The Salt Box facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Salt Box |
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The Salt Box
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| Governing body | private |
| Designated | 1962 |
| Reference no. | 5 |
The Salt Box was a special house built in the 1880s. It was located in the Bunker Hill area of Los Angeles, California. The house was designed in a unique style called "saltbox". This style was very popular in New England. Its first address was 339 South Bunker Hill Avenue.
In the late 1800s, Bunker Hill was one of the fanciest neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Many beautiful Victorian homes stood there. The Los Angeles Times newspaper once described old Bunker Hill. They said its buildings were very decorative. The large houses were made of wood. They had fancy "Gothic gingerbread" details. These details made them look like they were made of stone. The Salt Box house was not as grand as some of its neighbors. However, students who studied architecture loved it. They admired its simple and clear design.
Saving Historic Homes
In the 1950s, the city of Los Angeles decided to redevelop the Bunker Hill area. This meant many old buildings would be torn down. By the early 1960s, people who wanted to save old buildings started working. They tried to protect the Salt Box and another large house called the Castle.
Becoming a Monument
In August 1962, the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Board was created. This board helps protect important historic places. On its very first day, the Salt Box was named a Historic Cultural Monument (HCM #5). This made it one of the first buildings in Los Angeles to get this special protection. The Castle house also became a historic monument in May 1964 (HCM #27).
For several years, people tried to save the Salt Box. They wanted to find a way to keep it safe while the area was redeveloped. By 1968, almost all the Victorian homes on Bunker Hill Avenue were gone. Only the Salt Box and the Castle remained.
A Last-Minute Rescue
In August 1968, a newspaper editor named Ray Herbert wrote an article. He said the two homes would be torn down the next month. This was to make space for a huge new skyscraper project. Plans to move the houses to a special "Heritage Park" had failed. Herbert wrote that it was "the end" for Bunker Hill's last old mansions.
But in September 1968, something amazing happened. The Los Angeles Recreation and Park Commission voted to save the houses. They decided to move the Salt Box and the Castle to city land in Montecito Heights. This is where the Heritage Square Museum was later built. The demolition was set for October 1, 1968, so this vote saved them just in time!
A Sad Ending
In March 1969, the Salt Box and the Castle finally moved to Montecito Heights. They were meant to be main attractions at the new Heritage Square. However, after years of being neglected, both houses were in very bad condition. A fundraising effort began to collect money to fix them up.
Sadly, just seven months after they moved, both houses were destroyed. In October 1969, a fire started by vandals burned them down. The Los Angeles Times reported on the tragedy. They said that since the houses had moved, people had broken into them. Young people had even used them for parties. It was a sad end for these historic homes.
