Roeder Blocks
The Roeder Blocks refer to two historically significant commercial buildings in Los Angeles, California, developed by Louis Roeder in the late 19th century. These buildings - Roeder Block I and Roeder Block II - stood in Los Angeles and served as architectural and commercial landmarks in a growing town. Both blocks have since been demolished.
Origins
[edit]| Carriage shop | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Alternative names | Wagon, Carriages and Buggies |
| General information | |
| Status | Demolished |
| Type | Shop |
| Address | 23 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA |
| Owner | Louis Roeder |
Prior to the development of the Roeder Blocks, Louis Roeder owned and operated a blacksmith and carriage shop at 23 S. Spring Street. This location, referenced in historical photos, later evolved into what became known as Roeder Block I.[1]
Roeder Block I
[edit]| Roeder Block 1 | |
|---|---|
| Alternative names | Roeder Block N°1 |
| General information | |
| Status | Demolished |
| Type | Commercial |
| Architectural style | Late 19th-century commercial |
| Address | 23 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA |
| Client | Perlaeph Lodge, storefront shops |
| Owner | Louis Roeder |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 2 |
Roeder Block I was built on the same site as Roeder's carriage shop. By 1896, the building hosted multiple tenants and was known for its strategic location just below the Nadeau Hotel.[2] It retained its original foundations while receiving architectural updates that made it a distinct presence in the Spring Street corridor.[3]
Roeder Block II
[edit]| Roeder Block 2 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Alternative names | Roeder Block N°2 |
| General information | |
| Status | Demolished |
| Type | Commercial |
| Architectural style | Late 19th-century commercial |
| Owner | Louis Roeder |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 2 |
Roeder Block II followed the success of the first and represented a more expansive vision. It retained the functional roots of Block I but incorporated design trends and larger scale that reflected Los Angeles' booming commercial identity in the late 1800s.
Architectural significance
[edit]The Roeder Blocks symbolized Louis Roeder's transition from tradesman to developer. They demonstrate how individual entrepreneurs contributed to the commercial and architectural identity of early Los Angeles.[4]
Legacy
[edit]Although demolished, the Roeder Blocks remain important in the architectural history of Los Angeles. Photographs and archival entries continue to inform research on urban development during the city's expansion.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ UCLA Library, LA Views Photograph Collection, "Men with carriages in front of Carriage and Buggy shop, Roeder S. Spring St., Los Angeles," accessed May 4, 2025, [1]
- ^ UCLA Library, LA Views Photograph Collection, "Shops along Roeder Block, Spring St., Los Angeles, 1896," accessed May 4, 2025, [2]
- ^ "PCAD - Roeder, Louis, Building, Downtown, Los Angeles, CA". pcad.lib.washington.edu. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
- ^ Calisphere, "Exterior View of Louis Roeder Blacksmith and Carriage Shop, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1878," accessed 2025-05-03, [3]
- ^ PCAD, "Roeder, Louis, Blacksmith and Carriage Shop, Los Angeles, CA," accessed 2025-05-03, [4]