I have never noticed this plaque before. It sits on the north end of the Downey Fire Station #1. It states "Site of College Settlement, circa 1868 developed around Los Nietos collegiate institute (first protestant college in LA county), the methodist church, masonic lodge, Alameda school all had their beginnnings here. Settlement became part of Downey in 1873."
The area that is currently Downey was once part of a much larger "rancho" which was originally established as a land grant to Manuel Nieto in 1784. Incompassing 300,000 acres, it included what would today be Downey, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Lakewood, Long Beach, Signl Hill and Huntington Beach. Even though we had a big beginning, Downey is now a small town - it's really only about 12 square miles.
I guess the fun part in all of this is appreciating the past we have. We are not old by European standards, but we have over 200 years of history! Kind of cool. And it was fun to be reminded of this in noticing this plaque today.
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