NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATION FOR THE ROUSH RESIDENCE A Project Presented to the faculty of the Department of History California State University, Sacramento Submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in HISTORY (Public History) by Skylar Ensbury SUMMER 2019 © 2019 Skylar Ensbury ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ii NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATION FOR THE ROUSH RESIDENCE A Project by Skylar Ensbury Approved by: __________________________________, Committee Chair Dr. Anne Lindsay __________________________________, Second Reader Dr. Nathan Hallam __________________________________ Date iii Student: Skylar Ensbury I certify that this student has met the requirements for format contained in the University format manual, and that this project is suitable for shelving in the Library and credit is to be awarded for the project. __________________________, Graduate Coordinator ________________ Dr. Anne Lindsay Date Department of History iv Abstract of NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATION FOR THE ROUSH RESIDENCE by Skylar Ensbury This project nominates the Roush Residence to the National Register of Historic Places. Constructed in 1954, the Roush Residence is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C, due to its rare residential Organic Architectural style. The Roush Residence is locally significant and retains all seven aspects of integrity. This project establishes the historic context of Sacramento, particularly the Arden Oaks neighborhood, and maps the phenomenon of Mid-Century Modern architecture throughout the United States, California, and the Sacramento area. Sources used for this project include works on architectural history and architectural styles, city and county histories, Office of Historic Preservation documents, newspaper articles, ephemera, historic photographs, and county records. _______________________, Committee Chair Dr. Anne Lindsay _______________________ Date v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Gretchen Steinberg, the President and Co-Founder of Sacramento Modern, who introduced me to the Roush Residence, for the advice, assistance, and opportunities she has provided me with throughout my project. She has been incredibly supportive, and her insight was invaluable. Gretchen is an inspiration for preservationists everywhere. I would also like to thank Patricia Geyer, the current owner of the Roush Residence for opening her home to me, sharing her collection of historic photographs, and being enthusiastic throughout the nomination process. I dedicate this project to my incredible support system. To my Nana and Dad, the amazing people who have supported me throughout my entire educational experience and have given me nothing but love and encouragement along the way. To Jerzie and Talynn, my wonderful sisters who motivate me to lead by example and set my goals high. Finally, to Kevin who made sure to tell me he was proud of me every single day, and whose love and reassurance makes my life brighter. Thank you all for your support. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................... vi List of Figures ............................................................................................................. ix Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 1 Need for Project .................................................................................................2 2. HISTORIC PRESERVATION ................................................................................. 5 Historic Preservation in California ................................................................. 21 Historic Preservation in Sacramento ................................................................24 Economic Advantages of Historic Preservation in California ....................... 25 3. ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY ........................................................................... 27 The Emergence of Modernism .............................................................................27 Mid-Century Modern Architecture .......................................................................30 California Modernist Architects ...........................................................................32 Mid-Century Modernism in Sacramento ..............................................................34 4. HISTORIC CONTEXT ........................................................................................ 36 Rancho Del Paso ...................................................................................................37 Haggin Ranch .......................................................................................................40 Development of Arden Oaks ................................................................................42 vii 5. DEVELOPING THE NOMINATION ....................................................................48 Methodology .........................................................................................................48 6. EVALUATION OF RESOURCE............................................................................54 Significance ..........................................................................................................56 Integrity .................................................................................................................56 Evaluation .............................................................................................................58 Eligibility ..............................................................................................................60 Appendix. National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form ...........................61 Bibliography ...............................................................................................................87 viii LIST OF FIGURES Figures Page 1. “Rancho Del Paso.” .......................................................................................... 42 2. “Romance! In Real Country Living.” ............................................................... 45 3. Aerial showing development of the Arden Oaks Neighborhood. 1953. .......... 53 4. Aerial showing the completed Roush Residence. 1957. ................................... 53 ix 1 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION The years following World War II created enthusiasm for the future across the United States. Advancements in technologies, the promise of space travel, obsession with the automobile, and mass production presented opportunities for improvement in almost every aspect of life. Twentieth century architects, such as John Lautner, seized this opportunity to design buildings, both commercial and residential, that were unlike anything previously imagined. Though the Modernist movement began in the early 1900s, this mid-century cultural shift led to architectural styles such as Googie, Contemporary, and Organic, that contributed to a distinct style within the movement, now known as Mid-Century Modern. In 1954, Robert Roush, owner of Roush Bakery Products, hired architect Terry Waters to design a custom home for his family in the newly established Arden Oaks neighborhood in Sacramento, California. Drawing on principles learned from his time as a Taliesin Fellow and apprentice to renowned architect John Lautner, Waters designed an Organic style masterpiece, tailored to meet the needs of the Roush family.1 The residence, which is encased in plate glass and steel beams, quickly rose to fame in Sacramento, with the Roush family opening the property to the public for viewing shortly 1 Gretchen Steinberg, Dane Henas, and Karen Lial, “A Celebration of the Roush Residence,” Sacramento Modern, June 2, 2012, 6-8. 2 after its construction.2 The Roush Residence is still admired for its unique architecture, having been included in multiple historic home tours. This project will examine the Roush Residence’s eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and its context within the historic preservation movement and the Mid-Century Modern architectural movement. Chapter Two examines the evolution of historic preservation in the United States, California, and Sacramento, while establishing the economic and cultural benefits that preservation can provide to communities and individuals that make it a priority. Chapter Three analyzes the Mid- Century Modern architectural movement, and traces its journey from Europe to Sacramento, while identifying the architects and their processes, styles, and techniques that contributed to the development of this era of architecture. Chapter Four grounds the Roush Residence in its historic context by tracing the land use history of the parcel and establishing the period of significance for the property. Chapter Five describes the research process necessary for preparing the National Register nomination. Finally, Chapter Six evaluates the Roush Residence by establishing the property’s significance, analyzing its integrity, and determining its eligibility for listing in the National Register. Need for Project The City of Sacramento is dedicated to historic preservation as is made evident in the amount of resources within the city that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the California Register of Historical Resources, and the Sacramento Register of 2 “On Display…The Roush Residence, California’s Most Talked-About Home,” The Sacramento