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(Construction data, alterations, and date of alterations) September 26, 1983. Rebuild and seismic rehab March 6, 1984. Tenant improvements 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.) The appearance of this two and three-story brick building dates to its post 1933 earthquake reconstruction and substantial rehabilitation in 1984. An example of the Spanish Colonial Revival style, the building is asymmetrical in its composition, with exposed red brick exterior walls. The focal point of the design is the entry, a two-story high archway located at the southwest corner of the building. The actual doorway is deeply recessed within the barrel-vaulted space. Set high up on the fagade next to the opening, a single bulls eye window is the only other feature of this wing, which is crowned by a red tile shed roof. To the north, the flat roofed three-story wing features a row of arched windows beneath a projecting cornice over the first floor. Other notable details of this wing include a row of projecting bricks, which suggest a frieze below the roofline, and shallowly recessed panel containing the current name of the building, "Santa Ana Veterans Hall" on a blue tiled background. In good condition, the building has been modified from its 1934 appearance by the enclosure of some windows and the removal of its stucco facing. Note: This property has a fagade easement with Heritage Orange County. The Armory Hall/American Legion Hall was built in stages, with the first construction taking place around 1910, a rear addition made in 1922, an entirely new fagade created following the Long Beach Earthquake in 1934, and substantial rehabilitation occurring in 1983-84 (Thomas). It was constructed as the third home of Santa Ana's Company L Armory (the first was up the street at 400 West Fourth Street, the second at 214'/2 East Fourth Street), and was utilized for that purpose from 1910 until the mid- 1950s. Founded as the Santa Ana National Guard Company F in 1890, the unit changed its name to Company L when it was called to active duty during the Spanish American War in 1898. The organization played an important dual role in the community, as a vehicle for military service and as a community institution that sponsored social and civic events. Members of Company L provided assistance in the aftermaths of both the I906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire and the 1933 Long Beach Earthquake, and went on to serve in World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. In World War II, the building was utilized as the West Coast Army Training Center and was used as a broadcasting station. The name of the unit was changed to Company A, 161" Armored Infantry Battalion in 1954 (Marsh). RESOURCE ATTRIBUTES: (List attributes and codes from Appendix 4 of Instructions for Recording Historical Resources, Office of Historic Preservation.) (HP13) Community Center/Social Hall (HP34) Military Property Page 2 of 4 cmVustorie\templates\nimh 313 N (American Legion Hall) 8123/01