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The 5-generation Genealogy Project

On this day:  September 24, 1957

9/24/2015

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Los Angeles, California, in Chávez Ravine

Seven years into the disastrous evictions in the three barrios that made up the so-called Chávez Ravine communities of la Loma, Palo Verde, and Bishop, there were not many families left, and few houses remained standing. 

No houses
Few houses remained standing in 1957


Meanwhile, at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York

While plans were being made in Los Angeles to address the problem of how to dislodge the last remaining holdouts from the 'immigrant slum' area of Chávez Ravine, another event was taking place in the aging, 44-year-old baseball park called Ebbets Field:  the last game was played by the Brooklyn Dodgers before their owner, Walter O'Malley, announced on October 8th that he was moving the team to Los Angeles.

Ebbets Field
The first pitch of the first game at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, May 9, 1913
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Ticket for the last Dodger game at Ebbets Field, September 24, 1957


Nineteen months later, in Los Angeles ...

Those few families who remained in Chávez Ravine were looked upon by the Anglo developers and power brokers in Los Angeles as activists and resisters, probably the most well-documented of whom was the Aréchiga family in Palo Verde, who, along with several other families, would be forcibly evicted from their homes on May 9, 1959, still more than 19 months in the future.

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May 9, 1959: Aurora Vargas being dragged from her home at 1771 Malvina Avenue in the Palo Verde barrio


... and 133 days after that ...

... ground was broken for construction of the new Dodger Stadium, future home of the now-Los Angeles Dodgers.

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groundbreaking ceremony for Dodger Stadium, September 19, 1959


Finally, on April 10, 1962, the day had come ...

Finally, after two years and seven months of construction, this was the scene on April 10, 1962 — opening day of the 1962 baseball season at Dodger Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels.

Opening day
Dodger Stadium, 1962 — game date uncertain

It may take some imagination, but in the distance, on the lomas out beyond center field, once were la Loma, Palo Verde, and Bishop, the home to nearly 1,100 largely-Hispanic families, now completely displaced; if not voluntarily, then forcibly.

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    About the Author

    Lawrence Bouett is a retired research scientist and registered professional engineer who now conducts historical and genealogical research full-time.  A ninth-generation Californian, he is particularly interested in the displacement of the nearly 1,100 families that lived in the Chavez Ravine communities of la Loma, Palo Verde, and Bishop to make way, ultimately, for the construction of Dodger Stadium.  His ancestors arrived in California with Portolá in 1769 and came to Los Angeles with the founders on September 4, 1781.

    Lawrence Bouett

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  What our friends are saying


"Thank you for such an informative site which highlights the plight of those relocated from Chavez Ravine.   My stepfather was a happy child growing up in the Palo Verde area.  He had many stories about living in the area and working at the [Ayala] store."

"Wow that is awesome thank you"

"
Dodger Stadium will always be a monument to the displacement of three entire communities"




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