HomeMy WebLinkAbout010119_Template-GilmakerBroadwayBlk_302NBroadway.pdfPage 1 of 4
cm\historic\templates\Broadway 302 N (Gilmaker Broadway Blk)
8/17/01
NAME Gilmaker Broadway Block REF. NO. 249
ADDRESS 302-310 North Broadway
CITY Santa Ana ZIP 92701 ORANGE COUNTY
YEAR BUILT 1922 LOCAL REGISTER CATEGORY: Key
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Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted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: Italian Renaissance
DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND RELATED TO PERIOD ARCHITECTURE:
The Italian Renaissance, popular from the late 19th century until 1930, was inspired by the designs of the palazzi of northern Italy and
popularized by American architects McKim, Mead, and White. Utilized on public buildings and ornate homes, the vocabulary of the
style also influenced the appearance of commercial buildings. Characteristic features generally include masonry construction, often
with different treatments on lower and upper stories; stringcourses or beltcourses between stories; flat roofs screened by parapets or
hipped roofs; cornices, dentils, pilasters, quoins, and other classical details; and a balanced, often symmetrical appearance. Taller,
more elaborate buildings often feature terracotta facade cladding or ornamentation while more modest one to three story examples
utilize bricks of contrasting colors as trim. Ground floors of multi-story buildings often housed banking rooms; more modest
buildings may contain storefronts with recessed entries and large plate glass display windows with transoms and bulkheads. Upper
story windows are most commonly one-over-one wood framed double-hung sash.
Page 2 of 4
cm\historic\templates\Broadway 302 N (Gilmaker Broadway Blk)
8/17/01
CONSTRUCTION HISTORY: (Construction data, alterations, and date of alterations)
Built in 1922
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.)
The Gilmaker Broadway Block is located on the northwest corner of Broadway and Third Streets. The two-story wire-cut brick
building is unevenly divided into five storefronts on the Broadway façade, and two entrances on the Third Street elevation. The
storefronts entrances are recessed, and include newer aluminum framed display windows, square colored tile bulkheads, and transoms
that have been covered. Two of the storefronts have hexagonal tile floors. Along the Third Street elevation, a series of square, wood-
framed windows are located at the mezzanine level. Second story fenestration is irregular, consisting of modified Chicago-style
wood windows of eight-over-one double hung central panels flanked by narrower four-over-one double-hung sash. White glazed
brick provides decorative interest at the beltcourses and parapet. A broad frieze with decorative vents and a projecting cornice of
terra cotta cap the building.
HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS:
This large business block appears as one façade but was constructed as two buildings by two development groups at the same time in
late 1922 (National Register Nomination Form, 7:26). Joe Gilmaker constructed the building on the corner, and the Santa Ana
Development Company (National Register Nomination Form, 7:26) constructed the northerly portion. The building was the location
of many real estate and building trade related businesses. In 1923 the upstairs apartments were named the Broadway Apartments, and
by 1930 they were known as the Aubry Apartments. Businesses included the Wilmax Land Company associated with A.G. Burton,
the Santa Ana Improvement Company associated with D.L. Aubry, the Western Loan and Building Company, and a constant flow of
real estate enterprises (Les, 68).
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
Page 3 of 4
cm\historic\templates\Broadway 302 N (Gilmaker Broadway Blk)
8/17/01
RESOURCES PRESENT:
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. The
Gilmaker Broadway Block is architecturally significant as one of the better remaining examples of the influence of Italian
Renaissance styling on commercial improvements in downtown Santa Ana. It retains a good integrity, displaying the masonry
construction, one-over-one double hung windows, recessed entries, a beltcourse and a simple cornice.
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. As
a typical example of the vernacular interpretation of Italian Renaissance styling which personified downtown Santa Ana development
during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the building satisfies Criterion 1 for inclusion in the Santa Ana Register of Historical
Property. Additionally, the property has been categorized as “Key” because it has a “distinctive architectural style and quality” and
“is characteristic of a significant period in the history of the City of Santa Ana” (Municipal Code, Section 30-2.2(2)).
OWNER AND ADDRESS: Joseph L. Gilmaker
307 West Third Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Page 4 of 4
cm\historic\templates\Broadway 302 N (Gilmaker Broadway Blk)
8/17/01
RECORDED BY: (Name, affiliation, and address)
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. American Architecture: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. 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, or 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)
1D: Contributor to a listed district.