In the late 1880s, John H. Jones was a bit of a big deal. He was a very successful real estate developer and active in city politics. That’s his house on the far left, but it’s not what I find interesting about this circa late 1800s photo. We’re looking north up Main St toward Fifth St in what is now downtown Los Angeles. Look how residential it is. All those leafy trees, and hedges, and lawns. Main Street looks like it would have been a nice area to live in back then. Also, note that everyone in this photo, kids included, is wearing a hat.
Much the same view in February 2021. That building on the left is great, but you’d never know it was the same place, would you?
I prefer the top picture, even thou the bottom has a person crossing st wearing a hat. Could it be the kid in top picture all grown up? This one will remain a California mystery for sure.
Facinating, yet puzzling. On the right you can see business buildings that are pushing down the road. If one were to view the other direction in the 1880’s to 1890’s, from 5th out, there are residences and small hotels, like The Shasta past 7th, on the left side with business moving down the other side. Even when the Pacific Electric Building went up in 1904-5 at 6th & Main, there were old houses on that side next to the structure. Jones’ property must have been one very valuable blockade in the way of “development” soon after this photo. The whole area became the “nickle district”, so named as the rise of early theaters known as nickleodeons began here. Thanks for posting it as this sector of the city is rarely explored. Usually just written off as skid row.