Old images of Echo Park, Delta and Morton Avenues
The EPHS would like to thank Mike Balmer for sending photos of some of the businesses that used to be located at the crossroads where Echo Park, Delta and Morton Avenues meet. The top photo is of Jack’s gas station, where Magic Gas is currently located. Les & Golda’s bar and cafe (demolished) used to be located at the northwest corner of Echo Park and Delta avenues. The cafe site had been empty lot for several decades until work began on a condo project (since delayed). Here are some details that Mr. Balmer provided about the cafe and bar:
“Les and Golda Page had this bar for many years. Golda passed away and some years later Les sold his license to Jack Kent Cook. I don’t remember Golda well, but Les was a real great guy. Les also had a training shoe from Citation hanging over his bar for luck. He dug it out of his garage and brought it to me when I bought my bar. I had it hanging there for many years as well.”
What a picture! I was the last one to rent Les and Golda's. It cost me $50 a month, came with an old wooden phone booth, a Pepsi machine that I used for a fridge and two bathrooms, (ladies and men). Neither toilet worked, but I won't get into that. That was where I built motorcycles, car engines and slept. One morning I went out for about 20 minutes. When I came back, someone had gone to the back of the building and from the outside, broke a hole through the wall about three feet in diameter and stole some tools. The tools were out there in a box. I spent the next couple days moving all of my tools out and temporarily sleeping in Carol and Joy's (Mihitabel) garage. A couple days later, somebody set the building on fire.
Greg, brmh16@gmail.com
What a picture! I was the last one to rent Les and Golda's. It cost me $50 a month, came with an old wooden phone booth, a Pepsi machine that I used for a fridge and two bathrooms, (ladies and men). Neither toilet worked, but I won't get into that. That was where I built motorcycles, car engines and slept. One morning I went out for about 20 minutes. When I came back, someone had gone to the back of the building and from the outside, broke a hole through the wall about three feet in diameter and stole some tools. The tools were out there in a box. I spent the next couple days moving all of my tools out and temporarily sleeping in Carol and Joy's (Mihitabel) garage. A couple days later, somebody set the building on fire.
GK, brmh16@gmail.com