Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-01-20
THE PHILLIPS BLOCK.
A Landmark in the Past
and Present.
FROM JAIL To EMtOhluM.
The Index of Los Angeles Great
Growth and Rapid Develop
ment in solid Form.

Growth ana Raplu DeNtlOp-
ment in solid Form.
The northwest corner of Spring and
Franklin streets is historic ground in Los
Angeles. That spot has been land
mark since first there was a city here by
the sunset sea. For nearly a century
there stood on the corner long low
range of adobe buildings, in which we're
located nearly all the city and county
officers 1t was the joint property OF the
city and county. In the quadrangle be-
hind was the Jail. Within those walls
for many decades offenders of all grades
were incarcerated. Here Vasquez, the
bandit, was imprisoned, and from its
doors in 1870, Lachenais was taken by
yigilant committee of two hundred
masked men and executed from
the gate post Of lumber yard
which stood on the corner OF
New High and Temple streets. The gate
was exactly where the O.W. Childs build
ing now stands.
In the earlier part of the current decade
no less than five men were sprung in a
bunch into eternity within the walls of
the old jail yard. In 1884 Mr.. Louis
Phillips OF Spadra bonght the premises,
12O feet northward from the corner of
Temple street along Spring and reaching
back to New High. He paid $400 foot,
or $50 900 in all for the property. Itwas
the highest price ever paid for real estate
in this city, and people generally thought
he paid too much for it, but Mr.. Phillips
was far-seeing man who knew what
was near at hand. He soon began
preparations for the erection of
q great commercial block in the place Of
the old adobe Jail. The edifice was COM
pleted in July, 1888, at a cost OF $3.50 900.
With the land, it stands Mr.. Phillips in
$235 900. 1t is 120 feet front on Spring
street by 1929 feet deep, and in addition
to the stores on the ground floor fronting
on Spring street, which are 120 feet deep,
contains 120 rooms. Such a building is
a monument, not only to the enterprise
and foresight of it's owner, but also to the
genius OF it's architect and faithfulness OF
its contractor and builders. To Burgess
J. Reeve, specimens OF whose artistic
work may be found on every prominent
business and residence thoroughfare in
the city, belongs the credit of its
unusual architectva 81 merit. Sylvester
Grant, the carpenter of 1875 West Laurel
street, did the carpenter work and finish.
ing, and, to his credit be it said, it will
compare favorably with any work of the
kind on this coast. The brick and stone
work was superintended by Robert L.
Bell, of 1876 Georgia street. The granite
and stone came from the establishment
of Michael Craig, whose stone and
marble yard is located on the east side
of Alameda street, near Labory Lane.
j. G. McMenomy, the plumber, east side
Fourth street, betweensLos Angeles and
Wall, put in the water and gas connec-
tions, etc. Each suit of rooms, it should
be remembered, is provided with basin
and water. The galvanized iron and tin
work on the facaue and through
out the building is the work
of Charles A. Erhardt, northeast corner
Los Angeles and Third streets, and the
wrought and cast iron fnishings came
from the establishment of P. N. O'Don-
mel, the proprietor of the Los Angeles
Pioneer Foundry and Machine Shops,
which was established in 1869 at the
corner of Also and Garcia streets, The
plastering was done by skillful workmen
under the superintendence of Alfred Fl.
Parsons, who resides at 1887 South
Olive street. The mill work was done at
the Mechanics Mill. Tne painting was
the work of D. Moriarty, who has since
been elected Chief of our Fire Depart
ment. The grading work preparatory to
laying the foundation, was done by Thos.
Copley, the contractor, who has been en-
gagged in this business for twenty-five
years in Los Angeles. He resides at %
HOPE street.
Tha building is at present provided
with an elevator of the Millican patent.
But as it is not sufficiently rapid to suit
the inclination of man 80 progressive as
Mr.. Phillips, he has already contracted
for an improved one of superior make
which, when in operation, will add
greatly to the desirability of the rooms
for Office purposes as it will also to the
convenience Of the tenants.
Those who have had to do with the
erection OF the building are all men Of
established reputation in their various
lines, and the mere mention of their
names is sufficient guarantee IS to the
have Just cause to be satisfied with their
WOTk3 do LILO dt large ldS W
feel proud of the edifice as a whole. 1t
is most desirably located, being as it is
within few minutes Of the Court House,
theater, and leading hotels in the
midst of net work of street car lines,
and right in the very heart of the city s
business. The Phillips block is admira-
bly suited for store and Office purposes.
The estimation in which it is held by
the business community was happily
illustrated at it's completion by the
action of the Santa Fe Company, which
paid bonus of $1,000 in addition to its
regular rental, to secure part OF
the ground floor for it's ticket
Office and a series of rooms above for it's
permanent occupancy. The rest of the
ground floor has been secured by we'll
known establishments, who find the To-
cation favorable to an extensive trade.
Each floor above is miniature city, in
which dwell and do business a cemmun..
ity of lawyers, agents and professional
men of all sorts. The mention of very
important thing has been omitted in the
review of this magnificent building,
namely, thekfre escapes, of which there
are four, and the hydrants numbering
four to each floor. The Offices are ar.
ranged in suits, large and roomy, and
we'll lighted. 1t is in every way excel,
lently suited for the purpose for which il
was built and it will remain for many
years to come a grand symbol of the
prOpreSS of this beautiful citv