Powers House
1904 – Arthur L. Haley
1345 Alvarado Terrace – map
Declared: 7/7/71
This Mission Revival home was built by and for Pomeroy W. Powers. Powers was not only the manager and a principal owner of the original Alvarado Terrace tract, but he was also President of the Los Angeles City Council from 1900 to 1904.
Powers took one and a half lots of the tract for $3,550 in 1902 and also played a big part in developing the small park across the street from his home (originally called Summerland Park, now Terrace Park, it’s L.A. Historic-Cultural Monument No. 210).
Powers, at the same time as overseeing the Alvarado Terrace development, was also making an unsuccessful run for L.A. mayor. In a statement published in the Los Angeles Times around this time of year in 1902, P.W.P. took the stance of favoring all legitimate commercial enterprises, the eight-hour day, and all needed improvements to streets, public buildings, parks and boulevards, while believing in full protection for all property interests and the continuance of the city’s prosperity. With a platform like that, how could he not be elected?
One more thing about the Powers House. After using the house to minister to the homeless since just after the 1992 riots, the Catholic Missionaries of Charity Brothers were forced out a few years ago after neighbors’ complaints drove the city to enforce the property’s zoning which barred it for use as a church and philanthropic institution. The shelter fought the ruling regarding what they had named Nuestro Hogar (“Our Home”), even taking the city to court, but eventually moved around the corner on Westlake.
Sources:
“Doings of Builders and Architects.” Los Angeles Times; Apr 6, 1902, p. A1
“Powers Will Make the Run.” Los Angeles Times; Sep 7, 1902, p. 9
Allison B. Cohen “Neighbors Divided” Los Angeles Times; Apr 25, 2004, p. K1
Up next: Raphael House
We just finished a esotouric tour of the area, and learned that the Powers had originally built and lived in the next door "Gilbert House", selling it to the Gilbert's and moving next door to the newly-constructed Powers House. Mrs. Powers put her foot down about constructing the opposite next-door lot, just to sell this house to someone else, so they stayed put. The constructions were only a year apart, but you can see the juxtaposition difference in styles from shingle-siding to mission revival.
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