The Evans Family: Early Residents of El Sereno
The Evans’ family home. The horse cart stands on a dirt road, later known as Gambier Avenue. Photo courtesy of E. Lloyd Evans.
This month, we are featuring the Evans family. Thanks to Cal State University of Los Angeles, who shared in their campus newspaper, University Times, our post announcing the Old Farmdale Schoolhouse being added to the National Register of Historic Places. As it happens, a relative of an early El Sereno family was reading the newspaper and came across the story.
After reading the University Times, E. Lloyd Evans left a comment, stating, “My father attended this school. He is on the postcard picture of the classroom about 1911. Stanley Evans was his name.”
We reached out to Lloyd to get more information about his family and the early days of El Sereno. He shared with us information about his family as well as a great photo of the era. Lloyd stated, “This is the home with my grandparents and my dad and his sister. I believe much of the Evans farm became Wilson High School.” The old Wilson became the site of El Sereno Middle School.
Photo of teacher and students in the Old Farmdale Schoolhouse, October 1911. Stanley Evans would have been a student at the school when this picture was taken.
The story begins with the arrival of the Evans family in the 1890s, Welsh immigrants. Lloyd Evan shares, “I believe my grandfather arrived in El Sereno about 1889 or very early 1900. Evan Evans did make a trip back to Wales and brought back Emma Evans as his wife. Evan had a brother who was with him early in his migration to Southern California. His name was Mose Evans, and he moved to Chowchilla, CA, where he had a decent size farm.”
A portion of the old Rancho Rosa de Castilla is purchased by Evan Evans, right across the Old Farmdale Schoolhouse.
The Evans family built a home along what later became Gambier Avenue. In 1901, Evan Evans had a son, Stanley Trevor Evans. Ten years later, in February of 1911, the Evans family grew with the birth of their daughter, Winifred. At that time, Stanley Evans was of school age and attended the Old Farmdale Schoolhouse.
Evans family estate, courtesy of The Homestead Blog. The blog is an interesting read as well. https://homesteadmuseum.blog/.../all-over-the-map.../...
The Evans family built a home along what later became Gambier Avenue. In 1901, Evan Evans had a son, Stanley Trevor Evans. Ten years later, in February of 1911, the Evans family grew with the birth of their daughter, Winifred. At that time, Stanley Evans was of school age and attended the Old Farmdale Schoolhouse.
According to Lloyd Evans, his Aunt Winifred continued to reside in El Sereno, “She was married to Harold Nelson, and they lived for many years at 4747 Grey Drive in El Sereno. Their son Van Kirke Nelson attended Wilson HS, East LA JC, USC, and USC med school. He served as a doctor in Kalispell, MT for many years and has passed away.” Winifred Evans passed away in 1994.
Special thanks to our ESHS board member and researcher, Louis Salcido, and E. Lloyd Evans for their contribution to this article.
Our History
Our History
Our History
The El Sereno Historical Society was formed by community members who saw a great need to preserve El Sereno's long and unique history. We had waited a long time to see if anyone was willing to take up the task. It was soon realized that waiting wasn't the option for our community. The ball had been dropped and it was waiting for someo
The El Sereno Historical Society was formed by community members who saw a great need to preserve El Sereno's long and unique history. We had waited a long time to see if anyone was willing to take up the task. It was soon realized that waiting wasn't the option for our community. The ball had been dropped and it was waiting for someone to pick it up, as simple as that.
A handful of us, old friends, new friends, and family, picked it up. We found it hard to put down something so precious, with only the hope that maybe someone else might pick it up again. Who are we to take up this project? Why should we care? Those were questions often asked amongst ourselves.
We (the El Sereno Historical Society), are all ordinary homeowners and residents living in El Sereno. Each of us has a career, a family, hobbies, and enjoy spending our free time with family and friends, just like everyone else.
But the need to create a source of information, where our community will be able to learn what it means to live in El Sereno, on how unique our community is from those neighboring us; that was too important to ignore. Especially when our own children are hungry for that knowledge about their community. After much contemplation we decided to set aside our free time and dedicated this time to diligently gather information from as many sources as we could find.
The El Sereno Historical Society was unknowingly formed. The great amount of work and focus required was only surpassed by the unflinching discipline we set upon ourselves.
The extraordinary workload and great amount of time required to collect and organize the historical information was something we never seriously considered; yet the core group who agreed to launch this historic endeavor never wavered from their commitment to finish what had been started. Even as the amount of work and time required continued month after month, our commitment never weakened. Our spiritual fire was kept strong knowing that all the months of work, of our free time, was not just for us. We knew the greater importance for completing a presentable project was so that our families, children, friends, neighbors, and the 48,000+ residents who call El Sereno home would all be able to read and learn what has been neglected for so long. The Authentic History of El Sereno.
Even though the fruit of our labor finally got online on January 2012, we are still working on updating, adding, making the website and the information presented better. We now realize and accept the fact that ours will be a life-long endeavor. We know that to make history-you need to actively live in it. The history of our El Sereno Community does not stop on any specific date. The history of a community is the Past, Present, and Future of that community.
We hope that through our efforts, the next generation of community historians have already taken root. So that when our borrowed time here comes to an end, the next soldiers-of-the-pen will shoulder the task and continue sharing the community's history, adding more facts and memories of a time before; so that those who are to come after them can continue to learn about El Sereno's history and understand the great importance of preserving and adding to it.
Let it be so...
Our Team
Our History
Our History
The History of El Sereno is brought to you by the dedicated members of the El Sereno Historical Society. It is the love and respect for our El Sereno Community which has led us to dedicate our time and effort to this endeavor.
Our Mission
Our History
Our Mission
Vision
Forge a solid foundation of knowledge, pride, and unity today: So an enduring, vibrant, and dynamic El Sereno Community flourishes tomorrow
Mission
Promote the history of El Sereno; empower residents to become informed and proactive; preserve El Sereno's historic landmarks, buildings, and homes; collect and conserve El Sereno's histor
Vision
Forge a solid foundation of knowledge, pride, and unity today: So an enduring, vibrant, and dynamic El Sereno Community flourishes tomorrow
Mission
Promote the history of El Sereno; empower residents to become informed and proactive; preserve El Sereno's historic landmarks, buildings, and homes; collect and conserve El Sereno's history (past, present, and future)
Our Goals
1. Bring the residents and public authentic, accurate, and reliable information concerning the history of El Sereno
2. Encourage and assist residents/stakeholder to become better informed and proactive community members
Help Our Cause
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals. Your generous donation will fund our mission.
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