Smith Estate (Los Angeles) facts for kids
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Smith Estate
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Smith Estate, 2008
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 Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5905 El Mio Dr., Highland Park, Los Angeles, California |
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| Built | 1887 |
| Architect | Abram M. Edelman |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne-Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000971 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 29, 1982 |
The Smith Estate, also known as El Mio (which means "mine" or "my place" in Spanish), is a historic Victorian house. It sits on a hilltop in the Highland Park area of Los Angeles, California. The street it's on, El Mio, was even named after the house! The Smith family, who lived there for many years, called it "El Mio."
This beautiful house was built in 1887. It was designed in the Queen Anne style by Abram M. Edelman. Over the years, many interesting people have lived in the Smith Estate. These include a judge who wrote books, the head of a major railway company, and even a deputy mayor of Los Angeles. The house has also been a filming location for several movies, like Spider Baby, Silent Scream, and Insidious: Chapter 2. Because of its history and unique style, the Smith Estate is recognized as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Who Lived in the Smith Estate?
Judge David Patterson Hatch
The first person to own the Smith Estate was Judge David Patterson Hatch (1846–1912). While some records say the house was built in 1890, it was actually being built in 1887. A newspaper article from July 1887 mentioned that the "frame of Judge Hatch's $10,000 residence" was already up.
Judge Hatch became a judge in 1880. He was known for his work in law. Later, he also became famous as a writer. He wrote books about philosophy and the occult, which is about hidden knowledge or supernatural powers. Some of his books included "Scientific Occultism" and "The Twentieth Century Christ." When he passed away in 1912, a newspaper called him a "remarkable man." They said he understood "deep philosophies of life."
The Smith Family's Home
Even though Judge Hatch was the first owner, the house became known as the Smith Estate. This is because Charles Warren Smith bought it in the late 1890s. His family lived there for over 60 years, until the early 1960s. Charles Smith was a very important person in the railroad business. He worked for big companies like the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. He also managed the Los Angeles Railway's streetcar lines.
During the Smith family's time, the house was famous for its fun parties. In 1901, the Smiths hosted a Fourth of July party. The Los Angeles Times newspaper said the music room was decorated with flowers and ribbons. In 1904, Mrs. Smith held a Japanese tea party. It had Japanese music, tea served by Japanese girls, and even pictures of Japan. This party was a fundraiser, and it only cost 25 cents to get in!
A long-time resident of Highland Park remembered the Smith house as one of the first in the area. They called it "a beacon for lost souls" because it stood out on its hilltop. The Smiths' son, Stanley Quay Smith, lived in the house until he died in 1958. He had lived there since 1895.
Deputy Mayor Michael Gage
In 1988, Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Michael Gage bought the house for $515,000. A deputy mayor helps the mayor run the city. The Los Angeles Times reported that Gage and his wife, Lacey, loved old buildings. They both fell in love with the Smith Estate. The house has four bedrooms and a great view of Los Angeles City Hall, where Gage worked.
Who Owns It Now?
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As of 2008, the house had been owned by Tim and Mari Parker for about eleven years.
The Smith Estate in Movies
The Smith Estate has been a popular place for filming movies.
- In 1964, the horror-comedy film Spider Baby was shot at the house. You can find clips online that show the house and its front porch from the movie. The director, Jack Hill, even went back to the house for a documentary. He showed where different scenes were filmed.
- The movie Silent Scream was also filmed here. You can see the outside of the house in the first ten minutes of the film.
- The house was used a lot in Insidious: Chapter 2. It is featured both inside and out as a main location in the movie.
A Protected Historic Home
The Smith Estate is an important historical building. In 1975, the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission declared it a Historic Cultural Monument (HCM #142). Later, in 1982, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as a special place that should be preserved for future generations.
