Fern Avenue School
Also known as: Fern-Greenwood School
Why it's listed
Completed in 1933 at 1314 Fern Avenue, this L-shaped school in Torrance combines one- and two-story sections under low clay-tile roofs. Architect Henry L. Gogerty gave the plastered brick walls a decorative base, a four-bay arcade, wrought iron details and a west entrance framed by cast stone columns with Corinthian capitals. It is the oldest elementary school still in use in the city and its only Spanish Colonial Revival school. The school grew from a 1928 temporary annex during a period of rapid population growth. Its construction followed a 1932 vote in which residents rejected a city charter that would have moved schools to local control. Its district drew white refinery workers' children alongside Japanese and Hispanic families, who lived apart from the town center, and former students reported that the groups shared classrooms and play. The building came through the 1933 Long Beach Earthquake undamaged, and later work, including a 1959 seismic upgrade, kept its character largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the oldest elementary school still in use in Torrance and the only Spanish Colonial Revival school building in the city, with an especially well-crafted main entrance. It is also tied to local debate over control of schools, and to the early schooling of Japanese and Hispanic children who were segregated from the town's white residents.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 92000067, listed February 20, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1314 Fern Ave., Torrance |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | February 20, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000067 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1932 - 1941 |
| Architect / builder | Gogerty, Henry L., architect |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as an elementary school; the form says the facade has not been significantly altered and retains its architectural integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 33.83489, -118.33191 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 92000067.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q104865030
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.