Exploring East Los Angeles to Find My Family Roots
If you have followed us at all, you will notice that we are interested in our ancestors’ story. We embarked on a recent adventure of exploring East Los Angeles to find my family roots.
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A Day Trip to Visit East L.A. Houses
This took us on a day trip to the Boyle Heights area of East L.A. The place where my Dad was born in 1929. I had found the addresses for three homes my grandparents had lived in many years ago. I was hesitant at first. Decades have passed since they were there, and I wondered if I would get any insight from following them in their first years as man and wife. My grandparents were married in November of 1927 and were expecting their first child soon.
The first Lebeck home in Los Angeles
They arrived at their first home on E. 6th Street, blocks away from the now bustling downtown. It was a small attached apartment with one level and relatively small. Just a short walk away is Hollenbeck Park, where, in May of 1929, the Laurel and Hardy film Men O’ War was filmed. There was a lake; back then, rental boats were available for the public. I imagine my grandfather spending time there with his young family, enjoying open green space that felt like his birthplace in Iowa.
We find the second Lebeck home a few miles away
The next date I found was the 1930 census. This showed the Lebeck’s lived approximately 10 miles from their first home on Herbert Street in the Belvedere Township of East Los Angeles. It was a quiet street with a well-established neighborhood. The house was divided into four separate apartments but seemed larger than their first dwelling. They now had two children. Grandpa was working as a bookkeeper at a paper factory—a modest income provided for his family. Dad was still an infant, and life was not easy for them, according to stories I heard from my Dad. The stock market crash of 1929 affected many aspects of daily living for those who didn’t have much money to spare.
Next stop, the church where dad was baptized
Dad was baptized at Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe when he was two years old. Gloria, my grandmother, was Catholic, and my grandfather was not. Since there was infant baptism in the day, I can only assume that because of the different faiths, it took a while to get Dad baptized.
We visited this church on our day trip. I was moved to tears as I walked around the church and then to the baptismal font where the baptisms occur. What a beautiful church.
A third home rounds out our home tour adventure
We finished our day with the last house I had on record before they ultimately bought their home in Sherman Oaks, where they spent their remaining days. My Dad’s cousin, Lyle McBride, visited his Uncle Harry in the ’30s and sent this picture to me several years ago. They spent more time here than the other properties. Grandpa Harry was an accountant at this time and likely made more money.
Exploring East Los Angeles
A car ride takes us on a trip back in time
I was pleasantly surprised to see my grandparents’ homes. Driving through the streets of East Los Angeles was to experience the culture of a very active and historic city. We went through East L.A. streets with a distinctive Latino vibe, which I was familiar with growing up. I felt that I could glimpse into the past, honor the people who were so important in my life, and see Los Angeles in a new light. It is a place of wonder, a place of history and culture that can only be found in the communities that make it a great place to visit.
Guerrilla Tacos – The best variety of tacos I’ve ever eaten
Shout out to a great taco restaurant called Guerilla Tacos on 7th Street. The food was an explosion of fantastic flavor in each mouthful. The tacos came with more combinations of flavors and complementary foods on a tortilla I have ever seen. I highly recommend it if you are ever in downtown LA.
Tips to explore homes connected to your family history
- Review family photos to learn where your ancestors once lived
- Contact the oldest members of your family to learn what they can tell you about family history and early residences
- Find early home addresses from public records and directories
- Old church records can point you to churches where family members may have been baptized or married
- Take your research notes with you when you seek out early family homes
- Takes photos and videos
- Bring along your family members to share in the adventure
That picture of Grandma Harry and all the kids- I recognized Dad right away. What an incredible day that must have been for you driving to all those places.