I’m guessing this street car ride would have been a bit of a jerky, bumpy journey. Still, it meant that people living in Lincoln Heights, where this circa 1890s photo was taken, had a way to get into downtown Los Angeles without having to walk. It looks like this streetcar was headed for Temple St, which cuts across the top end of downtown, and then on to Downey Ave, which is quite a long way south of downtown, so those two horses (or are they mules?) had a long day ahead of them.
** UPDATE** – According to one source, this photo was taken in 1899 at the corner of Downey Ave and Pritchard Ave. As far as I can see, those two roads don’t intersect. At least, they don’t these days, but maybe back in 1899 they did.
According to this site the home seen in the background was once owned by European royalty. It was known as The De Rogniat Mansion.
In late 1903 William sold the #9 property to the same John Braly, and early in 1904 purchased a large acreage at the then corner of Downey Avenue and Pritchard Avenue, in the northeast section of Los Angeles. Formerly owned by the Baron and Baroness De Rogniat, they had moved back to France and wished to sell the property, which included a fruit orchard.
https://www.oldhomesoflosangeles.org/2013/03/
You’re such an informed (& appreciated) contributor, surprised by error stated. Unless I’m wrong (not unknown) European “royalty” referrers to ruling Monarchs, their families & often members of collateral branches. A Baron & Baroness would properly be referred to as “titled aristocrats”.
A little help in narrowing down date of posted picture:
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=LAH18910518.2.24&srpos=15&e=——189-en–20-LAH-1-byDA-txt-txIN-Rogniat——-1
Mr. Turnbull, did a house like this have any utilities? Or was it strictly well water… if they were lucky.
Thanks, Johnny!
The land was always pretty dry so wells could be difficult. Water has consistently been a challenging commodity in LA. From open earth channels in the early days to formalized municipal water it’s never been straight forward. Electricity didn’t even start to come to LA until 1916. Most of the country hadn’t seen incandescent light bulbs in person before the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1905. If the fire was in 1891 per the linked article oil lamps were probably the only artificial light this house ever saw.
In such an isolated location that was my guess also but wanted to know if I was wrong. Thanks –