Category: Blog
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The First Floor
Because the Psychic Temple’s first floor has been made over so many times over its 100+ years, it has lost its historical value. Nonetheless, we want to share how it looked before the renovation begins. Above: Low-budget American Hotel signage and entrance. On the far left was a shoe repair shop, complete with antiquated machinery.…
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Richard Lewis, Project Manager of the Psychic Temple
Richard Lewis is the Controller/Project Manager of JRVD, which is handling the redevelopment of the Psychic Temple. I visited Richard shortly after the project, which was put on hold for over a year due to California’s budgetary crisis, began to pick up steam once more. PT: You’re revisiting the Psychic Temple for the first time…
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Jan Robert van Dijs: Steward of the Psychic Temple
Jan Robert van Dijs at the Arts Building on 3rd St. (August 2011) Jan Robert van Dijs is the namesake of JR van Dijs, Inc. Drawing from his experience and expertise in constructing large-scale, high-end projects in New York, Paris, London, Italy, and Asia, he and his crew are committed to changing the way people perceive…
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Long Beach historian Stan Poe on the Psychic Temple – Pt. 3 (Vault Lights)
“You can hardly see the glass,” says Long Beach-based historian Stan Poe pointing at a section of sidewalk in front of the Psychic Temple. “But those were prisms that would increase the light and illuminate the basement. We don’t know what it was used for…”
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Long Beach historian Stan Poe on the Psychic Temple – Pt. 2 (Architecture)
After the Psychic Temple had been demoed and before reconstruction began, I took a walk around the building with local author, expert, and member of many preservation committees Stan Poe. He gave me the building’s history (link) and pointed out some architectural details, as well as some hints as to what architect Jan Van Dijs…
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Long Beach historian Stan Poe on the Psychic Temple – Pt. 1 (History)
After I pick up Southern California historian, educator, and resident Stan Poe from his Long Beach home, he seems to have a story for every old building that we pass on the drive between the historic Naples area (which is actually patterned after Venice, down to the canals) and our decidedly grittier Downtown destination. But…
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Welcome to the Psychic Temple
Thank you for visiting the Psychic Temple. This website is dedicated to the second-oldest commercial building in Downtown Long Beach, CA. As we document the historic structure’s restoration and renovation, we will delve into its sordid past, touch on local history and architecture, meet the neighbors, and attempt to capture the community, chemistry, and evolution…