technically, the Spanish-speaking residents of Alta California during the Spanish and Mexican era (1769–1848). More commonly the term referred to the property-holding elite, the 500 families who were given land grants during this period, including the most politically prominent families: the Bandinis, Carrillos, Picos, de la Guerras, Vallejos, Coronels, Castros, Alvarados, and others. Together they enjoyed economic and political dominance during the Mexican era (1821–1848). Among their numbers were a few Americans who had married into Californio families, such as Abel Stearns and John Warner.
This cracked me up.
But not every Angeleno was pleased with their presence. According to Michael J. Engh, a Jesuit priest and author of “Frontier Faiths: Church, Temple and Synagogue in Los Angeles 1846-1888,” a neighbor of the sisters wrote in a letter: “I am mad every time I see one of these sisters in the yard with their kites [their wimples] flying around, I mean their bonnets . . . those Sisters are too ugly to tolerate.”
1938, A long driveway lined with palms leads to the Los Angeles Orphanage, established by the Daughters of Charity who arrived in Los Angeles in 1856. In 1890, they replaced their original orphanage near Alameda and Macy Streets with this brick building in Boyle Heights. (Herald-Examiner Collection) Thanks to the LAPL.
I do love buildings from the eugenics era, particularly the orphanages. So many kids growing up in the years between the wars were raised in orphanages because their parents couldn't afford to raise them during the Depression.
Aerial view of the Los Angeles Orphanage at 917 South Boyle Avenue, southwest corner of Boyle Avenue at Stephenson Avenue (now Whittier Boulevard) in Boyle Heights, 1924. The orphanage is a multistory, brick, L-shaped building with a tower at the entrance that is flanked by date palm trees. The driveway leads from the entrance through gardens to the highway. The twelve acres include not only the orphanage and school but plots for gardens and fruit trees. Source: LAPL
Martin Turnbull writes,
Believe it or not, this imposing building was the Los Angeles Orphan Asylum. It was built in 1890 by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in Boyle Heights on what is now known as Whittier Blvd. where it gave LA’s orphans a home until the late 1950s. I guess the nuns must have had some pull because the architectural firm who designed this gorgeous building also designed the Los Angeles County Courthouse, which is another of LA’s great losses.
This orphanage below looks different than the one above.