- Bank of West Hollywood
- Trains on Santa Monica Boulevard
Bank of West Hollywood (1926 - 1931)
8151 Santa Monica Boulevard
8151 Santa Monica Blvd
The Bank of West Hollywood was located at the northwest corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Crescent Heights. The bank opened in May of 1926.
Santa Monica Blvd. looking east to Crescent Heights
LAPL photo data base: date unknown
Photo by Thompson & Watson
View today
2008 photo: tlc
Next to the bank was Sam Seelig's Company Crescent Heights Public Market.
The bank was a brick building with adjacent paved parking. The building was arranged like a typical bank building for the time. On the ground floor was the lobby, teller/cashier station and desks for the vice presidents. Of course, at the rear there was a vault room where all the valuables.
Stairs led up to the upper area where there was a balcony overlooking the central main lobby, two conference rooms and a private office and bathroom.
The Bank of West Hollywood sold shares of bank stock to the public.
However, the stock market crash was just around the corner (Oct. 1929).
In 1929, there was a run on the banks. Like many banks at the time, the Bank of West Hollywood did not keep enough money on reserve for the panic.
The Bank of West Hollywood was forced to close it's doors in June of 1931. State regulated stated that its cash reserves had fallen below legal requirements.
The building sat vacant for many years.
When Trains rolled down Santa Monica Boulevard
In the early part of the 20th century, West Hollywood was a real working-class railroad town.
In this unincorporated part of Los Angeles, there was not much was out here except a few movie studios and an aircraft company (Douglas) at Cloverfield in Santa Monica.
People living in the surrounding areas of Los Angeles (where land was cheap) needed a convenient way to commute to work and shops.
In 1896, Moses H. Sherman and his business associate Eli Clark bought 5.6 acres on Santa Monica Boulevard southeast of San Vicente (now the Pacific Design Center) in an area of unincorporated Los Angeles County.
Colonel Moses H. Sherman
This land was to be the headquarters for their new railway system called they called Los Angeles Pacific Railroad Company.
Moses H. Sherman's set out to provide a mass transit system using streetcars, light rail and buses that would connect downtown Los Angeles with points to the surrounding neighborhoods such as Hollywood, Burbank, San Fernando Valley and Santa Monica.
The complex of steam power houses and shop buildings was called Sherman.
source: Los Angeles Transit History
In 1906 the Southern Pacific bought a controlling interest in Sherman's company. With more cash to spend - a large steam powerhouse was built along with a power substation, a massive brick car barn, an iron foundry, a brass foundry, a carpentry shop, repair and storage buildings, a large blacksmith shop, an oil house and power house.
Sherman's Railroad car barn and shop- West Hollywood
Santa Monica Blvd between Palm Ave and San Vicente Blvd
West Hollywood by Ryan Gierach
Same view today -Metro Division 7 Headquarters
Looking southeast from Santa Monica and Palm Ave.
2008 photo: 2008
2008 photo: tlc
Also at this time, Henry Huntington began buying land in growing areas not yet reached by public transportation. In 1901 is established the Pacific Electric Railway. The Pacific Electric Railway was also know as the Red Car system.
Red Car
wiki: red car
In 1922 Sherman's railway system was acquired by the Pacific Electric Railway System and it became part of PE's Western District. The route was called Sherman West Hollywood Line.
PE considered the Western District a suburban service. When PE took over - the West Hollywood Sherman railroad station continued to be used as a maintenance center for the lines based there.
Western District Substation - Santa Monica Boulevard
Metro photo archives
Looking southwest at Santa Monica Blvd. at Holloway Drive and Croft Ave.
- across the street is Barney's Beanery
1927 photo: USC photo archive collection
Barney's Beanery was founded in 1920
North side of Holloway just east of La Cienega Blvd.
2008 photo: tlc
In 1927 the Western District had ten inter-urban lines.
Looking northeast along Santa Monica boulevard in 1931
The railroad yard is in center of photo
(where the Pacific Design Center is today)
Photo: USC photo archives
Santa Monica Boulevard ends on the east at Sunset Boulevard
The Pacific Electric's famous Red Cars operated from West Hollywood were controlled from the Subway Terminal building. There were over 250 miles of narrow gauge track spreading from downtown into the valley and out to the beach at Santa Monica.
It was just a 20 minute ride on the Pacific Electric to the Hill Street terminal in downtown LA.
Santa Monica Boulevard followed the tracks of the Pacific Electric Railway.
Pacific Electric Western Division Substation - Sherman (West Hollywood)
West Hollywood by Ryan Gierach
Near the railroad - worker's homes and commercial businesses sprang up. The homes and shops encompassing the station became know as the town of Sherman.
PE on Santa Monica Boulevard
LAPL photo data base
date: n.d.
For years freight trains and trolleys regularly ran down the center of Santa Monica Blvd.
The West Hollywood train stop was at Palm
- across the street is the PE electrical substation
Same view today looking east down Santa Monica Blvd. at Palm
2008 photo: tlc
In the 1920's West Hollywood had no large industries other than a few motion picture studios and an aircraft plant. Lumber yards, hardware stores, auto mechanics, welders, and factories emerged along Santa Monica Boulevard to support these industries along with bars and restaurants.
Typical types of commercial businesses along Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood by Ryan Gierach
For years there was a lack of building regulation and enforcement in West Hollywood, especially along Santa Monica Boulevard.
LAPL Photo Data Base
After WW2 all remaining Western District rail lines were downgraded and classified by PE as local. Tremendous population strangled the rail lines.
Looking east on Santa Monica Blvd. towards La Cienega Blvd.
Metro photo archive
Same view today - Santa Monica Blvd looking east toward La Cienega Blvd.
2008 photo: tlc
2008 photo: tlc
The rail system eventually failed. Automobiles began crowding the rail cars. There were numerous crossing accidents. Major highways and freeways were built. Rail lines could not compete with the more flexible bus lines. There was lack of public support and public over site. Eventually the privately run inter-urban rail and street car system changed over to a bus system.
Metro photo archive
In 1954 the red car passenger service was discontinued at the West Hollywood division.
The big brick car house was torn down. The last trolley wires came down in 1958.
Demolition of the old car barn
Metro photo archive
Freight service still operated on Santa Monica Boulevard until 1974.
Southern Pacific train going east on Santa Monica Blvd.
1971 photo
Rail support buildings were demolished to make room for the Pacific Design Center and Sheriff Station.
The old railroad yard - West Hollywood
2008 photo: tlc
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1 comment:
Hi there,
I'm doing a documentary on The Palms in West Hollywood and came across your site. The history you've covered is amazing!
On your site, I saw a 1927 photo from the USC archive that I believe is pointing in the direction of where The Palms would be today. Here's the title you gave it - "Looking southwest at Santa Monica Blvd. at Holloway Drive and Croft Ave. - across the street is Barney's Beanery."
In your research, have you come across any pix of the area The Palms would have been?
Thanks in advance for your help and again, I love what you're doing!
Kate Eggert
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