Echo Park, California

For the second time in recent memory the City of Los Angeles, in preparation of repaving, has ground away the asphalt along portions of Echo Park Avenue and exposed the long dormant rails of the Echo Park Line.

Some history from the Electric Railway Historical Association:

The Elysian Park Street Railway Company built this line in 1889 on Echo Park Avenue from Temple Street to about 600 feet north of Sunset Boulevard as a horse car line.  In the fall of 1890 that part of the line between Temple and Sunset was abandoned and the rails removed.  In late 1890 the line was extended about a mile up Echo Park Avenue to Cerro Gordo Street.  The Los Angeles Pacific purchased the line on November 15, 1895.  The line was electrified by LAP in 1902, opening for service as such on November 20, 1902.  The line was standard gauged in 1909.  The Pacific Electric acquired this line in 1911, and it was operated until converted to bus operation on October 1, 1950.

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If you haven’t heard the J Low story here’s the original Variety blurb and the Defamer follow-up.

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This Saturday is the Echo Park Historical Society’s Silent Art Auction at Metro Gallery in…Silver Lake. Metro Gallery’s Echo Park owners Juan and David have opened up their gallery in support of the EPHS and now you too have a chance to support this local community group and walk away with some excellent art! Check out the EPHS website for additional information and the EPHS Flickr page to get a preview of some of the artwork that will be available Saturday night.

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While the rest of the Los Angeles City Council is on vacation Council President Eric Garcetti will be off for two-weeks of navel intelligence training in Pensacola, Florida.

Previously reported in Los Angeles magazine by Kevin Roderick.

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Check out Jenny Burman’s new blog Chicken Corner for some real writing about Echo Park. Jenny’s blog is part of the growing L.A. Observed media empire.

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