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HomeMy WebLinkAbout010703_Template-UnitedPresbyterian_113ESantaAna.pdfPage 1 of 4 cm\historic\templates\Santa Ana 113 E (United Presbyterian) 7/23/01 NAME United Presbyterian Church REF. NO. 14 ADDRESS 113-115 East Santa Ana Boulevard CITY Santa Ana ZIP 92701 ORANGE COUNTY YEAR BUILT 1911 LOCAL REGISTER CATEGORY: Landmark HISTORIC DISTRICT Downtown Santa Ana NEIGHBORHOOD N/A NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION A, C NATIONAL REGISTER STATUS CODE 1D Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted USGS 7.5” Quad Date: T R ¼ of ¼ of Sec : B.M. Prehistoric Historic Both ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Classical Revival DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND RELATED TO PERIOD ARCHITECTURE: The Classical Revival encompasses movements in American architecture ranging from Thomas Jefferson’s philosophical use of classicism during the late 18th and early 19th centuries through the sober Neoclassicism and exuberant Beaux Arts exercises of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Stimulated by archaeological investigations and provided with further impetus by exhibitions such as the Colombian Exposition at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, the style reached Southern California during the later period. In its most literal manifestations, the style was based on specific buildings of antiquity. More commonly, the architectural vocabulary of ancient Greece and Rome was applied to contemporary building types and techniques. Identifying features include low-pitched gable or hipped roofs, sometimes hidden by solid or balustraded parapets; classical entablatures; use of columns, capitals, and bases displaying the classical orders; front doors with sidelights and transom; elaborate door and window surrounds; and a balanced, symmetrical appearance. Although used for a range of building types, the Classical Revival of the late 19th and early 20th centuries was most effectively utilized for monumental public buildings, institutional buildings, and financial institutions. Page 2 of 4 cm\historic\templates\Santa Ana 113 E (United Presbyterian) 7/23/01 CONSTRUCTION HISTORY: (Construction data, alterations, and date of alterations) July 1, 1919. Alterations and repairs. October 24, 1934. Alterations. November 1, 1945. Alterations to church. May 20, 1949. Repair roof structure. August 1, 1951. Alteration within church building. August 22, 1990. Remove existing portion of stage. November 5, 1990. Modernize/alter restrooms. January 6, 1992. Remove ceiling at rehearsal hall. February 24, 1992. Built-up floor for stage, repair ceiling & wall. 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.) Located on the northwest corner of East Santa Ana Boulevard (formerly Sixth Street) and Bush Street, the United Presbyterian Church is a two-story plus basement church building in the Classical Revival style. Of brick construction, the building has rough textured stucco exterior walls and a hipped roof with gabled projections. The primary elevation faces south and consists of two identical, temple-like, front-gabled pavilions flanking a central entry bay and terminated on the west by a set back, secondary entry bay. Each of the temple pavilions contains a central, two-story recess defined by Ionic columns in antis. The west recess features a single, large opening containing a tripartite art glass window while two bands of windows with separated spandrels (and currently covered with signage) are framed within the east recess. Classical entablatures, with blank friezes, denticulated horizontal and raking cornices, and embellished pediments, top each of the temple bays. A segmented hood announces the central entry, located at the top of a half flight of stairs. A smaller hood is located over the secondary entry. The church appears to be substantially intact on the exterior; minor alterations include an iron railing around the basement and a low wall at the west entry. The interior has been adapted for theater and concert use, with changes to the stage area and restrooms documented in building permits. HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS: The United Presbyterian Church was the fourth church organized in Santa Ana, founded on June 22, 1876. Initially, the congregation met at the home of James McFadden and then subsequently utilized other school and church buildings. Under the leadership of Reverend D.S. McHenry, and with 15 charter members, the congregation acquired a lot at the corner of Fourth and Mortimer Streets and constructed a Gothic styled sanctuary, dedicated on November 10, 1878. Outgrowing these modest quarters, the congregation, with Reverend W. L. C. Samson at the helm, purchased property at the corner of Sixth and Bush Streets. The monumental new church was dedicated on May 22, 1912. Now the Pacific Symphony Center, the church was converted to its new use in 1990. RESOURCE ATTRIBUTES: (List attributes and codes from Appendix 4 of Instructions for Recording Historical Resources, Office of Historic Preservation.) HP 16: Religious Building Page 3 of 4 cm\historic\templates\Santa Ana 113 E (United Presbyterian) 7/23/01 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). 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. From the beginning, religious institutions were a focal point of the community. As the population grew, sanctuaries were built and then replaced with larger buildings, and eventually a cluster of churches, including the United Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian Church, Episcopal Church of the Messiah, and First Methodist Episcopal Church, dotted the landscape just north of the city center. One of the pioneer congregations of Santa Ana, the United Presbyterian Church first met in 1876, and constructed their imposing Classical Revival edifice at Sixth and Bush Streets in 1911-1912. The church is significant historically as an early focus of Santa Ana life, which operated in its downtown location for nearly eight decades. It is noteworthy architecturally as an impressive and intact example of Classical Revival architecture from early 20th century, which moreover has been successfully adapted to a new use. According to some sources, the building was designed by Frederick Eley, Santa Ana’s premier architect of the period (Thomas, 7:4). Character-defining exterior features of the church which should be preserved include, but are not limited to: exterior materials and finishes; roof configuration; façade composition and symmetry; columns; entablatures; entry embellishments; art glass and other original fenestration. 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. Listed in the Santa Ana Register, the property 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: Page 4 of 4 cm\historic\templates\Santa Ana 113 E (United Presbyterian) 7/23/01 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 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. 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.