St. Mary of the Assumption Church
While Whittier is arguably considered a Quaker town, St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church has been in the city nearly as long the area’s first settlers — the congregation is the third oldest in the city. Among the early parishioners were the Pico family members, including Pio Pico, the last Mexican governor of California. Leaders have had to rebuild because of a fire and the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake. But all of the structures have been in a one-block area between Newlin and Pickering avenues and Penn and Wardman streets. The original St. Mary’s Catholic Church was dedicated on July 9, 1893. It was destroyed by a fire on March 19, 1912. The second St. Mary’s Catholic Church opened on March 29, 1914. It was enlarged and remodeled in 1948 and was decommissioned in 1959 upon the opening of the third and present church building.
Whittier, Los Angeles County
Photographer: John Bare