Dateline>City of Angels

A few years back, while researching an article on downtown haunts for a local newspaper, I canvassed the El Pueblo Monument for ghost tales. I wasn’t disappointed. According to numerous sources, many of the old landmarks there teem with spirits – including, possibly, L.A.’s first firehouse.

I say “possibly” because my initial investigations at the station met with mixed results.

“There are no ghosts here; this was always a happy place!” retorted an elderly male docent in response to my questioning.

The young lady who worked with him didn’t seem so sure. She admitted to hearing odd noises upstairs, but had told herself it was only the wind. “I don’t really like to believe in ghosts. There are a lot of cracks in the walls and windows up there,” she explained – all the while casting a wary eye toward her stern-looking senior counterpart.

Obviously, there was more to this story. Like any good reporter, I went snooping. Read more