INFORMATIONAL REPORT ON HISTORIC BUILDINGS LOCATED WITHIN THE

"SALINAS LINCOLN AVENUE CORRIDOR"

RECOMMENDATION OF THE HISTORIC RESOURCES BOARD OF SALINAS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• The Historic Resources Board has been tasked by City Council "to protect Salinas' architectural heritage assets for education, community revitalization and the promotion of heritage tourism." An important role of the Board is to "Provide guidance to property owners on the restoration, alteration and maintenance of Salinas' historic resources." • To fulfill this role, the Historic Resource Board is providing the City Council information on the historic buildings in the future development area of the Salinas Lincoln Avenue Corridor Development project. • The purpose of this informational report is to address the revitalization project of the City's historic downtown “Salinas Lincoln Avenue Corridor.“ This is part of and complimentary to the Salinas Downtown Vibrancy Plan. THE HISTORIC RESOURCES BOARD

• The Historic Resources Board (HRB) was created on April 27, 2010, by the City Council’s adoption of ordinance # 2505. The HRB was tasked by council to protect Salinas’ architectural heritage assets for education, community revitalization and the promotion of heritage tourism. The Board works to protect Salinas’ historic assets listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the State Historic Landmark Register, and the California Register of Historic Resources. The HRB also identifies historic and cultural heritage sites in Salinas which can be featured as visitor or local attractions.

• Communities that protect their architectural heritage show higher property values and attract visitors who stay longer and spend more.

• In 2012, the Board was successful in obtaining state designation as a certified local government; such designation can facilitate the receipt of federal and state resources available to encourage historic preservation.

• In June 2016, the City adopted a five-year Mills Act property tax savings program for designated historic properties. This program grants tax savings to owners of designated historic properties who contract for 10 years to maintain their property's historic characteristics according to the Secretary of Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

• As set out in the enabling ordinance, the Board makes recommendations to staff and to the planning commission and City Council regarding the designation, preservation, alteration, and demolition of local historic resources. THE HISTORIC RESOURCES BOARD

Serving this role the Board:

• Implements City policies pertaining to historic resources located in the City.

• Promotes public education pertaining to historic resources.

• Considers the use of economic incentives encouraging investment in local historic resources and promoting heritage tourism.

• Provides guidance to property owners on the restoration, alteration and maintenance of Salinas’ historic resources, e.g. Mills Act.

• Some members of the seven-member Board are qualified historians with professional qualifications or credentials in Prehistoric Archeology, Historic Architecture, or Architectural History.

• All members of the Board have demonstrated interest, competence, or knowledge in historic preservation, heritage preservation, or heritage tourism. BACKGROUND

The City of Salinas proclaims it's “Rich in Land, Rich in Values”—it too is rich in history.

Over time, development of the City has too often failed to value the architecture and landmarks that reflect our local history.

The historical architecture reflects Salinas' history, residents and their stories—and is an important link to their collective past.

The properties discussed in this report should be thoughtfully preserved as critical pieces of Salinas' story. HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN THE "SALINAS LINCOLN AVENUE CORRIDOR" REPORT INCLUDE:

• Armory, 100 Howard Street • Salinas Women's Club, 215 Lincoln Avenue • City Hall Rotunda, 200 Lincoln Avenue • Recreation Center Gym, 320 Lincoln Avenue • John Steinbeck Library, 350 Lincoln Avenue

All these buildings were identified in the Cultural Resource Survey completed in 1989 and qualify for listing in the California Register of Historic Resources.

Buildings listed are eligible for listing in the California Register and are subject to CEQA review (Title 14, Chapter 3.15064.5(2). Properties eligible for listing in the California Register must meet one of the following criteria and retain integrity:

• Criterion 1: Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of California's history and cultural heritage.

• Criterion 2: Is associated with the lives of persons important in our past. 1

• Criterion 3: Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or method of construction, or represents the work of an important creative individual, or possesses high artistic values. 2

• Criterion 4: Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. 3 4 THE NEW CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY BUILDING October 15, 1896, the day that Troop C Cavalry first occupied the new Armory at the corner of Alisal and Salinas streets.

PRESERVED AND RESTORED FOR COMMERICAL USE THE NEW CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY BUILDING On August 5, 1895, ninety-three locals join to form the third Cavalry troop in California (hence the letter “C”), the National Guard of California, Troop C, Cavalry, Salinas. The original Armory was their home and training center. The troop’s first officers were: Captain M. J. Burke; First Lieutenants, John L. Mathews, Frederick William Winham; Second Lieutenant, Frank M. Vierra.

Other than training, their only action before 1916 was during the San Francisco earthquake on April 18, 1906.

In this 1908-1909 photograph, "Troop C" training at nearby Santa Cruz. THE NEW CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY BUILDING

The Salinas National Guard Armory was built at 100 Howard Street, between Salinas Street and Lincoln Avenue.

Construction of the Armory began in 1932 to replace the old Armory which still stands at the corner of Alisal and Salinas Streets.

The first Armory had insufficient space to house personnel and the armored vehicles and tanks required by the 40th National Guard Tank Company, requiring the construction of a larger facility and the move to the current Howard Street location.

The 1932 ground breaking ceremonies were attended by Governor James “Sunny Jim” Rolph, Jr. of California.

Pictured right: Salinas Mayor, Dr. Edmund James Leach (left); the Governor (center); and Ray Joseph Duddy, Fox Theater manager and president of the Chamber of Commerce. THE NEW CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY BUILDING Salinas City purchased the land using city funds of $40,000 and $10,000 in cash from the community, then gifted the four lots of land to the state. The federal government and the state provided the balance of funds to construct the building. A total of $250,000.

The Howard Street Armory was one of four Works Progress Administation (WPA) construction projects undertaken by the National Guard. The first plan was drafted by Campbell & Koepp and was designed by Moderne Architect, Guy Koepp. It is an Art Deco style building that is unique for pre-World War II armories.

Its' steel framed reinforced concrete structure is supported by massive steel trusses. These add visual interest from the center area of the Armory. The two-story ceremonial section features a wooden (shock absorbing) gymnasium floor, a stage, and a balcony with eight rows of wooden theatre style seating. Wings on either side of the center area were constructed for offices, restrooms, and ammunition storage. After World War II, a sally port tank garage was constructed at the rear of the Armory.

CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY Significant Functions: Pre-World War II

In 1895, The California National Guard established Troop C Cavalry with Salinas as its headquarters. By 1916, the Troop was merged into the 1st Squadron of the California Cavalry and were involved in the fight against the famous Francisco “Pancho” Villa.

The Salinas 40th Tank Company was called into service in 1906 to support the civilian needs created by the San Francisco earthquake. The Troop fought in World War I and during that time were reorganized to become Company B, 145th Machine Gun Battalion of the 40th Infantry Division. In 1917, Troop C saw action in France during World War I, post-World War I, the Troop again reorganized and became the 40th Tank Company.

Throughout the pre-World War II years, the 149th Armored Unit from Salinas, played an important role in assisting during times of natural disasters and riots in California. On Thanksgiving Day in 1927, the 184th Infantry and the 149th Armored Battalion from Salinas was dispatched to Folsom Prison to put down an inmate riot that involved hostages, injuries to correctional staff and inmates and significant facility damage. In 1934, the 40th Tank Company was called into service by the California Governor to help quell the violent longshoreman's strike at the San Francisco docks. CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY

World War II

With the onset of World War II, Salinas became a military hub in part due to the proximity of the 2,000 acre Camp Ord (named for Union Army Major General Edward Otho Cresap Ord) and its importance as a troop training grounds for the Pacific campaigns. Named Camp Ord in 1933 and renamed Fort Ord in 1940.

The community rallied around the war effort. In September of 1941, the 194th Tank Battalion left Salinas for the Philippines. 107 Salinas Guard members were put into service at the Battle of The members of the Salinas Women's Bataan. In April of 1942, American and Filipino troops surrendered to the Club organized bandage rolling efforts Japanese. Thousands of soldiers died on the march to Japanese prisoner of war at the Armory to support the soldiers camps in what was to be known as the Bataan Death March. Salinas' military in the troop hospitals and in the field, forces in the Philippines gained recognition at a great cost to Salinas military just as they had done in World War I families and the community. at the former Armory building. CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY

World War II

With the onset of World War II, Salinas became a military hub in part due to the proximity of the 2,000 acre Camp Ord (named for Union Army Major General Edward Otho Cresap Ord) and its importance as troop training grounds for Pacific campaigns.

The Armory served as a meeting place and was home to the largest 36-inch air raid siren in California. The siren first tested on July 13, 1942 exerted a centrifugal force of 70,000 pounds creating 750 sound vibrations per second.

The community rallied around the war effort.

The members of the Salinas Women's Club organized bandage rolling efforts at the Armory to support the soldiers in the troop hospitals and in the field, just as they had done in World War I at the former Armory building. CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY Of the 107 sent to the Philippines, only 47 survived. Salinas was recognized for the highest per capita enlistment record of a city its size in America. Bataan Park was built to memorialize their sacrifices with the placement of a tank and plaque that are now on display at the International Order Of Odd Fellows Garden of Memories Cemetery in Salinas. In April of 1946, Company C, 194th Tank Battalion was deactivated in the Philippines, due to the significant loss of life in Bataan. In 1942, the National Guard Armory served as the processing center for the assignment of Japanese Americans to the Salinas Assembly Center at the Salinas Race Track and Rodeo Grounds. Ultimately, detainees were transported to other west coast camps, many being sent to the Poston Relocation Center. When Poston was closed on November 28th, 1945 many surviving detainees returned home to cities where their land and personal properties often times had been taken from them. Despite this tragic event for Salinas residents, many detainees returned home to Salinas to make major community contributions, especially to local agriculture and flower growing.

JAPANESE AMERICAN DETAINEES – ON THE STEPS OF THE ARMORY AWAITING PROCESSING JAPANESE AMERICAN DETAINEES – REGISTRATION INSIDE ARMORY CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY John Ernst Steinbeck gathered writing material for East of Eden at the Art Moderne Salinas Californian newspaper building, he played basketball and attended his senior prom at the nearby Troop C Armory building, “where men over fifty . . . snapped orders at one another and wrangled eternally about who should be officers.” CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY Post-World War II

By 1947, the National Guard underwent a reorganization process to the Army National Guard, allowing for the Salinas Armory to retain its function as the Company of the 1st Battalion 149th Armored Unit.

During the 195Os through the 80s, the Armory served a dual purpose as a military facility and a community civic center for entertainment and local functions. Dinner dances, cabaret events, weddings, holiday receptions, bands and shows all took place at the Armory. Famous entertainers such as the Platters and James Brown performed to crowds from the Armory's stage. There were no other venues for community entertainment at this time which made the Armory's role as an entertainment venue important to Salinas residents.

In the 1990s, most of the military functions had been transferred to other facilities, including Fort Ord and the Armory remained vacant for an extended period. In July of 2005, Salinas acquired the property with the stipulation that it was to be used as a site for a proposed new police department headquarters. In the interim, a dance and gymnastic company leased the property from the City until a boiler failure in November of 2005, Salinas Californian 1933 rendered the property unusable. CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY Public discussion was undertaken as to whether the Armory would be demolished for a new police facility or whether an adaptive reuse of the Armory would be undertaken.

On June 24, 2010, Assembly Bill 815 (Caballero) was passed that would enable the Armory to be used as a public building, which expanded the opportunities for use beyond just a police facility. The Salinas Police Activities League (SPAL), in conjunction with the City, undertook a significant project to rehabilitate the building for use as a youth center. Upon completion of the project, SPAL was provided a home for its free programs and a historic resource was preserved through the duration of the SPAL lease with the City of Salinas.

SPAL was founded in 1991 by former Police Chief Dan Nelson. SPAL is a non-profit organization that provides recreational, cultural, social and educational activities for the youth of the City of Salinas. The SPAL program organizes many different annual programs coordinated by police officers and staffed by community volunteers. SPAL is nearly 30 years old, serving each year more than 2500-3500 children between the ages of 7-18 years old. As the programs constantly expand to meet the changing needs and interest of our City’s youth, SPAL’s goal remains constant to assist young people in developing meaningful and productive lives.

SPAL has been notified that their lease with the City may not be renewed. The Armory is currently on a list of city-owned historic properties that are included in the Lincoln Avenue Corridor Development Project that is intended to provide opportunities for development activities which are intended to revitalize the core of downtown and to increase housing in this area. CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY

The National Guard Building is eligible for listing in the California Register of Historic Resources under Criterion One and Three.

Historic Status:

The Armory is important in historic context due to its military history, its ethnic and cultural significance, its architectural style, and its alignment with the historic buildings of Oldtown Salinas.

The 1989 Salinas Historic Evaluation Survey and the subsequent Garavaglia Architecture Inc. 2007 Historic Resource Evaluation of the Armory property has determined that the Armory currently is listed in the California Register of Historic Places.

It is eligible for the National Registry of Historic Places due to its association with World War II, the association with the Armory's role in the Japanese American Internment, and its unique architectural style as a 20th-century state-owned Salinas Armory in the Art Deco style. SALINAS CIVIC CLUB – SALINAS WOMEN’S CLUB Construction:

This building was originally known as the Salinas Civic Club. However it is best known as the Salinas Women's Club, a 5,500 square foot Mission Revival style building is located at 215 Lincoln Avenue, across from Salinas City Hall. The building abuts the Salinas Armory to the south, the old fire station at the rear elevation and a City parking facility to the north.

A Salinas Women's Club’s committee met with the City Council and purchased the property from the City of Salinas in June of 1919. The fundraising began immediately and was at $3,500 in years end. After a slow fundraising effort and start to construction at a cost of $12,000, the building was dedicated on April 24, 1923.

The Salinas Women's Club owned and inhabited the building until 1991 when the Club put the building up for sale due to the aging membership's inability to continue the required code compliance and maintenance of the property.

The property was purchased by the Salinas Redevelopment Agency. In exchange for the sale to the City, the Club was promised the right to hold their meetings in the Steinbeck Center in perpetuity. This standing agreement was no longer honored with the purchase of the Center by CSUMB and the Club was forced to relocate their meetings to temporary locations.

Following the Club, this historic building continued to be leased to the County and Hartnell College. SALINAS CIVIC CLUB – SALINAS WOMEN’S CLUB

Significant Functions:

This historic building was home to the Salinas Women's Club for many years. The Club's significant contributions to women's rights, suffrage, and literacy were profound through many acts of civic engagement and fund raising over many years of service to the Salinas community and California.

The Club was originally a protestant-based reformist women's group that first began after the Civil War at a time when women were not allowed to enroll in institutions of higher learning. In the 1900s, the group became the California Federal of Women's Clubs. In 1905, an offshoot of their activities came to be called the Salinas Wanders Study Club. Later they came to be known as the Salinas Suffrage League.

Their causes for civic reform included addressing poverty, alcoholism, gambling, prostitution, immigration, and literacy. At a time when few women controlled the finances of their households, the women's Club membership vigorously advocated for civic reforms and projects that required them to engage with the influential business men and local politicians to gain the financial support required to accomplish their goals. This progressive women's movement at one time saw Olive Steinbeck, John Ernst Steinbeck's mother, as the Club president. SALINAS CIVIC CLUB – SALINAS WOMEN’S CLUB In April of 1906, the San Andreas Fault earthquake resulted in damage throughout Salinas. The Club's membership advocated for damage repair, public privies, wooden sidewalks, and gas lights to make the city a safer place. During World War I, the woman became auxiliary nurses, spending many hours at Camp Ord. During World War I and II, the membership spent hours rolling bandages at the Armory to be sent to troop hospitals for wounded soldiers.

Gertrude Waterman, an educator, and Club president during World War II, personally took cap and gowns and school diplomas to the Japanese American children that were interned at the Salinas Assembly Center Camp for them to receive credit for their educational achievements and to encourage them to further their education.

Their most notable fund-raising effort produced Salinas' first public Library. The Club was able to procure funding from Andrew Carnegie and donations from Salinas' community organizations and individuals to provide Salinas with access to educational materials that previously were not available to all Salinas residents, including women. SALINAS CIVIC CLUB – SALINAS WOMEN’S CLUB Located across the street from Salinas City Hall, the women's Club served as a primary venue for important civic engagement activities for many years. In 2006, the Club celebrated its 110th anniversary.

In the winter of 2014, the building served as a temporary warming shelter for up to forty homeless people in need of a safe place to sleep at night and receive a warm meal.

Today, the building serves as home to the Urban Arts Collaborative Studio. The collaborative is a cadre of urban artists that curates and creative spaces for youth healing, leadership and advocacy for health equity and social transformation through the power. SALINAS CIVIC CLUB – SALINAS WOMEN’S CLUB

Historic Status:

The Salinas Women's Club building is of historic importance due to the significant historical contributions of the Club, locally and in California.

The age of this Salinas building, its ties to the first Salinas Public Library and its relationship to the progressive women's movement, involvement of important individuals such as Andrew Carnegie, Olive Steinbeck, and many other significant local women, qualifies this building for recognition as an important local and California landmark.

It is not currently listed on either the National Register or the California Register of Historic Places.

It is clearly eligible for listing under Criterion A-4: Association with the National Woman's Club movement and Criterion C-1: Part of a civic center location and is eligible as a historic resource under Monterey County's C-4 Criterion is a key element of a civic center is a potential historic district. THE SALINAS CITY HALL ROTUNDA

Construction:

The Salinas City Hall Rotunda, a 1950s building built at 200 Lincoln Avenue adjacent to Salinas City Hall. City Hall and the Rotunda are described as: "a one-story post and beam Modernist Classic style public building complex, irregular in plan with a detached drum-shaped council chamber."

The City Hall complex is described as “a uniform construction grid, with a carefully organized hierarchy of public and private civic functions, expressing a clarity of geometric form".

The exterior wall-cladding of the post-and-beam detached council chamber is a combination of a heavy concrete columned curtain wall, with a veneer of early stone street pavers. This interesting building is characterized by its flat circular roof, that is carried on paired, wood joists that appear as wheel spokes projecting from the building envelope. The thin flat roof rides on the top of these joists with narrow, glazed clear story windows between the roof and building frame."

Significant Functions:

The Rotunda serves as a City Council Chambers for the City of Salinas and other City commissions/boards. It is the facility that also serves as a public meeting place. THE SALINAS CITY HALL ROTUNDA

Historic Status:

The Rotunda is more than fifty years old and is significant under the California Register Criterion One and Three.

It also has been the site of other governmental/public gatherings.

The Rotunda "is significant, at the local level, under California Register Criterion 3, in the area of architecture, as an essentially intact example of Modernist Classic style public building design by the internationally recognized firm of Ellerbe and Co. (Ellerbe Becket)." Ellerbe and Company was one of America's most prolific design firms of the twentieth- century. As a major component of the City of Salinas's civic center expansion in the early 1960s, it is an expression of the continuing commitment to progressive public design by the community, and one of the very few such projects completed by Ellerbe Becket in California. It clearly qualifies for listing in the Salinas Historic Resource Inventory. SALINAS RECREATION CENTER / U.S.O. BUILDING Construction:

The Recreation Center Gym was originally constructed the United Service Organization (U.S.O.) building, the first built in the United States. It opened just two days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. It is located at 320 Lincoln Avenue, in the same block as the John Steinbeck Library.

Salinas' U.S.O. Type A building was built by the United States, government approval was granted for the construction in October of 1941 through the non-profit grant program delegated by Presidential order to the Army quartermaster department. The architects were believed to be Charles E. Butner and then Major Allen H. Griffin. The civil engineers and contractors were Ford J. Thwaits, Harry Morrison, and Morris Knudsen, same contractors used in building Fort Ord.

A contest among eighteen proposed U.S.O. buildings was initiated to see who could complete their project in the least amount of time. The winner of that contest was the Salinas U.S.O. building claiming the title of the first U.S.O. soldiers’ center in the country. The Salinas U.S.O. project broke ground on October 13th, 1941, the same year that the Public Works Administration funds became available. On December 7th, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and war was declared. Although and because of World War II, the Salinas U.S.O. opened in record time under significant pressure to serve the military troops. A brilliant dedication ceremony marked the opening on December 9, 1941. SALINAS RECREATION CENTER / U.S.O. BUILDING

Recreation building, Type “A”, This November 1941 sketch shows the design of the floor plan of the USO Soldiers’ Center. SALINAS RECREATION CENTER / U.S.O. BUILDING

In the period from May 1 to May 24, 1943, a total of 44,728 persons have entered the U.S.O. building with an average of 3,226 nightly. Due to the war housing shortage, some have even slept in the building. SALINAS RECREATION CENTER U.S.O. BUILDING

Significant Functions:

The Salinas U.S.O. and U.S.O. facilities throughout the world, provided support services and an entertainment venue opportunity for war worn soldiers. The "donut dollies", administrative staff and local volunteers provided information, refreshments, and entertainment in support of our military personnel. Local dances were held for soldiers and famous personalities entertained at the Salinas U.S.O.

The U.S.O. closed in 1946 and with the end of World War II, the City of Salinas purchased the U.S.O. building to house a much-needed recreational space for its growing population. Its central location made it easily accessible to residents seeking recreational programing. In 1950 a portion of the building was an annex for the Library and served as a Children's Room of the Library. SALINAS RECREATION CENTER U.S.O. BUILDING

Historic Status:

The City of Salinas Recreation Center at 320 Lincoln Avenue is eighty years old. The age and historic contributions of this building makes it an important historical asset to the Salinas Community as well as to California and national history.

This building was included in the 1989 Historic Evaluation Survey of Salinas properties. The historical significance as to unique Type A U.S.O. architecture and its contribution to World War II military personnel support activities qualifies this building for historic recognition.

A bronze plaque was produced and dedicated at the site. It reads as follows: "In honor of those who made this building a home away from home for thousands of men and women in uniform". U.S.O. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION U.S.O. BUILDING, NOW SALINAS RECREATION CENTER Today the Salinas Recreation Center Gym serves an important downtown recreation center to the community, while providing administrative staff coordinators for city-wide recreation programs, a gymnasium and other recreational drop in space. The Recreation & Community Services Department's mission is to enhance life through high quality recreation, educational, social and cultural programs, and events and leisure activities which are responsive to Salinas' diverse population. SALINAS PUBLIC LIBRARY JOHN STEINBECK LIBRARY Construction:

With no city public library, in December, 1897, the Women's Christian Temperance Union opened a free reading room at the Odd Fellows’ Library, which was a gift from the late Jesse Douglas Carr. In June 1900, the City Mayor appointed a Salinas City Public Library Board. Despite the Board decry for a public library, the first free public library wasn’t constructed until 1909.

Funds were raised through the combined community efforts of the Salinas Women's Club who raised funds to purchase and donate the lot of land, the International Order of Odd Fellows who financed the acquisition of many of the books, the Women's Christian Temperance Union who donated large volumes of books, and a $10,000 contribution by Andrew Carnegie.

The architect was Jacob Lenzen, and the contractor was Wilbur Eugene Greene. The construction met with several delays, namely the San Jon Slough, which ran right under the building site. SALINAS PUBLIC LIBRARY JOHN STEINBECK LIBRARY

This Library is located at 350 Lincoln Avenue, on the corner of Lincoln Avenue and San Luis Streets.

The groundbreaking ceremony for this long-awaited community building took place in 1959 with the doors opening to the public on March 21st, 1960. The cornerstone of the old Salinas Carnegie Library was set in place at the new John Steinbeck Library's public entrance. At that time, Salinas boasted a population of 28,957 residents who were grateful for such a modern addition to the Salinas downtown district.

The library opened in August, 1909 on the south east corner of Main and San Luis Streets with 4,166 total book volumes. Books were donated by local clubs, residents, and merchants.

By 1943, Miss. Amanda Anderson, librarian reported the library housed a 14,922 book collection, with 6,168 library cardholders.

The old Carnegie Salinas Public Library was demolished in 1961 to make way for a more spacious and modern Library which today is known as the John Steinbeck Library. SALINAS PUBLIC LIBRARY JOHN STEINBECK LIBRARY Welton David Becket was the architect. "The building is an excellent example of the International style of architecture utilized by Becket during his long and distinguished professional career as an architectural firm owner, designer and cultural icon creator."

Becket's buildings were internationally renowned. He was particularly known for his Los Angeles buildings many of which are now historic sites. Becket's trademark was the unique facades he designed for each of his buildings. At the John Steinbeck Library, the facade has a stone wall that is inset with stone metates. These grinding stones greet Library patrons with an entry way that speaks of the past but leads the visitor into a literary facility of the future. Welton David Becket also designed Salinas's Police Department building (1957), and City Hall (1963). Like the construction of City Hall, the Library is a one-story construction "with a low, flat profile in the urban fabric of Salinas." JOHN STEINBECK LIBRARY The John Steinbeck Library is a public Library in Salinas, California.

Within months of his death, the Salinas City Council voted to rename the Library in honor of the famed novelist, and native son John Ernst Steinbeck in 1969.

The Library held the Steinbeck archives until 1998 when they were transferred to the new National Steinbeck Center.

The Soroptomist Club of Salinas donated the 350-pound bronze statue of John Steinbeck located in front of the John Steinbeck Library to the City of Salinas on November 20, 1973. The statue which has been on display since December 1971 on indefinite loan by its creator, sculptor Tom Fitzwater of Greenfield. JOHN STEINBECK LIBRARY

Significant Functions:

The John Steinbeck Library serves over 150,000 Salinas residents as well as County residents at the county seat of Monterey County. John Steinbeck Library's historic archival materials are the most extensive of any of the three Salinas libraries. With its expanded community programs, digital resource areas, teen lounge and office headquarters to the City Library staff, John Steinbeck Library is considered the “main Library" for Salinas. Its proximity to other government buildings and Oldtown Salinas, further supports its important function to the community.

Historic Status:

The John Steinbeck Library was designed by prominent architect Welton David Beckett whose work is known throughout California. Civic projects were a large component of Becket's work. As an “example of the International style of Modernism popular in mid-century culture of the twentieth century, it was created by a noteworthy architect towards the end of his remarkable career". This meets Criterion 3 as it represents the work of an important and creative individual.

The affiliation with John Steinbeck's works and historical archives is strong. In recognition of the literary contributions of this Salinas native son, the Library bears his name, and a bronze statue of the author is prominent on the lawn, near the entry to the Library. In addition to the John Steinbeck linkage, the Library has hosted readings by many authors of note.

Today, the John Steinbeck Library, at age 61 years, is the oldest of Salinas' three libraries. Buildings that are fifty years and older can be considered historic in nature when located in the central city, downtown core. JOHN STEINBECK LIBRARY

Source Material: Literature Source Material: Photos

• City of Salinas-Historical and Architectural Resources Survey and Preservation Plan-September • Calisphere. 1989, Monterey County Historic Society, Kent Seavy, Primary Author, Don Lauritson, Planner, http://www.calisphere.universityofcalifornia.edu Sheila Laurie, Graphics. /browse/jardaBrowse./Salinas,+CA • John Steinbeck's Progressive California web.stanford.edu./group/seaside/pdf/jsReferences.pdf • University of California • From Fences to Freedom, August 9, 1995, Elizabeth Darling. • Salinas Public Library • Historic Resource Evaluation of 100 Howard Street, National Guard Armory, May 8, 2007, • Monterey County Historical Society Archives November 2007, Garavaglia Architecture Inc. • Library of Congress Prints and Photographs • 1989 Historic and Architectural Survey, Salinas California. Inventory of Historic Resources, Kent Division, Washington D.C. Seavy, Monterey County Historic Society, City of Salinas. • Salinas Art Deco and Moderne, "A Wealth of Architecture", 2014, Alliance of Monterey Area Preservationists, The Architectural Heritage Association, Monterey County, Salinas Historic Resource Board, The Historic Preservation Foundation of the Native Sons of the Golden West. • City of Salinas History, Literary Landmarks, Salinas Public Library, https://salinas publicLibrary.org/learn-explore/local-history/city-sa/inas • Ellerbe Becket History, http:/www.fundinguniverse.com/company-historic/Eflerbe-becket- history/ • The Buildings of Main Street. A Gide to American Commercial Architecture. The Preservation Press: Washington, D.C. 1987. • Monterey County Assessor's Records, Monterey County Assessor Office, Salinas CA. • Rifkind C. A Field Guide to Contemporary American Architecture, Dutton: New York, 1998, • Historic Evaluation of 215 Lincoln Avenue Salinas Women's Club, May 18, 2007, Garavaglia Architecture Inc. • Images of America, Early Salinas. Gary S. Breschini, Mona Gudgel, Trudy Haversat. • A History of the Salinas National Guard Company, 1895-1995, Burton Anderson, Monterey County JOHN ERNST STEINBECK Historical Society. 1962 NOBEL PRIZE WINNER FOR LITERATURE IN SUMMARY

• These buildings are local historical assets that must be preserved. • They all have shared history. • They are all significant architecturally. • These buildings represent the strength and resilience of our residents. • Salinas residents strive to be civic leaders, these buildings prove it. • Save their history, save Salinas’ history. RECOMMENDED MOTION

• A motion to support and accept the Informational Report's findings on historic and architectural relevant buildings within the Lincoln Avenue Corridor Revitalization project area as presented. • Further, to include the Historic Resources Board in decisions as they relate to the protection of these and other significant architectural resources within the city boundary. • The Council is recommended to receive the information on the City-owned Lincoln Avenue architectural buildings, and to involve the Historic Resource Board as a resource in the protection and preservation of all historic buildings.