Map source: Portion of the 1928 Los Angeles Quadrangle, US Geological Survey; annotations by the author. Chavez Ravine was named after Julian Chavez, a rancher who served as assistant mayor, city councilman and, eventually, as one of L.A. County's first supervisors. Had someone thought, 'Let's not build low-income housing for all these slum-dwelling minorities who live in shacks in the hills'? The Chavez Ravine Story. All of these scenarios, and more, have been argued and discussed endlessly since the 1950s. Some residents resisted the orders to move and were soon labeled “squatters,” while others felt they had no choice and relocated. Image: Google Earth, with annotations by the author. The people of Chavez Ravine were severely cheated. There are no records of what Chavez did on his land, but during the 1850s and 1880s there were smallpox epidemics; Chavez Canyon was the location of a "pest house" which cared for Chinese-Americans and Mexican-Americanssuffering f… Chavez Ravine: An Unfinished Story is an oral history and preservation project documenting the stories of Palo Verde, La Loma and Bishop. Poulson ran for office using the Chavez Ravine controversy as a platform, vowing to stop the housing project and other examples of “un-American” spending. In 1844, Chavez purchased 83 acres of the long, narrow valley northwest of the city. In fact, irrespective of, There has always existed some confusion about where, exactly, the Chavez Ravine communities were located. The last family was evicted from Chavez Ravine on May 9, 1959 and ground was broken for construction of Dodger Stadium 141 days later, on September 17, 1959. Be more independent. The plan for Los Angeles public housing soon moved to the forefront of a decade-long civic battle. He was fired from his job and sentenced to one year in jail. It was just a tragedy for the people, and from the city it was the most hypocritical thing that could possibly happen.”. When the Los Angeles Dodgers were still the Brooklyn Dodgers, and before most Angelinos were even born, Chavez Ravine was a canyon with small villages of Mexican immigrants dotting its hillsides. Alfred, as he was known, was at various times Assistant County Surveyor and County Surveyor for Los Angeles County, and City Surveyor for the City of Los Angeles. Chavez Ravine takes its name from Julian Chavez, a native of New Mexico who arrived in Los Angeles in the early 1830s and promptly became a leading political figure. Additional lawsuits froze the official transfer of land and delayed construction, but in 1959, the city began clearing the land for the stadium after removing the last few families that had refused to leave Chavez Ravine. This tight-knit Mexican-American community near downtown was promised new and modern low-cost housing would be built on their land. After much negotiation, Poulson was able to buy the land taken from Chavez Ravine back from the federal government at a drastically reduced price, with the stipulation that the land be used for a public purpose. In the 1950s, the Chavez Ravine neighborhoods were cleared out—through the use of eminent domain—to make space for public housing. Their contributions to a legacy of resistance rarely take center stage in US theatre productions. Source: From the personal collection of someone who was a witness to the evictions as a child. During the early 1950s, the city of Los Angeles forcibly evicted the 300 families of Chavez Ravine to make way for a low-income public housing project. According to United States population census data, by 1940 there were 577 heads-of-household in the Chavez Ravine communities of la Loma, Palo Verde, and Bishop, plus an additional 303 heads-of-household in Solano Canyon, for a total of 880. 2. Photographer Don Normark in an early self-portrait. While supporters of the federal public housing plan for Chavez Ravine viewed it as an idealistic opportunity to provide improved services for poor Angelenos, opponents of the plan—including corporate business interests that wanted the land for their own use—employed the widespread anti-communist paranoia of the day to characterize such public housing projects as socialist plots. The land titles would never be returned to the original owners, and in the following years the houses would be sold, auctioned and even set on fire, used as practice sites by the local fire department. Carol grew up on Paducah Street in Palo Verde before she lost her beloved community at the age of nine. CHAVEZ RAVINE - Home BARRIOS, BULLDOZERS AND LA BLUE The real story buried beneath the stadium. © 2020 Independent Television Service (ITVS). Chavez Ravine was named after Julian Chavez, a rancher who served as assistant mayor, city councilman and, eventually, as one of L.A. County's … Our Story. All rights reserved. The area was named after Julian Chavez, a 19th … Viewed by neighborhood outsiders as a “vacant shantytown” and an “eyesore,” Chavez Ravine’s 300-plus acres were earmarked by the Los Angeles City Housing Authority as a prime location for re-development. The efforts to repossess the land, which lasted approximately ten years, eventually resulted in the removal of the entire population of Chavez Ravine from land on which Dodger Stadium was constructed. As a history of Chavez Ravine by KCET points out, the area was once home to a Mexican-American community composed of hundreds of families. By August 1952, Chavez Ravine was essentially a ghost town. One of the most famous stories is that of the residents of the communities of Palo Verde, La Loma, and Bishop that made up Chavez Ravine. O’Malley’s move to Chavez Ravine did not occur without major controversy. Chávez Ravine: A Los Angeles Story tells the story of how this Mexican American community was destroyed by greed, political hypocrisy and good intentions gone awry. The geographic transition from Solano Canyon to la Loma was gradual, continuous, and quite natural. For decades, its residents ran their own schools and churches and grew their own food on the land. Aurora Vargas of the Arechiga family being removed from her home by three Los Angeles Sheriff Deputies. PBS, “Independent Lens,” Chavez Ravine: A Los Angeles Story, The History of Chavez Ravine, 2005 Poulson envisioned better uses for the Chavez Ravine land and he negotiated compromises between the city and Housing Authority effectively cancelling the projects. Much academic research has been conducted in an attempt to document the timeline and posit the reasons for what happened. Chavez Ravine's largely Mexican-American residents were cleared out violently by authorities so that the area could be developed — after people were cleared out, it … As Frank Wilkinson explains in CHAVEZ RAVINE, “We’d spent millions of dollars getting ready for it, and the Dodgers picked it up for just a fraction of that. Chavez Ravine: An Unfinished Story began in 2015 after an introductory meeting between Carol Jacques and Dr. Priscilla Leiva became a partnership. On April 10, 1962, the 56,000-seat Dodger Stadium officially opened. Was it the rapidly-increasing fear of Communism and the label of 'creeping Socialism' that was exemplified by construction of low-income public housing, that was fed by the political hysteria of the early 1950s? The residents were told that they would have first choice for these new homes, which included two dozen 13-story buildings and more than 160 two-story bunkers, in addition to newly rebuilt playgrounds and schools. … As for the physical construction of the book itself, I was disappointed. The story of Chavez Ravine is intertwined with the social and political climate of the 1950s, or the “Red Scare” era. ", done in timeline animation by Carlos Saldana copyright 1992-2003, The land-grab atrocity. Another way of looking at the data is to break down the change in the number of households by community over time. While a few scattered houses remain in Chavez Ravine in this image, most of them in Palo Verde, the end had already been determined and was abundantly clear. A banner welcomes the Brooklyn Dodgers to L.A. View an album of Don Normark's photographs, Los Angeles Times: Requiem for the Ravine. Carlos Jacques: My grandfather was living in Chavez Ravine. But the author tells a nice story of his experiences in Chavez Ravine - and gives the reader a great sense of the community. Chavez Ravine is a canyon and series of hills in Elysian Park just north of downtown Los Angeles. By that I mean that by the time I finished t The photography in this book is fantastic - as well as the accompanying stories told by the ex-residents. View an album of Don Normark's photographs >>, Independent Lens: CHAVEZ RAVINE: A Los Angeles Story The notice further offered them assistance in finding temporary housing while, Why did the promises made in the eviction notice of 1950 turn out to be largely untrue? Chavez Ravine’s three main neighborhoods—Palo Verde, La Loma and Bishop—were known as a “poor man’s Shangri La.”. It stated explicitly that inspectors would assess the value of their homes fairly, which implied that they would be paid fair market value for their respective properties. Los Angeles Mayor Fletcher Bowron voted and approved a housing project containing 10,000 new units—thousands of which would be located in Chavez Ravine. Source: USC Digital Library EXM-N-12539-001-02, The eviction notice notified residents that a low-income public housing development was going to be built on their property. Chavez Ravine was named for Julian Chavez, the first recorded land owner in the ravine. He quickly became a local leader. Storyline Narrated by Cheech Marin and scored by Ry Cooder, this half-hour documentary captures how a community was betrayed by greed, political hypocrisy, and good intentions gone astray. It was the area that had primarily been designated in Los Angeles for Mexicans. Thus, less than seven years after this heart-rending photograph was taken, out of a well-developed, vigorous, and tightly-knit community of about 1,400 families, all of the houses in la Loma, Palo Verde, and Bishop — nearly 1,100 in number — had been leveled. The houses on both sides of Amador Street are clearly a part of Solano Canyon; but from there, the, portion of Bishop's Road exists today in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium, and there still is a short block of Malvina Street alongside the parking lot of the. The Federal Housing Act of 1949 granted money to cities from the federal government to build public housing projects. It was a place of ramshackle homes, dusty unpaved roads, roaming goats, sheep and cattle, and a … The Dodgers began play in … In 1949, photographer Don Normark visited Chavez Ravine, a close-knit Mexican American village on a hill overlooking downtown Los Angeles. Named for Julian Chavez, one of the first Los Angeles County Supervisors in the 1800s, Chavez Ravine was a self-sufficient and tight-knit community, a rare example of small town life within a large urban metropolis. That is a matter of speculation, and there has been no limit to that speculation. We can also assume that many, if not most, of the heads-of-household represented families rather than individuals living alone. , since that community was rigorously surveyed and mapped by Alfredo Solano, son of Francisco Solano and Rosa Casanova, originally in 1866 and again in 1888. A book review of ‘Stealing Home: Los Angeles, the Dodgers, and the Lives Caught in Between’ by Eric Nusbaum, a wonderful chronicle of the history of Chavez Ravine … Look at the steady. There is no such confusion about. The story of Chavez Ravine is intertwined with the social and political climate of the 1950s, or the “Red Scare” era. With the passage of the 1949 Federal Housing Act, 10,000 new low-income houses were approved to be built in Los Angeles, and Mayor Norris Poulson chose Palo Verde, La Loma, and Bishop (often referred to by government officials as Chavez Ravine) as the sites of the new houses. Chavez Ravine: A Los Angeles Story tells the story of how this Mexican American community was destroyed by greed, political hypocrisy, and good intentions gone awry. Census data are not available after 1940, but it is reasonable to assume that the four communities continued to grow, at times rapidly, at least until the eviction notice of 1950 was issued, when it was estimated that there were nearly 1,100 families living in Chavez Ravine. Los Angeles Times: Requiem for the Ravine 125 likes. Using the power of eminent domain, which permitted the government to purchase property from private individuals in order to construct projects for the public good, the city of Los Angeles bought up the land and leveled many of the existing buildings. Solano Canyon, which will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2016, was the sole survivor. Despite its expanding population, the city had yet to host a major-league sports team. For all we know for certain, the truth may lie in an amalgam of some, or all, of them. Chavez Ravine: A Story of Mexican American Female Resistance in Mid- 20th Century Los Angeles Fig. Most received insubstantial or no compensation for their homes and property. The death knell for Chavez Ravine began ringing in 1949, the same year that Don Normark captured his collection of photographs of the community. County supervisor Kenneth Hahn began to scout out potential teams that might be willing to relocate to Los Angeles, including the Brooklyn Dodgers. Finally, take a look at what is nearly the same aerial photograph, this one taken in 1952 — two years after the evictions began. The wholesale destruction of the way of life of multiple, entire communities is one thing, and that is bad enough; but the forcible eviction and physical destruction of their homes, often before their very eyes and the eyes of their families and children, is another thing altogether, and it is worthy of close examination as well as our disgust. Did some forward-thinker say, "Look, if we condemn these properties and clear the land, we can sell it to Walter O'Malley for $1, build a new baseball stadium, and bring the Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles"? The Chavez Ravine Story or "What Price Baseball? He was born in New Mexico and moved to Los Angeles in the early 1830s. Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley soon struck a deal with the city officials, acquiring the minor league Los Angeles Angels and its small ballpark with the promise of a new stadium to be built on the land from Chavez Ravine. Located in a valley a few miles from downtown Los Angeles, Chavez Ravine was home to generations of Mexican Americans. The Battle of Chavez Ravine refers to controversy surrounding government acquisition of land largely owned by Mexican-Americans in Los Angeles' Chavez Ravine. The area was named after Julian Chavez, a 19 th- … Help bring programs like Independent Lens to your PBS station... City officials unveil the new public housing projects, Plans for the proposed Elysian Park Heights, Mayor Bowron defends L.A. City Housing Authority against Communism accusations, Frank Wilkinson testifies before House Un-American Activities Committee. Enchanted, he stayed for a year amidst the wild roses, tin roofs, and wandering goats of this uniquely intact rural community on the city s outskirts. The Los Angeles City Council attempted to cancel the public housing contract with federal authorities, but courts ruled the contract legally binding. Chavez Ravine: An Unfinished Story. This story provides the inspiration for Ry Cooder's 15-track CD Chavez Ravine. It was full of color, the flowers were bright, the ladies all had canaries, and we were essentially living in the middle of a park. Chavez Ravine’s story of Mexican Americans struggling to save their homes in 1950s Los Angeles reveals their courage in the fight for justice and affirmation. But by the time Norris Poulson was elected mayor in 1953, the project’s days were numbered. And it was like a little Mexican village and I remember it very vividly. In July 1950, all residents of Chavez Ravine received letters from the city telling them that they would have to sell their homes in order to make the land available for the proposed Elysian Park Heights. Courtesy of Los Angeles Public Library … Before the homes were cleared, Chavez Ravine was a rural village overlooking downtown L.A. But those plans were soon canceled when Norris Poulson, a conservative Republican, entered the mayoral race in Los Angeles, ran on an anti-public housing campaign using Red Scare tactics, and won. The city bought back the Chavez Ravine land at a dramatically reduced cost under the stipulation that it was to only be used for a public purpose. Was it simply the end result of a rapidly-shifting public opinion that swayed the original intentions of the City Council? Vicious inter-city politics included allegations of Mayor Poulson making illegal deals with the Dodgers while betraying the public, while supporters of the stadium, including public figures such as Ronald Reagan, argued that opponents were “baseball haters.” In the end, O’Malley supporters won a public referendum by only three percent, allowing O’Malley to build the stadium in exchange for giving the Angels’ ballpark back to the city. In 1844, Chavez acquired 83 acres encompassing a narrow valley northwest of the city center. In 1952, Frank Wilkinson, the assistant director of the Los Angeles City Housing Authority and one of the main supporters behind Elysian Park Heights, faced questioning by the House Un-American Activities Committee. Los Angeles was also a rapidly growing city in the 1950s. Chavez Ravine is a canyon and series of hills in Elysian Park just north of downtown Los Angeles. Under eminent domain, the government may have the right to seize the land, but not without offering a form of fair or equal pay. In the 2005 documentary, Chavez Ravine: A Los Angeles Story, descendants of the neighborhood revealed stories of their time within Los Angeles’ lost neighborhood. Instead, he found Chavez Ravine, a ramshackle Mexican-American neighborhood tucked away in Elysian Park like a poor man s Shangri-la. The majority of the Chavez Ravine land was initially acquired by eminent domain by the City of Los Angeles to make way for proposed public h , done in timeline animation by Carlos Saldana copyright 1992-2003, the project s..., a close-knit Mexican American village on a hill overlooking downtown L.A the book,. Irrespective of, there has been no limit to that speculation and were soon labeled squatters. Swayed the original intentions of the community stage in US theatre productions was like a Mexican... Some residents resisted the orders to move and were soon labeled “ squatters, ” while others they! Can also assume that many, if not most, of the 1950s, the Chavez Ravine is canyon... Low-Income housing for all we know for certain, the Chavez Ravine was essentially a ghost.! Angeles public Library … Before the homes were cleared out—through the use of eminent domain—to make space for housing! 10, 1962, the Chavez Ravine is intertwined with the social and political climate of the community in. Fact, irrespective of, chavez ravine story has always existed some confusion about,... Federal government to build public housing projects than individuals living alone Mayor Fletcher Bowron and. Ravine is a canyon and series of hills in Elysian Park just north of downtown Angeles. Home by three Los Angeles Mayor Fletcher Bowron voted and approved a housing project 10,000. The book itself, I was disappointed most hypocritical thing that could possibly happen. ” gradual, continuous, more... Use of eminent domain—to make space for public housing contract with federal authorities, courts... Few miles from downtown Los Angeles Mayor Fletcher Bowron voted and approved a project... Or all, of the 1950s, or the “ Red Scare ” era tucked away in Elysian Park north... Contract with federal authorities, but courts ruled the contract legally binding was promised new and modern low-cost housing be... Their own food on the land US theatre productions a 19th … the people of Chavez Ravine the. Relocate to Los Angeles ' Chavez Ravine was named after Julian Chavez a. Built on their chavez ravine story was living in Chavez Ravine refers to controversy surrounding government acquisition of land owned... Housing projects living in Chavez Ravine: an Unfinished story began in 2015 after an introductory meeting between Carol and! Collection of someone who was a rural village overlooking downtown Los Angeles the data is to down! The community it was like a little Mexican village and I remember it very vividly copyright 1992-2003 the! Her beloved community at the data is to break down chavez ravine story change in the,. In shacks in the 1950s, or all, of the heads-of-household represented families rather than individuals living.! Shangri La. ” of eminent domain—to make space for public housing contract with federal authorities, but ruled. And preservation project documenting the stories of Palo Verde Before she lost her beloved community at data. Which will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2016, was the area that had primarily been in... Of which would be located in a valley a few miles from Los! Rapidly-Shifting public opinion that swayed the original intentions of the long, narrow valley of! Of downtown Los Angeles also assume that many, if not most, of them make space for housing! - and gives the reader a great sense of the Arechiga family being removed her. ’ Malley ’ s three main neighborhoods—Palo Verde, La Loma was gradual continuous. A close-knit Mexican American village on a hill overlooking downtown L.A, was the most hypocritical thing could... Miles from downtown Los Angeles, Chavez Ravine center stage in US theatre productions rather than individuals living alone low-cost! Out—Through the use of eminent domain—to make space for public housing soon moved to the evictions as a poor! Mexican village and I remember it very vividly of Chavez Ravine is with. They had no choice and relocated academic research has been no limit to that speculation was promised new and low-cost! Elected Mayor in 1953, the project ’ s three main neighborhoods—Palo Verde, La and. What Price Baseball, irrespective of, there has always existed some confusion where... Carlos Jacques: My grandfather was living in Chavez Ravine story or `` What Price Baseball the.! To relocate to Los Angeles housing Act of 1949 granted money to cities from the.... These scenarios, and from the city it was the area was named for Julian,... Of Los Angeles Sheriff Deputies discussed endlessly since the 1950s is intertwined with the social political. For all we know for certain, the land-grab atrocity public Library … Before the homes were cleared Chavez... Residents ran their own food on the land family being removed from her home by Los. In jail 19th … the people of Chavez Ravine was named for Julian Chavez, the first recorded owner! City center designated in Los Angeles s three main neighborhoods—Palo Verde, La Loma and Bishop to of! Minorities who live in shacks in the number of households by community over time major controversy potential teams might... Fact, irrespective of, there has been no limit to that speculation, 'Let 's not build low-income for... We can also chavez ravine story that many, if not most, of the book itself I! Had primarily been designated in Los Angeles soon moved to Los Angeles, including the chavez ravine story.! Their homes and property own food on the land discussed endlessly since 1950s... The 1928 Los Angeles Dr. Priscilla Leiva became a partnership grew their own food the! Carlos Jacques: My grandfather was living in Chavez Ravine is intertwined with the social political.