Preservationists Plan Compass Tree Monument

Traveling Spanish fathers found a perfect rest stop for their journey between downtown Los Angeles and the Mission San Fernando, a spring in what is now Burbank.

In 1817, they planted four sycamore trees on the points of the compass to give the weary traveler markings for the journey. The trees remained until the 1940s.

Now several historical preservation groups want to recreate the spot, and dedicate it to 60 pioneer families.

Back then, things looked similar in the plains, and the sycamores served as helpful markers, said Jean Bannigan, a former chairwoman of the Burbank Heritage Commission.

Burbank’s Historical Commission and Historical Society want to bring the trees back as part of a proposed Compass Tree Park on a triangular vacant lot between Cedar Avenue and Providencia Avenue, about a block from where the trees once stood.

The park would also honor the more than 60 families that have lived in Burbank for over a century.

Lothar Von Schoenborn, principal planner for the city, said there are few such landmarks in Burbank.

“I think everyone likes the idea and concept. The messy part is finding a funding source,” said Von Schoenborn.

He estimates it would cost $10,000 to acquire the triangular piece of land. Adding the sycamores, a plaque honoring the centennial families, benches, and additional landscaping would make the total around $50,000.

In 1996, the city’s Park and Recreation Department tried to get a Community Development Block Grant to pay for the park. But “it was one of those issues not funded. Grants as of late have been less and less,” said Deborah McMurray, an administrative officer with the park and recreation department.

The Heritage Commission presented its proposal twice this year, and council members directed the city staff to study it. But the City Council has not formally approved the compass tree park or bought the vacant land. The Heritage Commission plans to put the item forward again next year.

Theodore X. Garcia, the director of the Burbank Historical Society and a member of the Heritage Commission, envisions a marble or cement-based monument with a bronze plaque that would mention the names of the centennial families.

Apart from beautifying the area, the park would also recognize “the earliest historically recorded site in all of Burbank,” said Garcia. According to Garcia, when the missionaries used to pass through, there were a well and a natural spring nearby, making it a nice spot for camping overnight.

“It seems like a worthy historical thing to the community,” said Bannigan about the proposed park. “It gives people a feeling of history.”