Simon Gless- Juanita Amestoy Farmhouse, 1886-1887

By Jill Tipton

http://historicparks.org/data/sites/default/files/imagepicker/a/Admin/06porch.jpg

See for photo of this historic house in Boyle Heights. Built by French Basque sheep farmers.

131 So. Boyle Ave, Boyle Heights, CA circa 1886-1887. Simon Gless & Juanita Amestoy Farmhouse.
Simon Gless inherited the Encino Ranch from his uncle Gaston Oxart. Simon sold the Encino Ranch to his father in -law, Domingo Amestoy. Gless moved to Boyle Heights where he built this farmhouse.
I believe it is on the Historic Registration.

The Encino Ranch has rich early California History. This French Basque family has photos on the Docents webpage. Please see:

Los Encinos State Historic Park, Encino CA
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=619

Los Encinos State Historic Park – Los Encinos Docents Association
http://historicparks.org/data/encinos-archives

The Gless Farmhouse was in process of being listed as a Cultural Historic place., as of 2010. I don’t know if it is now on the registrar.

This is a French Basque family that lived at the Encino Ranch. Also, in Boyle Heights.
I am the great-great grand daughter of Domingo Amestoy. I have been researching the family for 7 years. There is extensive French Basque family history in the L.A. Basin, including Boyle Heights, Simon Gless and the family of Domingo Amestoy. This ranch. the last 5 acres of 45oo acres, is now the Los Encinos Historic State Park in Encino, CA. Check it out, So beautiful, the pond, the Adobe de la Ossa and the Garnier building.

Please see these resources, and explore the vast history of the French Basque in So. Calif.
Thank you, Jill

This history of the 131 S. Boyle Ave Gless Farmhouse is from the planning report. ( See below.)
The full report has the story of Simon Gless & Juanita Amestoy, and the significance to the Boyle Heights community. What a rich and prosperous community Boyle Heights once was in the 1880s. I wish all residents all the best in the Renaissance of Boyle Heights.

Los Angeles Department of City Planning
RECOMMENDATION REPORT
PROJECT: Historic-Cultural Monument Application for the
GLESS FARMHOUSE

REQUEST: Declare the property a Historic-Cultural Monument
APPLICANT: Diana O. Ybarra
Boyle Heights Historical Society
PO Box 86274
Los Angeles, CA 90086-0274

OWNER: Cora Mendez
131 S. Boyle Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90033
John D. Mendez
12032 Crystal Ct.
Chino, CA 91710

I cannot insert the entire story.
Congratulations of this great documentary.

Jill Tipton
Divide, Colorado


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