Henry Wartenberg was a merchant and civic leader in Los Angeles, California, during the 19th century. He was the first president of the city's first volunteer fire department, in 1868–69, and a member of the Los Angeles Common Council, the governing body of the city, from 1868 to 1870.[1][2]
On June 14, 1867, Wartenberg was proprietor of a shop in partnership with Wolf Kalisher, sited in a group of businesses called Bell's Row or Bell's Block, when a fire took hold and spread from building to building until the entire block was leveled.[3] Two years later, a volunteer fire department—the city's first—finally took shape with Wartenberg as president. The organization was called the Thirty-Eights, the number of firemen that could be raised to fight a blaze.[4]
The two partners also transformed an old barn on Alameda Street between Ducommun Street and First Street into a tanning house for curing animal hides.[5]
In 1870, Wartenberg was the president of the Los Angeles Hebrew Benevolent Society,[6] predecessor of today's Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles.[7] He was a member of the Odd Fellows lodge.[2]
References edit
- Access to the Los Angeles Times link may require the use of a library card.
- ^ Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials,1850-1938, compiled under direction of Municipal Reference Library, City Hall, Los Angeles (March 1938, reprinted 1966). "Prepared ... as a report on Project No. SA 3123-5703-6077-8121-9900 conducted under the auspices of the Works Progress Administration."
- ^ a b Reva Clar, "The Jews of Los Angeles: Urban Pioneers," Jewish Historical Society of Southern California, November 2002
- ^ Donald H. Harrison, Western States Jewish History
- ^ Bill Murphy, "1886 Firehouse Replica to Be Put in Plaza Park," Los Angeles Times, May 27, 1956, page B-1
- ^ Harris Newmark, Sixty Years in Southern California, 1853–1913
- ^ Jewish Genealogical Society of Los Angeles
- ^ History, Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles