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State of California The Resources Agency Primary #
<br />DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI #
<br />CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial
<br />Page 3 of 3 ResourceNarne: Witt House
<br />'Recorded by Pedro Gomez 'Date March 25. 2021 O Continuation ❑ Update
<br />`810. Significance (continued):
<br />Santa Ana was founded by Wilharn Spurgeon in 1869 as a speculative town site on part of the Spanish land grant known as
<br />Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana. The civic and Commercial core of the community was centered around the intersection of
<br />Main and FOLuth Str oets. Stimulated by the arrival of the Santa Fe Railroad and incorporation as a City in 1886, and selection
<br />as the seat of the newly created County of Orange in 1889, the city grew outwards. with residential neighborhoods
<br />developing to the north, snuth, ano east of the city renter. Agnrultural uses precinminated in the autlying are -as, with
<br />cultivated fields and orchards finned with widely scattered tot'niheuses
<br />The Witt House is located in Floral Park. a neighborhood northwest of downtown Santa Ana banded by West Seventeenth
<br />Street. North Flower Street, Riverside Drive, and Broadway. Groves of oranges, avocados, and walnuts and widely scattered
<br />ranch houses characterized this area before 1920. Developer and builder Allison Honer (1897-1981). ctediled as the
<br />subdivider and builder of a major portion of northwest Santa Aria. arrived in Santa Ana frorn Beaver Falls, New Yuri in 1922
<br />(Talbert, pages 353-356). "Before nightfall on the day of his arrival, Mr. Honer purchased a parcel of land And that month, he
<br />began building custunr homes in Santa Ana "(Orange County Register. September 15. 1981)_ The parcel chosen became the
<br />Floral Park subdivision between Seventeenth Street and Santiago Creek. "When built in the 1920s, the Floral Park hornes
<br />were the most lavish and rxprnsive in the area. They sold for about S4.5,006 each" (Orange County Register, September 15,
<br />1981). Revival architecture in a wide variety of romantic styles was celebrated in the 1920s and 1930s and Floral Park
<br />showcased examples of the English Tudnr, Frenrh Nnnnan, Spanish Cnlnnial, and Colonial Revival. The Allison Honer
<br />Construction Company wont on to complete such notable projects as the 1035 Art Deco styled Old Santa Ana City Hall, the
<br />El Toro Manne Base during World War rl, and the 1960 Honer Shopping Plaza. Honer lived in the neighborhood he had
<br />helped to create, at 615 West Santa Clara Avenue.
<br />In the late 1920s and 1930s. another builder. Roy Roscoe Russell (1881-1965). continued developing the groves of Floral
<br />Park. An early Russell project was his 1928 subdivision of Victoria Drive belween West Nioeteenlh Street and West Santa
<br />Clara Avenue. The homes were quite grand and displayed various revival styles. including Russell's own large, Colonial
<br />Revival rrrarisiorr at 2009 Victoria Drive. In the early post World War If years, Floral Park continued its development as
<br />numerous, smaller, single -faintly houses were built. Continuing in the Floral /'ark tradition, they were mostly revival in style. In
<br />the 1950s, low, horizontal Ranch Style houses completed the growth of Floral Park. Today (2021) Floral Park maintains its
<br />identity as the premier neighborhood of Santa Ana, historically horse to many affluent and prominent citizens.
<br />The Witt Houso ryualiftas for Itsting in the Santa Ana Ragrstar of Historical Pmportias under Cidanon 1 fnr ombndimant of tha
<br />distinguishing characteristics of the Mintnial Tmdthonal style with Colonial Revival detailing dating from the year just prior to
<br />World War rl. Additionally. the house has been categorized as "Contributive" because it "contributes to the overall character
<br />and history` of Floral Part( and "is a good example of period arc:hitecture." representing the Minimal Traditional architecture
<br />style in Santa Aria. Character -defining exterior features of the Witt House that should be preserved include. but may riot be
<br />limited to sheathing (stucco and clapboard in the gable end). roof configuralion: massing. original fenestration pattern. porch.
<br />chimney. and architectural details such as shutters, prominent brick chimney, and accent brick material at the front entry.
<br />`812. References (continued):
<br />Harris, Cyril M. American Arrhitacture: An Illustrated EnryrlofLa. New York, WW Norton, 1998.
<br />Marsh, Dtann. 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 Bullelin 16A. "I low to Complete the National Register Registration Form.' Washinglon DC: National
<br />Register Branch. National Park Service. US Dept of the Interior 1991.
<br />Office of Historic Preservation. `Instructions for Recording Historical Resources."Sactarnento, March 1995.
<br />Whiffen. Marcus. American Archliecture Since 1780_ Cambridge- MIT Press, 1969_
<br />Santa Arta and Orange County Directories, 1905-2017.
<br />Ancestry.com
<br />Newspapers. com (Santa Ana Register)
<br />"Marriage Lirenses."Santa Ana Register, 3 September 1909.
<br />"Hudson Gargo Firm Files Incorporation." Santa Ana Register; 6 February 1921.
<br />Floral Park Tract Plans Development." Santa Ana Register, 14 July 14 1929.
<br />"Harry H_ Ball Dies Suddenly_" Santa Ana Register. 6 October 1936_
<br />"Heliotrope Drive Will Re Opened To North Part( Rlvd ` Santa Ana Register. 7 September 1938
<br />"Bon Voyage Party Given By Wills." Santa Ana Register, 10 July 1941.
<br />"S A. People In Islands Listed_" Santa Ana Reuister: 8 December 1941_
<br />"Mrs. Norval Witt Her From Honolulu ."Santa Ana Register. 3 July 1942.
<br />City Council
<br />DPR 523L
<br />12— 148
<br />5/18/2021
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