The building is noted for the two stone lions mounted on pillars that originally flanked the entrance in the wall surrounding the property.

During infrastructure work for the construction of the Jerusalem Light Rail, the wall and front garden were removed to accommodate the widening of the street and sidewalk.

The site, on the south side of the street, was chosen because it was adjacent to a Turkish guardtower which could offer protection to the solitary house.

[2][5] During the 1936–39 Arab revolt in Palestine, the police station served as a weapons depot for Haganah soldiers defending the city.

Patai describes how in 1939, after joining the Haganah, he and his friend were assigned to guard duty in the Mamilla Cemetery: Once a week in the evening we went to the Mahane Yehuda police station, where each of us was given a rifle, ammunition, and some sort of makeshift uniform, and then, thus equipped, marched to a house facing the Mamilla Cemetery, through which Arab attackers were known to have sneaked into the Jewish part of Jerusalem.

We climbed up the stairs to the flat roof of the three-story building and stood, or rather sat, watch there until 2 o'clock in the morning, when we were replaced by another two men.

[2] Some believe they were sculpted by Simcha Yanover, who produced the similar-looking lions mounted on pillars in front of the Mashiach Borochoff House further east on Jaffa Road.