Varrio Alpine Street
Varrio Alpine Street was a predominately Mexican-American street gang located in the central area of Los Angeles near the Angelino Heights in Chinatown along Alpine Street. The gang started around 1890 and began to fade away about 100 years after it’s founding during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
During is early years, in the late 19th Century, it was ethnically mix with Mexican, Irish, Italian and Jewish members. By the 1930s, it was mostly Hispanic, and by the 1960s, the community was becoming majority Asian, with a growing Chinese population. The Chinese settled this part of Los Angeles and established the “New Chinatown” after their original neighborhood was destroyed for the construction of Union Station in old Varrio Macy Street neighborhood.
Today, the Alpine neighborhood is a predominately Chinese residential area that serves Los Angeles’ New Chinatown. If Alpine Street were active today, it would be the oldest street gang in Los Angeles.
Deceased members from Alpine Street
- Jose “Jo Jo” Barela (March 19, 1919 – January 16, 2002)
- Henry Barela (April 19, 1922 – June 1, 1995)
- David “Peanut” Edward Williams (February 22, 1940 – May 16, 2014)
ALPINE STREET GANG IS LEGEND!!!!MUCH RESPECTS 2/SHADY.PORKY.NEGRO.SANTOS.FLACO.(R.I.P)SPOOKY..
who are you? a homegirl or a hogirl? never knew of you, maybe just the homeboys knew you
I know Porky, Negro, Santos, and Flaco, (both flacos), and spooky, why do you have a RIP? who lived, and I do not know a shady, I’ve been around since 1974, married to Dreamer from Alpine, Big Dreamer.
Santos and I went to Our Lady Queen of Angeles Middle School which was located at 725 N. Hill Street between Ord and Alpine streets in 1969-1970. His name was Agustin Meza, but we all called him Augie. The following year he ended up at Thomas Starr King Middle School. After that I lost contact with him I have always wondered what became of him. Can anybody tell me what ever became of him?.
I know Porky as Mark, Negro as Jesse. There brothers,
Flaco I think is Andrew. I hope there alive & well.
What’s up Pinky? This is Dreamer,s homeboy Lil Man.
@ Ann, you got their names right, I’ve recently seen Negro and Flaco (andrew), they are both alive, I haven’t heard any bad news about Porky (mark) but I know he’s still with his wife shorty
i heard they were in chinatown….
Yes that was our neigborhood, Best neigborhood for a gang, vatos did held their own, used to hang at snoopy hamberger stand and the playground across the street. admire the girl at queen of angels.
Snoopy’s was on the corner of Yale and Alpine, which was right across the street from a almond cookie factory. Same street as Castelar Elementary School. Gotta go back in the day to remember that one.
Who are you? do you remember Raul, Norma, Bertha and Ilma? we all lived on Bunkerhill and Boston, across from the little park and behind the lumber yard.
Raul rodeiguez aka crook??
I think I knew Norma and maybe she had a sister Yolanda? My mom was Shorty or Tina and was a friend of theirs. We lived in the Dorothy Mae Apts on Sunset and I went to Castelar.
does any one here remembers payaso? he went to queen of angels back in 67/68.
THESE VATOS ARE OLSKOOL!! NOT BIG BUT HELD THEIR OWN.THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS CHANGED AND THE GANG HAS FADED OUT BUT THESE VATOS LEFT THEIR MARK ON CHICANO CHOLO CULTURE.
from chicanos to chinese mostly yes the vario change a lot. I hang out back in the late sixties. pretty much like chavez ravine, gone but i am glad its not forgotten.
This is a cool site, brought back some old memories from back in the days. i like the comment. and the info on Vario Alpine.
missed spell puppet / not puppert
My husband is Dreamer from Alpine Street Gang, Raul Escarcega, he was the most respected gangsters around at the time, always a leader never a follower. Everyone always gathered at our house or at the little park across the street from our house, we’ve been together since 1974. We are still in the neighborhood even though things have changed.
I was dreamers celly in Soledad 2005 2007 i remember his stories and a girl named pinky.
My brother Rudy Martinez aka Flaco, we lived on N. Hill St. Next to Rigo
I know you
Do u you remember a crook??
Raul Crook from Alpine st
How do u know crook
How do u know Raul aka crook. ?
who did they beef with?
Diamond and Clover mostly.
I’m a newer generation from WS OLB. Our turf consumes of the old Alpines’. I can only assume what Alpine st did for the chicano culture. How did they leave their mark?
Does anybody remembers the Chairez family from the old neighborhood?
SUP IM DREAMER FROM LA LOMA, ONE OF THE LAST GENERATIONS OF LA LOMA, GREW UP ON SOLANO AVE AND BROADWAY(LOWER SOLANO)
I remember Alpine St from about 1973 a home-girl from AST and TST had a party for both hood’s to celebrate a new home they just moved into – those where the dayz in LA the Varrio’s started wearing click on the back of the sweet shirts our’s then was Tiny loco’s -vato, I think Alpine also had TL’s ??
This is Lil Man fr. Alpine St .Tiny Winos.. What’s up homies/home girls? Call me .323 774 4267
Looking for my grandfather. Do you know anyone who might know Juan Carlos Rivera he was probably around in the 40s or 50s?
What’s up Puppet ? Reach out and touch me. Lil,Man Alpine St. T.W.S.
What’s up PINKY ?… THIS DREAMER,S HOMEBOY LIL MAN.
RIP Peanut aka David Williams. Ran with Alpine in the 50’s and 60’s. He lived on Hill Place his entire life, and mostly laughed about his time with Alpine. Orale, Cacahuate!
Santos and I went to Our Lady Queen of Angels Middle School in 1969-1970. The following year he ended up at Thomas Starr King Middle School. His name was Agustin Meza, but everybody called him Augie. Often I wonder what ever became of him. Can anybody tell me how he is?
What was alpine st relations with the Chinese gangs in Chinatown back then like wah ching Viet ching and chinatown homeboys? It’s a trip how chinatown homeboys is a sureno Chinese gang. It was Kool to see an alpine street veterano hangin with chinatown homeboys. Lots of history around here.
from around 1965-69 does anyone know what happened to Louie and his brother Artura who went by the name little Louie? i used to hang around with Little Louie after he got out of Federal prison in 65′ I was from hollywood Nite Owls
ANYONE KNOW BROTHERS GEORGE,ROMEN ND BRYON.
ANYONE KNOW OF GEORGE,ROMEN ND BYRON..(BROTHERS) LIVED ON BARTLETT ST. ND HILL.
LOCA LORRAINE
no one knows them or you
Who are you?
This is lil man fr. Alpine tiny winos, use to hang around with. Shady , Ricky Garcia. Are you the one who was with one of his brothers ?
What lil man Victor you have a son with Stephanie huera
MY DAD AND UNCLE WERE FROM ALPINE JOE BARELA AND HENRY BARELA
my husband Dreamer has been looking for your uncle Joe, they did time together.
Your dad and use to hang around with my uncles Daniel aka perico and Frank aka fearless. Fr.Alpine St.. Daniel went to Belmont high school. With Henry.. I’m Larry Martinez, lil,’ man Alpine t.w.s .
Lived on Alpine 1942-43. Went to Castelar Elementary. My classmates were of Hispanic or Cantonese origins. As an boy of Italian roots from Chicago, it was a cultural experience. I was eventually accepted by my classmates of Hispanic roots who gave me my own placa.
You probably went to school with some friends of mine when you were in school as a kid.
Looking for my grandfather. Maybe by chance did you know Juan Carlos Rivera?
Did you happen to know any Logans?
Does anyone know Jimmy Ariano My name is Gloria Varela aka Lil Gloria I live on Barlett from 1945-1953 my brothers were Richard Varela and Pedro Varela .
Anybody from Alpine St call me ,Lil’ Man Alpine tiny winos..(Larry Martinez, 323 434-4930.
Sign up for streetgangs.com/billboard to chop it up about real varrio history
My Great Grandfather and his brothers were Pachucos from Alpine, they called my great grandfather ‘Boy’ and his brothers ‘jj’ and ‘reindeer’
Does anyone know Lil Claudette from Alpine and Lil Gloria I am friend from Claudette who just passed away year 1945 up .
I grew up in barrio alpine in the early 60’s and recall how it was back then. I can’t remember the number of the house but live in two locations on Bunker Hill and Alpine. I attended Castelar and Our Lady Queen of the Angels and graduated in 69. I currently write a bilingual column under the personality of the Educated Pachuco http://www.kchispanicnew.com …I invite you to read the articles written….one word that describes my experience living there was Familia……The Educated Pachuco
I knew two brothers From Alpine around 64 to 67. Pne brother was Louie and his younger brother Arthur who went by the name Little Louie. He hung out with Cruz from Echo Park , And we ran together for a while. I was from Varrio Nite Owls on Barton Street in Hollywood. We all went separate ways because of heavy drug use. I survived, not sure about Louie
My dad was JOJO Barela and my uncle Henry Barela both from alpine both have since passed away
Wow, so many memories. My mom’s house was at 622 North Bunker Avenue, just before Bartlett and above Sunset. Went to OLQA from 1953 to 1958 when I went to Cathedral. Great memories of Boongie and Zombie.
Hello Richard, I lived blockes two directly east from your home on what was then 701 North Hill Street, later changed to Hill Place. We my brother and I were always at the Alpie=ne playground with th thre Trijo brothers. I live three lots north of the old Mother Cabrini’s covient. Attended OLQA in 1958 as well.
Hay Richard, I also live in the neighborhood, I live at 701 No Hill St (Change to Place in the 1950’s), Also went to OLQA, Mother Cabrini and Castellar. Hung out at the Alpine playground friend with Zombie (Mike), Lila (Holgin), Larry Hurada, Lilias younger brother Butchie and the Trejo brother Richard, Juanny and Oscar. Do you remember them?
AGUILAR Family ,, Cleveland St @ Alpine Street 1930s to 1962 ,, ??!
This is Indio from Varrio Alpine. I’m looking for anybody from Alpine or Rudy Martinez from Alpine. Flaco. Last time I heard from him was in 1983. Here’s my telephone number (909) 656-5342
Johnny cano my step grandfather was from Varrio Alpine Street . he used to tell me alot about how it was in the 1950s .. Told me they would rumble with frogtown ..puro fist no weapons ..he also told me about a varrio called macy st but i cant remember to much about it .. I was 7 in 85 . if anybody knew jhon cano please leave a comment Gracias. He passed away in 1990 . Gone but never forgotten. Gracias
Johnny passed away in 1993
Damm i wish these foos were still active
MY DAD JOJO BARELA AND UNCLE HENRY BARELA WERE FROM ALPINE BUT BOTH HAVE PASSED AWAY SINCE THERE SISTERS WERE BERTHA AND ALMA THEY LIVED ON BOSTON REST IN PEACE DAD JOJO AND UNCLE HENRY
Looking for my grandfather. Does anyone know Juan Carlos Rivera he was around in the 40s or 50s
Anyone kno Raul Rodriguez aka crook
My jefita is gypsy from alpine my tio was joker
I’ve met a OG Chinese vet from this hood. Forgot his name, he was firme.
Wow. It’s amazing how many of you claim to have known Santos (Agustn Meza) aka Augie. Over three years ago I left am a message here asking anybody to let me know his whereabouts, where he’s at or whatever happened to him. Yet nobody seems to know. Wow!
This is Santos I’m still here.
My grandmother was an original from the 30S and 40s
Her name was baby aka Beatrice her man at the time was Andy that’s all I know.
My grandfather too! Same era. Armando Estrada aka Mondy.
I remember a couple of the older guys from the 1950s, 7, Porky (Gonzales), Tino ((Gonzales), Lil Guy (Art
Ramirez), Moon head (Gonzales), Zomby (Mike), Kiki (Campos), Emma Campos, Cat eyes.
my grandfather was zoro from alpine gang ..in the zootsuit era….heard lots of good and bad stories from his time …he use to talk about the dances and the fights after