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<br />State of Califomia - The Resources Agency Primary #
<br />DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI #
<br />CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial
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<br />Page --L of ~ Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) Spicer House
<br />'Recorded by Leslie J. Heumann, SAIC 'Date July 5, 2005 Il!I Continuation 0 Update
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<br />'810. Significance (continued):
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<br />Orah A. Spicer was the widow of Charles Spicer, who died in 1925 at the age of 4 7. He had come to Califomia in 1904,
<br />settling initiaily in Pomona. A resident of Santa Ana for twelve years at the time of his death, Spicer was the proprietor of
<br />Charles Spicer & Company, a prosperous dry goods and ladies ready-to-wear store. An active member of the business
<br />community, Spicer seNed as president of the Chamber of Commerce in 1924, as one of the founding members of the
<br />Merchants and Manufacturers Association, seNed as its president as weil. An art school graduate, Orah Spicer was also
<br />active in the social and civic affairs of Santa Ana. and was a member of the Ebeil Club.
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<br />The Spicer 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 />wideiy scattered ranch houses characterized this area before 1920. Deveioper 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 Fails,
<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 compiete such notable projects as the 1935 Art Deco styled
<br />Old Santa Ana City Hail, the EI Taro Marine Base during World 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.
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<br />In the late 1920s and 1930s, another builder, Roy Roscoe Russeil (1881-1965), continued developing the groves of Floral
<br />Park. An early Russeil project was his 1928 subdivision of Victoria Drive between West Nineteenth Street and West Santa
<br />Clara Avenue. The homes were quite grand and displayed various revivai styles, including Russeil's own large, Colonial
<br />Revival mansion at 2009 Victoria Drive. In the early post World War /I years, Floral Park continued its development as
<br />numerous, smailer, 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 (2005) Floral Park maintains
<br />its identity as the premier neighborhood of Santa Ana, historicaily home to many affluent and prominent citizens.
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<br />The Spicer House has been detennlned eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places as a contributor to a
<br />North Broadway Park historic district that is bounded by Riverside Drive, Santa Clara Avenue, North Broadway, and North
<br />Flower Street. Comprising the northem end of the Floral Park neighborhood, North Broadway Park was subdivided in 1923.
<br />The Keeper of the National Register found that: "North Broadway Park reflects the City Beautiful planning movement in
<br />Sauthem California during the early twentieth century. The vernacular adaptations of period revival styles, cUNilinear street
<br />patterns, street furniture, and landscape combine to create a cohesive and pleasant middle class suburban neighborhood
<br />environment which is unique in the early historical development of the city of Santa Ana. "j Under the regulations
<br />implementing the Califomia Register of Historical Resources, the Spicer House has been listed in the Califomia Register. It
<br />also qualifies far listing in the Santa Ana Register of Historical Property under Criterion 1 for its exemplification of the
<br />distinguishing characteristics of the Spanish Colonial Revival style. The house showcases a Renaissance inspired version
<br />of the style, with its block-like massing, hipped roof, and graceful entry. The house also contributes to the historic character
<br />of the Floral Park neighborhood through its age, style, scale, and historic association with important members of the local
<br />business and social community. Additionaily, the house has been categorized as "Landmark" because it has been
<br />determined eligible for the National Register, has been listed in the California Register, has "unique architectural
<br />significance" as an example of the Spanish Colonial Revival style, and contributes to a district that has "histaricaVcultural
<br />significance to the City" as an example of the City Beautiful planning movement. Ail original exterior features of the Spicer
<br />House are considered to be character defining and should be preseNed. These features include, but may not be limited to:
<br />materials and finishes (stucco, wood, iron); roof configuration, materials, and treatment; massing and composition; entry;
<br />doors and windows; erchitectural detailing (wrought iron features, entry surround.); and garage.
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<br />Determination of Eligibility, February 25, 1980.
<br />DPR 523L
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<br />4015
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