Picture of the Month (January-2016)
Photograph of an aerial view of Southwest El Sereno, 1940.
Southwest El Sereno (1940)
Hilly terrain of La Calandria hill marked by winding roads is visible in the foreground. In view on the left bottom is Alhambra Avenue/Valley Boulevard. Valley Blvd and Eastern Ave intersection can also be seen on the middle left of the picture. The Title Insurance Company Archives Building (now the Korean Church) can be seen at 2241 Eastern Avenue. A housing subdivision can be seen at center, note that Druid Street and Richelieu Ave has not been developed yet. Also seen is the old foundation of the El Sereno Country Club, site where the new Woodrow Wilson High School was built in the late 1960s. Behind the Wilson hill can still be seen remnants of the old Legion Ascot Speedway.
Note: Ramona Gardens and General Hospital are also visible in the picture. Further in the distance, Los Angeles sprawls out into the background.
Picture of the Month (February-2016)
Valley Blvd and Soto Street, El Sereno (1936)
Photograph of Valley Blvd and Soto Street Bridge, El Sereno, 1936. Looking west towards Lincoln Park.
Notice that Soto St. used to cross over the tracks (on the left of picture). This street is now closed. Also notice the stairs that gave pedestrians access to and from Soto Street.
Picture of the Month (March-2016)
You Tube video of El Sereno's History By Melissa Dominguez, Woodrow Wilson High School Student
Melissa Dominguez is a sophomore at Wilson High School. Since Wilson High School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) school, students are required to do a personal project which begins in the 9th grade and completed in the 10th grade.
For her project Melissa chose El Sereno's History, her culminating product was a video. Melissa acknowledges that "this wouldn't have been possible without your (ESHS) website and dedication to keeping El Sereno's history alive."
Furthermore she states, "the purpose of this video is to teach the residents of El Sereno to appreciate their community and to help others steer away from stereotypes that El Sereno is just a place of violence and gangs."
We, ESHS, are proud to present Melissa's video as our Picture (Video) of the Month!
Picture of the Month (April-2016)
Before Guardia Park, El Sereno 1938.
Looking north (towards South Pasadena) at Newtonia Drive and Guardia Ave.
Remstoy Drive is now located on the foot of the hill to the right.
In the far background (where the two hills converge) is South Pasadena.
Van Horne Ave and Portola Ave will be on the left, with Elephant Hill in the left background.
Below, close up of Newtonia Drive and Guardia Ave street signs.
Picture of the Month (May-2016)
Looking west at old wood bridge over the Pacific Electric four-track line, at Harriman Ave, 1932. Therailroad tracks below would later become Huntington Drive.
Old Huntington Drive Bridge, El Sereno 1925, 1932.
Before the automobile became popular, the Pacific Electric Red Line served as the primary transportation mode for the majority of people. These pictures depict a snapshot of the Pacific Electric Redcars that ran through El Sereno, as well as the long-gone Huntington Drive Bridge that once traversed above the four-track Pacific Electric lines.
Looking east at old Huntington Drive wood bridge, right before Harriman Ave, 1925.
Close the Maintenance work being done on the old Huntington Drive wood bridge, 1932.
BONUS PICS El Sereno's Huntington Drive and Harriman: Then and Now.
Below, looking west right before Huntington Drive and Harriman-1932 and today.
BONUS PICS El Sereno's Huntington Drive and Harriman: Then and Now.
Below, looking east towards Huntington Drive and Harriman-1925 and today.
Notice how much the roadway has been leveled over the years.
Picture of the Month (June-2016)
Huntington Drive and Monterey Road- El Sereno, 1959
A view towards Huntington Drive and Monterey Road from Edloft Ave and Waldo Ct. You can see the Rose Hill Courts in the mid-background.
El Sereno's Huntington Drive and Monterey Road: Today
View of Huntington Drive and Monterey Rd today, from Edloft Ave and Waldo Ct.
Picture of the Month (July-2016)
Huntington Drive and Monterey Road- El Sereno, 1959- Part 2
A view towards Huntington Drive and Monterey Road from Waldo Ct. You can see Huntington Drive North in the background.
El Sereno's Huntington Drive and Monterey Road: Today
View of Huntington Drive and Monterey Rd today, from Waldo Ct. El Sereno's Fire Station 47 can be seen behind the huge Ficus Tree.
Picture of the Month (September-2016)
Original Northeast City Boundary-El Sereno
One of four plaques marking the original boundary of the City of Los Angeles can be found in Debs Park/El Sereno border. From Northeast Newspaper article, September 24, 1980. Click on pic below to read entire article.
Above is the location of the northeast marker (one of four markers), indicating the northeastern border of the original four-square leagues that became the City of Los Angeles.
It is located as you enter Debs Park (at the border of Montecito Heights and El Sereno).
Above- Northeast Corner plaque, marking the farthest east point of the original four-square leagues of the City of Los Angeles.
Picture of the Month (October-2016)
Los Angeles Military Academy-El Sereno
In 1910, Col. and Mrs. Carson purchased 44 acres from Mr. Baird between Eastern and Fithian Street, abutting Huntington Drive, to build the well known Military Academy.
Mrs. Carson was so captivated with the beauty and serenity of the community, she spearheaded a movement to have the area officially re-named El Sereno. When the area was officially made a part of Los Angeles, the name became El Sereno. The Los Angeles Military Academy was located at 4800 Huntington Drive. It operated from 1910 to the early 1920s. Thanks to Louis Salcido for helping us locate this picture (undated).
Military Academy Tract
Above: Location of the Los Angeles Military Academy. It was bordered by Huntington Drive South, Eastern Ave (then known as El Sereno Ave), Twining St and Minto Court.
Above: Short article about the Los Angeles Military Academy, El Sereno. Courtesy of Northeast Newspapers, 1981.
Abve- Photo of young cadet from the Los Angeles Military Academy, El Sereno. Courtesy of Northeast Newspapers, 1981.
Picture of the Month (November 2016)
Heidleman Stairway: Williams Place to O'Sullivan Drive-El Sereno
Originally built in 1929, the "rickety" stairway was condemned by the city. It was replaced in 1968 and still in use today. The stairway is said to be the longest of the many stairways that dot El Sereno, totaling 226 steps (give or take a step or two that I might have missed in-between catching my breath).
A series of photos as I toured El Sereno's Heidleman Stairway.
The view of the staircase from Williams Place, El Sereno.
Halfway up, looking down.
Halfway up, looking up. Still got a ways to go.
Looking across the hill, over Valley Blvd and Alhambra Ave.
Made it to the top, all 300 stairs (give or take one or two),
The view from the top entrance at O'Sullivan Drive and Heidleman. You can literally walk by and miss it.
Picture of the Month (December 2016)
Pacific Electric Red Cars-El Sereno
After much researching, we compiled and created this video with rare and historic footage of the
Pacific Electric red cars running through El Sereno, circa 1930s and 1940s.