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cm\historic\templates\Broadway 312 N (Gerwig’s Bicycle Shop)
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NAME Gerwig’s Bicycle Shop REF. NO. 241
ADDRESS 312 North Broadway
CITY Santa Ana ZIP 92701 ORANGE COUNTY
YEAR BUILT 1910-11 LOCAL REGISTER CATEGORY: Contributive
HISTORIC DISTRICT Downtown Santa Ana NEIGHBORHOOD
NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION C NATIONAL REGISTER STATUS CODE 1D
Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted
USGS 7.5” Quad Date: T R _ of _ of Sec : B.M
Prehistoric Historic Both
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Other
DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND RELATED TO PERIOD ARCHITECTURE:
This utilitarian building reflects its function rather than the influence of any architectural style or movement.
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CONSTRUCTION HISTORY: (Construction data, alterations, and date of alterations)
Built in 1910-11.
RELATED FEATURES: (Other important features such as barns, sheds, fences, prominent or unusual trees, or landscape)
None.
DESCRIPTION: (Describe resource and its major elements. Include design, materials, condition, alterations, size, settings, and
boundaries.)
Gerwig’s Bicycle Shop is a one-story poured-in-place concrete building constructed circa 1910 as one of the earliest poured concrete
buildings in downtown Santa Ana. The simple building retains its original storefront configuration, though the elements have been
updated. Storefront features include the recessed entry with double doors, aluminum-framed display windows, and transoms (which
have been painted over). The cornice is a simple molded band at the roofline. A remnant of the original bicycle shop painted sign is
visible on the north elevation along the alley. A section of the original wood storefront also remains on the alley elevation, including
a four pane fixed wood frame window and a wood recessed panel bulkhead.
HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS:
This small shop was the location of Robert Gerwig’s bicycle shop from 1910-1940 Les, 70). He moved to this location from 308 W.
4th Street. In the 1940s and 1950s this was Post Office Substation A (Les, 70).
RESOURCE ATTRIBUTES: (List attributes and codes from Appendix 4 of Instructions for Recording Historical Resources,
Office of Historic Preservation.)
(HP 6) 1-3 story commercial building
RESOURCES PRESENT:
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Building Structure Object Site District Element of District Other
MOVED? No Yes Unknown Date: Original Location:
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: (Discuss importance in terms of historical or architectural context as defined by theme,
period, geographic scope, and integrity.)
Santa Ana was founded by William Spurgeon in 1869 as a speculative townsite on part of the Spanish land grant known as Rancho
Santiago de Santa Ana. Early growth and development was stimulated by the arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1878 and the
Santa Fe Railroad in 1886. By the end of the 1880s, Santa Ana’s downtown business district was defined by five city blocks of brick
commercial buildings on Fourth Street, with the heart of the city at the intersection of Fourth and Main Streets (Thomas, 8:1).
The period of 1911-1915 saw many characteristic new business blocks or remodels along Fourth Street, and during the 1920s new
construction along north/south arterials such as Main Street and Broadway extended the footprint of downtown even further. While
development during the first twenty years of the twentieth century often involved larger commercial blocks, smaller buildings were
also being constructed by proprietors of smaller businesses.
The Gerwig Bicycle Shop is a good example of one of these smaller buildings that remains in the downtown today. Its vernacular
commercial design is evidenced by the recessed entry, large display windows, transom, and masonry construction. This small
building continues to convey its function and period of significance, despite some minor alterations to the storefronts system. The
remnant painted sign and portion of the original storefront windows along the north elevation are evocative of the building’s previous
use and appearance.
SUMMARY/CONCLUSION:
This building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 as a contributor to the Downtown Historic District. Under
the regulations implementing the California Register of Historical Resources, the building is also listed in the California Register.
Although it is modest in size and has experienced some modifications over the years, the building does present a typical example of
storefront design from the early 20th century and on that basis satisfies Criterion 1 for inclusion in the Santa Ana Register of
Historical Property. Additionally, the property has been categorized as “Contributive” because it “contributes to the overall character
and history” of the downtown historic district (Municipal Code, Section 30-2.2(3)).
OWNER AND ADDRESS: Joseph L. Gilmaker Trust
307 West Third Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701
RECORDED BY: (Name, affiliation, and address)
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Leslie Heumann & Liz Carter
Science Applications International Corporation
35 S. Raymond Avenue, Suite 204, Pasadena, CA 91105
DATE RECORDED: January 19, 2001
SURVEY TYPE: (Intensive, reconnaissance, or other)
Intensive Survey Update
REPORT CITATION: (Cite survey report and other sources)
Les, Kathleen. “Santa Ana Historic Survey, Final Resources Inventory: Downtown.” May 1980.
Thomas, Harold M. “Downtown Santa Ana Historic District” National Register nomination form,
1984.
REFERENCES: (List documents, date of publication, and page numbers. May also include oral interviews.)
Harris, Cyril M. American Architecture: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. New York, WW Norton, 1998.
Heritage Orange County Inc. “Downtown Santa Ana Historic District Walking Tour.” nd.
McAlester, Virginia and Lee. A Field Guide to American Houses. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1984.
National Register Bulletin 16A. “How to Complete the National Register Registration Form.”
Washington DC: National Register Branch, National Park Service, US Department of the Interior,
1991.
Whiffen, Marcus. American Architecture Since 1780. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1969.
EVALUATOR: Leslie Heumann DATE OF EVALUATION: January 19, 2001
EXPLANATION OF CODES:
• National Register Criteria for Evaluation: (From Appendix 7 of Instructions for Recording Historical Resources, Office of
Historic Preservation)
• National Register Status Code: (From Appendix 2 of Instructions for Recording Historical Resources, Office of Historic
Preservation)
EXPLANATION OF CODES:
• National Register Criteria for Evaluation: (From Appendix 7 of Instructions for Recording Historical Resources, Office of
Historic Preservation)
C: that embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, method of construction, or that represent the work of a
master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose
components may lack individual distinction
• National Register Status Code: (From Appendix 2 of Instructions for Recording Historical Resources, Office of Historic
Preservation)
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