Mid-Century Modernism Historic Context
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
mid-century Modernism Historic Context September 2008 Prepared for the City of Fresno Planning & Development Department 2600 Fresno Street Fresno, CA 93721 Prepared by Planning Resource Associates, Inc. 1416 N. Broadway Fresno, CA 93721 City of Fresno mid-century Modernism Historic Context mid-century Modernism, Fresno Historical Context Prepared For City of Fresno, Planning and Development Department Prepared By Planning Resource Associates, Inc. 1416 N. Broadway Fresno CA, 93721 Project Team Planning Resource Associates, Inc. 1416 Broadway Street Fresno, CA 93721 Lauren MacDonald, Architectural Historian Lauren MacDonald meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications in Architectural History and History Acknowledgements Research efforts were aided by contributions of the following individuals and organizations: City of Fresno Planning and Development Department Karana Hattersley-Drayton, Historic Preservation Project Manager Fresno County Public Library, California History and Genealogy Room William Secrest, Librarian Fresno Historical Society Maria Ortiz, Archivist / Librarian Jill Moffat, Executive Director John Edward Powell Eldon Daitweiler, Fresno Modern American Institute of Architects, San Joaquin Chapter William Stevens, AIA Les Traeger, AIA Bob Dyer, AIA Robin Gay McCline, AIA Jim Oakes, AIA Martin Temple, AIA Edwin S. Darden, FAIA William Patnaude, AIA Hal Tokmakian Steve Weil 1 City of Fresno mid-century Modernism Historic Context TABLE OF CONTENTS I. PROJECT DESCRIPTION Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………….3 Objectives & Scope…………………………………………………………………………….................3 Methodology…………………………………………………………………………………….................4 II. EVALUATION OF MID-CENTURY MODERN RESOURCES Criteria for Establishing Significance…………………………………………………………................6 National Register……………………………………………………………………………….................6 California Register…………………………………………………………………………….……………7 City Fresno………………………………………………………………………………………................7 Aspects of Integrity…………………………………………………………………………………………8 III. HISTORIC CONTEXT STATEMENT Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………….9 Fresno’s Early Development…………………………………………………………………………….10 Precursors to Modernism in Fresno…………………………………………………………………….16 Early Modernism…………………………………………………………………………………………..18 High Modernism……………………………………………………………………………….................19 Depression Years……………………………………………………………………………..................20 World War II……………………………………………………………………………………………….26 Postwar Fresno………………………………………………………………………………..................29 Growth of Suburbia……………………………………………………………………….......................31 Influence of the Automobile……………………………………………………………………………...36 Commercial Development and the Shopping Center…………………………………………………37 Industrial Parks and Office Parks……………………………………………………………………….42 Educational Facilities……………………………………………………………………………………..44 mid-century Landscape Design………………………………………………………………...............46 Urban Renewal……………………………………………………………………………………………49 mid-century Modernism and a Regional Style…………………………………………………………53 IV. ASSOCIATED PROPERTY TYPES & REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS…………………..57 V. FRESNO MID-CENTURY MODERN SUB-STYLES………………………………………………66 Moderne…………………………………………………………………………………………..............67 International………………………………………………………………………………………………..69 Minimal Traditional……………………………………………………………………………................71 Ranch………………………………………………………………………………………………………72 Post-and-Beam……………………………………………………………………………………………74 Contemporary Style………………………………………………………………………………………75 Googie………………………………………………………………………………………….................76 Corporate Modern………………………………………………………………………………………...77 New Formalism……………………………………………………………………………………………78 Brutalism……………………………………………………………………………………….................79 VI. RECCOMMENDATIONS…………………………………………………………………………….80 APPENDICES Appendix A: Contributing Designers of mid-century Modernism in Fresno (1940-1970) Appendix B: Maps of the City of Fresno Appendix C: Listing of Locally Designated Resources (1935-1970) Appendix D: Listing of Local Examples of mid-century Modernism Appendix E: Architect Interviews Appendix F: Bibliography 2 City of Fresno mid-century Modernism Historic Context I. PROJECT DESCRIPTION INTRODUCTION In July 2007, the City of Fresno contracted with Planning Resource Associates, Inc. (PRA) to prepare a citywide thematic historic context statement for mid-century Modernist resources in Fresno, as well as an accompanying reconnaissance survey of properties under this context. For the purposes of this project, mid-century Modernism has been defined by the City as the period 1940-1970. The context statement is designed to address the regional and local emergence of mid-century Modern architecture in Fresno; as well as the property types and subtypes which characterize Fresno mid-century Modernism and the criteria which should be applied to evaluate those resources and establish significance. PRA of Fresno, California, including Lauren MacDonald, Architectural Historian and Preservation Planner, developed this historic context report. Karana Hattersley-Drayton, Historic Preservation Project Manager for the City of Fresno, administered coordination of the project. The context statement has been developed, researched and written by Lauren MacDonald, Architectural Historian, with PRA. Lauren MacDonald meets the Secretary of the Interior’s qualifications in architectural history, history and historic preservation.1 OBJECTIVES & SCOPE A historic context statement is a document used in planning for a community’s historic resources. It identifies the broad patterns of historic development of the community and identifies historic property types, such as buildings, sites, structures, objects or districts, which may represent these patterns of development. In addition, a historic context statement provides direction for evaluating and protecting significant historic resources. As a planning document, it is intended to be a dynamic document, evolving as the community changes. The City of Fresno mid-century Modernism Historic Context Statement is based on the State Office of Historic Preservation’s “Suggested Outline for Fully Developed Context Statements.” The document provides a framework for investigation of the city’s historic resources and will serve as a tool for preservation planning. The historic context for mid-century Modernism was prepared for the City of Fresno’s Planning and Development Department. The City’s historic preservation ordinance was adopted in 1979 and amended in 1999 and includes provisions for an Official Local Register of Historic Resources. This historic context statement meets the California State Historic Preservation Office standards for historic context documents. The purpose of the Fresno mid-century Modernism Context Statement is to assist in the identification, evaluation and preservation of significant historic buildings, districts, sites, and structures associated with mid-century Modernism in Fresno from 1940-1970, in an effort to assess their potential for registration as historic resources at the local, state or national levels. The reconnaissance survey is a broad but selective examination of extant properties, while the context identifies key historical themes within which these properties may be understood. The historic context is not a comprehensive history of 3 City of Fresno mid-century Modernism Historic Context Fresno from the period, nor is the reconnaissance survey intended to generate a definitive listing of significant properties from the period. The project is intended to be a first step in determining how to look at the city’s resources from this period. Through review of primary and secondary sources, as well as interviews with architects, educators, preservationists, and other professionals this context statement seeks to understand the history of the mid-century Modernism movement in Fresno and identify resources within the built environment, which reflect important elements of that history. Information about this period of Fresno’s history will provide direction for evaluating and protecting significant historic resources. Documentation of these historic resources will provide valuable information that will be used in the City’s development, permitting an environmental review process as well as for future intensive-level surveys and National Register nomination.2 Specific objectives of this historic context statement include: • Increase awareness, scholarship and the exchange of information on and preservation of resources of the recent past. • Establishment of significant themes and events in the development of Fresno during the mid-20th century. • Description of architectural styles and character-defining features representative of the mid-20th century. • Listing of architects, builders, developers, and landscape architects influential in the development of Fresno’s physical character during the mid-20th century. • Listing of known significant buildings constructed in Fresno during the mid-20th century. Historic Preservation Plan Goals: • Integrate preservation planning strategies and programs into broader land use processes. • Integrate the consideration of historical and cultural resources in the land use planning process. • Establishment of registration requirements for Fresno’s historic resources from the mid-century. All work was completed in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Historic Preservation. Project Methodology This historic context report was developed using