Whitley Heights 101

1965-1967 Whitley Avenue

1965-1967 Whitley Avenue was built in 1925 by architect L. R. Hubbard for George Taylor (pictured below), who used his long-time friend, Frank H. Walker, as the contractor. In 1923, Taylor had hired Walker and architect, G.R. Evans, to built the 8 unit apartment complex to the right of this property. Taylor, a former lima bean producer in Oxnard, moved to Los Angeles in 1918 after his first wife, Margaret died. Before relocating to Hollywood, sold his car and took a trip around the world to cope with the loss. When Taylor built the apartment complex, he was in his fifties and looking to own the building and collect rent as income.

Taylor built 1965-1967 as a 10 room duplex consisting of a total of 1,825 square feet, each unit has two bedrooms and one bathroom and both entries are located above the garage on the second floor. Below, 1967 Whitley Avenue is the door on the left and 1965 Whitley Avenue is the door on the right. This duplex is designated as part of the Whitley Heights Historic District so much of its appearance has not been altered since it was built with its Spanish style roof, French windows and wooden balconette.

In fact, no alterations had been made on the property until 1972, when another owner had to repair the roof due to minor fire damage. In 1983, the retaining wall was built. In 1997, the walls had to be repaired due to termite damage. One of the bedrooms had drywall replacement and deck reinforcement in 2016.

In 1928, Taylor married for the second time; the 59 year old married a 53 year old widow named Virginia Rice who had also lived in Oxnard so they may have known each other when Taylor lived in Oxnard. They married in September and by next May 1929, Rice died at age 54. Taylor decided to hire an apartment manager as he was 60 years old and now grieving wife number two. Thirty-eight year old Lillian E. Koch moved into 1969 Whitley Avenue, one of the apartments next door and took the job as apartment manager. At that time, director Louis King, publicist Minnie F. Todd and her daughter, actress Lola Todd were all renting from the Taylor Apartments. Below is the Taylor Apartments circa 1920s with 1965-67 Whitley Avenue seen just below on the corner of Whitley Terrace and Whitley Avenue.

Interestingly, Taylor decided to marry his employee, Lillian E. Koch, in 1931, less than a year of hiring her to run the apartments. In August of 1931, 62 year old George Taylor, married his third wife, Lillian E. Koch, who was only 39 years old. On the 1930 census, Lillian claims she is a widow who married at the age of 18; however, no record could be found of her getting married at that age when he was living in Minnesota. Koch is actually her maiden name. Furthermore, in July of 2019, a woman named Edna Hughes was suing “Mrs. Lillian Koch” for $50,000 for coaxing her husband, A.J. Hughes, with gifts and money so he would leave his wife and three year old son. Apparently Hughes did leave this wife and son and they divorced. Was this the same Lillian who less than two years later would married a man twice her age? Did she marry Taylor because she knew he was in poor health and she would stand to inherit the apartment building and the property next door? One can only speculate.

After George died, Lillian remained the apartment owner and continued to reside at 1965 Whitley Avenue until her death in 1962. In 1964, the duplex was put up for sale for $22,750 and sold immediately. It is unclear if the apartment building was sold prior to or after Lillian’s death. Now the two buildings still sit next to each other, but act as separate entities. Below is looking up Whitley Avenue from Franklin Avenue circa 1928. The Taylor Apartment building can be seen on the left side (last building).