|
State of Calffomia -The Resources Agency Primary #
<br />DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI #
<br />CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial
<br />Page 3 of 3 Resource Name or# (Assigned by recorder) Wagner House
<br />-Hecoraea by tesue,l. l--eumann, SAlG *Date March 30, 2005 ®Continuation ^ Update
<br />*610. Signifignce (continued):
<br />Since the second half of the twentieth century, the neighborhood in which the Wagner House is located has been known as
<br />West Floral Park. Located northwest of the historic core of Santa Ana, this residential neighborhood is bounded by Santiago
<br />Creek on the north, West Seventeenth Street on the south, North Flower Street on the east and North Bristol Street on the
<br />west. Prior to World War ll, the area was agricultural, divided into a few large landholdings devoted primarily to the
<br />cultivation of oranges, walnuts, and apricots. Traces offhis early era remain in the form oftwo original farmhouses (1911
<br />Westwood Street and 2402 North Flower Street) and in a few large parcels along Flower Street. During the 1920s and
<br />1930s a handful ofhouses were erected on Baker, Bristol, and Flower Streets, and two municipal facilities, the Cify Water
<br />Works pumping plant and the City/County Animal Shelter, were built at 2315 and 2321 North Bristol Street.
<br />West Floral Park acquired its current identity as a neighborhood ofexpansive, California Ranch Style houses in the years
<br />following 1947. Development started slowly, with around two dozen homes being built on Baker, Olive, Towner, and
<br />Westwood Streets between 1947and 1950. Construction boomed during the 1950sand 1960s. One builderin particular
<br />has come to be associated with West Floral Park: Roy Rodney Russell. The son of Roy Roscoe Russell, who developed
<br />much of Victoria Avenue in Floral Park, Roy Rodney Russell formed a partnership with his father, called Roy Russell and
<br />Son, Builders, in 1945. They began building homes on speculation, usually around fifteen or twenty each year. Following
<br />the death ofhis father in 1965, Roy Rodney Russell continued to build, mostly custom homes and many of them in West
<br />Floral Park. He retired in 1993.
<br />Flower Street itself ended at Seventeenth Street during the agricultural period. North of Santa Clara, Hannah Street (also
<br />spelled Nanna'~ was renamed Flowerbetween 1912 and 1915. Sometime later, the north and south sections of Flower
<br />were joined, but the area between Seventeenth and Santa Clara remained agricultural. By 1929, according to the city
<br />directories, there were nine houses on the west side of Flower north of Santa Clara in the Fisher Park neighborhood (the
<br />2600 and 2700 blocks), and only one (2330) in West Floral Park. By 1931, five houses, including the Wagner House, had
<br />been constructed on Flower south of Santa Clara on this street of orange and walnut orchards.
<br />The Wagner House qualifies for listing in the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties under Criterion 1, as a structure
<br />with the distinguishing characteristics ofan architectural style, the Spanish Colonial Revival. It displays the asymmetrical
<br />massing, tiled roof, stuccoed exterior, arched openings, and fanciful features such as the two-story rotunda that exemplify
<br />many ofthe larger examples of the style. Additionally, the house has been categorized as "Landmark" /orits unique
<br />architectural significance as awell-articulated example of the Spanish Colonial Revival style popular during the 1920s and
<br />1930s in Santa Ana. All original and restored exterior features of the Wagner House are considered character defining and
<br />should be preserved. These features include, but may not be limited to: materials and finishes (stucco, tile, wood); roof
<br />configuration and detailing; massing; windows and doors; rotunda; chimneys; pone cochere; balconies and porches; and
<br />architectural details (such as the brackets, cantilevered second story, wrought iron features, door lantern, etc.).
<br />"812. References (continued):
<br />Harris, Cyril M. American Architecture: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. New York, WW Norton, 1998.
<br />Marsh, Diann. Santa Ana, An Illustrated History. Encinitas, Heritage Publishing, 1994.
<br />McAlester, Virginia and Lee. A Field Guide to American Houses. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1984.
<br />National Register Bulletin 16A. How to Complete the National Register Registration Form." Washington DC: National
<br />Register8ranch, National Park Service, US Dept. ofthe Interior, 1991.
<br />Office of Historic Preservation. "Instructions for Recording Historical Resources."Sacramento: March 1995.
<br />Whifi~n, Marcus. American Architecture Since 1780. Cambridge:MlTPress, 1969.
<br />Franklin, Don. NWSanta Ana History: Roy Russell & Son, Builders." Unsourced article from the Santa Ana History Room
<br />Historic House File, circa 1995.
<br />Santa Ana and Orange County Directories, 1910-1935.
<br />Armor, Samuel. Historvof Orange County. Los Angeles: History Record Company, 1921.
<br />DPR 523E
<br />Page 4 of 4
<br />25B-10
<br />
|