones had H.M. Kimmet and Co. of 4633 E. 3rd Street. move it to Garfield and Gage in 1936. 347 – C.H. Miller (or Muller) of “Bauchet Street” (no number listed) -Move from 813 Center St. to this site. M.J. Miller owned it by 1917. -It caught fire shortly after. Contractor S.T. Kile of 1239 S. Hope fixed it. -M.J. Miller lived at 1126 N. Oxford Street -Jose Rodriguez converted it into a bakery in March 1922. 349 – M.L. Miller of 1157 S. Mariposa – New 12x48 1-story residence Jan 5 1925.
Above: Street scene in the 300 block of Ogier Street (Source: Calisphere Digital Library)
350 – Mrs. Nellie Alderman of 660 N. State Street. Addition to 12x20 residence: “Shelter for horses”.
-Whole property condemned in 1927. Demolished 8/29/1927. -Alderman lived at 2457 Pomeroy Avenue by then. 351 – Sarah Maxwell of “Downey, CA” – 18wx18dx24h – April 1905 -Builder: Charles Shibley of 343 Ogier. Maxwell added a room (as a second story) in 1908. -Demoed 1935 by Mox Wrecking of 307 E. Jefferson Blvd. 353 -355 – Charles H.M. Shibley – 18-room tenement house. 40x58x60 -1922: Install toilets and sinks -1935: Demoed by Mox wrecking on the same day as 351 Ogier. The rest of the 300 block of Ogier Street, continuing until the trisection with Avila and Clara Streets, was the Macy Street School, built in 1915 or 1916 and designed by A.C. Martin. Next door to the Macy Street School was the Macy Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library, built in 1898 and opening in 1899. At the time of its construction, there were just five other branches of LAPL around the City. The “Macy Street Reading Room” was short-lived; it closed in 1906.
Above: Street scene in the 300 block of Ogier Street (Source: Calisphere Digital Library)
Above: Los Angeles Times announcement of the Macy Street School's opening. (Source: Los Angeles Times)
ELIZABETH STREET
200 Elizabeth Street (also 902 N. Alameda Street) – Kerckhoff-Cuzner Mill and Lumber Co. James Cuzner originally ran a local branch of the J. G. Jackson Lumber Co. Cuzner founded his small company in the early 1870s, and in 1879 William George Kerckhoff (1856-1929) purchased a partnering stake. Cuzner and Kerckhoff then elected to divide half the company’s total stakes amongst themselves, and Jackson Co. purchased the rest. In 1883, Cuzner and Kerckhoff incorporated their own company, with Kerckhoff as president and Cuzner as vice-president. This was when they became Kerckhoff-Cuzner Mill and Lumber Co. After the Eighth Ward was cleared in the mid-1930s, they operated yards in Pasadena’s Lamanda Park neighborhood, Pomona, the San Fernando Valley, Hollywood, and Imperial County. The company also purchased Boschke’s Island off the Coast of San Pedro, which was previously known as Smith’s Island, and before that as Rattlesnake Island; presently, you may know of it as Terminal Island. Before it was Terminal Island, the Kerckhoff family established another wholesale mill and lumber yard there. You know USC’s Kerckhoff Hall? Yup, same family. 209 Elizabeth Street – Elizabeth Pedrotti – New 20x22, 67 foot tall (2-story) multi-plex. -Permit stamped 4/4/1906 -Contractor: J. Mesger, 529 S. Johnston St. -Mrs. Pedrotti’s daughter, also named Elizabeth, graduated from Franklin High School, 1927. In her family was the California State Assemblyman Joseph Pedrotti, who served throughout the 1920s. CHAVEZ STREET No, this isn’t the same as the present-day Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, which was changed from Macy in 1994. An interesting coincidence nonetheless, that there was a Chavez Street just north of the future Cesar Chavez Avenue. 826 - Stephen Wallace-Fischer of 968 (west/east?) 43rd Place. -New 25x15 SFD – 2 rooms - 7/24/1917 -Owner-built. 820 – Magnus Co. Inc. of 860 N. Main Street – Construction of New Mill and Machinery House -24x40 ; 17 feet high. Day work. 7/18/1924 912 – (Also 204 Quierolo Street) Pacific Athletic Club. New “Pavillion for Public Mall”. -Architects: Page & Co. Builder: N.J. Meyers of 815 E. 15th Street. -Permit stamped 6/28/1905. 944 – Lacy Mfg. Co. of 334 N. Main Street. I-story, 20x25 storage building. Owner-built. -Permit stamped 5/29/1909
ROSABELL STREET
Above: Where Rosabell (Rosabella) Street gets its name. But who WAS Rosabell?
800-806 Bettina Pedrotti. 4-room. 24x24 1-story SFD.
-Contractor-Builder: G. Volpatti and Co. of 201 Bellevue Avenue -Permit stamped 10/13/1906 -10/9/1914: Joseph Pedrotti hired his brother Chas to do the plumbing. -In March of 1921, the family built two more 24x32 houses. -Contractor: Hugo Valley (or Vallez) of 2401 Crenshaw Blvd. (Permit stamped the 1st) -On June 5th, 1940, Chas and Joseph L. demolished their three homes. -Their office was 206 S. Spring Street. -They hired Cleveland Wrecking of 175 E. Jefferson Blvd to do the job. 801 – Kerckhoff-Cuzner Lumber Co. of 902 S. Alameda Street – New 26w x 176d x 17t Lumber shed. Contractor BD (or DD) Kronnick Co. of 3623 S. Avalon Blvd. -Permit stamped June 10, 1931. -Demolished December 1937. 811 – No data except a “Non-conforming land use” file dated 12/13/1957. 818 – J. Martinioli – New “1-story frame residence”, Mid-1898. Alterations on Nov 6 1907. -Povo Lippi bought it in 1910 and made alterations in 1911. -Demolished to lay parking for the Annex. Catherine P. Kenner owned it by then.
821 – Sarite Marasca – 24x50 SFD , 1 story, 7 rooms. Sizable house!
-Builder: Frank Gardelli (or Garidelli) of “Avila Street 752”. -Permit stamped May 17th 1909. -Demolished Jan 3rd 1950, 13 years after the Annex opened. -Daughter Amabile Marasca owned it by then. She lived at 3716 Lowell Ave. 822 – Miss Mary M. Cornwall of 819-823 Date Street - 12x24 “Room and board for housekeeper”. -Architect: James R.T. (or R.J.) Jones of 823 Date Street. 826 – S. Costano. – 10x20 Stable. -Nov 10 1908. Owner-built. -In April 1910, Peter Costano of 513 Casanova Street built another 12x24 Residence himself. -The next month he moved a residence from 219-221 Winston St. (E. of Los Angeles St.) 827 – F. Arconti of 642 N. Main Street (Arconti Hardware) 24x44 5-room 1-story SFD, 1901. -14x24 Addition, Nov 28 1910, owner-built. -Plumbing installed by Chas E. Lowell Co.” (?) of 1442 (or 2442) N. Main Street. -Permit stamped 7/21/1915 828 – S. Cordano – 10x14 Addition to existing 20x24 5-room 1-story residence. 12/17/1912. Owner-built. 829 – McKenna Boiler Works – 30x60 Industrial building of 712 N. Main. -Engineer: Geo J. Fosdyke. Contractor: Axel Niska of 2615 Fletcher Drive. -William G. Smith made alterations in July 1946 and Feb 1947. -Demolished in 1958. <CT. 832 – Vincenzo Marcotti – New 30x11 1-story SFD -Contractor A. Moser of 214 Ceres (?) St. 835 – Charles Pedrotti & Rosabell Plumbing Co. - 35x60 Office building. Owner-built. 1/5/1919/ <CT. 836 – Elizabeth Pedrotti – New 20x25 Residence, 1903. -10x12 addition built by T.C. Muller of 2717 Paloma Street 837 – Mrs. V. Brown – New 20x36 1 story residence – Cost: $980 - Contractor-Builders: W.E. Trimlett & W.H. Combellick of 517 Higgins Building, 2nd and Main. -Move, fix foundation, move back. 1924. <CT. -Contractor: W. Knickrehm of 1625 S. San Pedro Street. -The Knickrehms were some of the most prominent house movers in Los Angeles. -Mrs. R.A. Brown – Private garage – 12/8/1926 -Contractor-builder: Miller Box & Lumber Co. of 201 North Avenue 18.
N. ALAMEDA STREET (800-1000 Block)
Essentially, only a few individuals or entities owned the few large blocks that made up the old 800 to 1000 blocks of Alameda Street. 800 block – Southern Pacific Railroad 900 block – Kerckhoff-Cuzner Lumber Co. 900 block - Oil Well Supply Co. 980-998 – R.H. Heyron and Frank H. Shafer of 515 City National Bank Bldg. (Until 1907) QUEIROLO STREET Nearly all of this street (which ran from 200 to 400 East) was comprised of the properties of Darby Boiler Works Co. and Eureka Bottling Supply Co.
2 Comments
Victor R
7/25/2019 04:01:43 pm
Awesome stuff man.. You really bring it to life.
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5/7/2023 11:49:49 am
Hello Victor!
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