WALK 2: East Loop
EAST LOOP
1. This loop is another segment of the neighborhood that may start from #11 of the Five Sisters Walk - stay on Marion Dr. or make your way up to Marion and Palmer and continue to walk north on Marion from Palmer to Park to Romulus, On this section of Marion there are several houses designed by Louis Selden, a prominent architect in the 1920s and 1930s. Selden designed a group of homes in the English/Spanish styles at 1000-1016 and 1026-1048 Marion in 1925 and 1926. They are recognizable by their decorative vents and medallions. May similar houses can be found in Adams Hill and parts of Los Angeles.
2. Turn right at Romulus (formerly called Golden Rule Drive) where Marion dead ends. Notice 1308 Romulus on the right as you approach the intersection with Oberlin. This house is one of the few Streamline Moderne style houses in the city, built in 1947. Further up at 1330 find Peterka House, designed by David Alexman in 1959. The striking mid-century Moderist gem has an exterior of plaster and vertical tongue-and-groove wood plank siding. It is a Glendale landmark.
3. Further up Romulus on the left is Prock House, designed in 1961 by Richard Flemming, who also designed the modern masterpiece, Dutton House, in Chevy Chase Canyon. Both houses are Glendale landmarks.
4. AT 1359 Romulus you will find on the left the Romulus-Hilda Staircase built in 1925. At that time people often made their way around via public staircases and there are many in Los Angeles, chronicled by Charles Fleming in his fantastic book The Secret Stairs. This is likely the only surviving public stairway in Adams Hill. Go up and down the stairs a few ties to get your heart rate up – or not. Continuing on Romulus you are now leaving Glendale and entering L.A. At the east termination of Romulus you have 2 choices. Turn right onto Caledonia Way or make a sharp right onto Palmer Ave (see #5, below). On Caledonia, you’ll walk several blocks with views to the east of hilly Eagle Rock. Then you’ll turn up Wawona and then right onto Ranons for a short distance and then back onto Marion Drive. On upper Marion Drive you get sweeping vews of Forest Lawn along the way. You can continue walking on Marion, making a left to head downhill and back to the Adams Square area.
5. Palmer Ave Route: At the termination of Romulus, you can take a sharp right onto Palmer Ave for a short steep stretch nicknamed ‘bun hill’ because it may make your booty burn if you aren’t used to exercising. When you top off on upper Palmer you’ll see the Verdugo Mountains to the north (including Mt. Thom with antennae). Veer left to continue on upper Palmer taking in get great views of Griffith Park and DT Glendale. 1335 Palmer, an unusual wood shake shingled house dating from 1924 could not be built today because in 1990 the city restricted the building of wood homes. Palmer makes a jog downhill and you’ll turn right onto Oberlin for a quick minute and then jog left at Palmer to descend.
6. Notice a French Revival house (with some English touches) at 1214 E. Palmer with a lot of clipped gables. A roof with clipped gables, also called a “jerkinhead roof” is supposed to offer wind resistance and stability. It also eats up some attic space. Palmer eventually takes you back to Adams Square for coffee and snacks at KAFN or Palmer Market and hanging out at the mini-park..
7. Palmer eventually takes you back to Adams Square, the mini park and KAFN or Palmer Market for snacks and coffee.