Holbrook, Merrill and Stetson - Hardware Company - circa 1920's Unissued California Stock Certificate

Unissued Stock printed by A. Carlisle & Co., S.F. The Wholesale District, also known as the Warehouse District, is an area in Downtown Los Angeles, California, with no clearly defined boundaries. Currently, it is situated along the BNSF and Union Pacific Railroad lines, which run parallel to Alameda Street and the Los Angeles River. This district is predominantly composed of warehouses and refrigerated storage facilities, with only a few ancillary commercial uses. In the Los Angeles city zoning map, the area is designated as Central City North.

In 1906, a significant fire occurred in the Wholesale District, specifically at a two-story brick building occupied by the Holbrook, Merrill and Stetson Hardware Company, located on the south side of the 200 block of Los Angeles Street. The fire, which broke out in the early morning hours of June 20, 1906, was severe enough to be classified as a three-alarm fire. A contemporary newspaper account described how nearby female residents were frightened by the fire; they fled into the streets in light attire and were hesitant to return to their rooms for some time. A total of five fire companies responded initially, with two more joining as soon as they could reach the district.