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cm\historic\templates\Fourth 118 E (Kryhl Bldg)
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NAME Kryhl Building REF. NO. 247
ADDRESS 118 East Fourth Street
CITY Santa Ana ZIP 92701 ORANGE COUNTY
YEAR BUILT 1877; 1902; 1923 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Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted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 ¼ of ¼ of Sec : B.M.
Prehistoric Historic Both
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Queen Anne Revival
DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND RELATED TO PERIOD ARCHITECTURE:
The Queen Anne Revival dominated residential architectural design during the last twenty years of the 19th century in the West, and
was nearly as influential on early commercial buildings. Identifying features include the front-facing gable roof; ornate decoration of
wood or metal along the eave and in the gable end; avoidance of flat wall surfaces through the use of applied ornamentation of wood
or metal; and classical columns or pilasters. Multi-storied commercial examples often incorporated bay windows, sometimes topped
with towers. The style borrowed heavily from late Medieval models, with the addition of other regional interpretations. Some of the
most well-developed examples can be found in California and in the southern states (McAlester, 263-268).
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CONSTRUCTION HISTORY: (Construction data, alterations, and date of alterations)
Built in 1877
Façade remodel 1902
Storefront remodel 1923
RELATED FEATURES: (Other important features such as barns, sheds, fences, prominent or unusual trees, or landscape)
Two large street trees obscure the building from street view.
DESCRIPTION: (Describe resource and its major elements. Include design, materials, condition, alterations, size, settings, and
boundaries.)
The single story Kryhl Building is located mid-block on the south side of East Fourth Street between Main and Bush Streets. Built
originally in 1877, the Queen Anne Revival commercial building underwent alterations in 1902 and 1923. Its current appearance
reflects a combination of these two alterations. The single bay recessed storefront has two entries. The bulkhead is faced with black
marble, the display windows are a combination of wood and aluminum framing, and the floor has black and white hexagonal tile with
the lettering “Harry Kryhl” spelled in black. Decorative features include the denticulated metal entablature with brackets, a front
gable roof with Queen Anne detailing in the gable end, and decorative metal piers flanking the storefront. Much of the building is
obscured from view by street trees.
HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS:
The Kryhl Building was originally built in 1877 by E.J. Dodge, a lumberman from Humboldt County (Les, 10). At the time of its
construction it was one of the first brick commercial buildings downtown, and remains as one of the oldest buildings remaining in
downtown Santa Ana (Les, 10). In 1902 the building was remodeled by new owner C.P. Kryhl, who had moved to this location from
the Spurgeon Building (Les, 10). The building was again upgraded in 1923 when his son, George Kryhl, acquired the property.
C.P. Kryhl operated a jewelry store, which remained at this address until 1962. The original safe remains in the building today.
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
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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. The architecture of
this period was characterized by Italianate and Queen Anne style commercial buildings with articulated cornices, window hoods, and
wood and cast iron storefronts. Due to over 100 years of change, few of these features are clearly evident from the street today
(Thomas, Sections 7 and 8).
Character-defining exterior features of the Kryhl Building which should be preserved include, but are limited to: the front gable roof
with characteristic decoration; metal cornice and piers; storefront configuration; black marble bulkhead; and hexagonal tile flooring
with inset lettering.
The Kryhl Building is architecturally significant as the best remaining example of Queen Anne style commercial architecture in
downtown Santa Ana. It retains a very high degree of integrity from its 1902 remodel, and continues to clearly convey its historic
style period of significance. Alterations made to the storefront in 1923 do not detract from this earlier appearance, and may have
acquired some historic significance themselves.
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
the best remaining example of Queen Anne Revival commercial styling in downtown Santa Ana, which moreover was associated with
a single business for much of the 20th century, 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: Francisco Ruiz
1402 Kilson Drive
Santa Ana, CA 92707
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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,
p.10.
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)
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.