Washington Irving Branch facts for kids
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Washington Irving Branch (Original)
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Original Washington Irving Branch, May 2008
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 Location in Los Angeles
Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1802 South Arlington Avenue, Los Angeles, California |
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| Built | 1926 |
| Architect | Allison & Allison |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals, Romanesque Revival-Mediterranean Revival |
| MPS | Los Angeles Branch Library System TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001010 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 19, 1987 |
The original Washington Irving Branch library, located in Los Angeles, is a special building. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site. Built in 1926, this old library closed in 2000. A new library branch then opened at a different location.
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The Old Washington Irving Library
The first Washington Irving Branch library was built in 1926. It was located at 1802 South Arlington Avenue in Los Angeles. The building was designed by a team called Allison & Allison. It featured a mix of styles, including Romanesque Revival and Mediterranean Revival.
Inside, the library had a long, open room. It featured exposed wood beams and rafters, giving it a unique look. When the library closed, it still had its original thick wood shelves. Not many changes had been made to the building over the years.
A Historic Landmark
The Washington Irving Branch was recognized as a special building in 1984. The Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission named it a Historic-Cultural Monument. This means it was important to the city's history and culture.
In 1987, the library was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places across the United States that are important to history. The library was part of a group of Los Angeles branch libraries added to the list. These libraries were built in different old-fashioned styles. They helped start the city's first branch library system.
The building was described as a one-story Mediterranean style building. It was made of hollow tile, finished with brick and stucco. It had a rectangular shape with a tiled roof. There was also a bay window on one side.
Debates About Its Future
In the 1990s, the Los Angeles Library Commission wanted to close the old library. They planned to move the Washington Irving Branch to a new, modern building. This new building would be just 13 blocks away.
The Los Angeles Times newspaper wrote about the debate. They said it was good that people cared so much about their library. They thought a new, modern library made sense. But they also suggested upgrading the old historic building. It could become a community center, keeping its neighborhood feel.
In June 1990, the Library Commission voted to close the old library. They decided to open the Washington Irving Branch at a new spot. Many people spoke at a public meeting about the closure. Most of the 62 speakers wanted to save the old branch. They hoped it could be fixed up and made bigger.
The Commission President, Martha D. Katsufrankis, said they needed to think about the future. She felt they had to serve the whole community. City Councilman Nate Holden promised that the old building would find a new use. He suggested it could become a community center. However, people living in the area were not sure if these promises would be kept.
In 1991, the library commission agreed not to move the branch. They would wait until a new group could take over the old building. Residents were worried the library would close and the building would be left empty. Library Commissioner Douglas Ring said that an empty building is like destroying it. No one wanted that to happen.
The library stayed open and continued to hold events until March 1999. But a new tenant or use for the building was never found. For many years, the old building has been empty. It has been boarded up and fenced off. By 2008, it had graffiti and was surrounded by weeds and trash.
The New Washington Irving Library
The new Washington Irving branch library opened on March 6, 2000. This building is much larger, at 12,269 square feet. It is located at 4117 West Washington Boulevard. This area is in the Arlington Heights neighborhood.
In 2022, a small park called the Washington Irving Pocket Park opened next to the new library. Then-councilman Herb Wesson said this park was a great example of teamwork. He noted that the community, city council, and two city departments worked together. They made good use of the space for everyone.
See also
