Plaza area.

1862

1868, View of the Plaza Church and Plaza

Photograph of an exterior view of the Plaza Church and the Plaza, Los Angeles, before 1869. There is a fence around the church entrance at right, while a building with a small tower on it can be seen at left. An unpaved road can be seen between the buildings from bottom left towards center. Hills can be seen in the left background. Caption indicates buildings: 1. Second Church, built in 1821-1822; 2. Horacio Penelon's studio in 1865; 3. Residence of ex-mayor José Mascarel; 4. Catholic cemetery, founded in 1800; 5. Department store, T.P. Campbell and Tom Reed; 6. Residence of T.P. Campbell; 7. First public school house; 8. [Building] built in 1844, by Capitan Seguro; 9. Headquarters of Commodore Stockton in 1846; 10. Sisters of Charity's convent; 11. [Building] built in 1842, by Don Tiburcio Tapia, later known as Olvera's home; 12. Water-works, built in 1857; 13. Second plaza; 14. House of Don Romulo Pico; 15. Property of Don Pio Pico; 16. First cemetery in early pueblo days; 17. Jews first cemetery; 18. Main Street, now north Main Street; 19. Street of the Maids, changed to north Main Street, changed to San Fernando Street, now north Spring Street; 20. Bath Street, now north Main Street. "Where Buena Vista Street is now open, north on the hill stood a chapel from 1784 to 1812 where a Franciscan friar from San Gabriel said mass every Sunday and holidays. The fence about the Plaza was built by the owners of the reservoir at the extreme right of the picture. Later they planted trees and otherwise imporved it." -- Father Adams.

1869, Plaza Church and La Plaza

Plaza Church prior to 1869, showing fence around the entrance. [Note on photo: Father Adams says, "Where Buena Vista is now open, north on the hill stood a chapel from 1784 to 1812, where a friar from San Gabriel Mission said mass every Sunday and holidays." The fence around the Plaza was built by the owner of the reservoir (seen at extreme right of the photo). Later it was planted with trees and otherwise much improved.

1870-1875, Pico House at the Los Angeles Plaza

Photograph of the exterior view of the Pico House at the Los Angeles Plaza, ca.1870-1875. A stage coach is parked in the front of the building. Several other horse-drawn carriage are parked along the street. The sidewalks are filled with pedestriams. The building is three-stories tall and features arched windows and doorways.

1878, Pico House and Plaza

Photograph of the exterior view of the Pico House and Plaza, Sonora Town, ca.1878. The name of the building is embossed in the pediment above the third story. The building features arched windows and cornices above every floor. Tracks on the street curve along the fenced in park (at left). Picture file card reads: "Pico House and Plaza, East Los Angeles and San Pedro Street Railway. This car track was designed to run from the Los Angeles and Independence Railroad depot at Fourth Street and San Pedro Street to Pritchard Street and Downey Avenue (north Broadway), East Los Angeles. It was broad guage and was completed only to Mullally's brick yard on Buena Vista Street (north Broadway) east of College Street. It started on San Pedro Street at Fourth Street and ran north to First Street, to Los Angeles, to Sanchez, to Plaza, to Main, to Marchessault, to Upper Main, to Short (Sunset Boulevard), to Buena Vista, to College. The company was organized May 1875, capital $50,000. Directors were E.E. Hewitt of Southern Pacific Railroad, James F. Ward, Thos. E. Garey, I.W. Lord, F. Sabichi, H.J. Crow, and R.M. Widney. The purchase of the Los Angeles and Independence Railroad in 1877 changed the route of this line so that it only ran to the Southern Pacific depot at Commercial Street from Fourth Street and San Pedro STreet -- the balance being discontinued. A private citizen leased the north end of it in 1878; but not finding it profitable, the tracks were torn up in 1880." -- by E.E. Lewis.

1870, Mission Los Angeles Plaza Church

Photograph of the Mission Los Angeles Plaza Church from the south end of the Plaza, ca.1870. Other buildings are visible adjacent to it along the dirt road which runs in front. Undeveloped hills are visible behind. "Plaza church (before 1869) showing fence around the entrance. Father Adam says, 'Where Buena Vista Street is now open, north on the hill, stood a chapel from 1784 to 1812; where a Franciscan friar from San Gabriel said Mass every Sunday and holidays.' The fence about the Plaza was built by the owners of the reservoir at extreme right of the picture. Later they planted the trees and otherwise improved it."

1890, City Water Reservoir in Plaza

Photograph of the city water reservoir in Plaza, Los Angeles, ca.1890. A brick utility building stands at center, featuring arched window filled-in with brick. A wooden frame has been built on top of the building's brick, through which a pole standing at the center and what appear to be wires can be seen attached to the left and right sides of the frame's inside walls. A post-and-rail fence can be seen behind this, beyond which a second, long utility house stands. What appear to be sheds and a factory building of approximately four stories are visible furthest back. Mountains can be seen in the distance. "Father Adam says, 'Where Buena Vista Street is now open, north on the hill, stood a chapel from 1784 to 1812; where a Franciscan friar from San Gabriel said Mass every Sunday and holidays.' The fence about the Plaza was built by the owners of the reservoir at extreme right of the picture. Later they planted the trees and otherwise improved it." -- unknown author.