# Samuel Tilden Norton

Samuel Tilden Norton (January 21, 1877 – February 16, 1959), or S. Tilden Norton as he was known professionally, was a Los Angeles–based architect active in the first decades of the 20th century. During his professional career, he and Abram M. Edelman were considered the city's preeminent synagogue architects, and he was also associated with the firm of Norton & Wallis.

## Personal life

Norton was born on January 21, 1877, to Isaac and Bertha (Greenbaum) Norton. Isaac Norton moved to Los Angeles in 1869 and was the founder of an early building and loan firm, Metropolitan Building and Loan Assn. Bertha was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. Greenbaum, the latter the first Jewish woman to come to Los Angeles, having arrived in 1851. Bertha Norton was said by her family to be the first Jewish child born in the city. Norton's siblings included Albert, an attorney and financier and Florence (Florie) Norton Desenberg (married M. B. Desenberg).
Norton graduated in 1895 from Los Angeles High School.
Norton married the former Esther Gro(e)del, daughter of Selina and Louis Groedel, in Baltimore in 1904. They had a daughter, Elizabeth, who attended USC, married J. L. Rudé, and bore Norton three grandchildren. The family lived for many years at 66 Fremont Place near downtown Los Angeles. Norton died on February 16, 1959, at the age of 82 after a long illness, at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, predecessor to today's Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

## Professional career

Following his graduation from high school, Norton immediately began his professional training working as a draftsman for Edward Neissen, a Los Angeles architect. He later moved temporarily to New York City for further design apprenticeship work. Upon his return to Los Angeles, Norton founded his own architectural firm around 1902 at 253 South Broadway, Room 316. He later moved to 607 South Hill Street, Room 418. By the 1930s, his office was at Room 1210, 704 South Spring Street—the Financial Center Building of which he had been the architect in 1927.
Norton had early on formed a partnership with Frederick H. Wallis, their firm being known as Norton and Wallis, Architects. He was also associated with the family-owned Norton Investment Company (or Norton Securities Company).

## Community activities

Norton was very involved in his community. He was a founder and charter member of the Hillcrest Country Club and served as a director of the Prudential Building and Loan Association. He was also a proud upholder of his faith, serving as president of the Board of Trustees of Congregation B'nai B'rith, the Jewish Men's Professional Club of Los Angeles, Nathan Straus Palestine Society, and Jewish Consumption Relief,. In addition, he was a director of the Federation of Jewish Welfare Organizations, the Jewish Welfare Fund, and Wilshire Boulevard Temple. Norton was professionally active as well, having served as president of the Southern California Chapter of the American Institute of Architects which he had joined around 1912. He also wrote articles about houses for The Illustrated Magazine beginning in the early 1900s.

## Portfolio

Norton designed many Jewish landmarks in the Los Angeles area, including:
* Sinai Temple #1 (1909), 1153 S. Valencia St., sold to the Welsh Presbyterian Church, LAHCM #173
* Concordia Club (1909)
* B'nai B'rith Lodge, 9th and Union (1923)
* Jewish Orphans Home of Southern California (1925)
* Sinai Temple #2 (now Korean Philadelphia Presbyterian Church, 407 S. New Hampshire Ave. (1926) (with Frederick H. Wallis), LAHCM #91
* Young Men's Hebrew Association, Soto and Michigan, East Los Angeles (1925), (with Frederick H. Wallis)
* Temple Israel, Franklin and Argyle (1927)
* Council of Jewish Women clubhouse (1928)
* Wilshire Boulevard Temple (1929) (with Abram M. Edelman), LAHCM #116, NRHP #81000154
Other Norton works include (in Los Angeles unless otherwise noted):
* Flat building, 7th and Union (1902)
* Apartment house, Winston between Wall and San Pedro (1903)
* Three-flat building, California west of Hill (1903)
* H. M. Nichols Residence, Glendora (1903)
* Residence, 1656 W. 25th St. (1905)
* Amestoy Residence, 1659 S. Hobart Blvd. (1903)
* Central Department Store, 609–619 S. Broadway (1906-7, demolished c.1930-1)
* Norton Block, Maricopa (1910)
* Apartment building, 4th between San Pedro and Crocker (1912)
* Allen Hotel, Pier & Ocean Front, Santa Monica (1913)
* Southern California Gas Co. Headquarters, 950 S. Broadway (1913)
* Office block, southeast comer of 5th and Main (1914)
* I. F. Norton Residence, Norton Ave. between 1st and 2nd (1915)
* Hotel, 2nd and Figueroa (1923)
* Financial Center, 140 W. 7th and 700–4 S. Spring St. (1924) (with Frederick H. Wallis)
* A. E. Newman residence, 86 Fremont Pl. (1929)
* Greek Theatre (1929–30) (with Frederick H. Wallis)
* Shane Building, 6650-6654 Hollywood Blvd. (1930) (with Frederick H. Wallis), contributing property in the NRHP-listed Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District
* Ritz Theatre, 6654 Hollywood Blvd. (1930) (with Frederick H. Wallis)
* William Fox Office Building (now Fox Jewelry Mart), 608 S. Hill St. (1930)
* Los Angeles Theatre, 615 Broadway (1930) (with S. Charles Lee), LAHCM #225, contributing property in the NRHP-listed Broadway Theater and Commercial District
* Southern California Telephone Company, 626 S. Hill St. (1931 remodel)