The following article was written for the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council’“Ask Silver Lake” Series — Ask Silver Lake is dedicated to exploring the history and insights of our community. If you have questions or ideas you would like us to consider, please leave a comment or send them to [email protected].’
To be completely frank, this month’s Ask Silver Lake was not born out of a reader question, but rather my own curiosity. I live near Edendale, knew it was a former firehouse, and had heard a few stories about it over the years – both true and untrue. Since the building turned 100 years old this month, I thought it would be a good time to explore its history…
Los Angeles And Southern California have been formed by fire since the end of the last ice age. The first people in the region, the ancestors of the Chumasharrived at least 13,000 years ago and used fire to manage and change the landscape over many millennia. Intentional fires were used by the Spanish and the ban was confirmed by the Mexican And American Governments that followed them. However, accidental fires remain a fact of life and for these we have fire departments. The first was the purely voluntary Engine company no. 1organized in Los Angeles in 1871 by George M. Falla counter clerk. The professional Los Angeles Fire Department was founded on February 1, 1886.
Los Angeles grew rapidly in the 1910sOvertaking San Francisco this decade the most populous California City in the state. The population of Los Angeles has increased in the last 1920swhich exceeded one million. As the city grew, so did the fire department, which was also modernized. Horse-drawn vehicles were taken out of service on July 19, 1921. Chief Engineer Ralph J. ScottThe Los Angeles Fire Department opened thirteen new bungalow-style fire stations in the early 1920s. The bungalow style was designed so that the fire stations would blend aesthetically into their suburban residential environment. The Los Angeles Evening Express He said of the new bungalow-style stations: “The days of ugly brick boxes stuck into an otherwise beautiful row of houses are over.”
In the area of Silver Lake, then still commonly known as Ivanhoe Hillsthe then new Engine Company No. 56 moved into its new firehouse on August 11, 1924. The brick building was constructed at a cost of $23,500 ($431,761 adjusted for inflation). Mediterranean-inspired architecture was consistent with many of the neighborhood’s homes built during that period. Spanish colonial period-Style Bungalowhof The building opposite was the same style as when it was built in 1928. In addition to the main building, the fire station included a kitchen/oil room and a handball court.
Equipment maintenance (left) and handball (right) (Source: Adolph Ziegler Collectionaround 1950)
In 1933 The Los Angeles Times profiled Los Angeles firefighters in an article titled “Men who laugh at death.” Author Mary June Burton described Station No. 56 Firefighter Alexander J. MacDonald as “a very Scotch Firefighter – quiet, shut-mouthed, unyielding, but still willing to risk his life if necessary.’ Like all LAFD fire stations before 1955, this one was racially segregated – in Silver Lake that meant that only whites were allowed in.
Due to earthquakes in 1960, some of the station’s ornamental elements were removed and efforts were made to stabilize the building. Nevertheless, the station and sixteen others (as well as fourteen library branches) were classified as earthquake-prone in 1982. 1984 The Los Angeles Times reported that these “ancient fire stations” were “facing the axe.” Los Angeles Heritage Authority highlighted Station 56 as an “excellent example of the bungalow stations from 1923-1924”. On 12 January 1988, the station was Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 337.
The new Station 56 opened on February 8, 1989, 160 meters east of the original station on the other side of Rowena Avenue. It was designed by Howard Robinson & Associates and built by contractors, Shirley Brothers Construction. The station, more “Revival of emissions testingWhile it does not have the architectural charm of the former, it is – more importantly – designed to be earthquake-proof.
The old building was auctioned in 1990. Its status as a historic cultural monument protected it from demolition or significant reconstruction. At the same time, however, the old building needed new plumbing, new electrical installations, new windows, earthquake protection and asbestos removal. The first buyer withdrew and the sale was cancelled in 1991. It was auctioned again on September 9, 1994, but remained abandoned for years afterward.
Around the year 2000 Melanie Tusquellas And Patti Peck began expensive renovations for the restaurant they planned to open there. In 2001, a conditional use permit for liquor and live entertainment was granted. In mid-October 2002, the Edendale Grill & Mixville Bar opened in the old firehouse.Edendalewas the name of a strip of land built in 1902 that stretched across the border of the area that later became known as Echo Park And Silver Lake. “Mixville” was the name of the early cowboy star Tom Mix‘s, old film ranch, located where the Whole foods is now.
A few years later, Eddie EbellWaiter at Blair’sstarted as a bartender at the Mixville Bar. In July 2010 he took over the business and shortened the name to EdendaleThe pub hosted a ‘100th anniversary party’ on July 27th. History Happy Houra group I’m part of decided to meet there on August 13th. I’m tempted to say hello to everyone who was there, but I’m terrified of accidentally leaving someone out. If you were there, cheers… and to Station 56 and the Edendale – here’s to the next 100!
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Eric Brightwell is an adventurer, essayist, hiker, explorer, cartographer and guerrilla gardener who is always looking for paid writing, speaking, travel and art opportunities. He is not interested in creating advertorials, producing clickbait or working in a listicle factory “for exposure”.
Brightwell wrote for Angels Walk LA, Amoeblog, Boom: A Journal from California, diaCRITICISM, Hello freelancers!, The hidden Los AngelesAnd KCET DeparturesHis art was presented by American Institute of ArchitectsThe Architecture and Design MuseumThe Contemporary craftsmanship, Form follows functionThe Business in Los Angeles County, Sidewalk walking: Getting along with Los Angeles, Skid Row Housing AssociationThe 1650 GalleryAnd Ample living space LA.
Brightwell was a subject and/or guest in The Los Angeles Times, VICE, HuffingtonPost, Los Angeles Magazine, LAist, CurbedLA, Office hours live, LA unravels, Spectrum News, Eastsiders LA, Boeing, Boeing, Los Angeles, I belong to you, Notebook on cities and cultureThe Silver Lake History Collective, KCRW‘S Which way, LA?, Everything in the valley, Listen in LA, KPCC‘S Like LAat Emerson College, and on University of Southern California.
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Eric Brightwell is an essayist, hiker, explorer, cartographer and guerrilla gardener. He lives in Los Angeles because he loves it – not because he was born there. He’s not really interested in street art, sleb culture or sunshine and prefers public transit to driving. View all posts by Eric Brightwell
