For several years, Chicken Corner has been versed in the history and myth of the famous cat Room 8 at Elysian Heights Elementary School. The big tabby is featured on murals at the school, and there are declarations of love for him written in cement on Echo Park and Baxter avenues at the campus. He has a website. He has a meme.

Not so the other animals in the elementary school's past! The tortoise, the pony, the sheep! Turns out as late as the '80s EHES had a functioning school garden that included these animals as well as ducks and chickens. So the story goes.

A window onto this hidden history opened last Saturday when I walked down to the garden, where a community volunteer work day was taking place.