52nd Place Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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52nd Place Historic District
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Charlotta Bass House, 697 E. 52nd Place
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 Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 639 to 780 E. 52nd Place (between McKinley Avenue on the east and Avalon Boulevard on the west), South Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California |
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| Architectural style | American Craftsman |
| MPS | African Americans in Los Angeles |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000398 |
| Added to NRHP | June 11, 2009 |
The 52nd Place Historic District is a special area in South Los Angeles, California. It is known for its beautiful homes built in the American Craftsman style. These homes are located in the Central-Alameda neighborhood.
Starting around 1930, many important African-American people began to live in this district. The area includes 37 buildings that are important to its history. There are also seven newer buildings that are not part of the original historic group. The historic homes are one-story houses. They were designed and built by the Tifal Brothers between 1911 and 1914. These homes have special features like low, sloped roofs with wide edges. They also have front porches and chimneys made of brick or river rock. Their windows have many small glass panes and are made of wood. The district is found on 52nd Place, between McKinley Avenue and Avalon Boulevard. It is just east of the South Park neighborhood.
What Makes This District Special?
The 52nd Place Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history. It helps protect them. The district was added because of its connection to African-American history in Los Angeles.
This neighborhood was originally for white families. But starting in 1930, African Americans moved in and became the main group living there. This time period is called its "period of significance." It is important because many famous African-American people lived in the district during these years.
Famous Residents of 52nd Place
One famous person who lived here was the singer Ivie Anderson. She lived at 724 E. 52nd Place from 1930 to 1945. Ivie Anderson sang with Duke Ellington's famous band. She recorded many hit songs, like "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" (1932) and "Stormy Weather" (1933).
Another important couple, Joseph and Charlotta Bass, lived at 697 E. 52nd Place in the 1930s. They were civil rights activists and journalists. Charlotta Bass owned and ran the California Eagle newspaper. This was the biggest African-American newspaper on the West Coast. She ran it from 1912 to 1951.
Other Historic Places in Los Angeles
The 52nd Place Historic District is one of several places in Los Angeles that are important to African-American history. Other buildings listed for their historical importance include:
- The Angelus Funeral Home
- The Lincoln Theater
- The Second Baptist Church
- The 28th Street YMCA
- The Prince Hall Masonic Temple
- The 27th Street Historic District
- Two historic fire stations that were once for all-black firefighters: Fire Station No. 14 and Fire Station No. 30.
