We will take a Zoom tour along Colorado Boulevard and look into the auto facilities past and present along the route.
Although Eagle Rock’s development was made possible by the construction of the L.A. Railway in 1906, our long romance with the automobile began soon after. Beginning as a rich man’s plaything, the car increasingly became an everyday desire and necessity for life in far-flung Los Angeles. The privacy and convenience of the personal car overshadowed and eventually totally replaced the extensive local and interurban rail networks that made Los Angeles’ development possible.
Countering this concentration of auto services was the desire by many to re-emphasize the hometown services provided by the Boulevard. Efforts were made to encourage pedestrian oriented businesses. The revitalization of the Boulevard occurred but paradoxically, the primary means of access to these businesses continued to be the private car. Fuel and mechanical services thus remained a vital part of the urban mix.
Our tour guide: Eric Warren