The Rochester was built in the Second Empire style at 1012 W. Temple Street for Rufus Van Dorn in 1887. It remained a private residence until around 1900 when it was purchased by the Van Nuys family and converted into apartments. Nearly 70 years later, the El Pueblo de Los Angeles State Historical Monument Commission voted to move the structure to Main and Republic streets as part of a La Plaza redevelopment project. However, the Commission decided that the Rochester would look out of place at La Plaza and cancelled their plans to relocate and restore the structure. Donors and three members of the County Board of Supervisors sued the Commission claiming that they could not renege on their plans to relocate and restore the structure as public and private funds had been raised for that purpose. Years of litigation between the Commission and the County Board of Supervisors followed and the Rochester was moved to Alameda and Bruno streets after the plaintiffs won the case. While the Commission agreed to relocate and restore the structure, it was left in a state of disrepair at Alameda and Bruno for years, resulting in its demolition in 1978. Exterior view of the Rochester House, a Victorian residence located at 1012 West Temple Street and partially obscured by brick walls leading up to it. Photo date: February 29, 1960.
Rochester House (Los Angeles, Calif.) Towers Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments Palms Lost architecture Dwellings Stairs Architecture, Domestic--French influences Fences Downtown Los Angeles (Los Angeles, Calif.)
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
