837 East Adams Boulevard

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  • Built in 1902 on Lot 17 in Block B of the Menlo Park Subdivision #1 by attorney and real estate investor Edward T. Sherer
  • On July 29, 1902, the Los Angeles Herald reported that E. T. Sherer had been issued a permit by the Superintendent of Buildings to erect a $2,000 six-room residence at 837 East Adams; Sherer acted as his own contractor
  • In 1906, Edward and Mayme Sherer sold 837 East Adams to real estate operator Louis Stair, whose family would occupy the house for the next 24 years
  • Louis Stair died at 837 East Adams on July 29, 1914; his wife Adelia died at 837 on September 22, 1920. At the time of her death, barber Ernest D. Herr, described in the 1920 census enumerated earlier that year as Mrs. Stair's foster son, and a recently widowed niece, Jennie F. Kuder, also lived at 837. Mrs. Kuder soon moved out of the house, leaving Ernest Herr in possession


An advertisement for what turned out be an unsuccessful auction of 837
East Adams appeared in the Los Angeles Times on October 25, 1925.


  • In 1925, Ernest Herr decided to put 837 East Adams up for auction. The firm of C. H. O'Connor & Son was in charge of the sale, scheduled for October 29; Charles O'Connor commissioned photographer Wayne Whittington, known as "Dick" and just getting started in his career, to capture the house for advertisements that appeared in the local press. The image below the title is based on Whittington's original photograph, which was used in a Los Angeles Times display ad on October 25, 1925. The house didn't sell
  • Ernest Herr remained at 837 East Adams; by 1928, Martha M. Chase, a widow who would be described as Herr's housekeeper in the 1930 census, had moved in. Ernest and Martha moved out of the house soon after the 1930 census was enumerated on April 9 and would be married in July 1931
  • Ernest Herr either retained 837 East Adams as rental property or sold it to someone who would be leasing it to various individuals through the war years. By 1946, the house had been bought by Willie and Mamie Henderson, whose family appear to have retained ownership of the house for the next 73 years
  • On February 15, 1961, a permit was issued by the Department of Building and Safety to an "L. Henderson" for the addition of aluminum siding to the house
  • Living with the Hendersons from 1948 were their daughter and son-in-law, Mamie and Clyde Bell. The Hendersons appear to have still been living at 837 East Adams at the time of her death on December 6, 1973, and his on December 17, 1981. It is unclear as to which of his family members may have then become the owner. Cited on permits regarding the disposition of the house issued in 2019 is a Willie L. Henderson of 837 East Adams, apparently born in 1938, but whose connection to the late Willie and Mamie Henderson is unclear
  • On March 26, 2019, the Department of Building and Safety issued permits for two identical duplexes that would be replacing 837 East Adams, one at the front of the lot to be addressed 837 and one at the rear, designated 839. The owner cited on the documents is Willie L. Henderson, alongside the name of an individual described as the agent of Willie L. Henderson, indicating a partnership in the redevelopment scheme
  • On April 17, 2019, the Department of Building and Safety issued a demolition permit for 837 East Adams
  • A Certificate of Occupancy for the project was issued in the name of both Willie L. Henderson and the developer on December 4, 2019


As seen in February 2019 just weeks before its demolition, 837 East Adams is one of a growing
number of vintage houses that are being replaced by twin duplexes that cover the entire
lot. While the housing crisis facing Los Angeles in the 21st century has spurred
a rediscovery of the century-old housing stock along the West Adams
corridor, its counterpart of bungalows and other modest
houses east of Main Street is seeing almost
monthly such replacements.



Illustrations: Private Collection; USCDL; LAT