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W. J. Washburn -- 4000 Pasadena Avenue

In 1910, 4000 Pasadena Avenue looked like a quiet country area. Just three miles north of downtown nestled in Arroyo Seco canyon, William J. Washburn (1852-1931) and his wife Helen had already lived here more than ten years.

William was a successful banker in Los Angeles, moving here in 1889 from St. Louis, where he'd met Helen while in business with his father. In fact, his parents moved also to L.A. in the 1890's, and after his father's death, his mother Jennie resided in this household. It was also in this past decade that William had served for eight years on the Board of Education, as well as serving with the Chamber of Commerce and the Los Angeles City Council.

But later that year the family moved to their new residence in a more fashionable new neighborhood, settling at 2200 S. Harvard Boulevard, in the West Adams district. They remained there until Helen's death in 1932, followed by William's in 1935. Both are buried with William's parents in the Washburn plot at Evergreen Cemetery, one of Los Angeles' oldest.

And what happened to the house on Pasadena Avenue?  By 1915 it became the Page Preparatory Academy, with Mrs. Minnie Bennett in charge. Later the street was renamed to Figueroa and the large property today has become a car wash.


And below is a photo of the Board of Education taken ca. 1898. William Washburn is at lower left. (image courtesy of lapl.org)

Short bio of Mr. Washburn (1915) Labels: Banking, Board of Education, Highland Park, Los Angeles Res.


George Ira Cochran -- 2249 S. Harvard

Born near Toronto, Canada, in 1863, George I. Cochran grew up spending six years (1873 - 1879) in Japan with his parents. Upon his return, he entered Toronto University, becoming an attorney and practicing law. In March, 1888 he came to Los Angeles where he again took up law. In the financial panic of 1893 he became involved with banking organizations, which led him to organize and incorporate the Broadway Bank and Trust Company, which had offices in the Bradbury Building downtown. From there he became part of the forming of the Conservative Life Insurance Company, joining major investor Frederick Rindge.
Cochran's father, after a second mission to Japan, came to live in Southern California to recuperate. He was named Dean of the Liberal Arts college at USC, followed by Acting President in 1893.

Cochran the son was also heavily into real estate. Below is a full-page ad for Pacoima in 1905 in the Los Angeles Herald. George was so proud he put his name in the "Your Investment is Guaranteed" box. He was also invested in a new West Adams subdivision, where he had a large home built for him around 1903 at 2249 S. Harvard. Interestingly, in the photo of his house below, the house that is visible in the left background belonged to Frederick Rindge.

Upon Rindge's untimely death as President of Conservative Life, Cochran moved into the Vice President's position, following Wilbur S. Tupper, another director and investor in the company, who became President. In 1906 Conservative Life merged with Pacific Life Mutual (founded by Leland Stanford), and after a brief scandal involving Mr. Tupper and a "Los Angeles woman", Cochran became President of Pacific Life Mutual.

Today both the Rindge and Cochran houses still stand. The Cochran house is owned by the First African Methodist Episcopal Church located across the street, and is used for receptions and Sunday School classes.

And another of the businesses Cochran was involved in?  The Rosedale Cemetery, where he was interred upon his death in 1949.

A little-known fact about George Cochran--while in Toronto he was good friends with Arthur Letts, and helped convince Letts to move to L.A. from Seattle, where he had been struggling in the retail business. Cochran then co-signed Letts' original $5,000 loan from a Los Angeles bank, which allowed Letts to start Broadway (and Bullock's) department stores.
 Labels: Banking, House Extant, Los Angeles Res., Real Estate, West Adams


 


Mrs. Frederick Rindge -- 2263 South Harvard Blvd.

Updated 3/7/2017

Built around 1903, the Rindge Mansion was created for the Frederick Rindge family. Frederick and his wife Rhoda Mae came to Los Angeles in 1887, first settling in Santa Monica. After purchasing the land grant Malibu-Topanga Ranch, the family spent most of the time there until the house burned down in 1903.

Frederick was an only son who inherited a fortune from his Massachusetts parents. Unfortunately, he was to pass away soon after moving to the new mansion. He died in Yreka in 1905 while on vacation/business with his family. The Los Angeles Herald reported his death extensively. He is buried in Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery.

The home at 2263 S. Harvard Boulevard still exists today as a well-kept single family home, a city-recognized Historic Landmark, and a listing on the National Register.

Below--the house in 1910.

At the time it was still the main house for Rhoda Mae, her three children Samuel, Frederick Jr., and Rhoda Agatha, along with multiple servants and chauffeur. They were later to move back to Malibu almost full-time, and daughter Rhoda eventually took over the Malibu venue, upon her mother's passing. You may notice that Adohr  is Rhoda spelled backwards--which brings fond memories to many Southern Californians of the 20th century.

Hats off to Floyd Bariscale who has taken the time to do the first 240 landmarks in Los Angeles. Here's what he had to say about the Rindge Mansion.
 Labels: Adams-Normandie, House Extant, Los Angeles Res.


Russell Judson Waters--900 West Adams Street

Updated 11/20/2016

Born in Vermont in 1843, Russell Judson Waters (1843-1911) became a practicing lawyer in Illinois until 1886, when he moved to southern California, founding the city of Redlands. For many years he was city attorney there. In 1894 he moved to Los Angeles, and was elected to Congress in 1898. He was President of Citizens National Bank, and the State Bank of San Jacinto, as well as President of Home Savings Bank. In an article for the Los Angeles Herald in 1910, the Citizens National Bank Board of Directors read like a who's who of West Adams, including J. Ross Clark, E.L. Doheny, J.J. Fay, Jr., and of course R.J. Waters. In 1910 Waters lived here at 900 W. Adams St.

In the house with him when the census taker arrived were his second wife, Maude, whom he married in 1905, along with daughters Mable, Florence, and Myrtle. Maude was three years younger than Arthur Waters, L.A. banker, and Russell's only son. It was a first marriage for Maude. By 1911 she was President of the California Federation of Women, and was touring near Placerville when Russell died of a lingering illness on Sept. 25 of that year. He is buried in Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Located next door to the 2nd Church of Christ Scientist at 946 W. Adams, the house was still extant in 1956. Today the church survives, but sadly this mansion did not. Before it was torn down, however, it was featured in the 1940's movie "Curse of the Cat People".

Here is a view looking towards the front door in the mid 1940's, and an additional earlier photo of the house is posted below--note the large stone step for dismounting from a horse carriage. Labels: Banking, Los Angeles Res., Politics, University Park, West Adams