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Home My WebLink About5-4-1989 CHPC MINUTES - - �"' `s-� � � HISTORIC PRESERVATIOIV COMMISSION MINUTES May 4, 1989 At this meeting of the Commission, Elizabeth Egleston, consultant who prepared Phase 1 of the historic property survey for the City of Caldwell, presented a slide show. Her written report is attached as a part of the minutes and the slides and report will be placed with the Caldwell Public Library and made available to the public. ; The only other agenda item was a discussion on submitting a proposal of historic preservation goals and policies to be included in the update of the City's Comprehensive Plan. Respectfully submitted, Sylvia Robison Secretary �� ';t i . � � SLIDE SH(?W � PRESENTED BEFORE THE CALDi�ELL HISTt�RIC�L CC�MMISSION MAY 4, 1989 Go�d evening, m� name is Eli��beth E�l��t�n an�� I'v� been in Caldwell for the past month conductin� a survey vf 27 aite3-- most are homes clabe tQ the d�wntown -- anly a fe�r blocks to thz northwest. This project is part of what th� Historical Commissions hc�p�� will b� a�ity-wic�e �t.�r�r�y, r�aultin� in the ebtablishment of local hi3taric districta. A sureey such as this is the first step towards preservin� th� ai�nificant or olc�e� architecture c�f C�lc�well, s��t�mezltir�t� �trti�ttir�s t�Ya� ar� histvrically important, �nd ultim�t�ly Frev�ntin� the deterioration of housing in older n�i�hbonc��c�d�. T�night I want to talk to you about these three aspecta of my work,; anc� what I f ound . This neighbarhood was pickec� a� a sur�ey area �ceause it is the oldest part of t�wn. S�on after the C�regc�n Short Lin� Railroad established Caldwell in 1883, many people started building on either side of the traeks. At first, most people couldn't affora much, and started their liv�� in Calc�w�ll in a t�nt, or a cabin. But as they became more prasperous, they cvulc� build a small frame house, anc� then either mave, replace it or expand it. The Caldwell Trib�zne car�fully noted building aetivity -- when somebody built a hous� i.n fr�nt their cabin, ar added a bay windaw or a win�. Alma�t everyone used waod-- brick was much more expensive, and was more frequ�ntly used for commerciai structures. After railroad3 began to stretch a�roas the cauntrf, and people had more acc�sa to t�� tr�n�pc.�rtati�an and �hiPPin,� benzfits of trains, archit�c:tural atYlea and �I�m�nta t�iat haa only been available in large East�rn eiti�� became s�methin� everyone coulc� buy. Entire hous�� could be s�higped r�ady tc be assembled, and homeowners cauld embellish th�ir h:�me� with fancy scrollwork to put on porches or around roc�flin�r�. This is why we oft�n see such great examples of Vict�rian archit�c�ture in �m�ll � towns and cities all over thib country. � .� Caldraell, however, did not ��sm ta ft311��w t�7is path, �na the houses in this area remained plain and uncomplicated. In spite of their simplicity, however, Caldwell residents managed to incarporate deta�la inta their homes, and a�olid variety of architectural styles exists. This variety r�sults in pleasant views as you look down streets such as Belmont ar Chicago -- the houses laok compatible, and yet, at elo�er lo�k, the� hav� �no��h individual character to make it an interesting place. I'd like to start by explaining same �f the varic�us st�le� that were popular during the growth of this area -- 1�83 tc� about 1915 (1) -- and show a few exampl�s that you'd see her�. The first is Queen Anns. This wa� a styl� that b�c�me pr.�p�.�lar about 187�, and is usually very flambayant. Its origin is deriv�d from � � medieval architecture, but in simple buildings, you might not be able to ascertain that its raots were inspired by construction undertaken several centuries ago. Here'� an example from the survey at 809 Denver. The Queen Anne style is generally not seen in Qne-story resid�nce� but nvrthwest Galdwell has se�eral. Queen Anne is character�zec� by a�ym�etri��l m�c�sing -- nots how this porch is off-center - and �ompl�x rvc�flin�s -- notice the triangular roc�f here. ( �) T�iia ho�� t 609 N. ��:�� r1{� i� tr�-g �� i��il�� - �r7� of t��e give-awaya of t�l� �u��n Ar7n� s��t�l�- i� t��- u�� ?}f �t�ir�� 1�� the way it i� uaed in this� wir�c�{��a, cai t}7 :�m�tll r��1tanStil�r li�hta around a large pane. (3) Anath�r, diff�rent �:tample of the btyle is seen in this house, as Queen Anne houses oft�n haae decorative wall surfaces -- such as fi�hscalz shin�l�s and a,unbur�ts or other designs in the gable end.(4,5) {6) Several homes w�re buiit in what I call F�lk Victorian- - which isn't actually a style but indic�at�s� th� time it was built, around the turn af ths century, az�t� tt�at it laLka �h� characteristics of a pure ar grand style. In Galdwell �xamples� of this have gables that intersect and the �ront g�ble hangs vver the bay window. They have oth�r det�il� that �pruc� up these plain houses -- such as pranoun��d mol�in�� arc�un�i t�ie raindc�ws , or cornice returns.(7) Some hau�e� in thi�.- ar�� r� uYr.r � ir�7�l�, r��_��h �� thi� houa� at 812 Belm�nt.(8) Its plan is strai�t�t-f�vrw�r��, �nd there'� nothing fancy, except the triang�z��r win��w t�t t�ie ai��. I�m not certain when it was construct�d, it mi�ht hav� b�en t��e t�p? of house that people in Caldwell Iiv�d in b�f�re they moved on to something larger or more Lrnate. It is ver�T �imil�r t� on� ir. a photograph that I saw in th� �tate History Library in Boi�e.(9} They're nat the same houses, but the shape is th� ��me, and so are the details. This photogragh is also interestin� beu�uae we can see som� of the acce5sories that c�me witti an early h��a�e-- notice the outhouse to th� rear and the pl�nk sidewalk that lead� up to the hause and around to the privy. � The original Caldwell schoolhouse an Chic��v Street bears a '� i resemblance to those yau just vi�we�.(1C1) This is ha�f af the old school, built in 1883, and used as ane far thre� years. In 1887, it was converted into two rental houses. Caldwell citi�ens should be proud that this still exists -- f�w communiti�a have retain�d their first schoolhouse, at least half of one. 4ne of the most predominant styl�� f thi� area is that of the Craftsman bun�alow.(il} Thi� etyl� becam� very popular 3ust after 19Q0; coinciding with the b��innin� c�f a�ery prasperous decade for Caldwell, thus many of these c3n r� seen. Th� decade in which it became popular was known a� t�7e Progr�ssive Era -- a time when Americans were concern�d abotit sacial reform an�� wamen were expeeted to become vsry invalv�{� in community activities. The Craft�man style was hailed as a return �o simplicity-- . • � easier to maintain, anc� mo�� n�ttir�l �n��i e�en h?�lthier to Ii�e ' in than the fussy styl�s af t�3�: p��t. It w�� hoge� that it woulc� allocr people ta have mc�re lei�ure time, and represented a shift from the artificiality af th� Vietorian er•a. These houses have low-pitched roofs, batt�red piers and w��e p�rches.(1�) Some hauses in the survey hae� l��st all ��f th�ir ari�inal integrity, leavino no cltie as t�3 what thYy i��oke� like b�f�re. S�ach struc+ur�s fr��ntl� tura7 ��?it tc� �� 7i�t�?r�c311� significant .(13 ) Thi� apartment hc�u�,v at 11C14 Al��i�y, waa �nce a hospital abaut 1919, �urr�uns��d b�t ale�ping p�rch�s with 11 roams far pati�nta . Bef�re � that it caa� �. k��r�liri� hs3��a� . He�� you can barely see it in an old bird`a ey� vi�ca postcard taken from the old courthouse.(14) Today, who wc�uld ever guess that it on�e Ic��ked ac� different, an�� wa� u��d fc�r a h�spit�l? Finding out information such as this makes me wand�r what lurks under other facades, behind other building�, e�pecially those clad in aluminum. Four houses were picked for intensive level research. Generally, the criteri� used was ba��d c�n the l�vel of architectural integrity r�taine� b� the btzil��in�.(15) Thib house, at 5�11 Rimball, ia the mc:st �lab�rat� in th? �urv�y, and was built for an early banker, S.U. Simpson.(16,17) This haLise, on Belmont, appears simpl�, but i� almost perfectly intact, and has several fine detailb on th� �ide, �uch as th� axbow windaw.(18) Here is one surveyed at the intenaive l��el that is � rapidly deteriorating, but it tlas m�nY interesting characteristics -- unusual in this neighborhovd for such a small house -- and is located near the court�3otzse.(19) Several old homes around it have be�n converte� intv offices, providing tho�e who renovate them with substantial tax ben�fit�. Finally, my personal favorite in the survey -- this houae that was buiit by Lem Harding about 1905,(2p) constructed of pres�ed bric:k and stone. He, along with two partners, b��an a businesc manufacturing this material, which was advertised a� being indestructible, as it was fireproof and damp prc�vf. Feca sue�z homes ar� s�en in Galdwell -- here's an� at 1�th and Flaine,(?1) • although several faundations are still extant.(22} This house �,� has other interesting features -- cobble�tone was used liberally, t� on the ehimney, for a barbecue, for this wall (23) and to face t the walls of the garage.(24) As Caldwell e:�pandecl, so did its other �ubtirUs, and with the advent of the automobile, people could live farther away from where they warked and proximity to a 5hogping ar busirless district wa$ no longer considered a high priority. Areaa szzch a� this were not popular after the Secvnd World War, when construction boomed and young families wanted to move into new h�mes. Elderly r�sidents stayed, and as th� d�mand f��r s�lt��• homes decreased, the neighborhaod became more affordabl� for those with lower incomes. Unfortunatelf, this has me�nt th� deteriorati�n and ra�in� c�f man� Qf t��e �tructur�s, and the lobs of the architectural and historical fabric of the community. � � . Revitalizing an older, declining neighborhood, should be a priority for city official� and planners, as� it can contribute to a stronger downtown economy, a lessening of crime, and a stable or increased praperty tax base. T�e northwest seetion vf �aldwell ha� many things going for it. It has a salid hausin� stoc�k, and �Ith;:�i�h aome of the older structures hav� suffer�d �i�nifi�ant alter�tic�ns, {��) ��me ar� pristine and in �xcell�nt conditi�n. t�5) Th�r� ha� been some commercial �ncr�ac�hment , su��h aa thi� laun��r��ma� , { 27 } but moat of the busineaa�s �re �imilar in ��sai� �iici �r•e nc�t via�.�glly dis�ruptin� to the ey� . Th��r h�v�r�' t �t1�t�ir ��i �in .�li�n�tinr� appearance by plaeing a hu�e parkin$ lc.�t in fr�nt vf t��eir busines�, that only b�comes a l�r�e empty spac� at ni,�ht, and provide a little hustle and bu�tl� durin� the day,-- lik� the tortilla factory. The area, for the most part, is a pleasant place to walk around -- with hauses that dc�n't all lc�ok �xaetly alike (28) and mature landacaping. (��) ��ai��c� b�ing an important historical resource, it is a�:ts aa a buff�r ��ne betwezn a transportation corridor and th� c��wntc�wn buc�in�sa distriet. I hope that people in Galc�well appreeiate what they have. I like to say that I'v� really en,�vyec� workina in this town, and I hope you've enjoyed my preb�ntation. I'd b� happy to respond to any questions or comments yau have. � �,i �