History of The Sovereign

The Sovereign apartments were erected by a firm. Wright and West whose members had a wide range of general real estate experience in Long Beach. Mrs. West one of the general partners, was in the real estate business most of her adult life, came originally from Ohio and opened her Long Beach Office at 40 American Avenue. Her partner Mr. Wright had a active business career in Chicago before coming to Long Beach and associating with Mrs. West.

The opening was announced in a Section of the Long Beach Press on November 28, 1923, and for those that would like more detail we refer them to that source which is available at the Long Beach Main Library.

"The SOVEREIGN IS PERFECTLY APPOINTED"

The founders of the Sovereign "own your own" apartments believed that those who participated in their apartment program should have available for their social relations an atmosphere of elegance and refinement so provided this atmosphere in the Lobby. To this time probably no lobby in a building of this class had more effort placed upon it to make it the last word in charm. If you visit the building today you can see the old charm of the marble floors, the distinctive fireplace and mantel. The woodwork on the large windows, doors, moldings and baseboards is dark-stained Philippine mahogany.

On the fourteenth floor is located what was originally a Room to be used as a "Grand Ballroom at night and a Solarium during the Day.

The Sovereign featured

	The "Latest Automatic" Elevators, currently in use.
	A central refrigerating plant of the ammonia type in the basement which was capable of cooling every kitchen refrigerator to the point below freezing. The basement plant for protection was separated from the rest of the building by a double concrete wall in case of exposition.
	Every apartment is Steam-heated by a vacuum system