Oakwood in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Monsignor O’Brien House
Photographed By Craig Baker
1. Monsignor O’Brien House Marker
Erected 2007 by City of Los Angeles. (Marker Number 861.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1925.
Location. 34° 4.422′ N, 118° 17.714′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Oakwood. Marker is on Catalina Street north of 1st Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 130 N Catalina St, Los Angeles CA 90004, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Heart House (approx. half a mile away); Founder’s Church (approx. 0.7 miles away); First See’s Candies (approx. 0.8 miles away); First Congregational Church (approx. 0.9 miles away); Bullocks Wilshire (approx. 0.9 miles away); Felipe de Neve Public Library
this page online
Regarding Monsignor O’Brien House. Architect Clarence J. Smale, an IAI member, also designed the Smith House at Second Street and Hudson Avenue. The O’Brien house was featured in “An Architectural Guidebook to Los Angeles,” by Gebhard and Winter, and was described as “a rare concrete art deco house.” Smale also designed numerous movie palaces, most of which have been demolished.
Though he did not build the house, Monsignor O’Brien resided in the house for many decades. He arrived in Los Angeles in 1922 at the age of seven. He attended St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park and after completing his training, transferred back to Los Angeles. He earned several degrees at Catholic University of America in Washington D.C., then returned to Los Angeles to serve on the Archdiocesan Matrimonial Tribunal. He served more than 30 years in the chancery office as vice-chancellor, secretary of contracts and real estate, and in 1973 was appointed judge in the St. Maron Diocesan Tribunal. In 1960 he was named a papal chamberlain (monsignor), and in 1975, was elevated to a prelate of honor. He
Photographed By Charles J. Fisher
2. Monsignor O’Brien House
-from historian4hire.com
Photographed By Craig Baker
3. Monsignor O’Brien House
Today it is hidden behind landscaping.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 43 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 8, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
