HomeMy WebLinkAbout030708_ExecutiveSummary-PacificElectricSubstation#14_475NL….pdfEXECUTIVE SUMMARY
PACIFIC ELECTRIC SUBSTATION #14
475 North Lacy Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701
NAME Pacific Electric Substation #14 REF. NO.
ADDRESS 475 North Lacy Street
CITY Santa Ana ZIP 92701 ORANGE COUNTY
YEAR BUILT 1907 LOCAL REGISTER CATEGORY: Landmark
HISTORIC DISTRICT N/A NEIGHBORHOOD Lacy
NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION A,C NATIONAL REGISTER STATUS CODE 1S
Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted
Prehistoric Historic Both
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Late Victorian Romanesque/Romanesque Revival
Derived from the churches of the tenth and eleventh centuries in Europe, Romanesque Revival architecture is characterized by heavy
massing, masonry construction, and the use of arched, particularly round-arched, openings. Unlike its medieval precedents, the
revival of the second half of the nineteenth century was not exclusively an ecclesiastical style and was used for a variety of building
types, including railroad stations, institutional buildings, commercial and industrial buildings, residences, and, of course, churches.
Interpretations ranged from high style to vernacular, and can be recognized by the use of red brick or stone which is often rough faced,
arches, corbelling, and features such as towers, steeply pitched roofs, and piers or buttresses that are more directly related to church
architecture. Although the heyday of the style occurred during the last quarter of the nineteenth century, it continued to be used in the
twentieth century in the newly settled West as well as country-wide for religious buildings.
SUMMARY/CONCLUSION:
The Pacific Electric Substation #14 was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on September 22, 1983 as an individual
resource. Under the regulations implementing the California Register of Historical Resources, the building is also listed in the
California Register. The property qualifies for listing in the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties under Criterion 4b, for its
association with the Pacific Electric Railway system that powered the growth of Santa Ana and the surrounding areas during the first
half of the twentieth century. It also qualifies under Criterion 1 as a structure with the distinguishing characteristics of early twentieth
century industrial design. Additionally, the substation has been categorized as “Landmark” because it “is on the national register,” it
“is on the state register,” it “has historical/cultural significance to the City of Santa Ana” as the last remaining structure associated
with Pacific Electric railroad in the city and county, and it “has a unique architectural significance” as an example of early twentieth
century industrial design (Municipal Code Section 30-2.2).”
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)
1S: Separately listed.