Old School Lynwood: Hosler and LHS

I have very fond memories of my early 1970's high school days and all the extra-curricular activities surrounding the experience. We were the mighty Lynwood Knights and our colors were purple and gold. But what of the origin of these buildings, created for another generation in the 1930's? Although they were not built for the "New Deal" by the WPA, they are reminiscent of that era in architecture.


So, if you went to Lynwood High School in the 70's or 80's, you showed up at the corner of Bullis Road and Carlin Ave. for your 8:15 a.m. class. That building is now the city's Jr. High which is ironic, since that is what the building was originally built to be.

The Postcard above (written sometime in the 1950's) says: This is the site of the oldest school in Lynwood. Originally called the Lugo School, later changed to Wilson School, it was damaged by the 1933 earthquake and torn down. This high school was completed in 1935.

On the other hand, what we knew as Hosler Jr. High was originally built in the 1930's to be Lynwood High School.

The Postcard shown above says: Built in 1930 as a Junior High School. When the Unified School District was formed in 1950, this building became the High School.

Now, Lynwood has two high schools -- the new Lynwood High, built on the former Seventh-Day Adventist grounds on Imperial Hwy. (remember Zody's?), and another more recently built school called Marco Antonio Firebaugh High School, built where Ham park used to be.

"...faithful and true, we'll be to our school -- Hail Lynwood, Hail!!!"

-- Joni

The Long Beach Earthquake of 1933 Shatters Lynwood

In 1933, buildings made of brick and shoddy mortar did not stand up to the test of an estimated 6.4 earthquake centered in Long Beach. Lynwood, just a few short miles north of the city, had the same issue.

The earthquake happened at 5:55 p.m. on March 10, 1933. A reported 115 people lost their lives in the aftermath, but that many more would have been lost if it had happened during school hours since many of the schools collapsed.

The Lynwood Theatre existed long before our beloved Arden Theatre, but was brought down to rubble in the 1933 quake.

Another view of the Lynwood Theatre after the quake.

Although there are no street names in this photo, the Security First National Bank is shown on a corner of a Lynwood retail street.

Early Settlers of Lynwood

When you visit the City of Lynwood Website, there is a long history about the early settling of the city. It includes characters that echo all the names of streets we remember: Don Antonio Lugo, who was granted the original land in 1810, then nearly a century later, his daughter deeded the land to a man named Heldman who then deeded it to an M.A. Sheilds in 1871. One of the founding families was named Abbott, then a family named Slauson deeded the land to a C.H. Sessions in 1902 whose wife's maiden name was Miss Lynne Wood. The area was then called Lynwood Dairy and Creamery.

The Lynwood company, a real estate developer with seven owners (including the Abbott family), set up shop among the dairy lands, sugar beet and hay farms in 1913.

The Lynwood Company, began bringing excursions of settlers to a circus tented area, offering lunch and free water service to anyone who would build on their 800 acres of land. This rare occasion was captured in one of the Phil Skinner collection of postcards (above).

The postcard above, dated in 1918, shows a home that was sold by the Lynwood Company in those early days. The exact location is unknown.

Old Time Lynwood Postcards

I was born and grew up in Lynwood, California, a town just 10 miles southeast of Los Angeles. So, how lucky was I that later in life, I met and worked with Phil Skinner, another Lynwood native, who collects professional postcards from our childhood hometown?

Here are some of the best ones of the bunch. The back of the cards have some interesting copy on them which is included below each pic. (Click on photo to enlarge -- there's some great detail here).

POSTCARD CAPTION:

ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL -- Lynwood, California. The building was completed in November, 1945. A new unit was added in 1953, bringing the capacity to over 400 beds.

POSTCARD CAPTION:

LYNWOOD, CALIFORNIA -- Long Beach Boulevard at Southern entrance to city. This thriving modern city has a rich history in the early settlement of California. Many of the family names of the original settlers are still found on the rolls of the active service clubs.

FOOD GIANT MARKET -- Lynwood, California. Lynwood is the home of one of the nation's largest super markets, the 64,500 sq. ft. Food Giant. The illuminated figure of the giant atop the building is four stories high, the largest plexiglass sign of its kind in America. Over 40,000 people shop in this huge market each week.

POSTCARD CAPTION:

A. B. GRAY MEMORIAL -- Lynwood, California. This 155 mm. cannon that saw service with the First Artillery division was dedicated as a memorial to the veterans of all wars. It was named to honor A.B. Gray who lived in Lynwood and died at the age of 94.

POSTCARD CAPTION:

HUNT'S MOTEL (Cal Highway 15) -- Lynwood, California. 21 new 'strictly modern' Motel Apts., all with full-tile showers. Some with Kitchenettes completely equipped, including refrigerators. TV and Radios available. Phone: NEwmark 2-1543.

POSTCARD CAPTION:

LYNWOOD, CALIFORNIA -- Built in 1917, this old Pacific electric Station is a familiar landmark. The rail line though Lynwood was constructed in 1905, and carried the settlers of the first real estate boom in 1913.

POSTCARD CAPTION:

World Savings and Loan Association is located on the corner of Long Beach Boulevard and Imperial Highway, Lynwood, California. Its location is approximately the center of Los Angeles County. The structure is said to house the most modern and up-to-date financial facilities of our time.

More to come....

-- Joni