While everyone else was focused on Anna Nicole Smith's funeral this morning, I was mourning the loss of yet more vintage housing in my neighborhood.
This cute little duplex was built in 1920. I thought about moving there 10 years ago when 553 came up for rent, but the bedroom was too small. I'd have had to downsize from a queen-size and sorry but I like my big bed.
It had the greatest little breakfast nook, and gorgeous built-in shelves in the livingroom and dining rooms. Plus, way cool vintage art-decoy doors and windows.
Last November it became vacant, and since then it's been vandalized and I think some homeless people were using her for shelter and/or kids were using it as a place to party.
I've explored it on various occassions because the doors were unlocked and no safety fence was ever put up around it until a few days before demolition began. There was also a small house in the rear of the property, it was filled with all kinds of crap that people just left behind including furniture and appliances.
Walter and I liberated a few vintage doo-dads during one of my last visits there, knobs and things. I like to think I'm preserving Burbank history when I save a bit of one old place from going to the dump and adding to my own apartment.
Yesterday when demolition began I stopped on my way to work to take pictures. Justin Tate, one of the workers from Torres Demolition on site spent time talking to me. "It looks like the people just split who were living here, they left appliances, televisions, food, clothing...." Yeah, it was pretty filthy inside. Someone even vandalized her with paint on the walls and carpet inside 533.
Such a sad way to end an 87-year-long glorious reign on the block.
I told Justin that I was interested in the history of such buildings, and today when I stopped by to see the last remains of her going down Justin came over to tell me some exciting news. Apparently when they were knocking down the side wall of 555, they found an old photograph inside the wall behind the fireplace.
COOL!
"I wish you were still here yesterday when we found it, I would have given it to you," he said.
None of the workers on site this morning claimed to have salvaged the photo or had knowledge of what happened to it. The only thing they could tell me was that it was larger than 8" x 10" and it featured a group of about 17 men in turn-of-the-century clothing, etc.
I would LOVE to find that photo, and figure who the men are and why the photo was tucked behind the fireplace wall. Justin took my business card and promised to call me if he found the picture or anything else exciting on sites in the future. Here's hoping! He also saved a cute little fairy bird feeder from the overhang for me, just before the last wall came tumbling down. Thanks, Justin!
See more photos of the old girl on my Flickr album dedicated to her memory.
What a wonderful posting - and thanks for enhancing it with so many photos! You always do such a great job! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Joe | Sunday, March 04, 2007 at 12:24 PM