When the Culver City Historical Society was incorporated in 1980, under founding President Cathy Zermeno, it moved quickly to begin a program of marking historic sites. To qualify, sites must be at least 50 years old, with historic significance. Our first marking, the site of the 1928 City Hall, took place in 1981, 10 years prior to the adoption of the city’s Historic Preservation Ordinance. Charles Lugo, my father, was the first Historic Sites Chair. Since that time, we have marked:
- Historic Site # 2: The Hull Building (first hospital, now Akasha restaurant)
- Historic Site # 3: St. Augustine’s Church (first church)
- Historic Site # 4: The Citizen Building (printer/newspaper publisher)
- Historic Site # 5: The Legion Building (first clubhouse)
- Historic Site # 6: Main Street (filed with the county in 1913)
- Historic Site # 7: The Culver Studios (Thomas Ince’s second studio in town)
- Historic Site # 8: The Lugo Ranch (last ranch operating locally)
- Historic Site # 9: The Helms Building (1930s famed bakery coaches delivering daily to door to door)
- Historic Site # 10: La Ballona School (first school in what became Culver City)
- Historic Site # 11: Camp Latham (Civil War Campsite)
- Historic Site # 12: Culver City’s First Park (Victory/Carlson)
This year, the society voted to mark The Veterans Memorial Building as Historic Site #13. The historic sites committee’s research unearthed many interesting facts about the building’s story. Did you know there was originally a restaurant there? Do you know the name or who ran it? (hint: a current councilman’s mother-in-law?) Do you know the intended function of the tower? If you attend the unveiling of the marker, you will know all the answers.
The society worked with the city for marker placement and to set a date for this special event to which our members, city officials, veterans and the public are all invited. The Veterans Memorial Building was not listed on the city’s original historic survey, completed in the 1980 – only due to its “youth.” It was built in 1950, concurrently with the plunge, next door. The building is now the required 50-plus years of age. This local landmark continues to play an important part in local history. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 10 a.m. in front of the building, (4113 Overland Ave., Culver City). Join us to learn more and share any fond memories you might have.
