Lankershim Reading Room Timeline

1869 – Isaac Lankershim and his partners buy the southern half of the San Fernando Valley from Pio Pico for $115,000.

 

1880 – Real estate boom in the Valley begins. Isaac Van Nuys marries Isaac Lankershim’s daughter.

 

1881 – Issac Lankershim dies.

 

1887 – Col. J.B. (James Boon) Lankershim sells off 12,000 acres of the Lankershim Ranch to create the Valley’s first subdivision.

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1888 – Col. J.B. Lankershim establishes the townsite of Toluca; the name later changed to Lankershim.

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1904 – Col. J.B. Lankershim builds the reading room for his son, Jack Lankershim.

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1923 – Lankershim Boulevard becomes the first paved road in the San Fernando Valley.

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1927 – Local merchants rename Lankershim to North Hollywood to capitalize on the popularity of  “Hollywood.”

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1931 – Col. J.B. Lankershim dies; a monument to him erected at top of Nichols Canyon overlooking the San Fernando Valley.

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1948 – Last of the Lankershim family passes away.

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1950 – Harvey Grey Trembley buys the reading room and half of the ranch house and moves them to Canoga Park for part of his residence.

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1957 – Trembley sells the 8-acre property to Chapel in the Canyon church. Lankershim Reading Room undergoes structural changes over time.

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2001 – Jim Gulbranson, Vice President of the San Fernando Valley Historical Society, saves the Lankershim Reading Room from a bulldozer. The Society moves structure to Andres Pico Adobe Park in Mission Hills from Chatsworth and begins restoration.

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2010 – Restoration is completed and the Lankershim Reading Room is dedicated as Los Angeles Cultural-Heritage Landmark #978.

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2011 – Special exhibit of the Van Nuys Collection is held in conjunction with Lankershim artifacts. The building also serves as “Santa’s Workshop” during the Las Posadas pageant in December.

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2012 to present – Lankershim Reading Room continues to be open for visitors according to Adobe’s operating calendar.