The herald., 1894-12-09
ABOUT THE OLD COURT HOUSE
Rec0llecti0ns Of the Old Edifice
and Its Builder.
The Scene of Stirring Episodes in
the Early Days.
It Served as n City Market and Was
Also an Opera House - Then
tho Home of the
Judiciary.
[By H. D. BARRows.]

BY h. d. BARROwS.]
[The following entertaining paper wa
read before the Historical Society at it,
meeting on December 3rd.
In the slow tearing down OF the olt
court house, which has been going or
now for some time, we witness the grad
ual disappearance of a public building
that has long been a prominent land
mark near the business center of Los
Angeles city. This edifce was originally
erected for a market house by John
Temple, and its first floor was used for
that purpose for number of years.
Afterwards it was bought by the county,
and was used for the housing of the
courts and the various other county
offices for q long period, or until the
completion of the new court house on
the hill. 1t was then sold to the present
owner, who is to replace it with large
block.
For many years. our people through
cst the county, which formerly included
also the present county of Orange) were
accustomed to look to this building as
the oounty's headquarters, whore the
courts were held, the records were kept,
che taxes were levied and collected and
centered. And, until numerous higher
structures were erected in the immedi-
ate neiehborhood. cutting off the view,
the people OF the city long depended on
The clock in its tower for the time Of
day, or az q common regulator of their
watches. Indeed the habit remained
strong with many of the old citizens of
looking to the "old town clock" for the
time from the four quarters of the city
for considerable period after the clock
was removed and its four dial faces
cease to mark the time.
The demolition of the old court house
awakens msnv remembrances OF events
which occurred in and around 1t, and OF
its builder, Mr.. Temple.
John Temple. or Johnny Temple"
ne Americans familisrIy called him,
"Don Juan Temple" name so we'll
known to all the older Californians, was
one of the very earliest American set-
tiers in Los Angeles. He came here
from Honolulu, on the ship Waverly, in
1927, nearly 20 years ago. He was
native Of Reading, Mass, where he was
born in 1898. He evidently came to
stay. for he was baptized at once on his
arrival at San Diego. and after making
few trading trips on the coast. he be-
came 8 naturalized citizen of Mexico,
-'and in 1880 he married Rafaela Gotta,
daughter OF Francisco Gotta. He en-.
gagged in trade in Los Angeles with
George Rice until 1882, and then alone.
and after 184l with his brother Fran
cisco. He took very little part in
political affairs. except that the vigi-
lantes OF 1886 met at his house. After
1889 he was creditor of the southern
missions. and in lS45 he purchased the
mission of La Purisima.
From 184S, as owner OF Los Cerritos
ranch, lying along the coast. east OF San
Pedro. and including the site OF the
present town OF Long Beach, he engaged
in stock raising on large scale. He
erected at varioua spochs, several prom
inent buildings in this city, including
that long known as Temple block the
city market house, in later years known
as the court house; the south west por-
tion of the present Temple block. etc.
Mr.. Temple was interested in a ten
year contract, which his son-in-law,
Gregorio Ajuria. a native of Spain, en-
tered into with the Mexican govern.
ment. to operate the mint in the City of
Mexico. About 1860 or 1851, Sei1or
Ajuria became insane, and was taken to
Paris where he afterwards died in hos
pital; but Mr.. Temples responsibility
tor the management of the mint coutin-
ned till the expiration OF the lease in
1852. Mr.. Temple thrice revisited the
City OF Mexico with Mrs. Temple, and
once he went with her to Paris.
After their return, they moved to San
Francisco, making their home on Bush
street where he died in 1866, at the age
Of 6S years.
After his death. Mrs. Temple went to
Paris and took up her residence with her
widowed daughter, until her death some
years later tie daughter still reeides in
Paris.
John Temple, whom knew we'll, was
very shrewd business man, not essily
hattered or deceived, although he was
OF a genial, affable deposition and east
ly accessible; he was we'll liked by both
the Californians and Americana; in
person, he was Of medium height and
rather stout. He was a much larger
man than his brother, Francisco, whom
to distinguish from the former, the
Spanish-speaking people called Tenn
plito," or Don Francisco.
+. T. +. Temple, after his brother's
death, became the owner OF Temple
block. Both brothers were strong
union men during the war, and | re-
member in 1861, that Caleb B. Smith,
secretary OF the interior, authorized me
as United States marshal to ren. seven
rooms in the second story of this block
OF John Temple at $1,000 per Rnnum, for
four years, for the uee of the United
States district court and it's officers
and that Judge Fletcher, M. Haiaht,
father OF Gov. Fl. II. Haight, held court
each year until his death in 1865. in the
large room on the southeast corner,
fronting Main street and the old court
house. Temple street was first opened
by John Temple, after whom it was
named.
The old court house was built in 1859.
On the conductor heads, at each end of
the building, the date and Mr.. Temple's
initials were plainly marked, (though in
late years they were somewhat blurred
by time) thus: 1859, j. L.
The architects name was Deering,
who was very thorough and competent
man. remember that it was said at
the time that he had done q good job, |
and think the present owner, in tear |
ing it down, has found it so. doubt if |
the numerous earthquakes which have |
visited this section since it's erection,
have caused single crack to appear in |
its walls. or have displaced single |
timber or brick. The building. with
town clock. etc., cost about $50, 200.
Deering also built the old or eouth-
western portion of Temple block.
The upper story OF the court house
Mr.. Temple converted into theater.
or xa drot ttno To-, l,.t |