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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 Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) Was House
<br />*Recorded by Leslie J. Heumann, Peter C. Moruzzi, SAIC *Date February 1, 2003 O Continuation 0 Update
<br />*P3a. Description (continued):
<br />A concrete driveway near the north side of the property leads to an original two -car detached garage with roof form, roof
<br />pitch, and cladding similar in style to the residence. Landscaping consists of low shrubs, a large pine tree, several young
<br />trees, and an expansive front lawn. The house appears original and is in good condition.
<br />*1310. Significance (continued):
<br />The Was House is located in Floral Park, a neighborhood northwest of downtown Santa Ana bounded by West Seventeenth
<br />Street, North Flower Street, Riverside Drive, and Broadway. Groves of oranges, avocados, and walnuts and widely
<br />scattered ranch houses characterized this area before 1920. Developer and builder Allison Honer (1897- 1981), credited as
<br />the subdivider and builder of a major portion of northwest Santa Ana, arrived in Santa Ana from Beaver Falls, New York in
<br />1922 (Talbert pages 353 -356). "Before nightfall on the day of his arrival, Mr. Honer purchased a parcel of land. And that
<br />month, he began building custom homes in Santa Ana" (Orange County Register. September 15, 1981). The parcel chosen
<br />became the Floral Park subdivision between Seventeenth Street and Santiago Creek. "When built in the 1920s, the Floral
<br />Park homes were the most lavish and expensive in the area. They sold for about $45, 000 each" (Orange County Register,
<br />September 15, 1981). Revival architecture in a wide variety of romantic styles was celebrated in the 1920s and 1930s and
<br />Floral Park showcased examples of the English Tudor, French Norman, Spanish Colonial, and Colonial Revival. The Allison
<br />Honer Construction Company went on to complete such notable projects as the 1935 Art Deco styled Old Santa Ana City
<br />Hall, the El Toro Marine Base during World War II, and the 1960 Honer Shopping Plaza. Honer lived in the neighborhood
<br />he had 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 between West Nineteenth 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 mansion at 2009 Victoria Drive. In the early post World War II years, Floral Park continued its development as
<br />numerous, smaller, single- family houses were built. Continuing in the Floral Park tradition, they were mostly revival in style.
<br />In the 1950s, low, horizontal Ranch Style houses completed the growth of Floral Park. Today (2003) Floral Park maintains
<br />its identity as the premier neighborhood of Santa Ana, historically home to many affluent and prominent citizens.
<br />The Was House appears eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and the California Register of
<br />Historical Resources. It also qualifies for listing in the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties under Criterion 1 for its
<br />exemplification of the Colonial Revival style. Characteristic features in this regard include the symmetrical massing and
<br />composition of the house, the dignified portico, and the fenestration. The house also contributes to the historic character of
<br />the Floral Park neighborhood through its age, style, scale, and historic association with members of the local business
<br />community. Additionally, the house has been categorized as "Landmark" for its unique architectural significance as an
<br />example of the Colonial Revival style that contributes to the historic streetscape of North Victoria Drive. All original exterior
<br />features of the Was House are considered character defining and should be preserved. These features include, but may not
<br />be limited to: materials (wood); roof configuration and treatment; massing and composition, porch; doors and windows;
<br />chimney, architectural detailing (stick work, pilasters, brackets), and original garage.
<br />*B12. References (continued):
<br />Harris, Cyril M. American Architecture: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. New York, WW Norton, 1998.
<br />Marsh, Diann. 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 Bulletin 16A. "How to Complete the National Register Registration Form." Washington DC: National
<br />Register Branch, National Park Service, US Dept of the Interior, 1991.
<br />Office of Historic Preservation. "Instructions for Recording Historical Resources." Sacramento: March 1995.
<br />Whiffen, Marcus, American Architecture Since 1780. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1969.
<br />"Alison Honer Dies at 84," The Santa Ana Journal, September 21, 1981.
<br />"Builder of Honer Plaza Dies," Orange County Register, September 15, 1981.
<br />"History of Floral Park." http: //www.floral- park.com/page2.html
<br />Talbert, Thomas (editor -in- chief). Historical Volume and Reference Works Including Biographical Sketches of Leading
<br />Citizens. Volume I. Whittier, Historical Publishers, 1963.
<br />Armor, Samuel. History of Orange County. 1921.
<br />Orange County Directories, 1930 -1941, 1945.
<br />DPR 523L
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