Ezra F. Kysor

Los Angeles High School, Los Angeles, CA. 1872-73. Demolished. R. C. Cathedral of St. Vibiana, Los Angeles, CA. 1875-76. Altered.

University Building, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. 1880.

Ezra Frank Kysor (1835–1907) was an American architect from Los Angeles, California. He is believed to be the first professional architect to practice in Southern California.

Biography

Early life Ezra Kysor was born on August 6, 1835, in Cattaraugus, New York. Around the age of thirty, he traveled west to Virginia City, Nevada. He may also have maintained an architectural office. This firm was dissolved in April 1876. He was again alone until 1879, when John F. Hennessy (1853-1924) became a member of Kysor & Hennessy. Hennessy, who was born in Ireland and came to the United States in 1875 or 1876, left Los Angeles for Australia in late 1880.

Upon Hennessy's departure, Kysor made his chief draftsman, Octavius Morgan (1850-1922), a member of Kysor & Morgan. In 1886, John A. Walls (1858-1922) was added, the firm becoming Kysor, Morgan & Walls. It was around this time the Kysor began to withdraw from practice, to focus on real estate speculation. He retired from the firm completely in 1890, which became Morgan & Walls.

Personal life He was married to Clara Perry. They had a son, Charles H. Kysor (1883-1954), who was also an architect.

Architectural works

Private practice, 1868-1875 Episcopal Church of Our Savior, 535 W. Roses Rd., San Gabriel (1869–71) Pico House, 494 N. Main St., Los Angeles (1869–70) Merced Theatre, 420 N. Main St., Los Angeles (1870) William Workman House (Remodeling), 15415 E. Don Julian Rd., City of Industry (1870) Congregation B'nai B'rith, 218 S. Broadway, Los Angeles (1872–73) - demolished Samuel C. Foy House, 1337 Carroll Ave., Los Angeles (1872) Los Angeles High School, N. Broadway & Temple St., Los Angeles (1872–73) - demolished Ducommun Building, 304 N. Main St., Los Angeles (1874) - demolished Farmers and Merchants Bank of Los Angeles second building, west side of Main St. south of Plaza, Los Angeles (1874) - demolished Harris Newmark House, 233 S. Broadway, Los Angeles (1874) - demolished

Kysor & Mathews, 1875-1876 Anaheim Hotel, 182 W. Center St., Anaheim (1875) - demolished Cardona Block, 118 N. Main St., Los Angeles (1875) - demolished R. C. Cathedral of St. Vibiana (Completion), 214 S. Main St., Los Angeles (1875–76) Herman W. Hellman House, 125 W. 4th St., Los Angeles (1875) - demolished McDonald Block, 129-131 N. Main St., Los Angeles (1876) - demolished William H. Perry House, 3800 Homer St., Los Angeles (1876)

Private practice, 1876-1878 Joseph Mullally House, 850 N. Broadway, Los Angeles (1876) - demolished Hellman & Mascarel Block, 230-240 N. Main St., Los Angeles (1878) - demolished

Kysor & Hennessy, 1879-1880 Horticultural Pavilion, Temple St., Los Angeles (1879) - burned

Kysor & Morgan, 1880-1886 University Building, University of Southern California, Los Angeles (1880) Garnier Block, 501 N. Main St., Los Angeles (1882–83) Hotel Nadeau, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles (1882–83) - demolished 1932 Grand Opera House, 110 S. Main St., Los Angeles (1883–84) - demolished First Baptist Church, 556 S. Broadway, Los Angeles (1883–84) - demolished Los Angeles Infirmary, 1111 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles (1884) - demolished Trinity M. E. Church, 522 S. Broadway, Los Angeles (1884) - demolished

Kysor, Morgan & Walls, 1886-1890 Law Building, 125 Temple St., Los Angeles (1886) - demolished Los Angeles National Bank Building, 100-104 N. Spring St., Los Angeles (1886–87) - demolished Granite Bank Building, 230 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia (1887) - demolished Los Angeles Orphans' Home, 817 Yale St., Los Angeles (1887) - demolished Gates Building, 215 W. 5th St., Los Angeles (1888) - demolished Frank Sabichi House, 2437 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles (1888) - demolished Gymnasium, State Normal School, S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles (1890) - demolished