L.A. Redux / The City Then and Now

In 1886 a picket fence protected the small cypresses that lined the border of 6th Street Park--now known as Pershing Square. Trees and shrubs were planted at random by donors, one of whom was George (Roundhouse) Lehman, owner of the Roundhouse Beer Garden on Main Street between 3rd and 4th streets. Lehman watered the trees for 20 years. When the city wanted to build the public library there, the move was defeated by voters because most people thought the land belonged to Lehman. But it was later learned that the City Council had already passed an ordinance in 1866 making it a public square.

The 125-year-old, five-acre square is one of the few parcels of land that hasn’t changed title since the Pueblo de Los Angeles was founded in 1781. But its name has changed several times: Public Square, City Park, Los Angeles Park, La Plaza Abaja, St. Vincent’s Park and Central Park. Pershing Square came into being on Nov. 18, 1918, during Armistice Day jubilation. It was named after World War I hero Gen. John J. (Black Jack) Pershing, who commanded the American Expeditionary Force in Europe.

During the 1930s and 1940s, the tropical look was in vogue, and giant banana trees, birds of paradise and palms lined the brick-paved walks. Signs were posted near the wooden benches, saying “reserved for women and children only.”

The city launched a campaign in 1948 to rid the park of hundreds of rats that came out at night to consume the scraps of food left by park visitors. Feeding of birds was prohibited in an attempt to starve out the rodents.

Once a cool paradise in the heart of downtown, the square’s handsome gardens were eventually sacrificed to discourage crime.