About

History:

Home of Lora Woodhead Steere in 1928, a sculptor specializing in busts and lifelike figures, with studio and residence at 2814 Glendower. 

Born in LA, the daughter of C. B. and Ida Gard Woodhead; after schooling in LA, she was educated at Stanford, and George Washington Universities, receiving the degree of Master of Arts; married Major Thomas I. Steere, USA (retired) in 1914 in Los Angeles; they have one daughter 14 and three sons; completed her arts studies at Calif. School of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Mrs. Steere’s mother was for years President of Los Angeles Orphan Home, and her father was senior member of Woodhead & Gay, pioneer fruit dealers; Mrs. Steere has executed many important commissions, including statues or busts of such celebrities as David Starr Jordan, Joe Cannon, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Warde and others; studied art in Paris, Berlin and Boston; is listed in many American and foreign biographies; her clubs include Artland Club, Calif. Art Club, Sculptors’ Guild, Entre Nous Sorority, Phi Gamma Epsilon, Independent Art Club, New York, and San Diego Art Guild; her hobbies are mountain hiking and her children; travelled extensively in the US, Europe and Asia, having crossed the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans each three times; has maintained a studio in Washington, DC, during the winter months. (Photo) (Source: Who’s Who in Los Angeles County, 1928-1929, p. 320.)

Lora Woodhead Steere designed the house in 1923. Wife of Lt. Thomas I. Steere, Lora (1888-1984) was a sculptress and mother of four. A playhouse was in the yard with a marble slide and sculpture of Peter Pan. A large room on the top floor was used for parties. The mail came at a box down the hill at Los Feliz and Catalina.

In 1932 Steere was commissioned to create five bronze statues for the new Helms Bakery building. Helms supplied bread for the Olympic Village. In honor of the Olympics, the artist created life-sized statues of athletes. Lora’s daughter Florence was nine when the house was built. She walked to Los Feliz, King, and Marshall High Schools where she was a member of the first graduating class of 1933. Some students worked at nearby Disney Studios. (Source: Florence Steere Field, 2781 Glendower Ave. 1991)

Florence Steere Field donated an aerial photograph of Glendower Ave taken in the 1930s or 1940s and photos of graduation at the Greek Theatre to the LFIA History Committee. (Source: Florence Steere Field, daughter, at the Marshall reunion in 1998.)

1930 census:
2814 Glendower Avenue (Value: $20,000): 1) Thomas I. Steere, owner and head of household; 44 year old white married male; married at age 28; born in California; father born in California, mother in Maine; not working. 2) Lora W. Steere, wife; 41 year old white married female; married at age 25; born in California; parents born in Ohio; a sculptor of portraits. 3) Florence V. Steere, daughter; 15 year old white single female; in school; born in Virginia. 4) Charles W. Steere, son; 12 year old white male; in school; born in Washington. 5) John E. Steere, son; 10 year old white male; in school; born in California. 6) James H. Steere, son; 5 year old white male; born in California.

2814 Glendower Avenue (Second entry: Rents for $35 per month): 1) Bentel J. Wood, renter and head of household; 45 year old white married male; married at age 19; born in Missouri; parents born in Missouri; a tester in a materials testing company. 2) May Wood, wife; 44 year old white married female; married at age 18; born in Colorado; father born in Scotland, mother in English Canada, not working.

1940 Census:
2814 Glendower Avenue (Value $10,000): 1) Lora W. Steere, head of household; white married female 51 years of age; born in California; teacher in public schools; earns $1,900. 2) Florence V. Steere, daughter; white single female 25 years of age; born in Virginia; in school. 3) John E. Steere, son; white single male 20 years of age; born in California; in school. 4) James H. Steere, son; white single male 15 years of age; born in California; in school. 5) Peter Bullock, servant; Negro single male 18 years of age; born in England; houseboy in a private home; earns $300.

2814 1/2 Glendower Avenue (rents for $40): 1) Delbert M. Hanson, head of household; white single male 26 years of age; born in Illinois; a clerk in retail oil. 2) Rodreric O. Weichleim, lodger; white single male 29 years of age; born in Illinois; not working.