Vido T. Kovacevich
Long Beach’s sidewalks contain impressed “signatures” of many construction companies and contractors who plied their trade in the city. If your ancestor owned or worked for one of those companies, our “Sidewalk Signatures” series will be of interest to you.
photo: QHGS
In 1928 Vido T. Kovacevich was living at 1553 Loma Avenue in Long Beach with his wife Ruth. City directories describe him as a paving contractor, and he is mentioned in the Southwest Builder and Contractor magazine of July 28, 1922: “Long Beach—Vido Kovacevich, 925 Temple Ave., was only bidder at about $95 for 50 ft. curb (76c) and 250 ft. walk (24c) on Loma Ave.” Vido died on January 11, 1976, in San Marino, California, and his obituary in the Los Angeles Times describes him as “a resident of this area for 65 years. Retired road contractor and a very active member of St. Stephen’s Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of Alhambra.”
RESEARCH TIP: When we move to a new place, we search for something that reminds us of “home.” If you have ancestors of a specific ethnicity, be sure to look for churches, synagogues and/or mosques that focused on that identity. Although Vido lived in San Marino during his retirement years, he traveled to Alhambra to attend and support a church that was familiar to him in language and ritual.
Vido was my grandfather. He made an indelible impression on me as a pre-teenager.
ReplyDeleteSo many great stories. . . He was tough as nails - he enjoyed woodworking in his retirement. Twice he cut his thumb off and each time wrapped up the nub and drove himself to hospital. The first time they sewed it back on. The second time he threw his thumb in the ash tray and walked out after sitting in the waiting area for 3 hours!
I also loved his quotes. I am sure they helped form many characters, especially mine. "Marcus, you can tell the size of a man by size of the obstacle that stops him."
I love you Vido!
Your grandson - Marcus
That's some great stories. I "Googled" Vido Kovacevich Contractors and came upon this site. The reason I "Googled" it was because in my neighborhood (North Norwalk/Downey) the city have been upgrading the corners of the sidewalk to make them ADA compliant & in the process of excavating & wet cutting the sidewalk & curbs to prepare for building the wooden form & getting ready for the "Pour" the construction crew left behind a very nice 18 inch wide,10" deep & 10" tall section of the old curb that sits like a mini "Headstone" and it displays in an arch "Vido Kovacevich Contractors" an below the arch it displays the year "1951". It was on the curb waiting to be picked up on trash day. So I took it home on a "Dolly" & wire brushed it & hosed it off and installed it on the side of my home were a garden walkway gives access from my front yard to my back yard. The reason I wanted it is because "1951" is also the year my neighborhood was constructed. Did your Grandfathers construction company also build the homes in my neighborhood in addition to the sidewalk, curbs & streets in Norwalk,California?
DeleteThat's some great stories. I "Googled" Vido Kovacevich Contractors and came upon this site. The reason I "Googled" it was because in my neighborhood (North Norwalk/Downey) the city have been upgrading the corners of the sidewalk to make them ADA compliant & in the process of excavating & wet cutting the sidewalk & curbs to prepare for building the wooden form & getting ready for the "Pour" the construction crew left behind a very nice 18 inch wide,10" deep & 10" tall section of the old curb that sits like a mini "Headstone" and it displays in an arch "Vido Kovacevich Contractors" an below the arch it displays the year "1951". It was on the curb waiting to be picked up on trash day. So I took it home on a "Dolly" & wire brushed it & hosed it off and installed it on the side of my home were a garden walkway gives access from my front yard to my back yard. The reason I wanted it is because "1951" is also the year my neighborhood was constructed. Did your Grandfathers construction company also build the homes in my neighborhood in addition to the sidewalk, curbs & streets in Norwalk,California?
DeleteThat's some great stories. I "Googled" Vido Kovacevich Contractors and came upon this site. The reason I "Googled" it was because in my neighborhood (North Norwalk/Downey) the city have been upgrading the corners of the sidewalk to make them ADA compliant & in the process of excavating & wet cutting the sidewalk & curbs to prepare for building the wooden form & getting ready for the "Pour" the construction crew left behind a very nice 18 inch wide,10" deep & 10" tall section of the old curb that sits like a mini "Headstone" and it displays in an arch "Vido Kovacevich Contractors" an below the arch it displays the year "1951". It was on the curb waiting to be picked up on trash day. So I took it home on a "Dolly" & wire brushed it & hosed it off and installed it on the side of my home were a garden walkway gives access from my front yard to my back yard. The reason I wanted it is because "1951" is also the year my neighborhood was constructed. Did your Grandfathers construction company also build the homes in my neighborhood in addition to the sidewalk, curbs & streets in Norwalk,California?
ReplyDeleteThat's some great stories. I "Googled" Vido Kovacevich Contractors and came upon this site. The reason I "Googled" it was because in my neighborhood (North Norwalk/Downey) the city have been upgrading the corners of the sidewalk to make them ADA compliant & in the process of excavating & wet cutting the sidewalk & curbs to prepare for building the wooden form & getting ready for the "Pour" the construction crew left behind a very nice 18 inch wide,10" deep & 10" tall section of the old curb that sits like a mini "Headstone" and it displays in an arch "Vido Kovacevich Contractors" an below the arch it displays the year "1951". It was on the curb waiting to be picked up on trash day. So I took it home on a "Dolly" & wire brushed it & hosed it off and installed it on the side of my home were a garden walkway gives access from my front yard to my back yard. The reason I wanted it is because "1951" is also the year my neighborhood was constructed. Did your Grandfathers construction company also build the homes in my neighborhood in addition to the sidewalk, curbs & streets in Norwalk,California?
ReplyDelete