Downtown History in Spoon Form
Dave Bullock
[Flickr]
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — I have been collecting old, public domain books about Downtown Los Angeles for several years now. In the next few months I will be slowly scanning, OCRing and uploading their contents. I will supplement these uploads with modern day photographs of the buildings or the parking lots they have been reduced to.
One of my more interesting recent purchases was not a book, but a spoon. This sterling silver spoon made by Watson Company depicts Downtown circa 1910. Several street cars can be seen along with a wide assortment of buildings. I would guess that the street is Main street, but I am not quite certain.
So I pose three questions to you all:
- What street is shown on the spoon?
- What major buildings can you recognize?
- From what vantage point was this "picture" taken?
Click on the photo to view it larger.
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dj ernie pearl on May 27, 2007, at 01:23AM – #1
Hmmmm.... kinda hard to tell. I do see The tallest building which was The Continental Building on the right. I do see old city hall on the left. I even see Angel's Flight. So from the angle of Angel's Flight I think We're on Los Angeles St looking west to Bunker Hill or on Bunker Hill looking down to downtown?
Tim Quinn on May 27, 2007, at 01:23AM – #2
I am pretty sure the tower with the pyramidal top on the left is the old city hall on Broadway. I would also guess that the tallest building, right of center, is the Bralley, now the Continental, at Fourth and Spring. It was the tallest building downtown for a long time. I have a little pewter vase, an old tourist memento, that features it.
I bet Brent Dickerson could identify the whole thing.
Welcome to BlogDowntown Dave, and congratulations.
Scott on May 27, 2007, at 09:25AM – #3
The view is from the highest point on Bunker Hill looking east down 3rd street. The Bradbury Building (note the skylight) is center-left. Bottom left may be the old exchange building at Hill & 3rd. That's definitely the old City Hall at right on Broadway, midblock between 1st and 2nd, besides the top the tall narrow windows are a giveaway.
shannon on May 27, 2007, at 09:43AM – #4
agreed with scott's assessment...except i think he meant city hall to be to the LEFT. nice find.
Scott on May 27, 2007, at 02:05PM – #5
Whoops, yes left!
Dave Bullock (@eecue) on May 31, 2007, at 12:16PM – #6
Hmm now the interesting part... how to get a photo from that vantage point!