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<br />State of California - The Resources Agency
<br />DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
<br />CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial
<br />
<br />Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) George House
<br />"Date April 2, 2003 Œl Continuation 0 Update
<br />
<br />Primary #
<br />HRI#
<br />
<br />Page ..L of..L
<br />'Recorded by Leslie J. Heumann, SAIC
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<br />"81O, Significance (continued):
<br />
<br />The George House is located in Floral Park, a neighborhood northwest of downtown Santa Ana bounded by West
<br />Seventeenth Street, North Flower Street, Riverside Drive, and Broadway. Groves of oranges, avocados, and walnuts and
<br />widely scattered ranch houses characterized this area before 1920. Developer and builder Allison Honer (1897-1981),
<br />credited as the subdivider and builder of a major portion of northwest Santa Ana, arrived in Santa Ana from Beaver Falls,
<br />New York in 1922 (Talbert, pages 353-356). "Before nightfall on the day of his arrival, Mr. Honer purchased a parcel of land.
<br />And that month, he began building custom homes in Santa Ana" (Oranae Countv Reaister September 15, 1981). The
<br />parcel chosen became the Floral Park subdivision between Seventeenth Street and Santiago Creek. 'When built in the
<br />1920s, the Floral Park homes were the most lavish and expensive in the area. They sold for about $45,000 each" (Oranae
<br />Countv Reaister September 15, 1981). Revival architecture in a wide variety of romantic styles was celebrated in the 1920s
<br />and 1930s and Floral Park showcased examples of the English Tudor, French Norman, Spanish Colonial, and Colonial
<br />Revival. The Allison Honer Construction Company went on to complete such notable projects as the 1935 Art Deco styled
<br />Old Santa Ana City Hall, the EI Toro Marine Base during Worid War /I, and the 1960 Honer Shopping Plaza. Honer lived in
<br />the neighborhood he had helped to create, at 615 West Santa Clara Avenue.
<br />
<br />In the late 1920s and 1930s, another builder, Roy Roscoe Russell (1881-1965), continued developing the groves of Floral
<br />Park. An early Russell project was his 1928 subdivision of Victoria Drive between West Nineteenth Street and West Santa
<br />Clara Avenue. The homes were quae grand and displayed various revival styles, including Russell's own large, Colonial
<br />Revival mansion at 2009 Victoria Drive. In the early post World War /I years, Floral Park continued #s development as
<br />numerous, smaller, single-family houses were built. Continuing in the Floral Park tradition, they were mostly revival in style.
<br />In the 1950s, low, horizontal Ranch Style houses completed the growth of Floral Park. Today (2003) Floral Park maintains
<br />its identity as the premier neighborhood of Santa Ana, historically home to many affluent and prominent citizens.
<br />
<br />The George House appears eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and the California Register of
<br />Historical Resources. It also qualifies for listing in the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties under Criterion 1 for its
<br />exemplification of the Italian Renaissance Revival style. The rectan9ular, nearly symmetrical massing beneath a hipped
<br />roo~ the generous use of quoining for emphasis, the incorporation of arches into the design, and the balustraded terrace are
<br />notable in this regard. The house also contributes to the historic character of the Floral Park neighborhood through its age,
<br />style, scale, and historic association with a prominent member of the Santa Ana community. Additionally, the house has
<br />been categorized as "Landmark" for its unique architectural significance as an example of the Italian Renaissance Revival
<br />style that contributes to the historic streetscape of North Victoria Drive. All original exterior features of the George House
<br />are considered character defining and should be preserved. These features include, but may not be limited to: materials
<br />and finishes (stucco, tile, wrought iron); roof configuration and treatment; massing and composition; entry; doors and
<br />windows; terrace; porte cochere; architectural detailing (quoins, wrought iron grille work); garage, and mature trees.
<br />
<br />"812. References (continued):
<br />
<br />Harris, Cyril M. American Architecture: An Illustrated Encvclooedia. New York, WW Norton, 1998.
<br />Marsh, Diann. Santa Ana An Illustrated Historv. Encinitas, Heritage Publishing, 1994.
<br />McAlester, Virginia and Lee. A Field Guide to American Houses. New York: Alfred A. Knop~ 1984.
<br />National Register Bulletin 16A. "How to Complete the National Register Registration Form." Washington DC: National
<br />Register Branch, National Park Service, US Dept. of the Interior, 1991.
<br />Office of Historic Preservation. "Instructions for Recording Historical Resources." Sacramento: March 1995.
<br />"Alison Honer Dies at 84," The Santa Ana Journal, September 21, 1981.
<br />"Builder of Honer Plaza Dies," Oranae Countv Reaister September 15,1981.
<br />"History of Floral Park." httpJ/www.fIoral-park.corn/page2.html
<br />Talbert, Thomas (editor-in-<Jhief). Historical Volume and Reference Works Includina Bioaraohical Sketches of Leadina
<br />Citizens Volume I. Whittier, Historical Publishers, 1963.
<br />Armor, Samuel. Historv of Oranae Countv. Los Angeles: History Record Company, 1921.
<br />Orange County Directories, 1928-1952.
<br />'W. Roy George, Ex-SA Planner, Dies at 83." (Clipping in Santa Ana History Room Pamphlet file dated February 27, 1972.)
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