Threatened: Dome Theaters

Century 22 Theater, as part of the Century 21 through 23 complex.  Photo found at Silicon Valley Modern.

Demolition of Cinedome 70 in Riverdale, Utah.  Photo found at
The Standard Examiner.

Time is ticking between developer motivated tear downs and Mid-Century Modern supporters of San Jose's Century Dome Theaters.  Dome theaters as far east as Utah have already fallen to the wrecking ball.  Built in 1970, Riverdale's Cinedome 70 was in the way of a new car dealership. Supporters tried to save the theater but failed.

Several dome theaters in California have already met their demise, including Orange County's Century Cinedome Theaters, demolished in 2000, and Pleasant Hill's CineArts, demolished this year.  Ironically, their failures occurred in the wake of the City of Los Angeles protection of the Pacific Cinerama Dome Theater in Hollywood. Century 25, now known as the The Retro Dome, has recently closed its doors in Silicon Valley, citing an interest in finding a new location for its venue.  Is this the next dome to fall?

The challenge for any preservationist fighting to save contemporary places is to establish both historic significance and support for what the public might not yet appreciate. Professionals within the field will cite the National Parks Service 50 year rule, where "properties that have achieved significance within the past 50 years shall not be considered eligible for the National Register." Indeed, state offices of historic preservation, including California, adopted this guideline for their evaluations.  Yet even the National Parks Service recognized the significance of more recent post-war architecture that deserves evaluation.

Dome theaters, cinedomes, or cinerama domes are powerful icons representing the West Coast's modern aesthetic set apart from any other place in our nation.  The post-war rapid development of the west encouraged some architects and developers to find efficient and expedient ways to use building resources.  In this era, developer Joseph Eichler gained national attention, along with other visionary architects Richard Neutra and Charles & Ray Eames.  The theater's architect, Vincent G. Raney, should be recognized for his contributions to the arts and entertainment industries, even as many of his theaters are closing.

The simplicity of geodesic dome theaters spawned tremendous imagination, setting the stage for all IMAX wonders and L.A.'s Vortex Dome, to the humble igloo-shaped personal and mobile theaters.  Innovation is not limited to the new and shiny objects of today. Californians have a wonderful opportunity to bring creative minds together to not only petition to save dome theaters, but to consider adaptive reuses or new theater experiences within the context of a significantly historic place.  In this land of innovation, modern values, and serious technology talent, there should be viable response to the wrecking ball.

Threatened: Historic Wintersburg, Huntington Beach, California

Wintersburg Presbyterian Church, Huntington Beach, California.  Photo found at O.C. Roundup.

California's agrarian landscape is steeped in diverse community histories that tell of immigration, perseverance, and sacrifice.  Leaving one's homeland for a strange land has always been met with trepidation, but for those who survived, their stories are priceless. Historic Wintersburg has become an invaluable resource for telling the story of Japanese emigrants adjusting to a new land, yet its survival is threatened by rezoning and demolition. "It is the sole remaining Japanese-owned, pre Alien Land Law property," writes Mary Urashima of the Historic Wintursburg's Blogspot, "and one of the rare Japanese historic properties left in Orange County." 
Supporters of its preservation have started YouTube and Facebook pages for public awareness.  Even the City of Huntington Beach is encouraging its preservation.  Despite state and nationwide interest, Historic Wintersburg's fate is uncertain.
UPDATE: The Orange County Register recently announced that the owner of the property will not demolish the buildings, at least for now.  The property owner, Republic Services, is working with local preservationists to consider possible options.  The work begins, as reported by the Huntington Beach Independent.

Threatened: China House, Rancho Cucamonga, CA.

China House, Rancho Cucamonga, CA.  Photo found at The Press-Enterprise.

"Rural Chinatowns served as geographic sanctuaries where ethnicity, language, and cultural practices were held in common and where the amenities of traditional Chinese life where readily available," writes Richard Steven Street.  Marginalized ethnic groups at the turn of the 20th century needed a sense of community as Street recognized, "Chinese field hands encased themselves in a variety of protective institutions aimed at preserving their dignity and self-respect amid a hostile society."

Photo found at Flickr.

The unreinforced brick building is the only remaining structure of Rancho Cucamonga's Chinatown.  Buildings built of wood and scraps burned to the ground in 1919, after a man caused a cooking accident.  As a testament of perseverance, the China House remained long after the destruction of the community.

Rubbing the salt in the proverbial wound of erasing the physical places of immigrant history is the City of Rancho Cucamonga's decision to proceed with red tagging this early 1900s China House.  Set for demolition in as early as 60 days, the current owner, Cucamonga Valley Water District, does not have the interest or funds to restore or retrofit the building.  Its demolition would occur regardless of the city council's 1979 designation of China House as a landmark.

The demolition of this building would also come in the wake of greater interest in Asian history and preservation in California and throughout the United States.  This interest brings to question, what indeed are the motivations of the water district behind allowing this historic building to decay?

Update:  Kudos to the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California and the Chinese American Citizens Alliance for exploring options for saving China House, as reported by Neil Nesperos of the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.

Update:  The plight of China House has just received national attention!

Update: Demolition delayed!

Update: The National Trust for Historic Preservation has just announced 2013's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, and China House is one of them.  This year, the Trust's President, Stephanie Meeks, has taken to YouTube to further their cause.  For further information, see Save Chinatown House in Rancho Cucamonga.  Supporters are also on Facebook.

Threatened: Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park, Allensworth, CA.

Tulare County Free Library.  Photo found at the Library Road Trip.

There is no denying that writing about Allensworth has its challenges, but not for reasons one might think.  Readers could argue that this State Historic Park should not be listed as threatened, given its protection under the state's umbrella. Can we however, definitively declare that our parks are really saved?  The continued budget problems in Sacramento have caused many state parks to be fiscally challenged.  Subsequently, they are suffering from deferred maintenance and understaffing, particularly parks involving historic buildings.  Until the state parks are supported by sufficient funding, their sustainability is at risk.

What perturbs this blogger most is missing Allensworth's story for the 48 years I have been a Native Californian.  During my formative years, California history was limited to grand statements of land and gold discoveries, romanticized visions of the California Mission system, and field trips to seek out a railroad's golden spike.  A similar narrative was presented on our American history, which I always associated with "over there" and to the east of California's left bank.  Places affected by Civil War in particular seemed far, far away.  

It was not until I watched California Forever, a film David Vassar and Sally Kaplan, that I discovered Colonel Allensworth and understood California's connection to American lives affected by the Civil War. His story, and the story of free people creating a self-governing place in California's Central Valley, is indeed a story that follows the American dream.  It is also a story that greatly contributes to the mosaic of California's past.

Threatened: Tankhouses, Windsor, CA.

Photos by Thomas Eddy

The sentries of Mendocino's skyline are the town's water towers, or tankhouses in preservation speak.  As if securing the town from an approaching fog bank, the redwood tankhouses also help us identify Mendocino as a one-of-a-kind place in coastal California.  They are a community's icons that have new found purposes; everything from wedding backdrops to hotel accommodations.

  

Tankhouses are indeed unique to the west coast, and in particular to California.  Our long, dry summers meant water needed to be stored for months until the winter rains replenished the soil.  Elevating the tanks helped to transport the water by gravity.  Noted geographer Leon Pitman has identified six different types of tankhouses with each style being unique to a particular region in California.  However, it is clear that Windsor farmers did not pay attention to this apparent "rule."

Slanted or straight walls, attached houses or windmills, all are visually top heavy due to the immensity of the redwood tanks. At least eight tankhouses can be found within and around Windsor.  Most exemplify others found throughout our state. New pumps, pressure tanks, and municipal water connections have made these tankhouses obsolete.  Today, many are turned into living spaces or storage barns, but too many others are either severely deteriorating or already lost. The skeletal remains of one is slated for demolition to make way for a modern hotel on Old Redwood Highway.  Another, with only one story remaining, is slated for a future parking lot near the new train depot.

As these iconic landmarks find their way onto wine labels and bookshelves, will others be embraced by the community as heritage resources spotted all over the vernacular landscape...or will they strictly become fodder for retail kitsch? We should be looking toward places like Mendocino to understand their value as repurposed and functional structures that can also define sense of place.

Threatened: Bell House, Windsor, CA.

Bell House, Windsor, CA.  Photo by Thomas Eddy

The Bell House is a locally significant landmark representing one of the oldest families in early Windsor, California.  The Bell family's influence was widespread within the community, where several streets were originally named after them.  Built in 1878, the home is currently for sale.  It has gone through some rough times; divided into upper and lower apartments and a failed nursery business that took over the parcel, the Bell House has thus far persevered.  Fortunately, the home is listed on the Town of Windsor's Historic Register, so anyone considering the purchase will benefit from meeting with town staff.  The home is also prominently represented both virtually and aesthetically: the Town of Windsor's website depicts a rendering of the home under the town's brief history page, and a similar etching can be seen at the Town Green's timeline walk.  No better way to support local identity and sense of place!

Update:  The Bell House is currently off the market for unknown reasons.

Threatened: Stone Guard Rail, Highway 20 Corridor, Clearlake Oaks, CA.

Stone guard rail along Highway 20.  Photo by Thomas Eddy

Whether written, cast, etched, or built in, stone evokes permanence.  Headstones give us a sense of immortality, and stone buildings provide us with solid shelter.  During California's early highway building, stone guard rails provided a sense of security that belied accidents' realities.  Here, between the towns of Clearlake Oaks and Glenhaven, a big rig made news when it effortlessly broke through one of these guard rails.  Traffic cones in neon orange have replaced the missing sections of the guard rail, challenging our notions of permanence.

This section of highway was built in the early 1930s to connect our northerly coast line to the Central Valley and the Sierras, ultimately developing a unique byway crossing some of the state's diverse microclimates.   Their arches seem impossibly delicate when made of stone and mortar.  Unfortunately, they are no match for big rigs or other wayward vehicles.  The traffic cones expose only part of their damage...driving along, one can see many pilaster caps broken and missing some of the stones.

At the time of writing this post, an inquiry to CalTrans' District 1 has been sent asking the fate of the stone guard rails.  Their response will be posted.

Threatened: Terminal Island, Port of Los Angeles, CA

Noted in an earlier post about the bridges of Yosemite Valley, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has recently posted its America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places that included two California sites. The second, Terminal Island at the Port of Los Angeles, is threatened with continued demolition over adaptive reuse by the Port Authority.

Looking into California's past sometimes exposes events that challenge us. During WWII, Terminal Island was one such venue where its community of Japanese-Americans was relocated to the Manzanar internment camp. Their experience was well captured in Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston & James D. Houston's book, Farewell to Manzanar. Places like Terminal Island and Manzanar enable us to openly discuss difficult subjects like racism, internment, and war. Without them, we are left vulnerable to missed discussions, reflections, and the risk of repeating horrific mistakes.

Update: A Southern California Public Radio posting provided a little more information about the site, and an intriguing video clip of a WWII newscast explaining the government's version of why Japanese-Americans were relocated.

Threatened: Bridges of Yosemite Valley, CA.

Sugar Pine Bridge Drawing.  Photo file
found at the National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has recently posted its America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places that included two California sites.  The post highlighted three Yosemite Valley bridges that the Trust described as "Rustic Style built in 1928 and 1932."  Yosemite Valley is our nation's first national park, and likely that early designers did not anticipate the millions of annual visitors and vehicles it hosts today.  Consequently, constant wear brings into question their durability by the National Parks Service, causing to consider removal and replacement.

Sugar Pine Bridge, Yosemite Valley.  Photo file found at Architectural Record.

Stone bridges are rare in the United States and link us to an earlier time where details and durability mattered.  They easily connects us to the landscape and a feeling of assurance for safe crossings.  How will we experience Yosemite with anything different?

Update: The public has been invited to provide feedback to the National Parks Service regarding the possible removal of the 1928 Sugar Pine Bridge. The plans include additional destruction of some historic cabins including the 1911 Residence 1 that traditionally housed the Park Superintendent.  The public meeting is coming up soon!  March 21, 5-8PM at Fort Mason Center's Room C370; Marina Blvd. at Laguna Street, San Francisco.  For more information and/or comment, please contact Anthony Veerkamp, Filed Director of the San Francisco Office of the National Parks Service.  The NPS is developing a larger management plan involving the Merced River corridor.

Threatened: Pier 29, San Francisco, California

Yesterday, a fire severely damaged Pier 29 at the bay's edge in San Francisco.  Built in 1915, the pier like so many other places in San Francisco, was designed to help California compete with other international cities and ports like New York.  Highly visited events like the Panama Pacific International Exposition of 1915 and San Diego's Panama-California Exposition of the same year all attest to early investments in California.

At the moment of writing this post, it is unclear if the pier, under the Port Authority for San Francisco, is registered as a historic site.  If anyone has information, please feel free to post a comment here.

The fire highlights how we both perceive historic places and their use for contemporary needs.  We see the pier as old and immediately tag "historic" to its label, but what exactly does historic mean?  Is it historic enough to warrant rebuilding, and if so, will the severe damage alter its status?

More and more preservationists are adopting a reuse and repurpose position so that buildings are less vulnerable to the wrecking ball.  For this pier, it means reuse as a major cruise ship port and future offices and regatta station of the America's Cup.  Authorities say that the damage will not interrupt the building schedule, but what exactly does that mean?  Will the pier receive a new facade, or will it be reconstructed?  We'll be watching!

Threatened: Mattie Washburn House, Windsor, CA.

This 1911 home was the resident of Windsor's first woman school superintendent, Mattie Washburn.  Her name is well respected within the community where one of its schools is named after her.  It's for sale!  The real estate listing identifies the parcel zoned as CR (Commercial Residential), which places this historic building at risk for redevelopment.  Seen in the photo is a rare example of one of our regional identifiers, a period tank house (a.k.a. water tower).  Some deferred maintenance has resulted in the use of a blue tarp over the tank house, however the home itself appears to be in great condition.  This home would be a great candidate for the state's or nation's historic registry.

Update:  The real estate listing has changed to describe the home as historic instead of its previous encouragement of redevelopment.  The price came down, too!

Update:  It appears that the Mattie Washburn home has been sold and will remain a private residence.  It fate is still unclear, and we can only hope that the new owners will be sensitive to its local significance.

Threatened or Not? Buddhist Temple, Fresno, California

Buddhist Temple, Fresno, California.  Photo found on flickr by Richard Harrison

In the January/February 2012 edition of Preservation Magazine, it lists this site as threatened because the current congregation has placed the building up for sale. I see this and other Buddhist temples throughout California as integral components to our state's history. Is there anyone out there actively working on this? Does anyone have photographs of the building so I may publish them here?  For this and any other building I post here, I am interested in monitoring their status.

The National Asian Pacific Islander American Historic Preservation Forum (APIA) states that the structure exterior is "protected and not a threat." The post also discusses the congregation's move toward its sale and building a new temple elsewhere in the city.  Under the control of the congregation, this change in place offers an opportunity to further discuss place attachment and "cultural" or collective memory.

Update:  Great photo found!  Also, a video from a local news agency.

Threatened: McCloud Hospital, McCloud, CA

I stumbled upon this rare find in the historic community of McCloud, a former company town in northern California.  This circa 1903 company hospital was until recently still operating as a hospital, but unfortunately has suffered with us through poor economic times.  It's up for sale for $135K, on a couple acres and in great need of attention.  The 1976 film Baby Blue Marine was filmed here.  It's located among elegant mountain homes, lodges, and bed & breakfasts at the base of Mt. Shasta.

The Mt Shasta News covered this property in September of 2010.