Historic District Created

A unanimous City Council in October created the city's first protected historic district.

The historic district is a 2.127-square-mile area encompassing North, South, West and East streets - the original boundaries of the colony settled by German winemakers in 1857. An estimated 21,000 residents live in the area, according to a 1990 census data, the latest one available.

Proponents hope the district will instill community pride, attract businesses to the city's downtown and increase property values.

About 900 buildings, with architectural styles ranging from Victorian, Spanish and Dutch colonial to tudor revival among others, stand to benefit from guidelines.

The guidelines, however, are voluntary.

Property owners still have the right to make changes but are required to meet with city historic planners to learn about the building's past and how the architectural character of the building can be preserved.

The creation of the historic district culminates the efforts of a group of about 15 volunteers, including old-time residents, property owners and history preservationists, who joined forces to save what's left from Anaheim's rich architectural past.

"The Anaheim Colony Historic District will bring more people back to the area so they can see this is a nice community with historic value," said Micky Caldwell, one of the volunteers.

SIDEBAR OTHER HISTORIC DISTRICTS IN ANAHEIM:

The following areas are not protected by the city's ordinance creating the Anaheim Colony Historic District.

Melrose-Backs District: Neighborhood of six historic homes on Adele and Philadelphia streets. Richard Melrose was one of the organizers of the wine-making colony formed by German immigrants in 1857. Ferdinand and Joseph Backs owned the first furniture store and undertaking business.

Kroger-Melrose District: Neighborhood of homes built between 1900 and 1915 that includes Craftsman and California bungalows and Queen Anne cottages. The city's most intact unit of historic homes, bounded by Lincoln Avenue, South Kroeger Street, West Broadway and South Philadelphia Street.

Anaheim's "Petting zoo:" The city moved some of its most important and historic homes to a street renamed "Vintage Lane" to keep them from the bulldozer. This street, on a cul-de-sac off Lincoln Avenue, is known in the preservation business as a "petting zoo."

Architectural styles remaining downtown: Mission Revival, Prairie School, Pueblo Revival, Cottage Style, Queen Anne, Queen Anne Cottage, Eastern Shingle Cottage, Airplane Bungalow, Dutch Colonial Revival, Craftsman Bungalow, California Bungalow, Spanish Revival, Norman Revival, Tudor Revival.

TIMELINE OF HISTORIC ANAHEIM

1857 German immigrants from San Francisco buy 1,165 acres near the Santa Ana River from rancher Juan Ontiveros and establish the Los Angeles Vineyard Society. It is known by the local rancheros as Campo Aleman (German camp).

1875 A railroad line connects Los Angeles and Anaheim, shortening what had been a three-day trek. 1876: The city of Anaheim is incorporated. The area around Disneyland was not annexed until after the park was built.

1885 A grape blight wipes out the thriving Anaheim wine industry. Settlers plant chiles, walnuts and citrus trees to restore their fortunes.

1887 The Santa Fe Depot opens. Today it serves as a day-care center.

1897 The Rea family builds the first of two homes, now located at 125 W. Elm St. The ranching family had two daughters, Kate and Ella, and named their spread the Katella Ranch in their honor.

1908 Carnegie Library opens, built with funds from the Carnegie Foundation. Today, it serves as the Anaheim Museum.

1955 Walt Disney opens Disneyland, starting a tourist resort boom that continues today.

1966 City builds the Anaheim Convention Center, now undergoing its fifth renovation.

1970 City officials begin a period of intensive redevelopment, culminating in the razing of most downtown commercial buildings by 1990.

1978 Volunteers perform first comprehensive historic survey of original township. A five-year campaign fails to result in creation of a preservation bureaucracy at City Hall, though some buildings are moved to save from demolition.

1988 City demolishes the Pickwick Hotel, which was on the National Register of Historic Places, and builds City Hall West.

1995 City begins redevelopment of the resort district, including removal of historic "Googie" kitsch signs erected in the 1950s and 1960s.

1996 Volunteers begin intensive research on 200 buildings within the Anaheim Colony, and work to establish a historic district. They are aided by a newly hired neighborhood preservation coordinator who works for the city.

HISTORIC SITES:
Anaheim sites on the National Register of Historic Places.

Carnegie Library: 241 S. Anaheim Blvd. (now Anaheim Museum) (1979).
Kraemer Building: 76 S. Claudina St. (1983)
Kroger-Melrose District: Lincoln Avenue, South Kroger Street, West Broadway and South Philadelphia Street (1985)
Melrose-Backs Neighborhood Houses: 226, 228 E. Adele St.; 303, 307, 317, 321 N. Philadelphia St. (1986)
Old Backs House: 215 N. Claudina St., (1980)
Pickwick Hotel: 225 S. Anaheim Blvd. (1979, demolished 1988)
Stanton House: 2200 W. Sequoia Ave. (1980)
Truxaw-Gervais House: 887 S. Anaheim Blvd. (1982)

WORLD WIDE WEB SITES Historic Anaheim http://www.anaheimcolony.com

This site was created by local resident Mike Tucker. It contains self-guided tours, stories, newspaper articles and trivia.

The National Register of Historic Places http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/welcome.htm

A plethora of information, including every listing on the register, suggested resources and research information.

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1857	German immigrants from San Francisco buy 1,165 acres near the Santa Ana River from rancher Juan Ontiveros and establish the Los Angeles Vineyard Society. It is known by the local rancheros as Campo Aleman (German camp).
1875	A railroad line connects Los Angeles and Anaheim, shortening what had been a three-day trek. 1876: The city of Anaheim is incorporated. The area around Disneyland was not annexed until after the park was built.
1885	A grape blight wipes out the thriving Anaheim wine industry. Settlers plant chiles, walnuts and citrus trees to restore their fortunes.
1887	The Santa Fe Depot opens. Today it serves as a day-care center.
1897	The Rea family builds the first of two homes, now located at 125 W. Elm St. The ranching family had two daughters, Kate and Ella, and named their spread the Katella Ranch in their honor.
1908	Carnegie Library opens, built with funds from the Carnegie Foundation. Today, it serves as the Anaheim Museum.
1955	Walt Disney opens Disneyland, starting a tourist resort boom that continues today.
1966	City builds the Anaheim Convention Center, now undergoing its fifth renovation.
1970	City officials begin a period of intensive redevelopment, culminating in the razing of most downtown commercial buildings by 1990.
1978	Volunteers perform first comprehensive historic survey of original township. A five-year campaign fails to result in creation of a preservation bureaucracy at City Hall, though some buildings are moved to save from demolition.
1988	City demolishes the Pickwick Hotel, which was on the National Register of Historic Places, and builds City Hall West.
1995	City begins redevelopment of the resort district, including removal of historic "Googie" kitsch signs erected in the 1950s and 1960s.
1996	Volunteers begin intensive research on 200 buildings within the Anaheim Colony, and work to establish a historic district. They are aided by a newly hired neighborhood preservation coordinator who works for the city.