Page 11 - sw_yesterdaysoflosangeles1927

Original Spanish Lime l(jln

BY "OUTDOOR" FRANKLIN
Famous Buick Road Scout
O EAR WHERE Western Avenue drops down from Mount
Hollywood to join the River Road at the north entrance
of Griffith Park is the first lime kiln operated in this sec-
tion. It is marked today by a faded wooden sign reading "ORIG-
INAL SPANISH LIME KILNS. OVER 100 YEARS OLD."
In the construction of Mission San Fernando Rey de Espana
by Padre Lausen in 1797, it was discovered that the adobe bricks
made on the site, soon began to crumble when left exposed to the
weather. Padre Lausen sent out scouts to the hills to search for
a depo it of lime rock from which a protective covering could
be made.
Suitable rock wa discovered in the hills along the Los Angeles
river. Moreover, there was at hand an abundance of wood with
which to make the fires to convert the rock into lime.
A circular kiln was dug in the steep sides of the cliff. The
rock was piled within and covered high with wood. These fires
burned for hour . That this crude method of lime producing was
effective is shown by the intect covering on the remaining buildings
of the old mis ion.
The two kilns remained intact until a few years ago when one
was removed to make room for the River road, skirting at the
base of the hill in Griffith Park. But the original kiln remains
practically as it was when the original mission and Los Angeles
builders left it more than 100 years ago .

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