A WIN FOR HISPANIC HERITAGE

EL SERENO’S OLD FARMDALE SCHOOL

By Vanessa Maria Quirk

Modern-day photograph of the Farmdale School building.

Under 10% of places in the National Register of Historic Places represent people of color — which is why it’s a big deal that the El Sereno Historical Society has successfully gotten this building, the Old Farmdale School, listed.

The Urban Roots team discovered the Old Farmdale School — today part of El Sereno Middle School in LA — while doing research for potential future episodes. The school has a remarkable history, especially due to its connection to the Chicano Movement and, specifically, the East LA Walkouts (or Chicano Blowouts).

Aerial image of El Sereno Middle School (bottom right) and Farmdale School buildings (upper left), post-1975.

If you’re not familiar, in the 1960s’ Chicano students and farmworkers in California began a series of protests and strikes — over time, it grew into an urban-centered movement focused on claiming Civil Rights, combatting structural racism, and celebrating and uplifting Chicano identity. In the spring of 1968, over 15,000 students from several high schools, including El Sereno (formerly Woodrow Wilson High School) walked out of class in protest of poor conditions and unequal treatment by the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Farmdale School bell tower, unknown date.

Intrigued, our podcast team connected with El Sereno Historical Society — and learned even more about the Old Farmdale School. This rural Queen Anne style schoolhouse was constructed in 1894 by local architects Bradbeer and Ferris for the community of Farmdale (later known as El Sereno). With its imposing bell tower, painted wood shingles, and clapboard siding, it’s an excellent and rare example of a late-nineteenth century rural schoolhouse — one of only three remaining of the style and type in Los Angeles. In 1975, it was moved to the 27.7-acre campus of El Sereno Middle School, where it remains today.