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NAME Dr. Raymond Smith House REF. NO. 54
ADDRESS 1315 North Broadway
CITY Santa Ana ZIP 92706 ORANGE COUNTY
YEAR BUILT circa 1902 LOCAL REGISTER CATEGORY: Landmark
HISTORIC DISTRICT NEIGHBORHOOD N/A
NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION C NATIONAL REGISTER STATUS CODE 3S
Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted
USGS 7.5” Quad Date: T R _ of _ of Sec : B.M.
Prehistoric Historic Both
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Late Victorian/Queen Anne
DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND RELATED TO PERIOD ARCHITECTURE:
The Late Victorian/Queen Anne style (also known as the Queen Anne Revival) dominated residential architectural design during the
last 20 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 residential and
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)
July 3, 1944: Convert residence into 6 apartments
RELATED FEATURES: (Other important features such as barns, sheds, fences, prominent or unusual trees, or landscape)
Two-story garage and apartment in rear of parcel (construction date undetermined).
DESCRIPTION: (Describe resource and its major elements. Include design, materials, condition, alterations, size, settings, and
boundaries.)
This two and a half-story Queen Anne residence has many features typical of its style. Sheathed in narrow wood lap siding, the
building sits on a concrete foundation. A complex hipped and gable roof features front and side gables containing Palladian
windows. Windows are mostly one-over-one double-hung sash in type. Highlights of the building include a two-story rounded bay
with a conical cap at the northwest corner and an attached, three bay porch on the primary (west) elevation. The bay is banded by a
large, flat belt course between stories and by a frieze of garlands set beneath a dentil course and the boxed eaves of the turret. Tuscan
columns support the porch roof and are linked by another denticulated frieze. Offset to the north within the porch space, the entry
consists of a paneled and glazed single door topped by a transom. Atop the porch, a wood slat balustrade defines a balcony. Double
wood and glass doors topped by a denticulated cornice open onto the space. Other typical stylistic elements include three-sided cant
bays on the upper story front and side elevations, decoratively scrolled brackets in the boxed eaves, and embellished window aprons.
Alterations to the exterior are relatively minor and include and exterior staircase attached to the south elevation. The interior has been
converted into apartments. A two-story, hipped roof, wood clad building at the rear contains a garage topped by an apartment.
HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS:
According to previous research (Santa Ana Treasures), this house was moved to this location in 1930 and occupied by a local
chiropractor, Dr. Raymond Smith, and his wife, Alberta. It previously faced West Washington Street. The name of the original
owner of this property is unknown.
RESOURCE ATTRIBUTES: (List attributes and codes from Appendix 4 of Instructions for Recording Historical Resources,
Office of Historic Preservation.)
HP2. Single-family property
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RESOURCES PRESENT:
Building Structure Object Site District Element of District Other
MOVED? No Yes Unknown Date: 1930 Original Location: West Washington
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. Following its incorporation as a city in 1886, Santa Ana was recognized as one of the leading
communities in the area in 1889 when it became the seat of the newly created County of Orange. Beginning in the 1880s and
continuing through the first three decades of the 20th century, Broadway emerged as a prominent residential corridor and was
eventually lined by comfortably scaled homes shaded by rows of street trees.
This intact circa 1902 house is architecturally significant as a fine example of the late Queen Anne Revival style. It illustrates the
combination of Colonial Revival detailing with Queen Anne signature elements such as the “witch’s cap” turret, bays, and porch.
The Palladian windows, garland friezes, dentils, and Tuscan columns are derived from the Colonial Revival. Character-defining
exterior features of the Smith House which should be preserved include, but are not limited to: hipped and gabled roof; boxed and
bracketed eaves; gable face treatments; two-story bay with turret; attached front porch with Tuscan columns; balcony; all original
fenestration and architectural detailing.
SUMMARY/CONCLUSION:
This building appears to be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C. The house also appears
eligible for inclusion in the California Register of Historical Resources. The property is currently listed in the Santa Ana Register of
Historical Property. The Smith House has been categorized as “Landmark” because it has “a unique architectural significance” as a
relatively rare example of the Queen Anne Revival style (Municipal Code, Section 30-2.2).
OWNER AND ADDRESS: Mr. Marvin Rahn
1570 East Edinger Avenue, Unit 12
Santa Ana, CA 92705-4929
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RECORDED BY: (Name, affiliation, and address)
Leslie J. Heumann
Science Applications International Corporation
35 S. Raymond Avenue, Suite 204, Pasadena, CA 91105
DATE RECORDED: April 9, 2001
SURVEY TYPE: (Intensive, reconnaissance, or other)
Intensive Survey Update
REPORT CITATION: (Cite survey report and other sources)
City of Santa Ana, Santa Ana’s Historic Treasures.
Les, Kathleen. Historic Resources Inventory 1315 N. Broadway, May 1980.
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.
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 J. Heumann DATE OF EVALUATION: April 9, 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)
3S: Appears eligible for separate listing.