Bring Me the Head of John Bryson

The Bryson-Bonebrake Block, commonly known as the Bryson Block, was located on the northwest corner of 

Second and Spring Streets in downtown Los Angeles.  Designed by architect Joseph Cather Newsom, it was 

built in 1888, remodeled in 1903, and torn down in 1934.  Upon its completion, the Bryson Block was widely 

held to be the most prominent office building in Los Angeles.

Two-thirds of the building’s $224,000 cost -- the 103 x 120-foot lot cost another $120,000 -- was provided by 

John Bryson (1819-1907) and one-third by George Bonebrake (1837-1898).  Bryson and Bonebrake were 

Vice President and President, respectively, of the Los Angeles National Bank and also the State Loan and 

Trust Company, the latter concern being headquartered in the Bryson Block.  In addition, Bryson was briefly 
Mayor of Los Angeles from December 10, 1888 to February 25, 1889, when the adoption of a new City Charter 
ended his term.

John Bryson 

George Bonebrake

In its original configuration, the Bryson Block was five and a half stories.  There was also a basement that was 

less than a full story below the level of the sidewalk, so sometimes the Bryson Block was said to originally be

six and a half stories.  This photo of the Bryson Block almost certainly was taken during the latter stages of its 
construction in late 1888 (note the scaffolding on its top half-story).  The Second Street side of the building is 
on the left, and the Spring Street side is on the right:

This photo of the Bryson with its many tall chimneys and flag-topped copper corner dome was 
taken c. 1890:

In the photo above, the building at the left edge is the Hollenbeck Hotel (1884-1932) on the southwest 

corner of Second and Spring. The building we see a bit of between the Bryson and the Hollenbeck was the 

Los Angeles Police Department Headquarters from 1885 to 1896; it had also been Los Angeles City Hall 
from 1885 to 1889 and, during the last sixth months of 1885, home of Confidence Engine Company No. 2, 
part of L.A.'s then-all-volunteer fire department.  Below, on the left side of the Bryson Block, we see the old 
City Hall/LAPD HQ after an 1897 renovation that included removing the tower from which Confidence Engine 
Company No. 2's bell had briefly hung.

Bryson Block, c. 1898-1902

The Bryson Block was remodeled in 1903 when its roof was removed, and the original top half-story was 
replaced with two complete upper floors:

Bryson Block, 1905

Let’s take a closer look at some of the building’s incredible architectural detail from the previous photo.  

I'm not sure what those two heads on the Spring Street side (near the bottom of the closeup below) are 

supposed to be:

Nor am I exactly sure what these snarling whatever-they-ares are:

But there’s one bit of ornamentation on the Bryson Block whose meaning we can be sure of.  Look at the top
of the arch on the fourth floor (which, if you count the basement level, is the fifth floor) above Spring Street:

This is why that arch is important:

September 4, 1888, Los Angeles Times

 

Here is John Bryson's head as keystone of the arch, next to his building's name:

This photo was taken in 1934, just before the Bryson Block was demolished.  If you look closely, you can see 

John Bryson’s head still looking down on Spring Street:

Bryson Block, 1934

This post has been updated.

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Image Credits:

Bryson Block UC -- P-010-0499 @ Seaver Center, Los Angeles County Natural History Museum
John Bryson  -- 00034066 @ Los Angeles Public Library

George Bonebrake -- CHS-3995 @ USC Digital Library

Bryson Block c. 1890 -- 2007-0210 @ California State Library

Bryson Block c. 1898-1902 -- 00019231 @ Los Angeles Public Library

Bryson Block 1905 -- CHS-5289 @ USC Digital Library
Los Angeles Times article -- ProQuest via Los Angeles Public Library
Bryson Block 1934 -- 00068410 @ Los Angeles Public Library