Bell Block (Los Angeles)

The early archives in the Recorder’s office of Los Angeles county, show that Don Jean-Louis Vignes sold a lot to Bell in 1844, “contiguous to the Zanja (water-ditch) and fronting the house of Senora Teodocia Saiz, which extended 95 varas on the east, 105 on the west 3 Los Angeles street, about 292 feet;.

The deed, which is written in the Spanish language (probably by Don Ygnacio Coronel, is acknowledged before “Manuel Requena, Alcalde I O constitucional: Jues de I 0 instancia, y presidente del Y1.

The upper story on the corner and fronting Aliso street was long the residence of Bell, and also, for a considerable period, of Francis Mellus.

As his available finances would not justify so expensive an undertaking, he finally put up a brick facing around the adobe walls of his block and made other improvements costing approximately US$12,000 or $15,000.

It was demolished in December 1892 to make room for the foundations of a new brick block covering the former site and extending forty or fifty feet, or more, westward to the new line of Los Angeles street.