Divine Intervention at 2nd and Main

I never knew St. Vibiana was missing its cupola until I began reading about the upcoming replacement ceremony. Smalls steps like this make the day to day living in downtown enjoyable for me. Another historic gem to cherish in our neighborhoods.

Deep research brings to light a long forgotten legend regards one native of Ohio, the city’s first - of many infamous whackos to come. With or without the cuppola (fiberglass, circa 1969), the building has bore a black mark ever since a day in May, way back in 1885. Vibiana witnessed it all from her lair, high above the altar:

One Jacob Pfeister was not an escapee from the first rescue mission across Main Street. He and his wife Clara had recently moved to the city from the midwest, lured by the decreasing cost of travel by rail. During Sunday services, he could no longer contain himself, proceeded up and over the altar rail, removed every stitch of his clothing and proceeded to stand naked before the burning heart of Jesus. Officer Fred Smith as well as the chief exemplar of the Knights of Columbus were also present and jumped up to intervene. Therewith, a comic twenty minute opera ensued and the next day’s account in the Los Angeles Times reports no dearth of screaming, yelling and running around bug-eyed. (No report as to whether or not the worshipers had fled out the doors). The paper’s follow-up account relates that by Tuesday, Mrs. Pfeister gave up on her miscreant, had telegraphed her brother in law and fled back home alone to Ohio. The brothers Pfeister soon proceeded north to the city by the bay. Jacob was not prosecuted; as apparents, the city fathers were glad enough to have him gone and hopefully, be forgotten. Not a chance..

So now we all know the REAL reason why the cardinal tried to tear the place down.

The photos at flickr are great. This is the reason I come back over and over here and at view from a loft; to see the photos Ed takes.

Too bad I don’t have a mansion and millions because my mansion would be filled with photos taken by Ed.

I am torn between my disgust at the elimination of fantastic music and art by the same people who now whinge when their own fantastic architecture is taken down. When was the last time one heard true egyptian music (nearly every trace was destroyed by xtians a VERY long time ago), or took in the SEEMINGLY recently discovered quasi-crystal that was nevertheless nearly seven centuries olde in islamic culture. But do not get me wrong; I would just as soon go to war against ANY and ALL fundamentalists, be they from Israel, Alabama, Iran or Australia. Moreover, I am a great fan of western architecure. (I have granted a fair amount of time to copy-editing, photographing and publishing the history of downtown Los Angeles, in particular its architecture.) I cannot help but wonder how, in this time of crisis for the beleaguered catholic church, and the too-slow resuscitation of downtown L.A.’s better architecture, the building under review can draw so much attention. So many others have been superbly refurbished with far less fanfare.

1) The building is one of the oldest in the city. We have very, very few buildings left built prior to 1890.

2)It is probably the largest building in the city built prior to 1890 that is still there.

3) Whatever you think of the Catholic church, the building is no longer owned by or a part of the Catholic church.

4) Let’s look to the good we can do in the future and not get mired in the sins of the past.