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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1 - PUBLIC COMMENT_BRUCE2214 N Heliotrope Santa Ana, Ca 92706 December 1953: Permits pulled for the home by Don B Christenson – contractor for Hugo J. Lamb (1888-1963) 1954: Occupied by Carl H. Benning (1882-1965) 1957: Ann Kathleen Haster (1892-1973) – Widowed as of 1945, wife of Thomas Haster / Haster Street 1972: John G. Dempsey 1996: Robert E. Wilde (1918-2017) The one story Ranch style residence at 2214 N Heliotrope Drive is largely unchanged on its primary, front and is superlative in its architectural design in this style. The home was built in late 1953 by Hugo Lamb, a local rancher, and had a series of elderly owners. Carl H Benning, a retiree. Ann K. Haster, a retired widower and late wife to Thomas Haster, citrus rancher and for whom a street is now named in Anaheim. All of these owners were born in the late 19th century and spent their final years in this home. After the passing of Mrs. Haster in the early 1970s the home was sold to a John G. Dempsey who lived in the home until it was sold to Robert E. Wilde; citrus rancher turned land developer and auto dealer. Mr. Wilde would live in the home until his passing in 2017. Home Design/Architecture: The Ranch style originated in southern California in the mid-1930s. In the 1940s, the Ranch was one of the small house types financed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), along with Minimal Traditional and other small house styles. The Ranch house began to pick up popularity as the financial controls that encouraged small house building lifted following WWII; by the 1950s it was the most predominant residential style in the country. This popularity is the result of a number of factors. Firstly, the growing automobile culture of the 1950s allowed for the development of suburbs that required new, cheap, and fast construction and where larger lots could accommodate a larger, family-sized houses. The Ranch house’s long and low form, expandable ‘rambling’ floor plan, simple detailing, and modern materials made it an excellent answer for these needs. Secondly, the style served as a bridge between the traditional styles of the past and the drastically different modern styles that began to become popular during this period, such as the International and Contemporary styles. The Ranch style allowed for modern construction methods, aesthetics, and a more open floor plan — as well as modern living features like open kitchens and attached car ports and garages — without requiring homeowners to commit to a dramatic roofline or glass walls. Furthermore, the simplicity of the Ranch allowed for the application of more traditional, styled elements such as columns or moldings. In fact, the ability to design from scratch, which was afforded both by the availability of empty suburban lots and the adaptability of the style itself, created a sub-category of Custom Ranch houses. These were designed individually and often by architects, rather than in planned subdivisions designed and built by developers. Ranch houses still exist in the hundreds of thousands today throughout the country. Historic significance can still be present on the individual level if the Ranch has been essentially unaltered. On a larger level, the style is particularly eligible for significance in the context of historic districts, since original subdivisions still survive with sufficient integrity to convey the importance of city planning and suburban development in post-war America. The distinguishing features of ranch style homes and ranch style house plans include the following: •Single story •Long, low-pitch roofline •Asymmetrical rectangular, L-shaped, or U-shaped design and arrangements Distributed & posted 1/21/2020 • Simple, open floor plans • Living areas separate from the bedroom(s) area • Attached carports or garage • Sliding glass doors opening onto a patio • Windows with a large glass area, steel casement, sometimes decorated with non-functional shutters • Vaulted ceilings with exposed beams often in combination with tongue and groove roof decking • Mixed material exteriors of stucco and brick, wood or stone • Deep overhanging eaves • Cross-gabled, side-gabled or hip roof Local History of Past Owners/Occupiers: John G. Dempsay & Linda B Dempsay John G Dempsay– Local businessman- Blower Dempsay Corporation Founded by the Blower and Dempsay families in 1973, the Blower Dempsay Corporation operates multiple business operating in 9 states including: • Pak West-paper and packaging distribution • Pacific Conveyor Systems- custom conveyor manufacturing and engineering, recycling and automated guided vehicles • Pacificorr- design and digital printing • Pacific Flexible Solutions- design, importers, manufacturer of direct food films and containers Linda B. Dempsay- NCAA Hall of Fame inductee UC, Irvine- First female athletic director at an NCAA Division I school. Linda began her career at UC Irvine in 1965, the year the school was founded, and rose from coaching volleyball, tennis and swimming to the position of athletic director. In 1978, when she was named to that post, no woman had ever headed a Division I athletic program. Photo of Blower Dempsay Corporation- Pak West HQ- Santa Ana- 1970’s Robert “Bob” Wilde Bob was born on December 24th, 1918 in Mapleville, RI, the son of Annie and William Wilde. When he was 18 months old, his family moved across the country by train, arriving in California on Flag Day, 1920, and settling in Santa Ana. His father William worked as a mail carrier for the Santa Ana postal service throughout his career, and Annie cared for their three children, Edith, Bob and Jim. Bob attended Santa Ana public schools including Willard Junior High School and Santa Ana High School, where he excelled in baseball, football and track, and served as senior class president and student body president. During his school years, Bob worked as a milk truck delivery boy in the early mornings. He went on to study at the University of California at Berkeley, earning a degree in Political Science and Economics, while supporting himself by working nights and weekends in a local ice cream store as a "soda jerk." After graduation, he married his Santa Ana sweetheart, Jeanette Klatt (daughter of Charles J Klatt- Citrus Rancher- Tustin Ave/17th Street) on November 9th, 1941. Pearl Harbor was attacked just one month later, on December 7th, 1941, dramatically changing the world at large and their world as well. Bob was working for Pan-American Airlines in their San Francisco office and was transferred to North Africa, and later to the Pacific, where he was assigned for several years. After the war, he returned to Southern California to work for his father-in-law, Charles J Klatt, caring for his orange groves. In this country environment, Bob and Jeanette raised their five children: Valerie, Barbara, Raymond, Cathleen and Carolyn. Disneyland opened in Orange County in 1955, and land prices boomed, making orange ranching more and more difficult. The family decided to try some commercial ventures, beginning with a small shopping center and an Alpha Beta market on the home place at 17th Street and Tustin Avenue. Photo of Charles J Klatt and Bob Wilde at the Alpha Beta ground-breaking on the Klatt acreage Bob later moved into the car business, first with Santa Ana Datsun/Nissan, and later with B&B Chevrolet. He was active in St. Joseph's Parish and School in Santa Ana for many years. His five children all attended St. Joseph's, and Mater Dei High School. He was also active with his family at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Newport Beach. Bob loved the beach, and spent many hours body surfing and sailing with his family on Balboa Peninsula. He was a member of the Newport Harbor Yacht Club for 56 years.