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HomeMy WebLinkAbout010703_Template-SpurgeonBldg_202WFourth.pdfPage 1 of 5 cm\historic\templates\Fourth 202 W (Spurgeon Bldg) 8/21/01 NAME Spurgeon Building REF. NO. 20 ADDRESS 202-212 West Fourth Street and 318-320 North Sycamore Street CITY Santa Ana ZIP 92701 ORANGE COUNTY YEAR BUILT 1913 LOCAL REGISTER CATEGORY: Landmark HISTORIC DISTRICT Downtown Santa Ana NEIGHBORHOOD N/A NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION A, B, C NATIONAL REGISTER STATUS CODE 1B Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted USGS 7.5” Quad Date: T R ¼ of ¼ of Sec : B.M. Prehistoric Historic Both ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Commercial Style (with a Second Empire Clock Tower Element) DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND RELATED TO PERIOD ARCHITECTURE: The Commercial Style achieved maturity in large eastern and Midwestern cities, most notably Chicago, where the demands for office and retail space in downtown areas led to the development of multi-storied buildings distinguished by an emphasis on windows over wall surfaces and a relative lack of ornamentation. Dating from 1875 to 1930, commercial buildings generally have straight fronts and level skylines, sometimes marked by an overhanging cornice. The regular fenestration pattern, usually consisting of repetitive groupings of unadorned, rectangular windows, provides the primary characteristic of the facades. Chicago windows, with broad, fixed central lights flanked by narrower, operable side sash, are often employed. Piers and spandrels may be in the same plane as the windows, or spandrels may be recessed, with the result that neither horizontal nor vertical lines achieve dominance (Whiffen, 183- 189). Page 2 of 5 cm\historic\templates\Fourth 202 W (Spurgeon Bldg) 8/21/01 CONSTRUCTION HISTORY: (Construction data, alterations, and date of alterations) 206-212: July 1921. Repairs. March 1923. Excavate basement. January 2, 1929. Alterations. February 1, 1949. Alterations and repairs to office building. 202: September 9, 1923. Alter storefront. June 3, 1946. Repair fire damage. May 4, 1961. Interior partitions, rear entry door, close existing windows. October 30, 1970. Interior alterations. December 20, 1985. Tenant improvement. 202-204: October 14, 1973. Remove skylights, cover openings with rafter, plywood roof. 202-208: January 1924. Alterations. June 6, 1936. Alteration to storefront. March 2, 1949. Remodel storefront. September 27, 1965. Interior partitions and remodel building. April 23, 1979. Interior remodel (206, suites 428-36). April 17, 1984. Alter. Add interior walls. 202-212: March 15, 1927. Alterations. February 18, 1936. Alterations to business building. June 6, 1944. Alterations to store. April 19, 1956. Alteration to store building. August 7, 1985. Seismic rehab. 204: February 26, 1989. Interior tenant improvement, 1st floor. 204-208: March 2, 1967. Interior alteration. April 13, 1967. Interior alterations. October 31, 1967. Exterior alteration. March 4, 1968. Dry wall existing wall & ceiling. July 18, 1968. Interior alteration. July 25, 1968. Interior alteration (206, rooms 234, 236, 306, 308, 333-332). July 26, 1971. Remove non-bearing wall in room 303. 206: April 7, 1920. Cigar stand in Spurgeon Building. July 14, 1938. Alterations to room 335. November 3, 1938. Alterations and repairs to store building. January 14, 1939. Alter business building. May 13, 1940. Repairs to office building. September 4, 1941. Repairs to office building. December 3, 1971. Office partitions & sliding door. January 25, 1973. Four stucco walls. April 18, 1974. Interior alteration, offices 202-208. April 30, 1985. Pedestrian canopy, remove existing drywall. May 30, 1985. Seismic rehab. August 22, 1985. Commercial rehab—remodel interior. October 30, 1987. Non-bearing partitions, 4th floor. February 24, 1988. Partitions (room 324); alter counter, cut opening, frame doors (2nd floor). August 22, 1990. Interior partition. October 1, 1992. Add partition walls, remove all; remove 2nd floor offices & counter & remodel back entry waiting room; install canopy. 208: April 14, 1959. Addition to building (new front office for S. A. Book Store). November 9, 1966. Interior alteration. December 13, 1966. Add drywall & install grid ceiling. February 7, 1984. Close off area to reduce retail floor area. December 20, 1985. Tenant improvement. 208-224: January 16, 1987. Elevated skywalk between buildings. 210: April 4, 1919. Screen doors. April 1922. Alterations on store. November 1, 1935. Alterations. May 20, 1937. Remodel storefront. March 4, 1946. Repair fire damage to Sayers Linen Store. February 26, 1986. Tenant improvement. 212: April 7, 1920. Shoe store alter storefront and repair. June 19, 1929. Install partitions. July 13, 1929. Store alterations. July 29, 1929. Alterations. August 4, 1930. Alterations. September 5, 1933. Alterations. March 9, 1937. Repair storefront. April 5, 1937. Remodel storefront. October 29, 1945. Mezzanine floor in The Sport Shop. March 22, 1946. Alteration to store building. No date (1950s). Remodel interior of commercial building (commercial bank). December 16, 1983. Wall. December 20, 1985. Tenant improvement. Page 3 of 5 cm\historic\templates\Fourth 202 W (Spurgeon Bldg) 8/21/01 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.) One of the most recognizable buildings in Santa Ana by virtue of its corner clock tower, the Spurgeon Building occupies the southwest corner of Fourth and Sycamore Streets. Of brick construction, the building is divided into nine bays on the north (Fourth Street) elevation and seven bays on the east elevation. Glazed display windows and storefronts, with solid bulkheads and transoms of small, square panes of glass, occupy the street level bays. Building entries are located on each elevation and are distinguished by rusticated surrounds. A decorative, projecting cornice circles the building above the ground floor. On the upper stories, the raised end bays each contain single one-over-one double-hung sash and the slightly recessed interior bays each contain paired sash. Projecting sills and paneled spandrels embellish the fenestration. At the fourth floor level, the tops of the piers are ornamented with raised brick and tile arranged in a fork-like motif. Square panels punctuate the frieze above the fourth floor. Sandwiched between the end bays, the overhanging cornice is detailed with dentils, bracketed soffits, and a patterned fascia. Rising above the northeast corner of the building, the clock tower suggests the influence of the Second Empire style, with elaborate arches containing clock faces on four sides surmounted by a cupola and flagpole. Other than relatively minor storefront alterations, the Spurgeon Building retains a high degree of integrity. HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS: The Spurgeon Building was constructed in 1913 by William Spurgeon, the founder of Santa Ana, using a design provided by architects Metcalf and Davis of Long Beach. It was the third Spurgeon Building on the site, having been preceded by smaller structures erected in the1870s and 1880s. For many years it was not only the tallest building in Santa Ana, but also one of the most prominent addresses in downtown, much favored by doctors and lawyers. Appropriately, the corner retail tenant was the White Cross Drugstore; Walgreen’s took over the space in the 1930s. William Spurgeon is not only remembered as the founder of Santa Ana, but also as one of its most prominent citizens. Spurgeon was elected to the state legislature, was one of the prime movers in the movement to establish Orange County, and served as chairman on the new county’s Board of Supervisors. His business and civic interests ranged from his general merchandise store, first opened on Fourth Street in 1869, to the founding of Santa Ana’s first church (the Methodist Episcopal Church, now the Spurgeon Memorial Methodist Church) in 1870 and the establishment of a stage coach stop followed by the formation of the Santa Ana and Newport Railway. Spurgeon died in 1915. There was a campaign led by Tim Rush, local preservationist, to restore the operation of the clock in 1999. RESOURCE ATTRIBUTES: (List attributes and codes from Appendix 4 of Instructions for Recording Historical Resources, Office of Historic Preservation.) (HP 7) 3+ story Commercial Building RESOURCES PRESENT: Building Structure Object Site District Element of District Other MOVED? No Yes Unknown Date: Original Location: Page 4 of 5 cm\historic\templates\Fourth 202 W (Spurgeon Bldg) 8/21/01 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. The Spurgeon Building possesses a strong historic integrity and, in the nearly ninety years of its existence, has become recognized as a symbol of Santa Ana. It is historically significant as one of the most prominent buildings in downtown Santa Ana, emblematic of Santa Ana’s prosperity and primacy in the affairs of Orange County as well as home to numerous local professionals. A tangible legacy of Santa Ana’s founder and one of its foremost city builders, the building is the most significant extant building associated with William Spurgeon. In addition, the building is architecturally significant as a local example of the Commercial Style of architecture, which stood out in the city’s landscape as the tallest building until 1923. Due to the extraordinary importance and high integrity of the Spurgeon Building, all original features of the exterior should be considered to be character-defining and should be preserved, including (but not limited to): all exterior finishes; building configuration and bay divisions; tower; fenestration; and cornice. SUMMARY/CONCLUSION: This building was individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and listed again 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. Listed in the Santa Ana Register of Historical Property, the Spurgeon Building has been categorized as “Landmark” because it “is on the national register,” “is on the state register,” “has historical/cultural significance to the City of Santa Ana,” and “has a unique architectural significance” (Municipal Code, Section 30-2.2). OWNER AND ADDRESS: RECORDED BY: (Name, affiliation, and address) Leslie J. Heumann Science Applications International Corporation 35 S. Raymond Avenue, Suite 204, Pasadena, CA 91105 DATE RECORDED: July 3, 2001 Page 5 of 5 cm\historic\templates\Fourth 202 W (Spurgeon Bldg) 8/21/01 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. “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. Marsh, Diann. Santa Ana, An Illustrated History. Encinitas, Heritage Publishing, 1994. 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: July 3, 2001 EXPLANATION OF CODES: • National Register Criteria for Evaluation: (From Appendix 7 of Instructions for Recording Historical Resources, Office of Historic Preservation) A: that are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. B: that are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. 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) 1B: Is separately listed and is a contributor to a listed district.