Fourth Quarter 2019 Volume 13 Number 3 Nominating the 1st Marine Division Headquarters’ Building to the National Register of Historic Places The Division Headquarters building on Camp Joseph H. Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 1942. Photo courtesy of the Camp Pendleton Archives. By Kelli S. Brasket, Cultural Resources historic properties. The program 12,000 historic properties, the HABS Program Manager, Camp Pendleton manages over 800 archaeological sites effort was placed on hold in 1941 and has listed two historic buildings for the duration of WWII and its post- Introduction on the National Register including war period, however an effort to Historic preservation is an important the Las Flores Adobe National Historic complete the program re-intensified aspect of recognizing our heritage Landmark and the Santa Margarita in 1956 when it became apparent and for educating future generations. Ranch House. Two other buildings, that America’s architectural resources Being able to observe a historical the 1st Marine Division Headquarters were disappearing. After WWII, building or place connects us to the Building 1133 and San Onofre Beach America went through an era of urban past in a way that reading about just Club are eligible for listing on the renewal, expanding neighborhoods can’t convey. It gives us a sense of National Register and both will be and cities, replacing older buildings place for a time since past and serves nominated to the National Register in with new, constructing highways to remind of our collective heritage. the near future. and widening city and neighborhood In recognition of this importance, roads (Price and Jacobs 2008), causing Congress passed the National Historic Background the loss of many of these properties. Preservation Act aimed at helping The National Historic Preservation In response to this massive growth, federal agencies determine the Act and the National Register came it’s estimated that fifty percent of the effects of their actions on historic into existence as a result of a massive resources documented in the HABS properties, identify which are growth after World War II (WWII) and were destroyed or damaged during historically significant, and guidance the recognizable loss of architectural the push for urban renewal (Price and for preservation. resources. In 1933, the National Park Jacobs 2008). Service commissioned the Historic In response to the survey and grassroot The Camp Pendleton Cultural Resource American Buildings Survey (HABS) organization efforts, President Lyndon Management Program is responsible to document America’s architectural B. Johnson developed a special for the identification, management, history which was rapidly committee for historic preservation and preservation of the installation’s disappearing. After documenting Continued page 2, National Register National Register, Cont. in 1965. The committee produced designs. In 1942, the architectural built as a temporary building, on a a report called With Heritage So firm, Hunt, Chambers, and Ellingwood, military base conceived as temporary, Rich, presented to congress with was brought aboard to design a the building has endured for almost recommendations for a federal headquarters building to serve all the eighty years. Originally housing the program of historic preservation, divisions on Camp Pendleton. Myron headquarters for all divisions aboard which went on to become the Hunt, a founding member of the firm the base, the building has a long foundation of the National Historic was a well-known architect having history with the 1st Marine Division Preservation Act (NHPA), passed in already built some of California’s having continuously served as its 1966, and came none too soon for architectural landmarks including headquarters since 1942. America’s architectural treasures. the Huntington Library (1910, 1920), Created and authorized by the NHPA, Berylwood (1910), First Congressional National Register Eligibility the National Register of Historic Church, Riverside (1913), and Rose In 2009, Building 1133 was evaluated Places is the federal government’s list Bowl (1920) among others. Although for eligibility to the National Register of historically significant buildings, of Historic Places. In order to structures, sites, districts, and objects. determine eligibility, a property must Under the NHPA, federal agencies be evaluated against four criteria. such as the Marine Corps, are given Building 1133 was found to meet the responsibility to identify historic Criterion A and C with a period of properties eligible for listing on the significance from 1942 to 1945. To National Register. qualify under Criteria A, a property must be associated with events that After the attack on Pearl Harbor, which have made a significant contribution forced the U.S. into WWII, the Marine to the broad patterns of our history. Corps began their expansion on the Under Criteria B a property must: West Coast with the purchase of the embody the distinctive characteristics Santa Margarita y Las Flores Rancho. of a type, period, or method of The large ranch provided both coastal construction, represents the work and mountainous terrain perfect of a master, possess high artistic for military training. Once the U.S. values, or represent a significant and entered the war and the rancho was distinguishable entity. Under Criteria purchased, there was an enormous A, Building 1133 is strongly associated and rapid initiative to transform with WWII and the Marine Corps it into an efficient and functional, expansion onto the West Coast. The though temporary, Marine Corps building also meets Criteria C as the base. Almost overnight the Marine work of a master architect because it Corps began construction of the was designed by prominent California base using Navy temporary building architect, Myron Hunt, and as a unique The former 5th Marine Division Headquarters. Photo courtesy of the Camp Pendleton Archives 2 National Register, Cont. example of WWII temporary buildings. historic context, a statement for review, concurrence, and listing. Most WWII temporary buildings were of significance, photographic Listing a historic property on the constructed by a standard set of documentation, construction designs, National Register elevates its status designs, however since building 1133 and maps. Once the nomination and formally recognizes its important was planned to be a headquarters, package is complete it must first place in history. the building had to be large enough be submitted to the California to house all Division’s headquarters State Historic Preservation Officer Citations: staff and so a standard barracks for concurrence, then staffed for 2008 Price, Virginia B. and James A. Jacobs design was adapted by Hunt. The signature by the Department of Navy A Framework to Build Upon, HABS and the character defining features include Federal Preservation Officer via the Impact of the National Historic Preservation the buildings mass, at over 7,000 USMC Deputy Federal Preservation Act of 1966 in American Place: The Historic square feet, the linear and geometric Officer for approval and finally is sent American Buildings Survey at Seventy-five shape of the building, proportional to the Keeper of the National Register Years. 47-65 spacing of the windows, and the long veranda uniting east and west wings and anchoring the front entrance. Listing on the National Register The NHPA directs agencies to not only evaluate properties for listing on the National Register, but to go through the formal process to have it officially listed. The formal process is designed to include more rigorous documentation and explanation of a property’s significance than the process of evaluation. Nomination packages typically include detailed 1st Marine Division Headquarters, undated. Photo courtesy of Camp Pendleton Archives President’s Message Mike Lewis, Mike O’Neil, and Jim Towney without a Department of Defense issued Richard B. Rothwell for their hard work to make the evening so identification card. CPHS’s first annual memorable. A special thanks goes out to “Old Corps” Marine our major corporate sponsors, Frontwave Our project to place a monument to Major Corps Birthday Credit Union and the Rancho Mission General Joseph H. Pendleton aboard Camp celebration was a Viejo Corporation and to CPHS members Pendleton is progressing slowly, but surely. tremendous success. Scott and Kathy McEldowney who traveled We are in the final stages of reaching Over 90 members from Garden Grove, Calif. to help with agreement with the Marine Corps on and guests gathered event registration. placement of the monument on the base. on November 10 at Once there is an accord and we receive a the beautiful Omni La Costa Resort & Spa As a way of expressing our appreciation for formal, favorable endorsement by the Base (Carlsbad, Calif.) to commemorate the the support of our members and sponsors, Commanding General of our donation 244th birthday of the United States Marine CPHS hosted an afternoon gathering at the offer, will begin an official fundraising Corps. Major General Anthony Jackson, Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores Ranch campaign. USMC (Ret), our guest of honor, gave House aboard Camp Pendleton on Sunday, a very well received address. A smartly Dec. 8, 2019. Thank you for your continuing support turned out color guard from the 11th of CPHS. Your generosity is vital to our Marine Regiment added to the pageantry. Mark your calendar as CPHS will hold our efforts to help the Marine Corps preserve annual “Golf with a Hero” golf tournament and tell the history of Camp Pendleton. I want to thank Board member Charlie on April 23, 2020 at the Omni La Costa Kershaw, who served as the lead planner Hotel and Spa. It is a beautiful course and for the event, and the members of his team: will be more easily accessible for golfers Richard B. Rothwell 3 Historic Structures on Camp Pendleton By Faye Jonason, Director, Camp Pendleton History and Museum Division Camp Pendleton’s veterans proudly trace their own histories and show their families the old Quonset huts, the former Commanding General’s home and the Division Command Post.