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HomeMy WebLinkAbout010119_Template-TinkersJewelry_113WFourth.pdfPage 1 of 4 cm\historic\templates\Fourth 113 W (Tinkers Jewelry) 8/9/01 NAME Tinkers Jewelry REF. NO. 236 ADDRESS 113 West Fourth Street CITY Santa Ana ZIP 92701 ORANGE COUNTY YEAR BUILT 1888; 1919; 1933 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Downtown Santa Ana NEIGHBORHOOD NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION C NATIONAL REGISTER STATUS CODE 1D Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted USGS 7.5” Quad Date: T R _ of _ of Sec : B.M Prehistoric Historic Both ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Art Deco DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND RELATED TO PERIOD ARCHITECTURE: The Art Deco style is characterized by smooth wall surfaces, often of stucco; zigzags, chevrons, fluting, reeding, and other low-relief stylized and geometric motifs as decorative elements on the façade; accents of terra cotta, glass, or metal; polychromy; rectangular or compound forms; and a more vertical emphasis than its close stylistic relative, Streamline Moderne. Art Deco was essentially a style of decoration, and was applied to jewelry, clothing, furniture and handicrafts as well as architecture. In style between 1920 and 1940, Art Deco was popularized by the Exposition des Arts Decoratifs held in Paris in 1925. It was most commonly utilized on commercial or public buildings. Page 2 of 4 cm\historic\templates\Fourth 113 W (Tinkers Jewelry) 8/9/01 CONSTRUCTION HISTORY: (Construction data, alterations, and date of alterations) Built in 1888 Remodeled in 1919 Remodeled in 1933-34 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 Tinkers Jewelers Building was built in 1888, remodeled in 1919, and remodeled again following the earthquake in 1933. Its appearance today reflects the 1930s construction. The two-story building is located mid-block on the north side of West Fourth between Sycamore and Main Streets. The street level façade contains a single, central entry storefront and is clad in black tile over a blue tiled base. Spanning the façade, a transom window has been enlarged and converted into a mezzanine level display window. The street-level entry leading to the second floor is located east of the storefront. Fluted pilasters frame two bays on the second story. A single one-over-one double-hung wood sash window occupies each bay. A fluted band embellishes the fascia, and the building is topped at the parapet by zigzag molding which screens a flat or sloped roof. HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS: In 1888 this building was constructed as part of a larger business block (Les, 17). The location of harness shops from 1888-1908, the city directories show the Bydon Bros. Harness Co. as tenants in 1904-1910, and C.F. Conwell prior to that (Les, 17). The building was the location of the Lion Coffee House in 1914-1918 (Les, 17). In 1919, E. B. Smith moved his jewelry business into the downstairs, and the building was remodeled (Walking Tour, 3). R.H. Ewert continued the jewelry business from the late 1920s through the 1930s. Subsequently, the jewelry store was operated by Mrs. Herbert Miller, who sold the business to Tinkers Jewelers in 1974. The second floor served as Hickox photo studio from 1901, and later the Smart photo studio from 1924 to 1983 (Les, 17; Walking Tour, 3). It has earned the distinction of Orange County’s oldest continuous photo studio (Walking Tour, 3). 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\Fourth 113 W (Tinkers Jewelry) 8/9/01 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 by the 1920s Santa Ana’s downtown had expanded in each direction to include both commercial and civic development. In 1933 the Long Beach earthquake hit the Southern California area, causing extensive damage to many of the storefronts in Santa Ana’s downtown. Where repair was possible, many of the buildings dating from the late 1800s and early 1900s were remodeled with Art Deco or Streamline Moderne storefronts, the fashionable architectural styles of the day. Character-defining exterior features of this building which should be preserved include, but are not limited to: smooth stucco facing; tiled storefront; fluted parapet, fascia, and pilasters; zigzag parapet decoration; and one-over-one, wood-frame, double-hung sash. The Tinker’s Jewelry Building is of architectural note as one of several examples of the Art Deco style in downtown Santa Ana. The 1888 building was altered in 1919, and again following the 1933 earthquake, presumably to its current appearance. The low relief fluted pilasters, zigzag motif above the windows, and the decorative work in the parapet are all typical of this 1930s style. The use of glazed tile on the storefront may be a 1950s alteration, and itself reflects a significant mid century design trend. The building retains good integrity on the upper floor, and still effectively conveys its style and period of significance. 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 one of a handful of examples of Art Deco styling in downtown Santa Ana, and in view of its long association with local businesses, the building satisfies Criteria 1 and 4 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: Adolfo and Guillermo Lopez 290 Willow Springs Road Orange, CA 92869 Page 4 of 4 cm\historic\templates\Fourth 113 W (Tinkers Jewelry) 8/9/01 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, page 17. 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.” 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.