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Walking Tour (Long: Old Towne Orange)
The original development of Orange was a one square mile area surrounding what is now known as the Plaza Historic District. This one square mile is roughly bounded by La Veta on the south, Cambridge on the east, Walnut on the north and Batavia on the south and is known as Old Towne Orange. There are over twelve hundred buildings in this one sqaure mile that are listed on the National Historic Register, one of the most concentrated areas in the United States. There is a diversity of architectural styles and building types. These buildings cover a time frame from the pioneer days of the 1880's all the way to the onslaught of the Great Depression. Many of these buildings are still being used today for the same function as they were before World War II.
Old Towne Orange is best viewed at a leisurely pace. A Long walk an easy bike ride or a slow drive can be topped off with a relaxed meal at one of the many restaurants or use W. O. Hart Park as the perfect place for a pleasant picnic. This concentration of historic buildings allows you to view what life might have been like in the last century. A more relaxed atmosphere of individuality, with each building acting like a prism to the past, giving a view of it's owners personality. All together this area forms a functioning unit of today's world , looking directly to the future, with it's roots firmly planted in the past.
Although there are many styles represented, there are four major architectural periods. The Victorian period encompassed 1871 to 1900, from 1900 to 1910 was the Classical Revival period, the Craftsman and Bungalow predominated from 1910 until 1925 and then from 1922 through 1930, the beginning of the Depression, Mediterranean Revival was the dominant style.
Long Old Towne Orange Walking Tour
1.
233 South Orange
1923
Roland Court
Roland Bookless, built this Mediterranean Revival Bungalow Court .
Roland Court is one of the few bungalow courts built in Orange in the Twenties. It
was a move toward affordable, higher density housing and it was an indicator of the shift
from an agricultural mindset to a suburban community in Orange .
2.
205 EAST PALMYRA
1887
PALMYRA HOTEL ANNEX
C. Z. Culver built this home as an adjunct to his Palmyra Hotel. During the real estate "boom" of the late 1880's there were more visitors than the hotel could handle. The overflow was housed in this Vicorian house. The house remains as a reminder of The Palmyra Hotel which wa razed in 1971.
3.
363 SOUTH ORANGE
1914
SAM AND ALICE ARMOR HOME
Sam and Alice Armor lived out their last years in this bungalow. The Armors moved to Orange in 1875 and were active in the local community. Sam was a member of the first Orange County Board of Supervisors and served on the Orange Boeard of trustees and the Board of Directors of the Santa Ana Valley Irrigation Company. Alice was editor of the Orange Post for 23 years.
4.
SOUTH GLASSELL AT SANTIAGO CREEK
1933-38
W.O. HART PARK
Construction begin in 1933 on what was then called Orange City Park. The city received help from the W.P.A. to create the Mediterranean Revival style plunge and bandstand beside Santiago Creek. The arroyo stone that was extensively used came from the local area.
In 1964 the park was renamed W.O. Hart in honor of one of the cities most renowned newspaper publishers.
5.
472 SOUTH GLASSELL
1896
DIERKER HOUSE
Current Occupants
Henry Dierker came to Orange from Hanover Germany in 1892. Henry planted walnuts and oranges on his 115 acre farm. This impressive Victorian Queen Anne home was a symbol of Dierker's prominence in the community. This home has the only true turret in the community of Orange's homes.
6.
374 SOUTH GLASSELL
1898
Current Occupants
Picket Fence Landscaping
Mo'zArt Advertising & Design Inc.
This is an early farm house built in the Victorian style. It has been remodeled for commercial use but still retains it's fine Victorian details.
7.
350 SOUTH GLASSELL
1915
EDWARDS HOUSE
This housetruly can say Herbert Hoover once visited here. Nelson T. Edwards, who was a very active republican entertained Herbert Hoover as a guest in this house. Nelson started off in Orange as owner of a meat market in 1894. He grew to prominence as a banker and State Senator in the 1930's.
8.
242 SOUTH OLIVE
1902
EHLEN HOME
In 1889 P.W. Ehlen and Henry Grote became partners to form Ehlen & Grote Company. Ehlen & Grote Company was originally in the old Dobner Block, built in 1887. In 1908 they moved into the Ehlen & Grote Building (Refer to short walking tour, #13). Ehlen (1863-1950) had originally opened his first store just east of Orange, in McPherson, in 1887. When he partnered with Grote they became the largest general store in Orange.
9.
143 SOUTH LEMON
1928
AMERICAN LEGION HALL
Until this building was completed in 1928, this group of World War I veterans met at city hall. For many years they shared the building with Orange's National Guard Armory, which is currently located in Hart Park.
10.
163 SOUTH CYPRESS
c. 1888
PARKER HOUSE
I.H. Parker was a carpenter by trade and it is entirely possible he built this Victorian home himself. This is one of the few "true" Victorian homes in Orange.
11.
143 SOUTH PIXLEY
c. 1905
Current Occupants
Truck Lubrication Co
The Western False-front parapet and pressed tin facade are probably the best remaining examples of the early industrial buildings. It was in this type of building that livery stables and blacksmith's shops were commonly found.
12.
184-186 NORTH ATCHISON
1938
SANTA FE DEPOT
Current Occupants
Cask 'n Cleaver
Olde Towne Brewing Company
The Santa Fe Railroad first reached Orange in August of 1887. Early on the station was housed in an old boxcar for a short period of time, before a wooden depot could be constructed. In 1891 local residents built a small depot park along Chapman Ave. The park still remains as does the concrete building which replaced the wooden depot in 1938.
13.
350 NORTH CYPRESS
1917-33
SANTIAGO ORANGE GROWERS ASSOCIATION
Current Occupants
Villa Park Orchards Association, Plant # 2
The Santiago Orange Growers Association was organized in 1893. It was one of the earliest co-operatives. The S.O.G.A. begin construction on the packing plant around the beginning of World War I. Over time it became one of the busiest packing plants in California. At it's peak the facility was said to be able to pack over three quarters of a million boxes of oranges a year. The current operator is the Villa Park Orchards Association, founded in 1912. They have kept all the old equipment intact>
14.
288 NORTH OLIVE
1895
PIXLEY HOUSE
D.C. Pixley built what is today probably the grandest remaining Victorian mansion in Orange. Pixley came to Orange in 1881. at the age of twenty-four. His first endeavor was operating a genearl store. He later became a banker and built the Pixley Building (Citrus City Grill and Happiness By the Bushel, #27 on the short walking tour). He later served as an Orange County Supervisor.
15.
333 NORTH GLASSELL
1905-28
ORANGE UNION HIGH SCHOOL
Current Occupants
Chapman University
The first building here started in 1905 and is currently called Wilkinson Hall. Originally this was the home of Orange Union High School, but in 1954 it became Chapman College, which later became Chapman University. The "twins" were added in 1913 and in 1923 when the present day Memorial Auditorium was built, Wilkinson Hall was moved. The last landmark building was Roosevelt Hall built in 1928 at the northeast corner of the "sunken lawn".
16.
221 NORTH ORANGE
1874
SHAFFER HOUSE
This is the oldest remaining home in Orange, but there have been many changes over the years. Originally the house was built about a block from it's present location, by Peter J. Shaffer, who came to Orange about 1872. The house was moved sometime in the 1920's. Even though this house is the only home remaining from the first pioneers, it's appearance is quite different from it's origins. Over the years there have been several additions which have changed the appearance but not the character of this home.
17.
215 NORTH GRAND
1909
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Current Occupant
Chapman University Chapel
This was the first church designed by Phillip H. Froman, who went on at a later date to be the architect of the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. The church which is now Chapman University Chapel was used by it's original congregation until 1972. At a later date the parsonage was constructed in a similar style, just north of the church.
18.
153 NORTH CENTER
1910
LUSH HOME
M.F. Lush , formerly of New Jersey, was the builder of this house. At the time it was built, it was but one of many Craftsman style housess in Orange.
19.
160 NORTH SHAFFER
1888-89
GROTE HOUSE
This house holds a strongrelationship with the Ehlen house earlier on the tour. It was built by Henry Grote of Ehlen & Grote. the same year they formed their partnership and built Ehlen & Grote. Henry came to Orange in 1881 and started out in agriculture and land sales. Eight years later he helped found Orange's largest general store.
20.
409 NORTH SHAFFER
1909
FINLEY HOME
In 1945 this house was chosen as one of the locations for the film"Fallen Angel". Otto Preminger selected the house for the movie starring Dana Andrews and Alice Fay. It probably stood out because of the massive piers and it's wrap around porch and lattice work. This another fine example of the Craftsman style of home originated in Pasadena, California, by architects Charles and Henry Greene.
21.
192 NORTH PINE
1923
This house is a typical Mediterranean Revival home. The Mediterranean Revival houses were on a slightly small scale than previous styles and as such offered a more affordable alternative for the growing middle class families of this time. The concept was based on european houses and much like the bungalow houses of the previous decade, became synonymous with the time.
22.
131 NORTH HARWOOD
1890
This is a very good example of the basic houses built around the turn of the century. More than likely it was laid out and built by the owner, without benefit of help from an architect. At the time the main objective was a place to live, not some kind of statement of wealth.
23.
702 EAST CHAPMAN
1926
BARTLING HOME
This was the home of H.F. Bartling, the father-in-law of Adolph Dittmer, Jr, of Ditmer Drug. Bartling retired to Orange from Chicago, where he had been a successful farmer. His house was dramatized by a large Italian Villa style window on the front as well as a colored tile fountain surrounded by a side porch.
24.
708 EAST ALMOND
1904
HONEY HOME
Ed Honey (Pronounced Hoe-nee) moved to Orange in 1876. At the time the Water Works were still privately owned. Honey proceeded to buy them and kept them until 1896. The city later purchased them from his successors. During the time of Honey's ownership the well was operated using the power of horses. The large lot allowed the building of a matching Classic Revival Style addition to the rear of the house at a later date.
25.
640 EAST PALMYRA
CIRCA 1905
DR. IDA PARKER HOME
Ida B. Parker moved to the Orange area with her family in 1870. She later went on to medical school and upon graduation from USC, she became Orange's first female doctor, She later was the first female member of the Orange Medical Association and served as it's president in 1912. Dr Ida B. Parker built this stately Classic Revival home as notation of her success and practiced medicine in Orange from 1895 until her death in 1917.
26.
154 SOUTH SHAFFER ST
1913-14
ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH
Current Occupant
St John's Lutheran Church
St. John's Lutheran Church is one of the commanding sites of Orange. It is as impressive today as was it's cost of 52,000 when it was built. The church is a strong reminder of the German influence in early Orange. The gothic style architecture is accented by the stained glass windows, which were imported from Germany. The chuch is surrounded by the 1922 parsonage, Walker Memorial Hall (1926-27)and St. John's Lutheran School (1929) and covers nearly two blocks.
27.
414 EAST CHAPMAN
1910
AINSWORTH HOUSE
Currrent Occupant
Orange City - Historical House
This house was purchased by the City of Orange in 1976. The purpose was to use it as an example of the early life in Orange. The house was built by Lewis Ainsworth, owner of the Ainsworth Lumber Company. The restored house is considered to be a representative example of architecture in the area at the turn of the century.
28.
307 EAST CHAPMAN
1902
ROYER HOUSE
Current Occupants
Vertical Marketing Network
Carlton V Phillips Jr
Coy D Cameron Law Offices
Mc Namara & Van Blarcom
Stephen M Mc Namara Law Office
Rosemarie McElhaney
America China Exchange
Diamonear
Ford, Adrienne MFCC
Consolidated Plumbing & Heating
An Affair To Remember
Your Type Business Services
In 1931 the Royer home was remodeled, with a large addition to the front serving as a funeral home. In later years this space was converted to it's current use as office space. Dr Daniel F. Royer was a doctor and grew to be one ORange's most prominent citizens in the early 1900's.
29.
192 SOUTH ORANGE
1893
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
Current Occupants
P J's Abbey Banquet
This is now a restaurant, and as such is highly visible from both inside and outside. This is a shining example of meeting present needs and maintaining the past. This was the first Victorian chuch built in downtown Orange and the only one remaining. The original stained glass windows remain today as windows into the past of the truly historic area of Old Towne Orange.
