Inaugural article in the newly revived Tolucan Times newspaper representing the storied community of Toluca Lake, CA featuring regular articles by Kurt Krueger and Marcella Tyler Ketelhut. Below is an excerpt about the Lankershim-Toluca Adobe built in 1847. While the structure no longer stands, it’s a reminder of the communities history and the significant events of the mid-19th century in California history.
As a nod to one of the oldest homes in our storied city, we celebrate The Toluca Adobe, also known as the Lankershim-Toluca Adobe, built in 1847 by Ignacio Coronel, a Californio ranchero, as part of the ex-Mission San Fernando land grant. The adobe changed hands several times over the years, eventually coming under the ownership of the Lankershim family. And where does this gem sit? In 1920, it was incorporated into the grounds of the Lakeside Golf Club as its clubhouse, and like its celebrated counterpart, the Campo de Cahuenga, near the historic Cahuenga Pass, it too was torn down. What is particularly significant is the year the Lankershim-Adobe was built-1847–the very year the Treaty of Cahuenga was signed between Lieutenant Colonel John C. Frémont and General Andrés Pico in 1847, ending hostilities in California between Mexico and the United States. This paved the way for the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, where Mexico ceded the area including California to the United States, leading to California’s becoming the 31st state in record time, only two years later in 1850. So Toluca Lake was right in the epicenter of all this change, and minutes from the official U.S. birthplace of California.
Toluca Lake and its environs have so many storied homes, so many remarkable architectural styles and architects rep- resented, and so many untold stories, We want to share the old AND the new with you, and help you navigate the world of LA real estate and the hid- den in plain sight gems!
One note about our inclusion in the Tolucan Times; we feel that the Times, by revitalizing a local newspaper, is doing its part in creating community and fostering a sense of belonging and togetherness for all members of this distinct and ever-so-special community. While other newspapers have eliminated their architecture columns, we seek to celebrate the architecture and history that make Toluca Lake a unique part of greater Los Angeles, and perhaps, even offer the rest of LA a glimpse into how important it is to know your neighbors, neighbors, to patronize your local businesses, and support initiatives that benefit all. Now, we invite you to this journey into all things real estate and architecture!
Read the entire article: Let’s Get Real, April 2024
