The Way It Was
War & Peace at the Campo, 1810 to 1866
by Guy Weddington McCreary and Jim Gulbranson, historian

Prior to 1810 the historic Campo de Cahuenga, then called Rancho Partezuela, was occupied by soldier Mariano de la Luz Verdugo. In 1810 the San Fernando Mission took over the Verdugo ranch. The mission fathers dammed up the Los Angeles River running behind the Campo de Cahuenga site, raised corn and squash for the mission, and built a building for the housing of workers and seed storage.

In 1845 Tomas Feliz, the new occupant of the land, doubled the size of this building which is now known as the Tomas Feliz Adobe. Two battles for control of California and its governorship took place at this site. In 1831 the casualties were one mule dead and a soldier wounded. In 1845, a second battle for control resulted in Pico Pico consolidating his position as governor of California and a peace treaty was signed. A historical footnote: John Sutter of Gold Rush fame was held at Campo de Cahuenga by Pico Pico and would often relate the story of how his beloved gun, leaning outside the door of his prison cell, was stolen from under his nose.

On Jan 13, 1847 at the adobe site, Lieutenant Colonel John C. Fremont of the U.S. Forces signed the Treaty of Cahuenga with General Andres Pico of Mexico. This was a significant treaty that lead directly to California's statehood by ending rival hostilities in California for the duration of the Mexican American War. With the treaty signing, the dream of Manifest Destiny would give rise to one nation extending from the Atlantic to Pacific oceans. The treaty also brought peace with honor, allowing all nationalities in California (a significant German and Scottish population was present) to assimilate into the United States, while those who wished to leave could do so in peace. The treaty was consolidated into the final treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on Feb 2, 1848 between Mexico and the U.S.

The Butterfield stagecoach used the Campo de Cahuenga as one of its stops en route to San Francisco in 1856 - 60, until the Civil War broke out. During the Civil War the Campo Grounds were used by the Union Forces including the Native California Battalion, made-up of Californios (native-born of Spanish or Mexican descent.) They had been stationed at the San Pedro Drum Barracks, but were sent to the San Fernando Valley to curb their propensity for women and liquor, and stayed there until 1866. The Battalion was a strong supporter of Pres. Abraham Lincoln and the Union. Another California Battalion that stayed at the Campo went on to fight in New Mexico and Arizona.

While excavating the site for the Universal subway stop, the MTA discovered large portions of the original foundation of the Tomas Feliz adobe under Lankershim Blvd. in front of Universal Studios' executive offices and also on the park grounds which had been designated by the city for paving to accomodate street widening of Lankershim Blvd. Since that the discovery, the MTA has engaged in extensive archeological activity at the site and has initiated the process for National Register Historic Site status, pending the filing by the City of Los Angeles, owner of the land under the Parks and Rec. Dept.