712 East Adams Boulevard


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  • Built in 1895 on Lot 35 in Grider & Dow's Adams Street Tract by architect John A. Walls
  • Arriving in Los Angeles from his native Buffalo by 1884, John A. Walls soon joined the existing architecture firm of Kysor & Morgan (Ezra F. Kysor and Octavius Morgan); by 1888, the firm name was Kysor, Morgan & Walls. With Kysor leaving the partnership in 1890, the firm became Morgan & Walls. After several more corporate permutations, this partnership evolved into Morgan, Walls & Clements. These firms are justly famous for their prolific contribution to the built environment of Los Angeles from the time of the Boom of the '80s through the Depression
  • On February 10, 1895, the Los Angeles Times reported that John A. Walls had just purchased Lot 35 in Grider & Dow's Adams Street Tract for $700
  • John Walls, his wife Jessie, and daughter Eleanor remained at 712 East Adams until 1906, when they moved to West Adams. The Superintendent of Buildings issued Walls a permit for 2159 West 20th Street on April 10, 1906; Morgan & Walls was the architect. This house remains standing, as does 712 East Adams
  • Ownership of 712 East Adams is unclear after the departure of John Walls; renters between 1906 and 1912 included salesman Charles W. Finch and the Reverend F. A. T. Corneliussen, pastor of the Norwegian Bethlehem United Church on Maple Avenue. Renting the house for 30 years from 1912 was the family of James C. Rush, who had been a farmer in Indiana before moving to Los Angeles circa 1908 and occupying 219 East Adams Street for four years. Living with Rush and his wife Mary was their daughter Emma and one of their three sons Frank E. Rush, an inspector with the City Engineer's office, and his wife Suzie
  • The Rushes celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August 1920. The Los Angeles Evening Herald of August 12, 1920, reported on the celebration: "Give and take is the domestic philosophy of happiness and contentment expounded today by Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Rush of 712 East Adams street, following the celebration of their golden wedding anniversary yesterday in honor of their marriage on Aug. 11, 1870, near Roickville, Ind."
  • Emma Rush died at 712 East Adams Boulevard on August 10, 1928. James Rush died on January 7, 1930, with his funeral being held from the house two days later. Mary Rush remained at 712 until her death on April 11, 1942, 11 days shy of her 90th birthday
  • The family of street-maintenance worker Albert Brown and his wife Arnetta would occupy 712 East Adams for at least the next 30 years. Their daughter Marion, one of seven children, was still listed at 712 in the 1973 city directory


Illustration: Private Collection