Kolping House Offers an Oasis in the Inner City

Leaving the tough streets of Pico-Union and walking into the Kolping House is like entering another world. For 45 years, the three-story white structure on Union Avenue near 12th Street has provided a haven for students, travelers, downtown workers and those seeking a peaceful, architecturally delightful residence.

The Kolping House, which charges $120 a week for a small, clean room and three meals a day (except Sunday), is named after Father Adolph Kolping, a 19th century German Catholic priest who opened a residence in Bavaria to house visiting apprentices.

Today, Kolping Houses operate in 20 countries and are open to all. In the United States, there are three other facilities, all in New York City.

A bit of history occurred Friday when Ruby Payne became the first woman to rent a room at the Kolping House here. “Everybody here is so nice,” said Payne, who says she came to Los Angeles from Houston to practice street ministry.

The unofficial host of Kolping House, which opened in 1951, is Father Richard Russell, a colorful Catholic priest from Brooklyn who celebrates Mass six mornings a week in an attractive courtyard.

On Monday afternoon, Russell, manager Eddy Coronel and resident Hans Mehl, a German heavyweight boxer of the 1950s, gathered in the lunch room as Payne played gospel tunes on an upright piano.

As Russell and Payne sang a spirited version of “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” others guests, from Brazil, Peru, Bulgaria, Israel, Korea, China and Japan, listened as they ate their lunch in the high-ceilinged dining room. “This place is an oasis for everybody,” said Russell.

Information: (213) 480-8154.