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Plaza Historic District
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Short History of Orange
Like other cities in Orange County, Orange was founded as a real estate venture. Two men, Andrew
Glassell and A. B. Chapman, acquired the land in trade for legal services rendered. In 1871, they
subdivided the land in saleable town lots reserving eight lots in the center for a public Plaza.
Orange has the distinction of being the only American town in the region which was laid out around a
Plaza in the manner pioneered by William Penn in the design of Philadelphia and other East Coast
cities.
Orange underwent a real estate "Boom" during the latter part of the 1880's when the population rose
to 866, but that economic trend did not continue. Landowners turned increasingly toward agriculture
and the production of oranges in particular; soon citrus groves were to be seen far and wide around
Orange. About the turn of the century, as the citrus industry continued its rapid rise, the downtown
commercial area began to grow in response to the commercial and business needs of the community.
What remains today is the four-block commercial area which forms the heart of Old Towne Orange.
These buildings, which were constructed largely during the 1905-20 economic growth period, reflect
the mode of construction and style of design popular around the region prior to 1925. The buildings
are predominantly brick and employ the Classically influenced qualities of symmetry and verticality;
the thrust of architectural ornamentation is typically bestowed upon the cornice and the window
arrangement. No two buildings are identical and all have their own mark of individuality.
In the Spring of 1982, the four-block commercial downtown was officially listed on the National
Register of Historic Buildings; this is our nation's highest level of historic designation. Now
known as the Plaza Historic District, these buildings personify an important part of Orange's
architectural history and represent an important reminder of the small town character once prevalent
across the region.
It is suggested that you take your tour through the Plaza Historic District on foot. The tour begins
with a walk through the Inner Plaza loop where the public Plaza Park forms the focal point of the
downtown. The Plaza acreage was originally set aside in 1871, but it was not until 1886 that it was
improved and the original fountain put in place (this fountain now sits in front of City Hall and
the present fountain dates to 1936). The tour then takes you in a clock-wise direction around each
of the four street segments which comprise the district. These buildings are best viewed from the
opposite side of the street and the tour listings are set up to enable you to do just that. All
buildings are referred to by their historic name which usually reflects the name of the original
owner.
Plaza Historic District
Short Old Towne Orange walking tour
1.
122-124 SOUTH ORANGE
1914
ALFRED HUHN BUILDING
Current Occupants
This is the west side of the building (20 Plaza Square) which houses the Assistance League of Orange County. As of the moment we do not have a picture of the east side of the building. Alfred Huhn built this brick building. The Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. was first located here. Mr. Huhn went on to become manager of Ehlen & Grote Co.
2.
112-120 EAST CHAPMAN
1900
ODD FELLOWS HALL
Current Occupants
Watson's Soda Fountain & Lunch Counter
Back In Control Family Program Inc.
Institute For Continuing Education
Western Developments For Afforable Housing Inc.
Wadsworth, Michael R .,Attorney
Curently home to Watson's Drug, which shows a steady stream of new customers and old alike what it was like to go to an old time soda fountain. The intimate nature of the old style service counter can never quite be replaced. Originally built for the Odd Fellows Lodge, one of Orange's early fraternal orginazations, this building has housed many businesses over the years. It was home to the Orange Post Office from 1901 to 1926 and Alpha Beta Market from 1921 to 1949. Watson's Drug Store, is the oldest existing business in downtown Orange and has been in the building for over 100 years.
3.
10 PLAZA SQUARE
1899
CARPENTER BUILDING
Current Occupants
This building is like a fine antique piece of furniture. It took a lot of replacement parts to make it look both new and old again. The Carpenter building has undergone many changes over the years. The only constant being that it housed banks for four decades, starting in 1910. Originally it was a dry goods store, but under the leadership of Swift & Swift it has undergone a major facelift. The result is a meld of many of the elements from it's previous remodelings into a strong attractive element of downtown architecture.
4.
20 PLAZA SQUARE
1927
ORANGE BUILDING & LOAN ASSOCIATION
One look at the picture shows the unmistakable Mediterranean influence on this building. The simple elegance is accented by three large arched transoms, and the ornamental iron gates. It is typical of many commercial buildings of the late 1920's.
5.
101-107 SOUTH GLASSELL
1901
WILLITS BUILDING
Current Occupants
The double doors in the right hand picture open into Radio Shack while the store to the right of the picture is The Enchanted Florist. This building replaced the Beach building, which had been built in 1874. M. L. Willits original plan had a rounded bay window over the entrance, built into a brick exterior. In 1906 this became home to Dittmer's Mission Pharmacy. It wasn't until 1938 that the bulding took on the Art Deco Modern style popular at the time.
6.
109 SOUTH GLASSELL
c. 1925
Current Occupants
If you look at this picture you can see there is no architectural relationship other than location between this building and it's neighbors. During the 1920's economic boom there was great demand for commercial space. This building is typical of many which were stuck into spaces between previous buildings.
7.
131 SOUTH GLASSELL
1905
GUENTHER & DUKER BUILDING
Current Occupants
This building has undergone major changes. It was enlarged by adding on to the north end, where the Army-Navy Store currently resides. A look at the second story tells a tale of what the building may have looked like before it's more contemporary redo. As you can see the current section where the Army-Navy store is does not exhibit a lot of personality, it's a pretty standard box, but look at the arched window in the second floor to the right.
8.
141-155 SOUTH GLASSELL
1905-23
BORING BLOCK
Current Occupants
For nearly eighty years, this was home to Higgins Furniture Store. Originally it was occupied by J. P. Boring's Sporting Goods Store, hence the name Boring Block. The original building has been expanded twice, both times to the south.
9.
183-185 SOUTH GLASSELL
1923
Originally built as a close in location for apartments, it still serves the same functiontoday. It's easy to get right to the heart of downtown business without having to commute. At the time it was built there wasn't much traffic or transportation, now the opposite is true, it's an advantage to be in close to avoid all the traffic.
10.
195 SOUTH GLASSELL
1922
ORANGE COUNTY FRUIT EXCHANGE
Current Occupants
Exchange Fine Arts Gallery
The Orange County Fruit exchange had already been in the business of helping farmers market their crops on a national basis for almost thirty years when it moved into this building. The original cost for this Mediterranean Revival style office building was $20,000. It's right across the street from the Antique Station.
11.
142-146 SOUTH GLASSELL
c. 1910
SCHAFFER BLOCK
Current Occupants
The Dobner Block was built on this site in 1887, and may remain in some form as part of the current building. The Dobner Block at one time or another housed the first movie theatre, Ehlen &Grote Co and Orange Union High School. This building has housed many businesses from small markets to beauty parlors and antique stores.
12.
132-146 SOUTH GLASSELL
1914
FRIEDEMANN BUILDING
Current Occupants
Cathcart-Begin Associates Inc.
American Industrial Real Estate Association
In 1945 Richard Friedman purchased the Smith & Grote building. This was home to the Colonial Theatre and then The Plaza Theatre for a total of 35 years. Harms Drugs was also an occupant for an extended period of time.
13.
108-126 SOUTH GLASSELL
1908
EHLEN AND GROTE BUILDING
Current Occupants
Toni Dieb
Rambling Rose Estate Jewelry
This building was originally called the "Big White Store" and was home to Orange's largest business, Ehlen & Grote Co.. For thirty years this was headquarters for servicing the local farmers and a main stay for downtown shoppers. Of particular note are the advertising murals on the south or Plaza Alley side (bottom picture above) and the ornamental cast iron cornice. and railings across the windows (left hand picture above). As you can see to the right, even Manny, Moe and Jack have come to Old Towne Orange, there's something for everyone.
14.
100-104 SOUTH GLASSELL
1905
CUDDEBACK BUILDING
Current Occupants
M. C. Cuddeback built this on the site of the first hotel in Orange. The upstairs was originally used for apartments, while the downstairs has housed many businesses. At one time Huff's Jewelers and A. J. Klunk's Clothing were downstairs tenants, the clothing theme has carried over to the current tenants.
15.
44 PLAZA SQUARE
c. 1920
ORANGE DAILY NEWS OFFICE
Current Occupants
Diedrich Coffee House CHOC Cart
Although this was the home of the Orange Daily News and the building is named after that business, the original paper to call this building home was the Orange Post. The Orange Daily news moved here in 1922 and remodeled the building in 1931. If you go around to the recently renovated alley on the north side of the building, you can imagine "news Alley" in action. This is where the "newsies", as the delivery people were called, would come every afternoon to pick up their papers for delivery. The picture above shows just the edge of the front, where the Diedrich Coffee sign is hanging.
16.
60 PLAZA SQUARE
1910
GUNTHER BUILDING
Current Occupants
To the right of Tea Leaf Cottage, is the main entrance to the Masonic Temple and the gate between the two takes you through the ally to Tony's Salvage.
Oscar E. Gunther served as Mayor of Orange from 1922 to 1924. It was Oscar Gunther who chose the style for this building and in so doing chose to stick with an older more established style ,rather than what was currently popular at the time.
17.
100 WEST CHAPMAN
1888/1907
AINSWORTH BLOCK
In 1907 this building was enlarged by Lewis Ainsworth. The Ainsworth family owned the building until 1946. This was originally the Armor Building, parts of which are still visible today. The iron posts read 1888/Baker Iron Works/Los Angeles,the year the building was originally erected. Lewis Ainsworth's home at 414 E Chapman has been restored by the City of Orange.
18.
118 WEST CHAPMAN
c. 1922
Current Occupants
This building was originally built as a garage, as you can still see. As was the style at the time it had the cutout covered area at the corner for the cars to drive into. This feature has remained useful in it's remake as a drive-thru market. It was remodeled around 1950 as a market and has remained one ever since.
19.
127-145 SOUTH OLIVE
c. 1915
STEELE & McINNIS PRINTING
Current Occupants
Although no longer a in business there is still a neon sign noting the presence of "John T. McInnis Printing" on the building. Of partuclar note is the ornamental brick on the front facade. There contrasting color against the white background gives a different look to the cornice line.
20.
223 WEST CHAPMAN
1926
ORANGE POST OFFICE
The Post Office was established in September of 1873, but until this building was erected in 1926 the US Postal Service always rented space. W. O. Hart was Postmaster General when the nearly sixty-three years of renting space came to an end.
21.
201-205 WEST CHAPMAN
1919-22
KREDEL BUSINESS BLOCK
As were so many others, this building was both built and expanded during the booming 1920's. The city was bursting at the seams and so were it's buildings.
22.
123 NORTH OLIVE
1925
WARD'S COOKIE FACTORY
Current Occupants
Tony's Architectural & Garden Salvage
Ed Ward started out working in the 1886 Schirm Bakery on N Glassell St. When Ed Ward went out on his own with Ward's Cookie Factory he didn't move far away, he built this building right behind Schirm Bakery to house his cookie factory.
23.
131-133 WEST CHAPMAN
1923
MARX BUILDING
Current Occupants
Daisy's Antiques
This is another in a long line of square block buildings placed between two other buildings to utilize the shrinking space of downtown during the booming 1920's. This particular building only cost $10,000 to put up, but you can still see that even though it was stuck between other buildings they cared enough to decorate it with ornamental brickwork to show it off.
24.
101-129 WEST CHAPMAN
1908-20
JORN BUILDING
Current Occupants
Happy Time Antiques & Collectibles
Wild Goose Chase Antiques
The original design for this building was done by C. B. Bradshaw, and later duplicated in an addition to the west section of the building. The Jorn Building takes it's name from Carl Jorn, whose insurance offices occupied the entire upper story. During Jorn's tenure upstairs E. H. Smith had a jewelry store downstairs into the early 1920's, followed by Western Auto Supply into the 1930's. On the west face of the building there are advertising murals stillvisible, which evoke images of past times.
25.
102-108 NORTH GLASSELL
1912
CAMPBELL'S OPERA HOUSE
Current Occupants
Colleen O'Hara's Beauty Academy
The theatre, which is on the second floor has been used for a variety of functions. The original function was as an opera house, but it has served as a dais for school and community functions as well as stage shows. Orange Masonic Lodge has called the second floor home since 1923, but the downstairs store fronts have housed everything from pool halls to banks, banks to bank shots.
26.
114 NORTH GLASSELL
1886
SCHIRM BAKERY
Current Occupants
George II
As can be seen from the picture above, a lot of work has been put into remodeling the front of this building, around back it's still a little more in tune with the original building plan. George Schirm opened his bakery here in the mid-1880's when brick buildings were not the norm. Ed Ward started Ward's Cookie Factory as a tenant here, before moving into his own building at 123 n Olive St. P. C. Pinson opened a department store in 1932 ending nearly half a century of the building housing a bakery.
27.
122-128 NORTH GLASSELL
1886-88
PIXLEY BUILDING
Current Occupants
Much like Schirm Bakery next door this building was unusal. At the time it was built, in 1886, it was only the second brick building in Orange. If you look at the picture above you won't see much brick, due to extensive remodeling. The addition, to the north of the original building was home to several different grocery stores for almost seventy years. In 1908, the Kogler Brothers bought out the hardware department of D. C. Pixley's store. Pixley's son took over the Pixley Furniture Company. The Kogler brother's moved on in 1916 to form a partnership and build the Kogler-Franzen Building.
28.
148-150 NORTH GLASSELL
1885
WOODRUFF BUILDING
Current Occupants
Knot Knew Shop
Mr C's Rare Records
The Woodruff Building was the first brick store in Orange. C. M. Woodruff's building marked the begining of a boom which lasted until 1888. Woodruff was Secretary of the Santa Ana Valley Irrigation Co. at the beginning of the boom. As with so many other buildings, of that time, you have to go around to the back to see what it used to look like, because the front has undergone large-scale remodeling.
29.
154 NORTH GLASSELL
1913
S..A.V.I. OFFICE
Current Occupants
Jalapeno's Mexican Grill
The Santa Ana Valley Irrigation Co. was responsible for supplying water to Orange, Tustin and Santa Ana. Incorporated in 1877, it's purpose was to supply the key ingredient o the arrid land. It was water from S.A.V.I. that unlocked the fertile land to bountious crops. S.A.V.I. pioneered many advancements in water supply.
30.
160-162 NORTH GLASSELL
CIRCA 1920
Current Occupants
Christ Based Consulting Center
Start at the top if you like the best part first. There are lion sculptures and ornamental arches inthe cornices of this building. The lower portions are a relatively common blend because of remodeling, just look up for all the originality of this building.
31.
172 NORTH GLASSELL
1924-29
ORANGE THEATRE
Current Occupants
It took five years to complete the Orange Theatre. Money problems held things up to begin with. The Eliste Land Co. owned the building, but the franchise for the theatre itself was held by several entities over the years. This was where "talkies" were first presented in Orange.
32.
161-173 NORTH GLASSELL
1914
ELTISTE BUILDING
Current Occupants
A cartouche is an ornamental piece of art forming an unwrolled scroll. You will see fine examples at the top of each pilaster on the facade of this building. A terra cotta frieze decorates the area between the pilasters. This is a good example of the craftmanship and pride taken in even relatively common buildings early in the 1900's.
33.
131-143 NORTH GLASSELL
1916
KOGLER-FRANZEN BLOCK
Current Occupants
It's About Time Antique Market
Ther is a cast Iron cornice on this building. Worth noting also is the glazed mauve and white colored brick. In 1916 this building was put together in partnership by the Kogler Brothers and the Franzen family. The Kogler Brothers moved their harware store here from the Pixley Building. The Kogler Brothers neede more room for their growing business. Rev. Jacob Kogler, their father, was the founder of St. John's Lutheran Church.
34.
101-123 NORTH GLASSELL
1905
EDWARDS BLOCK
Current Occupants
House of Country
The Clock Guy
Cynthia's Fine Gifts & Home Accents
At the top left corner of the above picture you can see the extremely elaborate cornice work singular to this building in Orange. Nelson Edwardswas a prominant Orange Banker and a State Senator. He built this building as the first major business block on Glassell St. Edwards had previously operated the Plaza Meat Market on this corner.
35.
101 EAST CHAPMAN
1928
FIRST NATIONAL BANK
Current Occupants
This building has it's roots in Orange, having been built on the same site as Orange's first bank. However, the First Bank Building was designed by Morgan, Wall & Clement of Los Angeles.
36.
201-211 EAST CHAPMAN
1925
ELKS BUILDING
Current Occupants
This is the tallest building in downtown Orange. The Orange Elks Lodge bought it from the Orange Odd Fellows Lodge when the Odd Fellows Lodge found that it was a bit more than they could handle, financially. This is the only building in Orange with a Moorish oarapet. This was the second building built for the Odd Fellows Lodge in Orange, the first one being where Watson's Drugs is located today.
37.
212-214 EAST CHAPMAN
c. 1910
Current Occupants
Reconstructive Services Medical Group Inc.
The front facade of this building has recently been remodeled. McBride's Furniture resided here through the 1920's and 1930's, it has also housed a photographic studio. 208 E Chapman was built at about the same time as this building.
38.
208 EAST CHAPMAN
1908
Current Occupants
L. F. Robinson's Meat Market occupied this space for many years. It originally housed a grocery store, and has recently been remodeled.
39.
202-206 EAST CHAPMAN
1908
BARGER BUILDING
Ehlen & Grote once housed a branch of their store here. While the upstairs housed Barger's Hall the downstairs was home to a large variety of stores.
40.
182 SOUTH ORANGE
1893
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
Current Occupants
You can enjoy the original stained glass windows from inside or out. At PJ's The Abbey Restaurant you can enjoy the view through stained glass while eating in the only remaining Victorian church building in downtown Orange. You can get up close to where the spiritual needs of a pioneer congregation were filled. Maybe there was a little fire and brimstone involved in cooking that meal, who knows.
