Gentle reader,
Today we’re happy to share encouraging updates about two of our Los Angeles cultural historic preservation advocacy campaigns. Saving vulnerable landmarks is a tough road, and it feels good to celebrate the small successes along the way—especially when they come as a result of a great many citizens giving of their time and talents.
The video documents our Friday morning visit to Cornelius Johnson’s Olympic Oak, the living (if struggling) memorial to the African American high jumper whose talents so rattled Hitler that the dictator left the stands of the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin rather than shake gold medalist Corny’s hand.
Johnson’s pretty 119 year old family home at 1156 South Hobart is now empty, owned by a developer who had hoped to tear it down, until the landmarking process paused all building permits. The oak itself is dry, mildewed and likely suffering root damage from the massive development recently built to the north, destroying another Johnson family home.
But thanks to the efforts of esteemed environmental horticulturist Dr. Donald Hodel, and some nudging on our part, the city has asked the property owner to allow access to the yard so that the tree’s condition can be assessed, to ensure it lives long enough to become a protected Los Angeles landmark!
And last week, a crew from the Huntington Gardens installed a drip irrigation system, to address the most pressing threat to the oak’s survival. We were giddy to finally see signs of care ringing the great trunk, and are hopeful that one of the foundations mentioned as being interested in the property at the August 4 Cultural Heritage Commission hearing will soon buy it, so that the oak’s care and the restoration and reactivation of the house as a public space can begin.
When we posted on Instagram about the irrigation being laid, Ron Milford shared a lovely comment, slightly edited here: “As a former track and field athlete I hold this issue near and dear. Cornelius Johnson was a product of LA City schools—Berendo Junior High School and Los Angeles High School. My friend the legendary athlete and PCC coach/AD (retired) Skip Robinson had the highest of praise for athletes that came up through what he affectionately and respectfully referred to as "the Unified…" denoting the incredible grit and indominable spirit it takes for an athlete to rise up to international or professional athletics from the LA public school system. That mighty oak really is a living testament to the legacy of Cornelius Johnson, a true Los Angeles hero that came up through The Unified🥇. Thank you for helping to save both the oak and his former home, it means so very much!”
Meanwhile, up in Eagle Rock and elsewhere, a consortium of concerned citizens has been frantically responding to the legal and extralegal threats to the historic Jay Risk Standard Oil Co. Service Station at 1659 W. Colorado Boulevard—first the demolition permit, then unpermitted partial demolition of the station, and then continuing next door at the former plumbing company and residence, with junk piled very close to the station.
Yesterday, the Cultural Heritage Commission deemed as complete this landmark application submitted by Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society and researched and prepared by preservation pal Steven Luftman.
This was an amazing effort, and we’re kind of in awe of this ideal example of how the city’s policy of posting a visible demolition permit application prior to approving it can alert a community and spur it to furious and effective action.
What the accepted application means is that despite the pending demolition permit pulled by new owners Paradigm Collaboration LLC (aka Work Realty Advisors), all activity must be halted until a determination is made if the building will become a protected city landmark. And hopefully they will quit with the illegal demolition activity now. The first CHC hearing is October 6, 2022 at 10am, and we hope you’ll join us in calling in, or sending a supportive email, to ensure this Route 66 roadside landmark is treated with the respect it deserves. We’ll share the agenda and further instructions when it’s published, so save the date and stay tuned.
The closest thing to time travel we’ve done lately was to immerse ourselves in mid-century Los Angeles dive bar history to script the extra audio track for this new edition of the very beautiful and sad film Barfly, based on the life of Charles Bukowski. Pick up a copy of the limited edition Blu-ray to learn why we now hate the Culver City redevelopment agency with an incandescent rage.
With the temperatures less hellish, we’re back in walking tour mode this Saturday, September 17 with the debut Westlake Park Time Travel Trip, filled with weird tales and marvels in the heart of the old Los Angeles pleasure district—including a very special Barfly location.
Then on October 1, it’s another all new neighborhood history walk, Franklin Village Old Hollywood Time Travel Trip, packed with so many strange layers of lore that your brain will throb in astonishment. Join us, do!
yours for Los Angeles,
Kim & Richard
Esotouric
Psst… If you’d like to support our efforts to be the voice of places worth preserving, we have a tip jar and a subscriber edition of this newsletter, vintage Los Angeles webinars available on demand, in-person walking tours, gift certificates and a souvenir shop you can browse in. Or just share this link with other people who care.
Preservation news from Eagle Rock's Route 66 Standard Station and Cornelius Johnson's Olympic Oak