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HomeMy WebLinkAbout010119_Template-CentralAutoBodyWorks_115NSycamore.pdfPage 1 of 4 cm\historic\templates\Sycamore 115 N 2/1/01 NAME Central Auto Body Works REF. NO. ADDRESS 115 N. Sycamore Street CITY Santa Ana ZIP 92701 ORANGE COUNTY YEAR BUILT 1923 LOCAL REGISTER CATEGORY: Contributive HISTORIC DISTRICT Santa Ana Downtown NEIGHBORHOOD NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION C NATIONAL REGISTER STATUS CODE 1D Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted USGS 7.5” Quad Date: T R _ of _ of Sec : B.M Prehistoric Historic Both ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Other DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND RELATED TO PERIOD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. Page 2 of 4 cm\historic\templates\Sycamore 115 N 2/1/01 CONSTRUCTION HISTORY: (Construction data, alterations, and date of alterations) Built in 1923 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.) This one story industrial building is located on the east side of N. Sycamore Street between 1st and 2nd Streets. The exposed south wall is of poured-in-place concrete, and the front (west) and north side façades are brick. The shallow gabled roofline with internal skylights is hidden by a modest stepped parapet. The street façade consists of three equally sized bays, divided by simple pilasters. Side bays with large aluminum-framed display windows banded by multi-paned transoms flank the central entrance bay with overhead rolling garage door. Decorative rectangular brick panels are inset above each bay and within the pilasters, a vague reference to the classical building vocabulary. Over the central bay, the parapet is slightly raised, providing a central focus. Other than minor signage, the building appears to be unaltered. HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS: This building was constructed in 1923 for $6,000. It was originally the location of the Central Auto Body Works, owned by F.E. McCarter. The building later housed a Chevrolet dealer, a Studebaker dealership, and Harrison Pontiac in the 1940s and 1950s. 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: Page 3 of 4 cm\historic\templates\Sycamore 115 N 2/1/01 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 4th Street, with the heart of the city at the intersection of 4th and Main Streets. (Thomas, 8:1) The period of 1911-1915 saw many characteristic new business blocks or remodels along 4th Street, and by the 1920s Santa Ana’s downtown had expanded in each direction to include both commercial and civic development. The Central Auto Body Works has architectural significance as a fairly intact example of a typical industrial-type building dating from the earlier years of the Auto Age. While lacking decorative features, it clearly continues to convey its original function through its design. 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, the building does represent a building type with a significant association with the Auto Age 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: RECORDED BY: (Name, affiliation, and address) Page 4 of 4 cm\historic\templates\Sycamore 115 N 2/1/01 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) 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) 1D: Contributor to a listed district.