Agenda — Finance, Economic Development and Jobs Committee, September 22, 2025 (part 2 of 4)

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 Explore opportunities to facilitate and incentivize the adaptive reuse of the city’s vacant or underutilized historic properties, such as the Sumner Southern Pacific Railroad Depot or the recently damaged 7-Up Bottling Plant, in order to reinvigorate these historic properties with new and economically sustainable uses.
 Draft a Historic Preservation Element as an optional element to the existing General Plan outlining the City’s goals, objectives and policies for the protection of Bakersfield’s historic resources, in order to provide a framework to guide the community's ongoing preservation efforts, and ensure that preservation of the City’s historic resources is considered alongside other land use goals during the planning and development process.  Pursue Certified Local Government (CLG) status with the California Office of Historic Preservation (OHP), in order to avail the City of federal grant fundings to assist in the pursuit of specific preservation projects, as well as the ongoing pursuit of its preservation goals and administration of its historic preservation program going forward.34

34 With the completion of the Bakersfield’s first citywide historic context statement and intensive-level survey of four of its earliest neighborhoods, along with the City’s existing Historic Preservation Ordinance, Historic Preservation Commission, and Bakersfield Register of Historic Places, the City of Bakersfield has in place the major components of a strong local historic preservation program, and therefore would be a strong candidate for CLG certification.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
American Institute of Architects, Historical Directory of American Architects. https://aiahistoricaldirectory. atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/AHDAA/overview. Accessed March 2023.

Ancestry.com. www.ancestry.com. Accessed March 2023.

Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals. https://library.columbia.edu/libraries/avery/avery-index.html.

Accessed March 2023.
“Bakersfield Built” tour and symposium. Bakersfield Art Museum; California State University, Bakersfield; and Society of Architectural Historians, Southern California Chapter.https://www.bmoa.org/. Accessed March 2023.

The Bakersfield Californian Online. Bakesfield.com. https://www.bakersfield.com/. Accessed March 2023.

Bakersfield College Archives. https://www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/services-and-resources/library/archives/ index.html. Accessed March 2023.

Bakersfield and Kern County historical city directories. Various dates. Accessed March 2023.

Bakersfield Municipal Code. Section 15.72.050. https://bakersfield.municipal.codes/Code. Accessed June 2023.
“Bakersfield Register of Historic Places.” City of Bakersfield, no date.

California Code of Regulations Title 14 Section 4852 (Title 14 CCR Section 4852). “California High-Speed Train Project Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS, Fresno to Bakersfield Section.” California High Speed Rail Authority, U.S. Department of Transportation, November 2017.

California Office of Historic Preservation. Built Environment Resources Directory (BERD), Kern County, exported September 5, 2021.
_____. “California Historical Resource Status Codes,” December 8, 2003. https://ohp.parks.ca.gov/pages/1069/files/chrstatus%20codes.pdf. Accessed October 2022. _____. “Historic Contexts & Resource Surveys.” https://ohp.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23317. Accessed July 2025.
_____. “Instructions for Recording Historical Resources.” Sacramento, CA: State of California Office of Historic Preservation, March 1995.
_____. Technical Assistance Bulletin #8: User’s Guide to the California Historical Resource Status Codes & Historic Resources Inventory Directory. November 2004. http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/pages/1069/files/ tab8.pdf. Accessed October 2022.

California Public Resources Code Section 5024.1 (California PRC Section 5024.1).

California State University, Bakersfield, Historical Research Center. https://hrc.csub.edu/. Accessed March 2023.

City of Bakersfield. Building permit records.

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_____. GIS Mapping Portal. https://www.bakersfieldcity.us/728/GIS-Mapping-Portal. Accessed October 2022.
_____. “Historical Sites” files.
_____. Mapping & Geographic Information Systems (GIS). https://www.bakersfieldcity.us/284/Mapping- Geographic-Information-Systems-G. Accessed March 2023.
“Cultural Resources Survey, Downtown Area.” Prepared by Office of City Manager Economic/ Redevelopment Division and Brewer’s Historical Consultants with Assistance from Citizen Volunteers from Bakersfield, June 1984.
“Cultural Resources Survey, Downtown Area.” Updated by Members of the City of Bakersfield Historic Preservation Commission, March 2016.
“Cultural Resources Survey, East Bakersfield Baker Street Area.” Prepared by Economic and Community Development Department and Brewer’s Historical Consultants with assistance from Citizen Volunteers from Bakersfield, December 1988.
“Cultural Resources Survey, East Bakersfield Baker Street Area.” Updated by the City of Bakersfield’s Historic Preservation Commission, August 2004.

Code of Federal Regulations Title 36 Part 60 (36 CFR Part 60).

Gebhard, David and Robert Winter. A Guide to Architecture in Los Angeles and Southern California. Salt Lake City, UT: Peregrine Smith, 1977.

Historic Bakersfield and Kern County. https://www.historicbakersfieldandkerncounty.com/. Accessed March 2023.
“Historic Resources Evaluation Report for the 18th and 19th Streets Corridor Improvements Project, Bakersfield, Kern County, California.” Prepared by Cogstone Resource Management, April 2025. “Historical Resources Evaluation Report, 24th Street Improvement Project, City of Bakersfield, Kern County, California.” Prepared by LSA Associates, Inc., March 2012. “Historic Resource Evaluation Report for the Relinquishment of State Route 204.” Prepared by Chris Brewer, California Department of Transportation, District 6, August 2010.

Historic Resources Group. City of Bakersfield Citywide Historic Context Statement. Prepared for the City of Bakersfield, July 2025.

Kern County Assessor-Recorder. https://www.kerncounty.com/government/departments/assessor- recorder/property/assessor-property-search. Accessed October 2022-July 2025.

Kern County GIS. https://maps.kerncounty.com/H5/index.html?viewer=KCPublic&run=Parcel SearchByApn&APN=14820310. Accessed October 2022-July 2025.

Kern County Historical Society. https://kernhistoricalsociety.org/. Accessed March 2023.

Kern County Library Special Collections. https://kerncountylibrary.org/. Accessed March 2023.

Kern County Library, Beale Memorial Library, Local History Room. https://kerncountylibrary.org/local- history/. Accessed March 2023.

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Kern County Museum Collections. https://kerncountymuseum.org/collections/. Accessed March 2023.

Kern County Public Works. Tract maps. https://www.kernpublicworks.com/services/development/maps/ tract-maps. Accessed March 2023.

National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations Part 60 (36 CFR Part 60).

National Park Service. National Register Bulletin 15: How to Apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, 1997. _____. National Register Bulletin 16A: How to Complete the National Register Form. Washington D.C.: U.S.

Department of the Interior, 1997.
_____. National Register Bulletin 16B: How to Complete the National Register Multiple Property Documentation Form. Washington D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, 1999. _____. National Register Bulletin 24: Guidelines for Local Surveys: A Basis for Preservation Planning.

Washington D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, 1985. _____. Preservation Brief 17: Architectural Character, Identifying the Visual Aspects of Historic Buildings as an Aid to Preserving their Character. Prepared by Lee H. Nelson. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, 1988.
_____. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation, Professional Qualification Standards. Washington D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior. https://www.nps.gov/articles/sec-standards-prof-quals.htm. Accessed October 2022.

Newspaper Archive.com. https://newspaperarchive.com/. Accessed March 2023.

Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/?locale=en-US. Accessed March 2023.

Pacific Coast Architecture Database (PCAD). https://pcad.lib.washington.edu/. Accessed March 2023.

Sanborn Insurance Company fire insurance maps. Various dates. Accessed March 2023.

University of California. Online Archive of California (OAC). https://oac.cdlib.org/. Accessed March 2023.

University of California, Los Angeles Library Special Collections. https://www.library.ucla.edu/visit/ locations/library-special-collections. Accessed March 2023.

University of California, Santa Barbara, Architecture and Design Collection. https://www.museum.ucsb. edu/collections/architecture-design. Accessed March 2023.

University of California, Santa Barbara. FrameFinder Historic Aerials. https://mil.library.ucsb.edu/ ap_indexes/FrameFinder/. Accessed March 2023.

University of Southern California Digital Library (Calisphere). https://calisphere.org/institution/ 247/collections/. Accessed March 2023.

Visit Bakersfield. https://www.visitbakersfield.com/. Accessed March 2023.

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Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix A Historic Resources Group
APPENDIX A.

California Historical Resource Status Codes

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California Historical Resource Status Codes
Current as of 3/1/2020

1. Listed in the National Register (NR) or the California Register (CR):
1D: Contributor to a multi-component resource like a district listed in the NR by the Keeper.

Listed in the CR.
1S: Individually listed in the NR by the Keeper. Listed in the CR. 1CD: Contributor to a multi-component resource listed in the CR by the State Historical Resources Commission (SHRC).
1CS: Individually listed in the CR by the SHRC.
1CL: State Historical Landmark (CHL) numbered 770 and above, or an earlier CHL reheard by the SHRC and determined that it also meets CR criteria. Listed in the CR. 1CP: State Point of Historical Interest (CPHI) nominated since 1998 that the SHRC also found CR eligible, or an earlier CPHI reheard by the SHRC and determined that it also meets CR criteria. Listed in the CR.

2. Determined Eligible for Listing in National (NR) or California (CR) Registers:
2B: Determined eligible for NR both individually and as a contributor to a NR eligible multi- component resource like a district in a federal regulatory process. Listed in the CR. 2D: Contributor to a multi-component resource determined eligible for NR by the Keeper.

Listed in the CR.
2D2: Contributor to a multi-component resource determined eligible for NR by consensus through Section 106 process. Listed in the CR.
2D3: Contributor to a multi-component resource determined eligible for NR by Part 1 Tax Certification. Listed in the CR.
2D4: Contributor to a multi-component resource determined eligible for NR pursuant to Section 106 without review by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Listed in the CR.
2S: Individually determined eligible for NR by the Keeper. Listed in the CR. 2S2: Individually determined eligible for NR by consensus through Section 106 process.

Listed in the CR.
2S3: Individually determined eligible for NR by Part 1 Tax Certification. Listed in the CR. 2S4: Individually determined eligible for NR pursuant to Section 106 without review by SHPO.

Listed in the CR.
2CB: Determined eligible for CR both individually and as a contributor to a CR eligible multi- component resource by the State Historical Resources Commission (SHRC). 2CD: Contributor to a multi-component resource determined eligible for CR by the SHRC. 2CS: Individually determined eligible for CR by the SHRC.

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3. Appears Eligible for National (NR) or California (CR) Registers:
3B: Appears eligible for NR both individually and as a contributor to a NR eligible multi- component resource like a district through survey evaluation. 3D: Appears eligible for NR as a contributor to a NR eligible multi-component resource through survey evaluation.
3S: Appears eligible for NR individually through survey evaluation. 3CB: Appears eligible for CR both individually and as a contributor to a CR eligible multi- component resource through survey evaluation.
3CD: Appears eligible for CR as a contributor to a CR eligible multi-component resource through survey evaluation.
3CS: Appears eligible for CR individually through survey evaluation.

4. Appears Eligible for National Register or as State Historical Landmark through PRC§ 5024:
4CM: State agency owned resource added to Master List - appears to meet criterion.

5. Recognized as Historically Significant by Local Government:
5B: Locally significant both individually (listed, eligible, or appears eligible) and as contributor to a multi-component resource like a district that is locally listed, designated, determined eligible, or appears eligible through survey evaluation. 5D1: Contributor to a multi-component resource that is listed or designated locally. 5D2: Contributor to a multi-component resource that is eligible for local listing or designation. 5D3: Appears to be a contributor to a multi-component resource that appears eligible for local listing or designation.
5S1: Individually listed or designated locally.
5S2: Individually eligible for local listing or designation. 5S3: Appears to be individually eligible for local listing or designation through survey evaluation.

6. Not Eligible for or Removed from Listing or Designation as Specified:
6J: State Historic Landmark (CHL) or State Point of Historical Interest (CPHI) determined ineligible for or removed by the State Historical Resources Commission (SHRC). 6L: Determined ineligible for local listing or designation through local government review process; may warrant special consideration in local planning. 6R: Resource listed more than once on the National Register (NR) that has had some, but not all listings removed by the Keeper. Still NR listed.
6T: Determined ineligible for NR through Part 1 Tax Certification process. 6U: Determined ineligible for NR pursuant to Section 106 without review by Office of Historic Preservation (OHP).
6W: Removed from NR by the Keeper.

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6X: Determined ineligible for NR by the SHRC or the Keeper. 6Y: Determined ineligible for NR by consensus through Section 106 process – Not evaluated for CR or local listing.
6Z: Found ineligible for NR, CR or local designation through survey evaluation. 6CR: Resource listed more than once on the California Register (CR) that has had some, but not all listings removed by the SHRC. Still CR listed.
6CW: Removed from CR by the SHRC.
6CX: Determined ineligible for CR by the SHRC.
6WM: Removed from Master List because no longer state owned. 6XM: Removed from Master List because of historic feature loss or further evaluation. 6YM: State agency owned resource determined ineligible for Master List.

7. Not Evaluated, or Needs Re-evaluation for National (NR) or California (CR) Registers:
7J: Received by Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) for evaluation or action but not yet evaluated.
7K: Submitted to OHP for action but not reevaluated.
7L: State Historical Landmarks 1 through 769 that does not meet CR criteria. 7M: Submitted to OHP but not evaluated - referred to National Park Service. 7N: Needs to be reevaluated - formerly coded as may become NR eligible with specific conditions.
7N1: Needs to be reevaluated (former status code 4) - may become NR eligible with restoration or other specific conditions.
7P: State Point of Historical Interest that does not meet CR criteria. 7R: Identified in Reconnaissance Level Survey or in an Area of Potential Effect (APE): Not evaluated.
7W: Submitted to OHP for action – withdrawn or inactive.

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Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix B Historic Resources Group
APPENDIX B.

Bakersfield Register of Historic Places

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BAKERSFIELD REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

The Hayden Building
1622 19th Street
Designated: 2/12/1992

Women’s Club of Bakersfield
2030 18th Street
Designated: 2/12/1992

Frank Munzer House
1701 F Street
Designated: 2/12/1992

The Guild House
1905 18th Street
Designated: 4/8/1992

Colonial Apartments
1701 B Street
Designated: 5/20/1992

The McGill Building
1821-29 B Street
Designated: 9/16/1992

“China Alley”
Alley between L & M and 21st & 22nd
Streets
Designated: 9/16/1992

Curran House
222 Eureka Street
Designated: 2/1/1993

Standard Oil Building
1800 19th Street
Designated: 2/23/1994
National Register: 9/22/1983

Fox Theater
2001 H Street
Designated: 8/24/1994

Spencer House
1321 N Street
Designated: 7/16/1997
Hugh Curran home
910 Alta Vista Drive
Designated: 7/16/1997

Jastro House
1811 20th Street
Designated: 3/9/2005

Kern County Chamber of Commerce
Building
3801 Chester Avenue
Designated: 3/12/2008

Union Cemetery
King and Potomac Streets
Pioneer’s Section
Designated: 10/27/2012

Mt Zion Missionary Baptist Church
825 California Avenue
Designated: 3/8/2017

AREA OF HISTORIC INTEREST

James McKamy House
2124 “E” Street
Designated: 3/16/2010

R.L. Brown House
2128 “E” Street
Designated: 5/18/2010

Cross of Palms
8226 Rudd Avenue
Designated: 4/20/2021

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

First Baptist Church
1200 Truxtun Avenue
Registered: 1/2/1979

Baker Street Library
1400 Baker Street
Registered: 4/1/1981

Bakersfield Californian
1707 Eye Street
Registered: 3/10/1983
Kern County Land Company
Building/Tevis Block
1712 19th Street
Registered: 3/29/1984

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Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
APPENDIX C.

Survey Findings by Survey Area

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Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
TABLE A-1. SURVEY FINDINGS FOR THE DOWNTOWN BAKERSFIELD SURVEY AREA Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
Congregation B'nai
Jacob
600 17th Street 006-100-06 1957 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Mexicali Restaurant
Parking Sign
700 17th Street 006-082-10 1957 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Sullivan Building;
Bakersfield Nash
Co./El Tejon Garage
1400 17th
Street
006-171-04 1926 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Mexicali Restaurant
Sign
631 18th Street 006-100-01 1957 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Let Sing Gong 701 18th Street 006-082-09 1951 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
New China Café 801 18th Street 006-070-11 1928 Appears eligible individually for local designation and for
listing in the NRHP and
CRHR
3S, 3CS,
5S3
Bakersfield
Machine Shop Co.;
Valley Machine
Shop
903-905 18th
Street
006-070-04 1928 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Boynton Brothers
Tire
909 18th Street 006-070-30 1929 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Flickenger Feed and
Fuel; San Joaquin
Supply
930 18th Street 006-060-25 1925 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
1000 18th
Street
006-041-05 c. 1915 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
7R
Rice Bowl 1119 18th
Street
006-162-09 1948 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Bill Lee's Bamboo
Chopsticks
1203 18th
Street
006-161-04,
006-161-05
1964/1970s Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
1418 18th
Street
006-021-07 1900 19th Street Commercial
Historic District, Non-
contributor (does not
retain integrity)
6Z
Sill Building 1500-1516 18th
Street
006-012-09 1939 Appears eligible individually
for local designation and for
listing in the NRHP and
CRHR
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
3S, 3CS,
5B
Padre Hotel 1702 18th
Street
004-012-05 1928 Appears eligible individually
for local designation and for
listing in the NRHP and
CRHR
3S, 3CS,
5S3
Padre Garage;
Vincent's Building
1723-1727 18th
Street
004-013-06 1930 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
United States Post
Office; Federal
Building
1730 18th
Street
004-012-06 1924 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
1112 19th
Street
005-281-03 1953 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Bakersfield Hotel 1202 19th
Street
005-472-07 1912 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Virginia Theatre 1224 19th
Street
005-472-10 1919;
remodeled c.
1955
Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3

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Building
1400 19th
Street
005-481-05 1950 Locally designated as a
Cultural Resource; Listed in
the BRHP; Appears eligible
individually for local
designation and for listing in
the NRHP and CRHR
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
3S, 3CS,
5B
Kress Department
Store; S.H. Kress
Building
1401 19th
Street
006-021-04 1931 Determined eligible for
listing in the NRHP; Listed in
the CRHR; Appears eligible
individually for local
designation and for listing in
the NRHP and CRHR
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
2S3, 1CS,
5B
1407 19th
Street
006-021-14 1900; façade
modernized c.
1950s
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3
1419 19th
Street
006-021-13 1900 19th Street Commercial
Historic District, Non-
contributor (does not
retain integrity)
6Z
1420 19th
Street
005-481-06 1890; façade
modernized c.
1930s
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3
1423 19th
Street
006-021-01,
006-021-02
1977 19th Street Commercial
Historic District, Non-
contributor (outside the
period of significance)
6Z
1434 19th
Street
005-481-07 1910; façade
modernized c.
1950s
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3
1438 19th
Street
005-481-08 1910;
storefront
modernized c.
1950s
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3
1440 19th
Street
005-481-09 1919 19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3
Fish Estate
Building; Vest Drug
Store
1501-1515 19th
Street
006-012-04 1938 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5B
J.C. Penney 1504-1510 19th
Street
005-492-08 1947 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5B
1517 19th
Street
006-012-02 1930 19th Street Commercial
Historic District, Non-
contributor (does not
retain integrity)
6Z
1518 19th
Street
005-492-09 1925;
storefront
modernized c.
1950s
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3
1520-1540 19th
Street
005-492-10 1931 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5B
1525-1529 19th
Street
006-012-01 1922; façade
modernized c.
1950s
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3
1600 19th
Street
005-491-06 1932 19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3

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Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
Arthur S. Crites
Building
1601 19th
Street
006-011-04 1900; façade
modernized
1937
Appears eligible individually
for local designation
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5B
1609-1617 19th
Street
006-011-03 1908; façade
modernized c.
1950s
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3
1618 19th
Street
005-491-14 N/A 19th Street Commercial
Historic District, Non-
contributor (does not
represent historic
context)
6Z
1621 19th
Street
006-011-02 N/A 19th Street Commercial
Historic District, Non-
contributor (does not
represent historic
context)
6Z
Hayden Building;
Continental Hotel;
Continental Valley
Hotel; Valley Office
Building
1622-1626 19th
Street
005-491-13 1915 Locally designated as a
Cultural Resource and listed
in the BRHP; Appears
eligible individually for local
designation
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5B
1623 19th
Street
006-011-01 1908 19th Street Commercial
Historic District, Non-
contributor (does not
retain integrity)
6Z
Oil Exchange
Building; Tegeler
Hotel; Tegeler
House
1630 19th
Street
005-491-09 1895;
modernized c.
1930s
Appears eligible individually
for local designation
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5B
1711 19th
Street
004-012-03 1906; façade
modernized c.
1950s
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3
Kern County Land
Company Building;
Tevis Block
1712 19th
Street
003-370-02 1893 Listed in the NRHP; Listed in
the CRHR; Appears eligible
individually for local
designation and for listing in
the NRHP and CRHR
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
1S, 1CS,
5B
Nile Theater 1721 19th
Street
004-012-02 1906;
remodeled
1938
Appears eligible individually
for local designation
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5B
1725-1729 19th
Street
004-012-01 1940 19th Street Commercial
Historic District, Non-
contributor (does not
retain integrity)
6Z
Standard Oil
Building; Jastro
Building
1800 19th
Street
003-362-06 1917-1921 Locally designated as a
Cultural Resource and listed
in the BRHP; Listed in the
NRHP; Listed in the CRHR;
Appears eligible individually
for local designation and for
listing in the NRHP and
CRHR
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
1S, 1CS,
5B
1801 19th
Street
004-011-03 1948 19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3
1807 19th
Street
004-011-02 1953 19th Street Commercial
Historic District, Non-
contributor (does not
retain integrity)
6Z

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Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
1832 19th
Street
003-362-07 1960 19th Street Commercial
Historic District, Non-
contributor (outside the
period of significance)
6Z
San Joaquin Light &
Power Co.; San
Joaquin Power
Garage
800 20th Street 005-252-04 1936 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
American
Federation of Labor
(A.F. of L.) Union
743
911 20th Street 005-320-03 1949 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
918 20th Street 005-312-01 c. 1910 Appears eligible individually for local designation
7R
James Building 1600-1614 20th
Street
005-451-05 1947 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Happy Jack's Pie
and Burger
1800 20th
Street
003-242-10 1964 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Jastro House 1811 20th
Street
003-362-03 c. 1875 Locally designated as a
Cultural Resource and listed
in the BRHP; Appears
eligible individually for local
designation
5S1
Japanese Mission;
Japanese Methodist
Episcopal Church;
St. Andrew's United
Methodist Church
1016 22nd
Street
005-222-17 1916-1925 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
1414 24th
Street
005-371-07 1938 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Frapwell & Ghezzi
Office
1717 28th
Street
001-232-06 1968 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
1801 28th
Street
001-232-04 1952 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Boydstone Medical
Building
1805 28th
Street
001-232-03 1952 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
1828-1830 28th
Street
001-231-30 1958 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
BPOE Lodge #266 1616 30th
Street
002-321-07 c. 1965 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
1711-1717 30th
Street
001-231-25 1957 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
1819 30th
Street
001-231-27 1959 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Cain African
Methodist Church
630 California
Avenue
006-501-05 1954 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
International House
of Pancakes
1530 California
Avenue
006-532-10 1964 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
1201-1207
Chester Avenue
006-532-04 1929 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Palms Liquors Sign 1201-1207
Chester Avenue
006-532-04 1961 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
1222-1232
Chester Avenue
006-460-15 1953 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Nighbert Building;
C. Barton Alford
Office
1234 Chester
Avenue
006-460-25 1962 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
1300-1304
Chester Avenue
006-460-18 1933-1940 Appears eligible individually
for local designation 5S3

Page 149 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
1306-1308
Chester Avenue
006-460-19 1964 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
1400 Chester
Avenue
006-391-09 1963 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Leon Bail Bonds;
Barn Bail Bonds
1438-1440
Chester Avenue
006-391-08 1963 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Kern County Hall of
Records
1655 Chester
Avenue
006-192-07 1908;
remodeled
1940
Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Haberfelde Building 1700-1706
Chester Avenue
006-171-05;
006-171-06
1927-1929 Appears eligible individually
for local designation and for
listing in the NRHP and
CRHR
3S, 3CS,
5S3
Bakersfield Security
Trust Company
Bank
1800 Chester
Avenue
006-021-08 1910 Appears eligible individually
for local designation and for
listing in the NRHP and
CRHR
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
3S, 3CS,
5B
1806-1810
Chester Avenue
006-021-09 1968 19th Street Commercial
Historic District, Non-
contributor (outside the
period of significance)
6Z
1809 Chester
Avenue
006-012-15 1898; façade
modernized
(unknown)
19th Street Commercial
Historic District, Non-
contributor (does not
retain integrity)
6Z
1813 Chester
Avenue
006-012-07 1898; façade
modernized c.
1950s
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3
1817-1825
Chester Avenue
006-012-05;
006-012-06
1897; façade
modernized c.
1950s
19th Street Commercial
Historic District, Non-
contributor (does not
retain integrity)
6Z
Hochheimer & Co.;
Brock's Department
Store
1918 Chester
Avenue
005-481-01 1920;
remodeled
1953
Appears eligible individually
for local designation
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5B
1919 Chester
Ave
005-492-07 1932;
storefront
modernized c.
1950s
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3
Bank of America
Building
1931 Chester
Avenue
005-492-05 1930 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5B
J.C. Penney; Grand
Hotel
2018 Chester
Avenue
005-461-03 1929;
storefronts
modernized c.
1950s
Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Moreland Sales
Company; Suzuki of
Bakersfield
2526-2530
Chester Avenue
005-341-05 1930s Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
The Bakersfield
Californian Building
1707 Eye Street 006-181-08,
006-181-11,
006-181-15
1926-1949 Listed in the NRHP; Listed in
the CRHR; Appears eligible
individually for local
designation and for listing in
the NRHP and CRHR
1S, 1CS,
5S3
2020 Eye Street 005-452-01 c. 1910 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
1830 F Street 004-001-01 1939 19th Street Commercial
Historic District, Non-
contributor (does not
retain integrity)
6Z

Page 150 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
Harvey Auditorium,
Bakersfield High
School
1241 G Street 004-052-03 1948 Determined eligible for
listing in the NRHP; Listed in
the CRHR; Appears eligible
individually for local
designation and for listing in
the NRHP and CRHR
2S2;
1CS; 5S3
Kern County High
School; Kern
County Union High
School
1241 G Street 004-053-06;
004-053-08;
004-053-05;
004-053-01;
004-052-03;
004-054-03;
004-051-03;
004-055-01
1915-1950s Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2005 G Street 003-242-08 c. 1895 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
2530 G Street 001-281-10 1961 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
2540 G Street 001-281-11 1964 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
1300-1316 H
Street
006-411-05;
006-411-06
1915 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Civic Center Office
Building
1601 H Street 004-032-10 1957 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
1825 H Street 004-012-04 N/A 19th Street Commercial
Historic District, Non-
contributor (does not
represent historic
context)
6Z
Fox Theater 2001 H Street 003-232-02 1930 Locally designated as a Cultural Resource and listed
in the BRHP; Determined
eligible for listing in the
NRHP; Listed in the CRHR;
Appears eligible individually
for local designation and for
listing in the NRHP and
CRHR
2S2;
1CS; 5S1
Bakersfield Fire
Station No. 1;
Bakersfield Central
Fire Station
2101 H Street 003-231-01 1939 Determined eligible for
listing in the NRHP; Listed in
the CRHR; Appears eligible
individually for local
designation and for listing in
the NRHP and CRHR
2S2, 1CS,
5S3
Dr. Wong Medical
Office Building
2615 H Street 001-272-34 1961 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Ernest L. McCoy
Office
2809-2811 H
Street
001-231-05 1957 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2828 H Street 002-181-04 1962 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Robert Eddy Office;
Eddy & Paynter
Associates Office
2901 H Street 001-231-38 1953 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Kern County Land
Company Building
2920 H Street 002-231-02 1954 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
1217 K Street 006-460-10 1905 K Street Residential
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3

Page 151 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
1225-1227 K
Street
006-460-09 1924 K Street Residential
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3
1229 K Street 006-460-08 1910 K Street Residential
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3
1235-1237 K
Street
006-460-24 1920 K Street Residential
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3
1301 K Street 006-460-05 1918 K Street Residential
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3
1303-1317 K
Street
006-460-04 1925 K Street Residential
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3
1323 K Street 006-460-03 1922 Appears eligible individually for local designation
K Street Residential
Historic District,
Contributor
5B
1325 K Street 006-460-02 1932 K Street Residential
Historic District, Non-
Contributor (outside the
period of significance)
6Z
1331 K Street 006-460-01 1922 K Street Residential
Historic District, Non-
Contributor (does not
retain integrity)
6Z
1401 K Street 006-391-02 1913 K Street Residential
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3
1405 K Street 006-391-02 1913 K Street Residential
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3
2418 K Street 005-372-06 1910 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Ying On Benevolent
Association; Suey
On Tong
2110 L Street 005-422-20 1953 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Steve Holloway
Office
2419 L Street 005-372-09 1900 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
2520 L Street 005-331-31 1965 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
2620 L Street 002-150-11 1890 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
1670 M Street 006-212-18 1941 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
John Carnakis
Residence; P.J.

Simon Residence
1717 M Street 006-161-05 1926 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Pacific Telephone
and Telegraph Co.

Building
1918 M Street 005-281-05 1940-1947 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
2502 M Street 005-211-05 1897 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Henry Spencer
Residence; Ella
Stark Stone
Residence
1321 N Street 006-430-02;
006-430-03
1898 Locally designated as a
Cultural Resource and listed
in the BRHP; Appears
eligible individually for local
designation and for listing in
the NRHP and CRHR
3S, 3CS,
5S1

Page 152 of 462 ends

Building
1917 N Street 005-281-06 1947 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Confucius Church
of Bakersfield;
Confucius School
2128 N Street 005-301-09 1951 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
2201 N Street 005-221-10 1908 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
2203 N Street 005-221-09 1908 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
2205 N Street 005-221-08 1908 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Japanese Buddhist
Church of
Bakersfield;
Japanese
Association of
Bakersfield
2207 N Street 005-221-13,
005-221-14
1912 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Cooey Residence 2210 N Street 005-222-02 1895 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Perintti Residence;
Eng Residence
2120 O Street 005-311-14 c. 1900 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
California
Department of
Employment,
Bakersfield Office
(California
Employment
Service)
1924 Q Street 005-272-01 1951 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
First Christian
Church
1660 S Street 006-240-02 1954 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Father Garcés
Statue
State Route 204
(Golden State
Avenue)
n/a 1939 Determined eligible for
listing in the NRHP; Listed in
the CRHR; California
Historical Landmark No. 277;
Appears eligible individually
for local designation and for
listing in the NRHP and
CRHR
2S2;
1CS; 5S3
101 Truxtun
Avenue
006-152-10 1946 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
400 Truxtun
Avenue
006-131-26 1964 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
St. George Greek
Orthodox Church
401 Truxtun
Avenue
006-140-09 1956 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Federal Building;
General Services
Administration of
Kern County
800 Truxtun
Avenue
006-230-06 1964 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Bakersfield Civic
Auditorium
1001 Truxtun
Avenue
006-570-11 1961 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Las Olivas Court 1022-1032
Truxtun Avenue
006-221-06 1927 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
First Baptist
Church; Bakersfield
First Baptist Church
1200 Truxtun
Avenue
006-211-08 1931 Listed in the NRHP; Listed in
the CRHR; Appears eligible
individually for local
designation and for listing in
the NRHP and CRHR
1S, 1CS,
5S3

Page 153 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
Kern County Free
Library; Beale
Memorial Library
(part of the Kern
County
Administrative
Center)
1315 Truxtun
Avenue
006-290-01 1957 Kern County Administrative
Center determined eligible
for listing in the NRHP;
Listed in the CRHR; Appears
eligible individually for local
designation and for listing in
the NRHP and CRHR
2S2, 1CS,
5S3
United California
Bank; Mission Bank
1330 Truxtun
Avenue
006-202-03 1968 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Kern County
Sheriff's Office and
Jail Facility (part of
the Kern County
Administrative
Center)
1415 Truxtun
Avenue
006-290-01 c. 1960 Kern County Administrative
Center determined eligible
for listing in the NRHP;
Listed in the CRHR; Appears
eligible individually for local
designation and for listing in
the NRHP and CRHR
2S2, 1CS,
5S3
Superior Court,
County of Kern
(part of the Kern
County
Administrative
Center)
1415 Truxtun
Avenue
006-290-01 c. 1956 Kern County Administrative
Center determined eligible
for listing in the NRHP;
Listed in the CRHR; Appears
eligible individually for local
designation and for listing in
the NRHP and CRHR
2S2, 1CS,
5S3
Bank of America
Office Tower
1430-1440
Truxtun Avenue
006-201-09 1974 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Bakersfield City
Hall
1501 Truxtun
Avenue
006-300-04 1954 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Bakersfield Police
Department
1601 Truxtun
Avenue
006-300-01 1975 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
1601 Union
Avenue
006-152-18 c. 1940 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
1514 Wall
Street
006-012-03 1901 19th Street Commercial
Historic District,
Contributor
5D3
Oscar's Alley Cat
Bar
1525 Wall
Street
006-012-11 1941 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
“China Alley” Alley running
from L Street to
M Street,
between 21st
Street and 22nd
Street
n/a Late 1800s Locally designated as a
Cultural Resource and listed
in the BRHP; Appears
eligible individually for local
designation
5S1
19th Street
Commercial
Historic District
1893-mid
1950s
Appears eligible for
local designation as a
historic district
5S3
K Street
Residential
Historic District
1905-1925 Appears eligible for
local designation as a
historic district
5S3

Page 154 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
TABLE A-2. SURVEY FINDINGS FOR THE EAST BAKERSFIELD SURVEY AREA Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
Talley Records
Location No. 1
601-615 E 18th
Street
016-220-08 c. 1930s/ 1954-
1955
Appears eligible individually
for local designation
7R
Wool Growers
Restaurant; Ville de
Basque
620 E 19th
Street
016-090-17 1977 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Lemucchi Grocery
& Bakery; Luigi's
Restaurant &
Delicatessen
725 E 19th
Street
017-150-07 1910/ 1910-
1950s
Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
(horse hitching
ring)
725 E 19th
Street
(embedded in
curb)
017-150-07 c. 1900 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Clerou Tire Co.

Sign/Sculpture
530 E 21st Street 016-050-06 1963 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Cesmat Hotel;
Amestoy Hotel;
Marino's
622 E 21st Street 016-060-12 1899 Determined eligible for listing in the NRHP; Listed
in the CRHR; Appears
eligible individually for local
designation and for listing in
the NRHP and CRHR
2S2, 1CS,
7R
(horse hitching
ring)
705 E 21st Street
(embedded in
curb)
016-080-02 c. 1900 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Bakersfield Fire
Station No. 2
716 E 21st Street 016-070-
12; 016-
070-13;
016-070-14
1940 Determined eligible for
listing in the NRHP; Listed
in the CRHR; Appears
eligible individually for local
designation and for listing in
the NRHP and CRHR
2S2, 1CS,
5S3
Kern City Pyrenees
French Bakery
717 E 21st Street 016-080-04 c. 1960 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Eight Ball Pool Hall
Neon Sign
800 Baker Street 016-060-10 1953 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Lazo's Neon Sign 801 Baker Street 016-070-16 c. 1950 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Arizona Café 809 Baker Street 016-070-19 1953 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Talley Records
Location No. 2
911-917 Baker
Street
014-310-19 c. 1955 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Cornet 5-10-25
Cent Store
1006 Baker
Street
014-270-15 1948 Determined eligible for
listing in the NRHP; Listed
in the CRHR; Appears
eligible individually for local
designation and for listing in
the NRHP and CRHR
2S2, 1CS,
5S3
Tejon Theater 1200 Baker
Street
014-090-08 1947 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Washington School 1300 Baker
Street
014-030-01 1938-1955 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Noriega House 1317-1325 Baker
Street
014-020-01 1900 Determined eligible for
listing in the NRHP; Listed
in the CRHR; Appears
eligible individually for local
designation and for listing in
the NRHP and CRHR
2S2, 1CS,
5S3

Page 155 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
East Bakerfield
Library; Kern
County Free
Library, Baker
Street Branch
1400 Baker
Street
013-280-11 1915 Listed in the NRHP; Listed
in the CRHR; Appears
eligible individually for local
designation and for listing in
the NRHP and CRHR
1S, 1CS,
5S3
St. Joseph Catholic
Church; St. Joseph
School
1515 Baker
Street
013-230-18 1953 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
1518 Beale
Street
013-240-07 1915 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
520 Jackson
Street
014-330-17 c. 1945 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
530 Jackson
Street
014-330-09 1900 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Granada Theater 616-618
Kentucky Street
014-270-08 1928/
c. 1955
Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
805 Kentucky
Street
014-300-02 1905 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
1027 Kern Street 014-270-01 1900 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
1103 King Street 014-120-16 1915 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Louis V. Olcese
Residence
528 Monterey
Street
014-080-07 1893 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
717 Monterey
Street
014-130-08 1910 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
512 Niles Street 014-040-15 1902 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
516 Niles Street 014-040-13 c. 1910 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
519 Niles Street 014-080-05 1910 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Leon J. Bimat
Residence
527 Niles Street 014-080-06 1910 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Calvary Baptist
Church
601 Niles Street 014-090-01 1928 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Earl Warren
Childhood Home
707 Niles Street 014-100-04 c. 1895/
1896
Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Trinity United
Methodist Church,
Children's
Educational Unit
724 Niles Street 014-020-07 1948 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
712 Oregon
Street
013-270-10 1898 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Caledonia Masonic
Temple; Caledonia
Masonic Lodge
#486
718 Oregon
Street
013-270-09 1939 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Iberia Hotel;
Noriega Hotel,
Restaurant, and
Handball Court;
F.M. Noriega's
513-531 Sumner
Street
016-050-05 1893 (hotel);
1933 (handball
court)/
1893-1975
Determined eligible for
listing in the NRHP; Listed
in the CRHR; Appears
eligible individually for local
designation and for listing in
the NRHP and CRHR
2S2, 1CS,
5S3
Pyrenees Café and
St. Francis Hotel
601 Sumner
Street
016-060-01 c. 1930 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
607-609 Sumner
Street
016-060-03 c. 1900 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3

Page 156 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
Sumner Southern
Pacific Railroad
Depot
700-730 Sumner
Street
014-370-01 1889/
1889-1941
Determined eligible for
listing in the NRHP; Listed
in the CRHR; Appears
eligible individually for local
designation and for listing in
the NRHP and CRHR
2S2, 1CS,
5S3

Page 157 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
TABLE A-3. SURVEY FINDINGS FOR THE OLEANDER/SUNSET SURVEY AREA Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
George and Norma
Gilmore Residence
2115 1st Street 008-273-05 1937 Appears eligible individually for local designation
7R
Cecil and Lucille
Chase Residence
2123 1st Street 008-273-03 1935 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Grace Story Dorris
Residence
1917 2nd Street 008-334-04 1919 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
California Water
Service Co. Water
Well House
234 A Street 008-200-15 c. 1940 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
402 A Street 007-323-26 c. 1900 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Christopher and
Stephanie Stockton
Residence
519 A Street 007-302-04 1889 Appears eligible individually for local designation and for
listing in the NRHP and
CRHR
3S, 3CS,
5S3
Kimble's Grocery,
Sears Market,
Chester Lane
Market
812 A Street 007-084-05 c. 1920 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
812 A Street 007-084-05 1905 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
1129 A Street 007-091-10 1919 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
509-517 B
Street
007-323-06 1928-1932 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
1715-1715 1/2
Blanche Street
007-160-08 c. 1900 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
1925 Blanche
Street
007-170-01 c. 1900 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
1001 C Street 007-082-11 1921 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
1116 C Street 007-071-02 1920 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
1911 California
Avenue
007-120-05 1909 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2201-2211
California
Avenue
007-081-21 1910 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2215 California
Avenue
007-081-08 1965 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(outside the period of
significance)
6Z
2227 California
Avenue
007-081-07 1920 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2229-2231
California
Avenue
007-081-06 1915 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3

Page 158 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
2303 California
Avenue
007-081-05 1915 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2307 California
Avenue
007-081-04 1915 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2325-2327
California
Avenue
007-081-02 1920 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2329 California
Avenue
007-081-02 1920 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2331 California
Avenue
007-081-01 1910 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2405 California
Avenue
007-091-09 1916 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2409 California
Avenue
007-091-08 1915 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2413 California
Avenue
007-091-07 1918 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2415 California
Avenue
007-091-06 1916 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2417 California
Avenue
007-091-05 1918 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2419 California
Avenue
007-091-04 1916 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2421 California
Avenue
007-091-03 1916 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2423 California
Avenue
007-091-02 1921 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2425 California
Avenue
007-091-01 N/A Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not represent
historic context)
6Z
2519 California
Avenue
007-022-03 1927 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3

Page 159 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
2525 California
Avenue
007-022-02 1924 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2531 California
Avenue
007-022-01 1925 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
Robert Stuhr Office 3121 California
Avenue
007-041-27 1959 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2400 Chester
Lane
007-094-10 1927 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2404 Chester
Lane
007-094-11 1954 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(outside the period of
significance)
6Z
2408 Chester
Lane
007-094-12 1923 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2412 Chester
Lane
007-094-13 1919 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2416 Chester
Lane
007-094-14 1920 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2426 Chester
Lane
007-094-15 1920 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2500 Chester
Lane
007-094-16 1920 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2508 Chester
Lane
007-094-17 1927 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2514 Chester
Lane
007-094-18 1925 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2520 Chester
Lane
007-053-04 1923 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not represent
historic context)
6Z
2526 Chester
Lane
007-053-05 1937 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2530 Chester
Lane
005-341-05 1923 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
Albert M. and
Patricia Stockton
Leddy Residence
2501 Dracena
Street
007-302-03 1959 Appears eligible individually
for local designation and for
listing in the NRHP and
CRHR
3S, 3CS,
5S3

Page 160 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
156 F Street 008-333-01 1935-1937 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
St. Elmo Court 1800 Forrest
Street
007-197-12 1919 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
31 H Street 008-343-08 1972 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Sultze Chiropractic
Office
345 H street 008-292-02 1967 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
331 Holtby
Road
008-182-09 c. 1900 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
615 Holtby
Road
007-321-13 1932 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Mr. and Mrs. Asa C.

Dimon Residence
620 Holtby
Road
007-331-11 1941 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Albert S. Goode
Residence
625 Holtby
Road
007-321-12 1938 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Axel (Wallace) and
Ida Johnson
Residence
629 Holtby
Road
007-321-11 1935 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Mr. and Mrs. Henry
Eissler Residence
707 Holtby
Road
007-321-10 1938 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Mr. & Mrs. William
Van Ewert
Residence
716 Holtby
Road
007-331-13 1941 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Edmund Haberfelde
Residence
717 Holtby
Road
007-321-09 1931 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Charles H. Biggar
Residence
730 Holtby
Road
007-331-01 1923 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Sambo's Restaurant 350 Oak Street 008-020-02 1964 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Frank C. and
Florence Finlayson
Residence
29 Oleander
Avenue
008-273-18 1936 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Clarence Cullimore
Home and Studio;
Clarence &
Rosemary
Cullimore
Residence
101 Oleander
Avenue
008-272-08 1930 Appears eligible individually
for local designation and for
listing in the NRHP and
CRHR
3S, 3CS,
5S3
Mr. and Mrs. Walter
Wickersham
Residence
104 Oleander
Avenue
008-341-22 1936 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
130 Oleander
Avenue
008-341-01 1920 Oleander Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-
Contributor (does not
retain integrity)
6Z
E. Buell Daniel
Residence
143 Oleander
Avenue
008-271-09 1942 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
150 Oleander
Avenue
008-334-16 1920 Oleander Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
160 Oleander
Avenue
008-334-17 1920 Oleander Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-
Contributor (does not
retain integrity)
6Z

Page 161 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
170 Oleander
Avenue
008-334-18 1922 Oleander Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
190 Oleander
Avenue
008-334-01 1918 Oleander Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
200 Oleander
Avenue
008-331-16 1923 Oleander Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-
Contributor (does not
retain integrity)
6Z
208 Oleander
Avenue
008-331-17 1923 Oleander Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
210 Oleander
Avenue
008-331-18 1923 Oleander Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
214 Oleander
Avenue
008-331-19 1923 Oleander Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
218 Oleander
Avenue
008-331-01 1917 Oleander Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
Mr. and Mrs. Alvin
Nelson Residence
308 Oleander
Avenue
008-301-12 1933 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
311 Oleander
Avenue
008-191-11 1930 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Oscar Rudnick
Residence; Elynor
Rudnick Residence
315 Oleander
Avenue
008-191-10 1927 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
J.W. Wiley
Residence
317 Oleander
Avenue
008-191-09 1919 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Bonalanza
Residence
324 Oleander
Avenue
008-301-18 1922 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Beale Park Greek
Theater
500 Oleander
Avenue
007-240-01 1908 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
519 Oleander
Avenue
007-332-27 c. 1900 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Dr. and Mrs. E.C.

Zimmer Residence
527 Oleander
Avenue
007-332-28 1937 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Dr. Francis Gundry
Residence
600 Oleander
Avenue
007-230-18 1926 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
David M. Biggar
Residence
620 Oleander
Avenue
007-230-01;
007-230-02
1950 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
John B. Olcese
Residence
629 Oleander
Avenue
007-331-07 1923 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Robert M. and Celia
Holtby Residence
701 Oleander
Avenue
007-331-06 1890 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
John P. Ivers
Residence
706 Oleander
Avenue
007-200-25 1935 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Mr. and Mrs. Hugo
Allardt Residence
721 Oleander
Avenue
007-331-05 1914 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Beggs Residence;
Henry and Cordelia
Brandt Residence
729 Oleander
Avenue
007-331-04 1919 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Samuel A. Johnson
Residence
809 Oleander
Avenue
007-102-08 c. 1912 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
817 Oleander
Avenue
007-102-07 1921 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3

Page 162 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
George Haberfelde
Residence
925-927
Oleander
Avenue
007-102-03 1922 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
7R
Dr. Samuel F. Smith
Residence
1002 Oleander
Avenue
007-140-09 1901 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2105 Park Way 007-072-07 1919 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2109 Park Way 007-072-06 1916 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2113 Park Way 007-072-05 1919 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2117 Park Way 007-072-04 1920 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2121 Park Way 007-072-03 1927 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2126-2128 Park
Way
007-071-03 1910 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2127 Park Way 007-072-02 1915 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2130 Park Way 007-071-04 1912 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2131 Park Way 007-072-01 1919 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2200 Park Way 007-081-10 1915 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2201 Park Way 007-082-10 1935 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2203 Park Way 007-082-09 1917 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2205 Park Way 007-082-08 1921 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2207 Park Way 007-082-07 1920 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2208 Park Way 007-081-11 1920 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2209 Park Way 007-082-06 1915 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3

Page 163 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
2212 Park Way 007-081-12 1921 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2216 Park Way 007-081-13 1921 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2220 Park Way 007-081-14 1925 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2221 Park Way 007-082-05 1926 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2222 Park Way 007-081-15 1915 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2224 Park Way 007-081-16 1915 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2225 Park Way 007-082-04 1914 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2227 Park Way 007-082-03 1920 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2228 Park Way 007-081-17 1911 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2229 Park Way 007-082-02 1910 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2230 Park Way 007-081-18 1927 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2330 Park Way 007-081-19 1913 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2331 Park Way 007-082-01 1915 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2400 Park Way 007-091-11 1920 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2401 Park Way 007-092-09 1917 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2406 Park Way 007-091-12 1918 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2409 Park Way 007-092-08 1920 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2412 Park Way 007-091-13 1924 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z

Page 164 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
2414 Park Way 007-091-14 1918 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2415 Park Way 007-092-07 1913 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2416 & 2418
Park Way
007-091-15 1918 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2417 Park Way 007-092-06 1912 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2425 & 2501
Park Way
007-092-05 1918 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2500 Park Way 007-091-16 1926 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2505 Park Way 007-092-04 1952 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(outside the period of
significance)
6Z
2506 Park Way 007-091-17 1920 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2507 Park Way 007-092-03 1923 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2508 Park Way 007-091-18 1910 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2509 Park Way 007-092-02 1921 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2515 Park Way 007-092-01 1915 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2516 Park Way 007-091-19 1915 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2519 Park Way 007-023-03 1938 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(outside the period of
significance)
6Z
2520 Park Way 007-022-04 1925 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not represent
historic context)
6Z

Page 165 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
2525 Park Way 007-023-02 1937 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(outside the period of
significance)
6Z
2526 Park Way 007-022-05 1925 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2528 Park Way 007-022-06 1935 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not represent
historic context)
6Z
2531 Park Way 007-023-01 1928 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2830 Park Way 007-031-19 1928 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
3024 Park Way 007-041-16 1930 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
2200 San
Emidio Street
007-083-11 1915 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2204 San
Emidio Street
007-083-12 1911 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2208 San
Emidio Street
007-083-13 1911 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2212 San
Emidio Street
007-083-14 1915 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2216 San
Emidio Street
007-083-15 1915 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2220 San
Emidio Street
007-083-16 1911 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2224 San
Emidio Street
007-083-17 1911 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2225 San
Emidio Street
007-084-03 1941 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(outside the period of
significance)
6Z
2228 San
Emidio Street
007-083-18 1914 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2232 San
Emidio Street
007-083-19 1915 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2236 San
Emidio Street
007-083-20 1919 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3

Page 166 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
2327 San
Emidio Street
007-084-02 1917 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2331 San
Emidio Street
007-084-01 1917 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2400 San
Emidio Street
007-093-09 1931 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2401 San
Emidio Street
007-094-09 1916 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2404 San
Emidio Street
007-093-10 1915 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2405 San
Emidio Street
007-094-08 1917 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2408 San
Emidio Street
007-093-11 1920 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2411 San
Emidio Street
007-094-07 1916 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2412 San
Emidio Street
007-093-12 1912 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2415 San
Emidio Street
007-094-06 1916 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2416 San
Emidio Street
007-093-13 1917 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2420 San
Emidio Street
007-093-14 1912 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2429 San
Emidio Street
007-094-05 1928 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2430 San
Emidio Street
007-093-15 1915 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2431 San
Emidio Street
007-094-04 1917 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2501 San
Emidio Street
007-094-03 1916 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2507 San
Emidio Street
007-094-02 1923 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2510 San
Emidio Street
007-093-16 1919 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2514 San
Emidio Street
007-093-17 1917 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3

Page 167 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
2515 San
Emidio Street
007-094-01 1921 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2519 San
Emidio Street
007-053-03 1941 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(outside the period of
significance)
6Z
2520 San
Emidio Street
007-052-03 1947 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(outside the period of
significance)
6Z
2525 San
Emidio Street
007-053-02 1927 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not represent
historic context)
6Z
2526 San
Emidio Street
007-052-04 1925 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2530 San
Emidio Street
007-052-05 1950 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(outside the period of
significance)
6Z
2531 San
Emidio Street
007-053-01 1949 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(outside the period of
significance)
6Z
2201 Sunset
Avenue
007-083-10 1920 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2205 Sunset
Avenue
007-083-09 1912 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2207 Sunset
Avenue
007-083-08 1920 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2208 Sunset
Avenue
007-082-12 1930 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2214 Sunset
Avenue
007-082-13 1913 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2217 Sunset
Avenue
007-083-07 1923 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2218 Sunset
Avenue
007-082-14 1910 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2221 Sunset
Avenue
007-083-06 1923 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z

Page 168 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
2224 Sunset
Avenue
007-082-15 1917 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2225 Sunset
Avenue
007-083-05 1918 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2226 Sunset
Avenue
007-082-16 1923 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2228 Sunset
Avenue
007-082-17 1915 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2229 Sunset
Avenue
007-083-04 1913 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2230 Sunset
Avenue
007-082-18 1917 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2231 Sunset
Avenue
007-083-03 1914 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2232 Sunset
Avenue
007-082-19 1913 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
Orville L. Clark
Residence
2234-2240
Sunset Avenue
007-082-20 1915 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5B
2235 Sunset
Avenue
007-083-02 1914 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2241 Sunset
Avenue
007-083-01 1919 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2401-2403
Sunset Avenue
007-093-08 1917 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2402 Sunset
Avenue
007-092-10 1921 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2405 Sunset
Avenue
007-093-07 1919 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2406 Sunset
Avenue
007-092-11 1915 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2407 Sunset
Avenue
007-093-06 1918 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2416 Sunset
Avenue
007-092-12 1921 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2417 Sunset
Avenue
007-093-05 c. 1910 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2418 Sunset
Avenue
007-092-13 1933 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3

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Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
2420 Sunset
Avenue
007-092-14 1920 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2421 Sunset
Avenue
007-093-04 1921 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not retain
integrity)
6Z
2424 Sunset
Avenue
007-092-15 c. 1920 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2429 Sunset
Avenue
007-093-03 1916 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2500 Sunset
Avenue
007-092-16 1915 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2509 Sunset
Avenue
007-093-02 1921 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2512 Sunset
Avenue
007-092-17 1914 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2515 Sunset
Avenue
007-093-01 1917 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2516 Sunset
Avenue
007-092-18 1912 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2519 Sunset
Avenue
007-052-02 1929 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not represent
historic context)
6Z
2520 Sunset
Avenue
007-023-04 1935 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not represent
historic context)
6Z
2526 Sunset
Avenue
007-023-05 1927 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not represent
historic context)
6Z
2530 Sunset
Avenue
007-023-06 1927 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(does not represent
historic context)
6Z
2531 Sunset
Avenue
007-052-01 1931 Westpark Craftsman
Residential Historic
District, Non-contributor
(outside the period of
significance)
6Z
Frank and Guynoir
Kratka Residence
2807 Sunset
Avenue
007-033-27 1930 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2830 Sunset
Avenue
007-032-19 1929 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Elsie McCutcheon
Residence
2115 Verde
Street
008-272-05 1934 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3

Page 170 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
Roosevelt School 2324 Verde
Street
008-281-01 c. 1939 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Oleander Avenue
Craftsman
Residential
Historic District
1917-1923 Appears eligible for
local designation as a
historic district
5S3
Westpark
Craftsman
Residential
Historic District
1910-1935 Appears eligible for
local designation as a
historic district
5S3

Page 171 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
TABLE A-4. SURVEY FINDINGS FOR THE WESTCHESTER/RIVIERA SURVEY AREA Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
1926-1930 16th
Street
004-092-08 1900 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
1920 17th
Street
004-132-07 1900 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2001-2005 17th
Street
004-101-04 1965 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2028 17th
Street
004-131-09 1958 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2112 17th
Street
004-271-08 1906 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
St. Paul's Episcopal
Church
2216 17th
Street
004-282-04 1953-1961 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Barlow Residence 1905 18th
Street
004-132-04 1905 Locally designated as a
Cultural Resource and listed
in the BRHP; Appears
eligible individually for local
designation
5S1
Manley Apartments 1906 18th
Street
004-120-10 1912 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Masonic Temple 1920 18th
Street
004-120-11 1923 Appears eligible individually
for local designation and for
listing in the NRHP and
CRHR
3S, 3CS,
5S3
Coker Cawley
Medical Building
1921 18th
Street
004-132-01 1964 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Fountain Plaza 2011 18th
Street
004-131-03 1950 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
The Georgian
Building
2025 18th
Street
004-131-01 1923 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Woman’s Club of
Bakersfield
2030 18th
Street
004-120-14 1921; 1921-
1953
Locally designated as a
Cultural Resource and listed
in the BRHP; Listed in the
NRHP; Listed in the CRHR;
Appears eligible individually
for local designation and for
listing in the NRHP and
CRHR
1S, 1CS,
5S1
2100 18th
Street
004-290-06 1969 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2101-2117 18th
Street
004-271-05 c. 1940 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2104 18th
Street
004-290-13 c. 1900 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
J.W. Briscoe
Residence
2128 18th
Street
004-290-10 1914 Appears eligible individually
for local designation and for
listing in the NRHP and
CRHR
3S, 3CS,
5S3
2131 18th
Street
004-271-01 1905 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
First Church of
Christ, Scientist
2201 18th
Street
004-282-05 1931 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2229 18th
Street
004-282-01 1909 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2322 18th
Street
004-301-08 1911 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Colby Residence 2325 18th
Street
004-281-01 1912 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3

Page 172 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
2430 18th
Street
004-312-09 1917 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2731 18th
Street
004-241-01 1935 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Dr. and Mrs.

Cornelius E. Pryor
Residence
2820 18th
Street
004-332-07 1926 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2830 18th
Street
004-332-08 1926 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
J.C. Payne & Sons
Funeral Home
1928 19th
Street
003-361-09 1911 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2105 19th
Street
004-290-05 1900 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2131 19th
Street
004-290-01 1963 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2200-2202 19th
Street
003-342-04 1970 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2201-2205 19th
Street
004-302-04 1974 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2300 19th
Street
003-341-07 c. 1900 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2310 19th
Street
003-341-08 c. 1900 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2313-2317 19th
Street
004-301-02 1909 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2505 19th
Street
004-311-04 1903 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2514 19th
Street
003-331-07 1900 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2525 19th
Street
004-311-01 1907 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2629 19th
Street
004-322-01 1910 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Sullivan Residence 2703 19th
Street
004-321-03 1916 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2724 19th
Street
003-321-09 1906 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2024 20th
Street
003-252-08 1896 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2102 20th
Street
003-251-05 1899 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2103 20th
Street
003-351-04 1898 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
St. John's
Evangelical Church
2119 20th
Street
003-351-11 1911-1916 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Electric Water Co.

Well & Pump House
No. 5
2409 20th
Street
003-332-03 c. 1905 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2525 20th
Street
003-331-02 1909 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2528 20th
Street
003-271-06 1905 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2628 20th
Street
003-282-07 1905 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2702 20th
Street
003-281-05 1906 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Barbara Inman
Residence
3031 20th
Street
003-300-08 1950 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3

Page 173 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
Hugh Sill Residence 3109 20th
Street
003-300-07 1937 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Casa de Licores;
Perrie's Liquor
Store
1900 21st
Street
003-221-12 1948 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Tommy Collins
Residence
2600 21st
Street
003-182-04 1937 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Mr. & Mrs. Clyde
Stickler Residence
2615 21st
Street
003-282-02 1935 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Maurice and Ruth
Hubbell Residence;
Dr. and Mrs. Jack
Nicholson
Residence
2630 21st
Street
003-182-07 1934 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Howard H. and
Carolyn Clayton
Residence; Jake and
Juantia Vanderlei
Residence
2709 21st
Street
003-281-03 1931 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Mr. & Mrs. Glenn E.

Stanfield Residence
2729 21st
Street
003-281-01 1935 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2829 21st
Street
003-292-01 1952 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Frank E. Davis
Residence; Frank
and Kay Davis
Residence
2914 21st
Street
003-171-05 1937 Appears eligible individually
for local designation and for
listing in the NRHP and
CRHR
3S, 3CS,
5S3
Rayford Y. Burum
Residence
2917 21st
Street
003-291-02 1935 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Alfred and Lorraine
Ames Residence
2929 21st
Street
003-291-01 1932 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Dr. Keith McKee
Residence
3031 21st
Street
003-300-02 1937 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2130 22nd
Street
003-152-13 1909 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2200 22nd
Street
003-151-05 1910 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2830 22nd
Street
003-040-06 1940 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Swanson Court 2100-2110 23rd
Street
003-102-04 1937 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Kern County Union
High School and
Junior College
District
Administrative
Offices
2000 24th
Street
001-292-01 1955 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Westchester
Garden Court
1925-1929 26th
Street
001-262-14 1952 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2200 A Street 003-081-09 1935 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2201 A Street 003-082-10 1955 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Non-
Contributor (outside the
period of significance)
6Z

Page 174 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
2207 A Street 003-082-09 1936 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Non-
Contributor (does not
retain integrity)
6Z
2208 A Street 003-081-08 1935 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2215 A Street 003-082-08 1939 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2216 A Street 003-081-07 1936 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2223 A Street 003-082-07 1988 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Non-
Contributor (outside the
period of significance)
6Z
2224 A Street 003-081-06 1936 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2229 A Street 003-082-06 1937 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2232 A Street 003-081-05 1936 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2300 A Street 003-081-04 1936 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2301 A Street 003-082-05 1935 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2305 A Street 003-082-04 1926 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2315 A Street 003-082-03 1936 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2316 A Street 003-081-03 1936 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2323 A Street 003-082-02 1935 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Non-
Contributor (does not
retain integrity)
6Z
2324 A Street 003-081-02 1973 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Non-
Contributor (outside the
period of significance)
6Z
2329 A Street 003-082-01 1947 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Non-
Contributor (outside the
period of significance)
6Z

Page 175 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
2330 A Street 003-081-01 1961 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Non-
Contributor (outside the
period of significance)
6Z
Colonial
Apartments
1701-1705 B
Street
004-281-04 1920 Locally designated as a
Cultural Resource and listed
in the BRHP; Appears
eligible individually for local
designation
5S1
McGill Apartments 1821-1829 B
Street
004-301-04 1923 Locally designated as a
Cultural Resource and listed
in the BRHP; Appears
eligible individually for local
designation
5S1
1921 B Street 003-341-06 1898 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
1924 B Street 003-342-01 1905 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
2003 B Street 003-261-07 1898 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
2109 B Street 003-201-05 1919 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
2116 B Street 003-202-01 1912 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
1809 Beech
Street
004-331-04 1930 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2420 Beech
Street
001-193-07 1958 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2016 C Street 003-251-01 1928 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
2029 C Street 003-262-03 1910 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Cedar Gardens 1901-1907
Cedar Street
003-331-11 1951 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
1924 Cedar
Street
003-332-02 1904 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2107 Cedar
Street
003-191-08 1935 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2200 Cedar
Street
003-082-11 1935 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5B
Villa Cinque Teste
Dure
2201 Cedar
Street
003-070-04 1929 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2206 Cedar
Street
003-082-12 1929 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2214 Cedar
Street
003-082-13 1928 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
James A. and Mollie
Hughes Residence
2221 Cedar
Street
003-070-03 c. 1925 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2222 Cedar
Street
003-082-14 1936 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2230 Cedar
Street
003-082-15 1937 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3

Page 176 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
2300 Cedar
Street
003-082-16 1937 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
Harry W. and Emily
Thomas Residence
2307 Cedar
Street
003-070-02 1926 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2314 Cedar
Street
003-082-17 1931 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2320 Cedar
Street
003-082-18 1935 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2324 Cedar
Street
003-082-19 1929 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2328 Cedar
Street
003-082-20 1934 Cedar Street/A Street
Residential Historic
District, Contributor
5D3
2200 D Street 003-141-01 1929 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Spreyor Court 2210-2216 D
Street
003-141-02 1937 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Finlayson Court 2300-2320 D
Street
003-111-08 1937-1940 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Lowe and Raak
Building
2001 E Street 003-252-05 1956 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
2100 E Street 003-221-01 1969 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
James McKamy
Residence
2124 E Street 003-221-05 1904 Locally designated as an
Area of Historic Interest and
listed in the BRHP; Appears
eligible individually for local
designation
5S1
R.L. Brown
Residence
2128 E Street 003-221-06 1892 Locally designated as an
Area of Historic Interest and
listed in the BRHP; Appears
eligible individually for local
designation
5S1
Heckert and
Warford
Apartments
2301 E Street 003-111-05 1937 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Wright, Metcalf &
Parsons Office
2323 E Street 003-111-04 1953 Appears eligible individually for local designation
5S3
Frank Munzer
Residence
1701 F Street 004-132-06 c. 1910 Locally designated as a Cultural Resource and listed
in the BRHP; Appears
eligible individually for local
designation
5S1
Ye Olde English
Village Apartments
1823 Myrtle
Street
004-332-04 1930 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
F.C. Finlayson
Residence
2200 Myrtle
Street
003-050-07 1938 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Mr. and Mrs.

Forrest Frick
Residence
2221 Myrtle
Street
003-040-04 1960 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Bakersfield Racquet
Club
1660 Pine
Street
004-250-08 1948 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Philip A. Klipstein
Residence
2308 Spruce
Street
003-060-09 1953 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3

Page 177 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Resources Survey Report Appendix C Historic Resources Group
Historic Name Address APN(s) Date/
POS
Individual Eligibility/
Designation
Historic District
Eligibility
Status
Code(s)
Unity Center of
Bakersfield
2001 Truxtun
Avenue
004-091-05 1937 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Clerou-Fox Medical
Building
2128 Truxtun
Avenue
004-272-11 1960 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2200 Truxtun
Avenue
004-262-06 1923 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2212 Truxtun
Avenue
004-262-08 1904 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
2300 Truxtun
Avenue
004-261-06 c. 1940 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Jastro Park
Bandstand
2900 Truxtun
Avenue
004-350-01 1927 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Land-locked
parcel south of
the intersection
of Elm St and
Golden State
Frontage Ave
332-210-07 c. 1950 Appears eligible individually
for local designation
5S3
Cedar Street/A
Street Residential
Historic District
1926-1939 Appears eligible for
local designation as a
historic district
5S3

Page 178 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Context Statement 1
Historic Resources Group

CITY OF BAKERSFIELD

CITYWIDE HISTORIC CONTEXT STATEMENT
Revised July 2025

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND
This historic context statement has been developed as part of the City of Bakersfield Cultural Resource Survey, conducted by Historic Resources Group. The cultural resource survey is a two-part project, consisting of a citywide historic context statement and a field survey of four geographic areas selected by the City of Bakersfield: Downtown Bakersfield, East Bakersfield, Oleander/Sunset, and Westchester/Riviera. This project has been managed by Cecelia Griego, Principal Planner for the City of Bakersfield’s Economic and Community Development.

Oversight and review of this project was the purview of the City’s Historic Preservation Commission: Eileen Diaz, Michael McCoy, Cathy Butler, Stephen Montgomery, and Susan B.

Stussy. The goal of this project is to serve as a foundation for historic preservation planning efforts in the city going forward.

Historic contexts and surveys are critical tools for understanding, identifying, evaluating, and protecting those resources that give each community its individual character and sense of place.1 As noted in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation, “the development of historic contexts is the foundation for decisions about the identification, evaluation, registration and treatment of historic properties, and surveys.”2 Preservation best practices acknowledge that the development of a historic context statement and accompanying field survey is an iterative process, with each component benefitting from the other. A historic context statement provides important background that assists survey teams in understanding what they see in the field. Likewise, observations made during fieldwork may also raise questions about what, why, and how what remains in the built environment originated or evolved.

1 “Historic Contexts & Resource Surveys,” California Office of Historic Preservation, https://ohp.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23317 (accessed March 2, 2023).
2 U.S. Department of the Interior, “Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation, National Park Service,” September 29, 1983.

Page 179 of 462 ends

Bakersfield Historic Context Statement 2
Historic Resources Group

PURPOSE
In order to understand the significance of the historic and architectural resources in the City of Bakersfield, it is necessary to examine those resources within a series of contexts. By placing built resources in the appropriate context, the relationship between an area’s physical environment and its broader history can be established.

A historic context statement analyzes the historical development of a community according to guidelines written by the National Park Service and specified in National Register Bulletin 16A.

A historic context statement contains information about important historical trends and patterns of development, organized by important themes and chronological periods of time.

Because historic contexts are organized by theme, place and time, they link historic properties to important historic trends. In this way, they provide a framework for determining the historic, social, cultural, and/or architectural significance of a specific property and its potential eligibility for historic listing or designation.3 A historic context statement is linked with tangible built resources through the concept of “property type,” defined as a grouping of individual properties based on shared physical or associative attributes.4
A historic context statement is not a comprehensive history of the area. Rather, it is intended to highlight broad historical trends and patterns of development critical to the understanding of the existing built environment. It should identify the various historical factors that shaped the development of the area, which may include historical activities or events; historic personages; building types; architectural styles; construction technologies and materials, and patterns of land use and physical development.

The purpose of the City of Bakersfield Historic Context Statement is to provide a framework for the continuing process of identification, evaluation, and preservation of significant historic properties within the context of the development of Bakersfield, Kern County, and the larger southern San Joaquin Valley region. It is meant to form the foundation of a comprehensive preservation program, serving as a guide for citizens, planners, and decision makers in their ongoing efforts to protect important aspects of the City of Bakersfield’s built environment.

METHODOLOGY
This historic context statement was prepared by Historic Resources Group. Sian Winship, Senior Architectural Historian, was the primary author, supported by Christine Lazzaretto, Managing Principal; Kari Michele Fowler, Senior Preservation Planner; and Alexandra Perlman, Senior Architectural Historian. All are qualified professionals who meet or exceed the relevant Secretary of the Interior’s Standards Professional Qualification Standards.

This historic context statement would not have been possible without the extensive existing scholarship on the history and development of the City of Bakersfield and the larger Kern

3 U.S. Department of the Interior, National Register Bulletin 16A: How to Complete the National Register Form (Washington D.C.:

National Park Service, 1997), 4.
4 U.S. Department of the Interior, National Register Bulletin 15: How to Apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation (Washington D.C.: National Park Service, 1997), 53.

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County region. This project was greatly enhanced by the contributions of the many historians, planners, preservationists, curators, academics, residents, and concerned citizens, whose longstanding efforts to discover, recognize, and share Bakersfield’s unique history have proved invaluable to the understanding of Bakersfield’s existing built environment. Notable among these are Fatima Bugharin, historian; David Coffey, Bakersfield Built; Donato Cruz, California State University, Bakersfield; Gilbert Gia, author and historian; Rachel Hads, Curatorial Department at the Kern County Museum; Ken Hooper, author and historian; Chris Livingston, California State University, Bakersfield; David Lyman, Manager of Visit Bakersfield; and Lori Wear, former Curator of Collections at the Kern County Museum. Additional thanks to City Fellow Sergio Carreno for providing available historical building permits.

Research collections, archives, and other materials consulted in the preparation of this historic context statement include primary and secondary sources relating to the history and development of the City of Bakersfield and Kern County. Primary sources include annexation records, city building permits, city directories, county tax assessor rolls, Census and voter registration records, oral histories, land use records, and historical newspapers and other periodicals. Secondary sources include published narrative histories and biographies; academic works such as theses, dissertations, and journal articles; environmental review documents, such as DEIRs and technical reports; previous historic resources surveys and studies; and previous historic evaluations, nominations, and designations. Visual materials included historical photographs (including historical aerial photographs and postcards), and historical maps (including Spanish and Mexican land grant maps, Sanborn Insurance Co. maps, and tract and subdivision maps).5
In conducting research for this historic context statement, the following records, collections, repositories, websites, organizations, and other sources were consulted:
 American Institute of Architects Historical Directory of American Architects  Ancestry.com
 Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals
 The Bakersfield Californian Online
 “Bakersfield Built” tour and symposium
 Bakersfield College
 California Digital Newspapers Collection, UC Riverside  California Historical Society
 California Office of Historic Preservation Built Environment Resources Directory (BERD)
 California State Library
 California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB)
 Calisphere
 City of Bakersfield building permit records

5 A comprehensive list of resources consulted is listed in the bibliography.

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 City of Bakersfield “Historical Sites” files
 City of Bakersfield planning documents and zoning code  Getty Research Institute
 Hathi Trust Digital Library
 Historical Bakersfield City Directories
 Huntington Library
 Internet Archive
 JSTOR
 Kern County Historical Society
 Kern County Library
 Kern County Library, Beale Memorial Library, Local History Room  Kern County Museum Collections
 Kern County Office of the Assessor
 Library of Congress
 Los Angeles Public Library
 Los Angeles Times Historical Archive
 Newspapers.com
 Newspaper Archive.com
 Online Archive of California (OAC)
 Pacific Coast Architecture Database (PCAD)
 Sanborn Insurance Company fire insurance maps
 San Francisco Chronicle Historical Archive
 University of California, Los Angeles Library Special Collections  University of California, Santa Barbara Architecture and Design Archive  University of Southern California Digital Library
 U.S. Census records
 U.S. Modernist Library

SCOPE & ORGANIZATION
The study area for this historic context statement is the current city boundaries of the City of Bakersfield. The historic context’s period of study extends through 1974, in order to identify potential historic resources that are 50 years of age or older.

It should be noted that only a portion of the City of Bakersfield was surveyed in coordination with the development of this citywide historic context statement, and thus the observational input into the historic context from the field surveys is limited to the four survey areas as determined by the City: Downtown Bakersfield, East Bakersfield, Oleander/Sunset and Westchester/Riviera. As such, this historic context provides important information to support these concurrent field surveys, and may serve as the basis for future survey efforts elsewhere in the city.

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The historic context statement is organized by chronological periods of development. For each chronological period, a narrative describes the historical development patterns, important events or activities, and important individuals and groups that influenced Bakersfield’s history, in order to establish the potential historical significance of properties associated with that period.

For each period that has a population of existing resources, the context establishes a series of themes relating to specific property types developed during that period: residential, commercial, civic/institutional, and industrial. Each theme includes specific eligibility standards and integrity thresholds which provide guidance for the ongoing identification and evaluation of potentially eligible properties under that theme for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, California Register of Historical Resources, and/or for local designation as a City of Bakersfield Cultural Resource or Area of Historic Interest and listing in the Bakersfield Register of Historic Places. Themes have been developed only for those periods for which there are believed to be extant examples of built resources in the City of Bakersfield today. Where appropriate, themes include eligibility standards for properties associated with an important person and/or an important ethnic or cultural group in Bakersfield’s history and development.

The chronological periods identified for this historic context statement date from the region’s earliest known settlement to the present, as outlined below. Those periods marked by an asterisk (*) are significant historical periods of development for the City of Bakersfield, and thus have associated themes.
 Native American Period
 European Exploration, 1542-1768
 Colonization During the Spanish and Mexican Eras, 1769-1848  Settlement, the Railroad, and City Incorporation, 1849-1898*  The Great Oil Rush and Agricultural Boom, 1899-1928*
 Depression and Resilience in Bakersfield, 1929-1940*
 Bakersfield During World War II, 1941-1945*
 Postwar Prosperity and Expansion, 1946-1952*
 Disaster, Rebuilding, and Expansion, 1953-1974*
 Bakersfield Today, 1975-present
Discussions of some of the earliest periods are provided here to serve as historical background for the development periods that follow. The Native American Period, in particular, is a separate area of study and warrants its own historic context statement in order to guide the identification and evaluation of potential archaeological resources. The last period is provided to bring the story of Bakersfield up to the present day.

Following the chronological periods of development, there is a separate context addressing properties that are notable for architectural merit and/or as the work of a notable architect, throughout the historic context’s period of study. This context, “Architecture and Design, 1860

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to 1974,” establishes a series of themes for the various architectural styles represented in Bakersfield’s existing built environment, and identifies noted and master architects known to have made important contributions to this built environment.

EVALUATION CRITERIA
A property may be listed or designated as historic by national, state, and local authorities. In order for a property to qualify for historic listing or designation, it must meet one or more identified criteria for evaluation. The property must also retain sufficient integrity to continue to evoke the sense of place and time with which it is historically associated.

This historic context statement provides eligibility standards and integrity thresholds for each theme for which there are believed to be extant examples of built resources in the City of Bakersfield today. These eligibility standards also identify the relevant evaluation criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and California Register of Historical Resources, and for local designation as a City of Bakersfield Cultural Resource or Area of Historic Interest and listing in the Bakersfield Register of Historic Places. The evaluation criteria for each of these programs are provided below for reference.

National Register of Historic Places
The criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) follow established guidelines for determining the significance of properties. The quality of significance in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture is present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that possess integrity and:

A. That are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or
B. That are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or C. That embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or
D. That have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.6
For listing in the National Register, a property that has achieved significance within the last 50 years must be of exceptional importance.7

6 National Register Bulletin 15, 2.
7 The National Register Criteria for Evaluation generally exclude properties that achieved significance within the past 50 years unless they are of exceptional importance. 50 years is a general estimate of the time needed to develop historical perspective and to evaluate significance. This consideration guards against the listing of properties of passing contemporary interest and ensures that the National Register is a list of truly historic places. The phrase "exceptional importance” does not require that the property be of national significance. It is a measure of a property's importance within the appropriate historic context, whether the scale of that context is local, state, or national.

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California Register of Historical Resources
The criteria for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR) are based upon National Register criteria. Properties eligible for listing in the California Register must meet one or more of the following criteria:

1. Associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of local or regional history or the cultural heritage of California or the United States.

2. Associated with the lives of persons important to local, California or national history.

3. Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region or method of construction or represents the work of a master or possesses high artistic values.

4. Has yielded, or has the potential to yield, information important to the prehistory or history of the local area, California or the nation.8
Resources eligible for listing in the California Register must retain enough of their historic character or appearance to be recognizable as historical resources and to convey the reasons for their significance. It is possible that resources lacking sufficient integrity for listing in the National Register may still be eligible for the California Register.

Bakersfield Register of Historic Places
The Bakersfield Register of Historic Places (BRHP) includes National Register-listed properties within city limits, as well as locally designated Cultural Resources and Areas of Historic Interest. Any improvement, building, structure, sign, feature, site, place, or object may be designated as a cultural resource and any grouping of such may be designated as a historic district or an area of historic interest if it meets one or more of the following criteria:
a. It exemplifies or reflects special elements of the city, community or neighborhood’s historical, archaeological, cultural, social, economic, political, aesthetic, engineering or architectural development; or
b. It is identified with persons or events significant in local, state, or national history; or c. It embodies distinctive characteristics of style, type, period, or method of construction, or is a valuable example of the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship; or d. It is representative of the notable work of a builder, designer, architect, engineer, landscape architect, interior designer, artist or craftsman; or e. Its unique location or singular physical characteristic(s) represents an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community or the city; or f. It is an archaeological or paleontological site which has the potential of yielding information of scientific value.9

8 California PRC Section 5024.1.
9 Bakersfield Municipal Code Section 15.72.050

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Historic Eligibility
Note that the mention of a property in this historic context statement does not necessarily indicate eligibility for historic listing or designation. In order for a property to be found eligible for historic listing for designation at the local, state, or national level, it must be evaluated using established criteria, including a determination of historic significance and an assessment of historic integrity. As noted above, the current Cultural Resource Survey project includes field surveys of four geographic areas selected by the City: Downtown Bakersfield, East Bakersfield, Oleander/Sunset, and Westchester/Riviera. Only properties within these survey areas have been evaluated as part of this project. For these evaluations, contact the City of Bakersfield for the results of the survey.

PREVIOUS EVALUATIONS, SURVEYS & OTHER STUDIES
This historic context statement has also reviewed previous evaluations for historic listing, historic resources surveys, environmental review documents, and other related efforts.

Individual property evaluations include nominations for local listing in the Bakersfield Register of Historical Place, as well as nominations and determination of eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places. Previous historic resources surveys include a series of historic inventory forms prepared in 1984-86 by Christopher D. Brewer of Brewer’s Historical Consultants; and a cultural resources survey of East Bakersfield conducted in 1988 by the City’s Economic and Community Development Department and Brewer’s Historical Consultants with assistance from Citizen Volunteers from Bakersfield, and updated by the Historic Preservation Commission in 2004. More recently, a documentation update effort was undertaken by the Historic Preservation Commission in 2016.

In 2017, the California High Speed Rail Authority published their report on the potential impacts of planned high-speed rail in California. The Fresno to Bakersfield Section identified several potential historic resources in the City of Bakersfield. The following year, the California Department of Transportation published JRP Historical Consulting, LLC’s Key Postwar Housing Tracts Within the Greater Bakersfield Area, 1945-1973. In March 2012, a Historic Property Survey Report (HPSR) was prepared by California Department of Transportation District 6 for the 24th Street Improvement Project. This HPSR included a Historical Resources Evaluation Report (HRER), prepared by LSA Associates, Inc. All of these environmental reports were reviewed for relevant information for this historic context statement.

INTERSECTIONALITY
Intersectionality is “the multivalent quality of lived experience…the complexities of identity and the multiplicity of communities with a stake in the preservation and interpretation of any given historic property.”10 The concept of intersectionality suggests that seemingly homogenous communities are anything by homogeneous. They are diverse with many voices and affected by layers of nuanced history of specific communities and the world writ large. By their very nature, theme studies can often lend themselves to the minimization of cross-group connections and

10 Donna Graves and Gail Dubrow, “Taking Intersectionality Seriously,” The Public Historian, Vol. 41, No 2, (May 2019), 290.

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intersectional identities. Associating resources with one group of people over another “…runs the risk of denying the layering of history and the shared streets of the present.”11 As described by historians Donna Graves and Gail Dubrow, “applying a single lens of gender, race or ethnicity, sexuality or any category of social analysis to the practice of historic preservation risks misrepresenting the layered history of place and forecloses possibilities for political mobilization across identity lines in the interest of fostering greater social cohesion.”12 This is true in a city like Bakersfield, where many different cultural communities have settled in the city and populations have waxed and waned over time. For example, Chinatown’s evolution and its tangential relationship to “Jap Alley” suggest a complex relationship among Asian American residents of Bakersfield. The location of Basque and Italian immigrants in East Bakersfield, both drawn by work on the railroad, acknowledges their cultural differences alongside their common reality as residents of Sumner. While such nuances of overlapping identities and layers of history are beyond the scope of this document—the City of Bakersfield’s first citywide historic context statement—these issues and stories are worthy of future study.

ETHNIC/CULTURAL TERMINOLOGY
The discussion below outlines the approach to terminology relating to various ethnic and cultural groups as used in this historic context statement.

Native American
In recent years, historians and archeologists have developed an evolved language for talking about tribal and cultural resources. This includes a movement away from less precise or misleading language such as encountered, recruited, organized, employed, or participated, in favor of more accurate and descriptive terms like colonized, enslaved, displaced, forced labor, and disenfranchised. The latter terms have superseded their counterparts to acknowledge the true nature of the events, policies, and activities that have impacted the Native American community.

African American/Black
As the population of the United States has become more diverse, some consider the term African American is too restrictive to describe the American’s current Black population, which includes many immigrants from Africa or the Caribbean. The term African American originally came into use to reflect the experiences of people whose origins were on the African continent, but whose lived experience was on the American continent. The Black population that historically settled and resided in Bakersfield and Kern County were in fact the descendants of enslaved people who had migrated from the southern United States. As such, the term African American is used in this historic context statement. The terms African American and Black are used interchangeably, and the term Black is capitalized.

11 Graves and Dubrow, 310.
12 Graves and Dubrow, 313.

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Latina/o and Chicana/o
Over time, terms to describe the Latin American communities of the United States have evolved. In recent years, the term Latinx has been adopted by some as a non-gendered term describing both men and women whose heritage is tied to the countries of Latin America.

However, recent studies have shown that most Americans of Latin American heritage do not widely identify with term Latinx. Therefore, this document uses the more traditional terms Latina/o.

The recent use of the terms Latinas/os also reflects an increasingly diverse group of immigrants from Latin America, including those of Mexican, Guatemalan, Salvadoran, and Cuban descent.

Historically, however, the Latin American population of California during the late-19th through the mid-20th century were overwhelmingly of Mexican heritage. As such, the historic context statement uses the terms Mexican or Mexican American as appropriate to more accurately describe this population.

The historic term Chicana/o is also used in this document to represent the chosen identification of some persons of Mexican American descent, emphasizing an indigenous/mestizo heritage and anti-establishment political view during the 1960s and 1970s. The term Chicana/o was adopted by people of Mexican descent who did not fully identify either as Mexican or American.

The term Chicana/o is used in this historic context statement when culturally and historically appropriate.

Japanese American
With respect to Japanese American history and sociology, generational terms are important for the reader to understand. The first-generation immigrants are known as Issei. Historically, this population came to the United States between 1890 and 1924 and were steeped in Japanese culture and tradition. Few attended American schools, except for those who came specifically to pursue a college education. English proficiency varied among this generation. The children of Issei are the Nisei, or second generation. Nisei were born in the United States, primarily between 1910 and 1940. They grew up during the Great Depression and were teenagers during World War II. They attended local public schools, and many attended Japanese language schools (gakuen). The third generation is the Sansei, or members of the post-World War II baby boom. Many Sansei have American first names. Most came of age at the height of the student protest movement of the 1960s, and many attended college and became working professionals.

The fourth generation is the Yonsei. They were born in the mid-1960s, came of age in the post- Watergate years, and had the highest rates of interracial marriage of any previous Japanese American generation.

Over time, the preferred vocabulary for describing events relating to the treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II has evolved to more accurately reflect these events and experiences. As such, the terms forced removal, incarceration, incarceration camp, and illegal detention center are preferred over previous terms like internment, evacuation, and relocation.

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It should also be noted that the term “Jap” appears in several places in this report. Widely recognized as a derogatory term for Japanese Americans, it appears in this report as part of quotations from historical sources or in place names.

Filipino American
With respect to the Filipino American community, the spelling of Filipino with the letter “F” is the most commonly used to represent the people and language of the Philippines. When referring to the country and islands, the spelling of Philippines, with the letters “Ph” is used because the name stems from Philip, the English equivalent of Felipe, referring to Spanish King Felipe II for which the islands are named. People from the Philippines also refer to themselves and their national language as Pilipino with the letter “P,” as most Filpino language and dialects do not include phonetics for the letter “F.”13

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR BAKERSFIELD
Sumner, Kern City & East Bakersfield
The area now known as East Bakersfield has had several names over the last 150 years. As described further in the Historic Context Statement below, this area originated at the town of Sumner, then became known as Kern City, before being annexed to the City of Bakersfield as the community of East Bakersfield.14 When discussing this area in the historic context, it is identified by the place name appropriate for that historic period. For purposes of this historic context statement, Sumner is used from 1874 until about 1893; Kern City is used from about 1893 through 1910; and East Bakersfield is used from 1910 to the present.15 Addresses & Street Name Changes
As in many cities, there have been a series of street name changes throughout Bakersfield over time. This is particularly the case in East Bakersfield, which (as noted above) originated as the town of Sumner, then Kern City, before being annexed into the City of Bakersfield. In fact, in some instances, street names may have been changed more than once.

Historical research conducted for the preparation of this historic context statement has revealed a number of these street name changes. However, this information is likely incomplete as there does not appear to be a comprehensive list of street name changes over time. Known street name changes are listed in the table below for reference. Where differing historical and current street names are known, this is referenced in the body of the context statement. This information is more likely to be known for properties located within one of the four geographic areas being surveyed as part of the current project—Downtown Bakersfield, East Bakersfield, Oleander/Sunset, and Westchester/Riviera—as these properties have the benefit of property- specific historical research as well as current field survey. For properties located outside of

13 “Filipino, Pilipino, Philippines-What’s The Difference?” Center for Philippine Studies, University of Hawaii, Manoa, http://www.hawaii.edu/cps/filipino.html (accessed January 17, 2023). 14 The area is also commonly known as Old Town Kern. 15 These date ranges have been established based upon the presence of a Sumner Standard newspaper, as well as the place names used on Sanborn Fire Insurance Co. maps.

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these survey areas, street addresses are often gleaned from historical sources, such as city directories or Sanborn maps, and would need to be confirmed as part of a future field survey effort.

Figure 1. Known Street Name Changes
Historical Current
A Street (between Tulare Street and Beale
Avenue in East Bakersfield)
Alpine Street
B Street (between Tulare Street and Beale
Avenue in East Bakersfield)
Butte Street
C Street (between Tulare Street and Beale
Avenue in East Bakersfield)
Chico Street
Cottonwood Road S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard D Street (between Tulare Street and Beale
Avenue in East Bakersfield)
Dolores Street
D Street (south of California Avenue) Oleander Avenue E Street (between Tulare Street and Beale
Avenue in East Bakersfield)
Eureka Street
F Street (between Tulare Street and Beale
Avenue in East Bakersfield)
E. 18th Street
G Street (between Tulare Street and Beale
Avenue in East Bakersfield)
Grove Street and E. 19th Street (at different
times)
Grove Street E. 19th Street
H Street (between Tulare Street and Beale
Avenue in East Bakersfield)
Humboldt Street and E. 21st Street (at
different times)
Humboldt Street E. 21st Street
I Street (in Downtown Bakersfield) Eye Street
J Street (between Tulare Street and Beale
Avenue in East Bakersfield)
Jackson Street
K Street (between Tulare Street and Beale
Avenue in East Bakersfield)
Kentucky Street
L Street (between Tulare Street and Beale
Avenue in East Bakersfield)
Lake Street
Lakeview Avenue S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Railroad Avenue Truxtun Avenue

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NATIVE AMERICAN PERIOD
The range of the Yowlumne was the largest and their tribal life the most organized of all Yokuts tribes. Their range was in every direction from their central village, Woilu, located about where now (1973) stands the Santa Fe passenger station in Bakersfield…The Yowlumne hunted on the hills as far north as Poso Creek. To the south they ranged to the shore of Kern Lake southeast to present Greenfield and across the south shore of Kern Lake. To the southeast they ranged to within a few miles of where Tejon Creek leaves the foothills.16 Frank F. Latta, Handbook of Yokuts
Indians
The Yokuts of the San Joaquin Valley
The City of Bakersfield is located in the southern region of the San Joaquin Valley, which is the ancestral home of the Native American group today referred to as the Yokuts. The Yokuts language is classified as a member of the California Penutian language family and their name is derived from the word for “persons” or “people.”17 Yokuts are typically divided into three geographical groups: the Northern Valley Yokuts, Southern Valley Yokuts, and Foothill Yokuts.

The City of Bakersfield is located in the area that was inhabited by the Southern Valley Yokuts.18
For over 8,000 years, the Southern Valley Yokuts inhabited the area comprising Tulare, Buena Vista, and Kern lakes, their connecting sloughs, and the lower regions of the Kings, Kaweah, Tule, and Kern rivers. Most of the known Southern Valley Yokuts villages were located along the Kern River northeast of present-day Bakersfield, or near Kern and Buena Vista lakes south and southeast of Bakersfield. This area was characterized by its combination of tule-rich marshlands and drier plains with sage, greasewood, and bunchgrass.

The Southern Valley Yokuts were split into self-governing local groups, or tribelets, each of which spoke a unique dialect and had a special name for itself. Tribelets typically averaged 350 members and occupied some 250 square miles of territory. This land was collectively owned by members of the group. Several settlements were combined to form a political unit, and approximate locations of over 50 Southern Valley Yokuts settlements are known from archaeological and ethnographic sources.19 However, it is estimated that approximately 90 percent of all archaeological sites associated with Yokuts have been destroyed.20

16 Frank F. Latta, Handbook of Yokuts Indians (Santa Cruz, CA: Bear State Books, 1977), 275. 17 Alfred L. Kroeber, Handbook of the Indians of California (New York, NY: Dover Publications, 1976), 488. 18 Michael Silverstein, “Yokuts: Introduction,” in Handbook of North American Indians 8: California, ed. Robert F. Heizer (Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institute, 1978), 446.
19 William J. Wallace, “Southern Valley Yokuts,” in Handbook of North American Indians, 454. 20 Francis A. Riddell, “The Status of San Joaquin Valley Archaeology,” in Essays in California Archaeology: A Memorial to Franklin Fenega, ed. William J. Wallace and Francis A. Riddell (Berkeley, CA: University of California Archaeological Research Facility, 2002).

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Southern Valley Yokuts established permanent villages and resided in single-family oval- shaped houses of post-frame construction covered with tule mats. Political positions within the tribelets consisted of a central chief or two co-chiefs (one from each totemic moiety), captains, dance managers, tribal spokesmen, and spiritual leaders. The position of chief was typically passed through patrilineal inheritance. The chief was responsible for directing celebrations and ceremonies, mediating disputes, and hosting visitors, among other roles. In addition to the chief, spiritual leaders also held power and authority over the tribal community and took a leading role in many public rituals. Spiritual leaders were important for their ability to heal the sick through various methods that varied by practitioner. A system of reciprocal relations frequently existed between chiefs and spiritual leaders.21 The Yokuts’ subsistence practices focused on fishing; hunting waterfowl; and collecting shellfish, roots, and seeds.22 Fishing was typically accomplished by using tule nets and rafts, basketry traps, and spearing. Snares were used to catch geese, ducks, mud hens, and other waterfowl. Wild seeds and roots provided a large portion of the Southern Valley Yokuts’ diet.23 The Yokuts practiced controlled burning of freshwater marshes to clear out old reeds, recycle nutrients, provide open land for waterfowl, and stimulate new plant growth.24 Tule was an important natural resource for the Southern Valley Yokuts, who relied on the plant for the manufacture of baskets, cradles, traps, and houses, among other goods. Wood and stone were not common in the region and were typically acquired through trade with neighboring tribes. Tools such as knives, projectile points, and scraping tools were made from bone or imported lithic materials.25 Transportation was both by foot and via canoe-shaped rafts, or balsas,26 fashioned from tule reeds.

21 Wallace, 454, 457-458.
22 Jeffrey S. Rosenthal, Gregory G. White, and Mark Q. Sutton, “The Central Valley: A View from the Catbird’s Seat,” in California Prehistory: Colonization, Culture, and Complexity, ed. Terry L. Jones and Kathryn A. Klar (Lanham, MA: Altamira Press, 2007), 155.
23 Wallace, 450; Kat Anderson, Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California’s Natural Resources (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2005), 178. 24 Anderson, 145.
25 Wallace, 451; Rosenthal et al., 155.
26 This name is of Spanish origin.

Yokuts women weaving baskets at Tule River Reservation, c. 1906. (Huntington Library)

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Food and trade were important components of the Yokuts’ economy and featured in tribal legends. Both individuals and families could serve as professional traders, often covering great distances. Items traded included elk and deer skins, baskets, steatite, acorn flour, and marine shell beads from the coast, and obsidian, sinew-baked bows, moccasins, salt, pine nuts, and mountain sheep skins from the Owens Valley region.27 Several “interface centers” were established in the San Joaquin Valley to function as regional centers for trade and mourning ceremonies, which could attract hundreds to thousands of people.

Native American Communities in Bakersfield
The Yowlumne (also known as Yawelmani or Yauelmane)28 were a group of Southern Valley Yokuts that occupied the upper region of the San Joaquin Valley. The Yowlumne tribe had four permanent villages in their 350 square miles of territory.29 The main village of the Yowlumne was Woilu/Woilo, located on a knoll along the old channels of the Kern River within the city limits of present-day Bakersfield.30 A second village was located across the river to the west of Woilu; these villages were often collectively identified as a single center.31 These villages were likely located near the present-day intersections of 16th and F streets and 16th and A streets. Because Woilu was the head village it was also the seat of the Yowlumne chief and an important trading location. As remembered by Wahumchah, the last full blood Yowlumne:

My father told me he was born right where Bakersfield is now. His people had two villages there, one on each side [of the] river. One was [on the] high knoll close by river. It was my father’s business to trade and to run anywhere his Teah (Chief) wanted him to go. He was Winatun (Messenger).32 Other villages were scattered around the plains that are now occupied by the City of Bakersfield, although these villages were not permanent, as the occupants were forced to move when the Kern River flooded. Other permanent villages included Wawcoye on the south banks of the Kern River, and Hawsu and Tsinleu on the north banks.

The Yowlumne arranged their tule houses, or dumlus, in a row, with each house containing a single family.33 The Yowlumne also occupied lake tule houses, which were long wedge-shaped tents that could reach a length of four hundred feet and house a dozen or more families.34 They hunted badger, fox, deep, antelope, rabbits, and squirrels. Belonging to the group identified by

27 Anna H. Gayton, “Yokuts and Western Mono Ethnography,” University of California Anthropological Records, 10, 56, 215; Brooke S. Arkush, “Yokuts Trade Networks and Native Cultural Change in Central and Eastern California,” Ethnohistory 40, no. 4 (Duke University Press, 1993), 623.
28 This context uses the name “Yowlumne” which is the tribe’s name as identified by Wahumchah, the last full blood Yowlumne as recorded in Frank F. Latta, Handbook of Yokuts Indians (Santa Cruz, CA: Bear State Books, 1977), 203. 29 Latta, Handbook of Yokuts Indians, 205, 63.
30 Wallace, Fig. 1, 448; Latta, 64.
31 Latta does not provide a name for this second village. Latta, 278, 310. 32 Wahumchah as recorded by Latta, 309.
33 A.H. Gayton, Yokuts and Western Mono Ethnography I: Tulare Lake, Southern Valley, and Central Foothill Yokuts (Berkeley, CA:

University of California Press, 1948), 13.
34 Latta, Handbook of Yokuts Indians, 244.

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Latta as the “River Culture,” the Yowlumne were more abundantly supplied with fish, game, and plant food than other Yokuts tribes.35

THEMES
There are no extant built resources in the City of Bakersfield dating from this period.36 Therefore, no themes have been developed for this context.

35 Latta, Handbook of Yokuts Indians, 251-252.
36The study of archaeological resources is outside the scope of this project.

Map of Southern and Central Yokuts by Alfred Kroeber, 1901. (Internet Archive)

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EUROPEAN EXPLORATION, 1542-1768
The Cabrillo expedition claimed more than 800 miles of coastline for Spain. It did not find a route to the Spice Islands, the mythical passage, or gold. What Cabrillo did accomplish had long lasting importance for Spain…the Spanish exploration gave way to the Colonial Era.37
Cabrillo National Monument,
National Park Service
Although the territory we know today as California was already inhabited by Native Americans, by the 1500s Spain was motivated to take possession of the Pacific Coast amid concerns that if they failed to do so, the land might be claimed by competing foreign powers. In 1542, King Carlos dispatched Portuguese explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo to explore the West Coast of North America on behalf of the Spanish Empire. Cabrillo set sail in June of 1542 and arrived in what is now San Diego Bay in September of that year. In doing so, Cabrillo became the first known European to set foot on California soil, claiming the territory for the Spanish Empire.38 In 1579, a competing claim of the Pacific Coast was made by Sir Francis Drake for England, prompting two more Spanish expeditions, by Sebastián Rodríguez Cermeño in 1596, and by Sebastián Vizcaíno in 1602.

By the 1760s, Spanish political and economic conditions—as well as leadership—had changed.

Spain was now facing a greater territorial threat from England and Russia. At the same time, Jesuit missionaries were attempting to convert the Native Americans to Christianity.39 In 1767, Spain’s King Carlos III issued a proclamation ordering all Jesuits to be expelled from Spanish territories. Gaspar de Portolá was named Governor of the Californias (Alta and Baja) and dispatched to the region to dispossess the Jesuits and turn California over to the Spanish Franciscans.40
Following the Seven Years’ War (1756-1763), the Spanish Crown made the transition from exploration to permanent settlement of Alta California. In this war, Great Britain gained several territories in the Americas, undermining Spain’s dominance in the region. In response, Spain charged the Franciscan order with leading the settlement of Alta California in the mid-18th century.

37 “Cabrillo National Monument,” National Park Service, http://npshistory.com/publications/cabr/index.htm (accessed October 31, 2022).
38 Some sources state that both the Hernando de Alarcón and Melchor Díaz expeditions may have entered present-day California in 1540.
39 Zoeth Skinner Eldredge, The March of Portola and the Discovery of the Bay of San Francisco (San Francisco: The California Promotion Committee, 1901), 2021.
40 Eldredge, 23.

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THEMES
There are no extant built resources in the City of Bakersfield dating from this period.41 Therefore, no themes have been developed for this context.

41 The period of European Exploration focused mainly along the California coastline. Although the explorers had frequent interactions with the Native Americans along the way, there is no documentary evidence that they had cause or inclination to explore the present-day San Joaquin Valley. That would come during the period of Spanish colonization.

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COLONIZATION DURING THE SPANISH & MEXICAN ERAS,
1769-1848
I descended further, accompanied by three Indians whom I met on the road, and reached a position wherefrom I perceived a rancheria on the other side of the river…The people of the rancheria had a great feast over my arrival, and having regaled me well I reciprocated to them all with tobacco and glass abundant beads...On this famous river, which I named Rio de San Felipe, there are pastures, famous woods, and much irrigated ground.42
Francisco Garcés, Franciscan Priest
In 1769, the Spanish government dispatched an expedition led by Captain Gaspar de Portolá, the newly appointed governor of the Californias, and Franciscan Father Junípero Serra to establish the first Spanish settlement in Alta California. Portolá established a military outpost at the Presidio of San Diego, thereby claiming Alta California as Spanish territory. Within the month, Serra also founded Mission San Diego de Alcalá at Presidio Hill, the first of the twenty- one missions that would be established in Alta California by the Spanish and the Franciscan Order between 1769 and 1823. Following establishment of the Presidio of San Diego, Portolá set out with a small group of explorers on an overland expedition along what would become known as the El Camino Real (“The Royal Road”), which ran close to the Pacific Coast, west of the central Valley.

The earliest documented interaction between Yokuts and Spaniards was in 1772, when Captain Pedro Fages and a detachment of soldiers traveled through the southern San Joaquin Valley.

Four years later, in 1776, Franciscan priest Padre Francisco Garcés (1738-1781) led a second Spanish expedition into the San Joaquin Valley.43 Garcés had been dispatched to explore the Central Valley to find a better route between Mission San Gabriel and Monterey.44 Garcés traveled to the Yowlumne Yokuts village on the northern bank of the Kern River near present- day Bakersfield.

Garcés proved a fearless explorer and a tireless missionary. He made five entradas, or journeys of discovery, into the mysterious lands that lay to the west of Mission San Xavier del Bac, near Tucson. Between 1768 and 1776, he traveled through Arizona, and Southern and Central Mexico and Arizona to the west coast.45
It was on his fifth and final entrada that Garcés passed through present-day Bakersfield. He sought a place to cross the river, selecting one where there were Indian rancherias on either side. The water was high and swift and Garcés could not swim. The Native Americans agreed to help him and managed to pull Garcés across, transporting his robes and possessions in

42 Elliot Coues, On the Trail of a Spanish Pioneer: The Diary and Itinerary of Francisco Garces (Missionary Priest) in his Travels Through Sonora, Arizona, and California 1775-1776, vol.1 (New York, NY: Francis P. Harper, 1900), 281-283. 43 Arkush, 623-624.
44 Richard C. Bailey, Bakersfield: Heart of the Golden Empire (Bakersfield, CA: Kern County Historical Society), 14. 45 Raymund F. Wood, “Francisco Garcés Explorer of Southern California,” Southern California Quarterly Vol. 51, No. 3 (September 1969), 202.

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caritas, or baskets water-proofed with pitch found in the petroleum-rich area.46 The present- day site of Garcés Circle is the approximate site of the Indian rancheria visited by Garcés on May 7, 1776. Padre Garcés named the spot San Miguel de los Noches por el Santa Principe.

Garcés died five years later in the Yuma Massacres, in which the Native Americans revolted against groups of Spanish settlers and soldiers who tried to colonize Yuma with settlements.

More Spaniards would pass through the San Joaquin Valley in the following decades, but recorded visits were not known to have occurred until the early 19th century. By this time, the Spanish planned to extend the mission system inland into the San Joaquin Valley. Early expeditions in 1806 to establish favorable sites for mission settlements were unsuccessful, and several Yokuts groups were forced into the existing Soledad, San Luis Obispo, San Antonio, and San Juan Bautista missions. As native populations at the missions fell—largely due to disease brought by the European settlers, declining birth rates, and defections—military detachments were sent into the interior to capture runaway neophytes, recover stolen horses, and seek out new recruits. The brutality of these campaigns is evident in the diary of Father José Viader of Mission San José, who traveled to the San Joaquin Valley in October 1810:

Before dawn we assaulted a village on this side of the river and only one person escaped, a San José Christian named Bernardo. He, having gone to sleep some distance from the village, jumped into the water and swam in great haste to warn those at the dance. For this reason, we immediately fell upon the other village, which was on the opposite side of the river, and took it entire. The prisoners in all included 15 San José Christians, 18 heathen men, and 51 heathen women.47
As these campaigns increased in frequency and violence, the Yokuts offered armed resistance to the expeditions. Yokuts resisted Spanish and Mexican domination with an independence maintained through raids; Yokuts raided horses from mission herds to sustain their economic independence while also employing guerilla warfare tactics to resist punitive Spanish military expeditions.48
Despite their resistance to Spanish colonization and the mission system, the Yokuts did incorporate some aspects of Euro-American material culture into their traditional societies.

Yokuts traders played a pivotal role in the introduction of Euro-American trade items among native groups in central California and the eastern Sierra Nevada. Specifically, Yokuts increasingly used Spanish glass beads as currency, and adopted the horse into their lifeways to increase their political and economic influence.49
The first American visitor to the San Joaquin Valley was Jedediah Strong Smith In 1827. He was followed by a trapper named Edwin Young in 1830, who was traveling with Kit Carson. In 1844, John C. Fremont explored the valley, reaching the present-day Kern River on April 12,

46 Wood, 202.
47 Sherburne F. Cook, “Colonial Expeditions to the Interior of California: Central Valley, 1800-1820,” University of California Anthropological Records, 16, 259.
48 Arkush, 626.
49 Arkush, 620; Damon B. Akins and William J. Bauer, Jr., We Are the Land: A History of Native California (Oakland, CA: University of California Press, 2021), 97.

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1844, at which time Fremont commented, “It is about thirty-five feet wide with a stony and gravelly bed, and the swiftest stream we have crossed since leaving the bay.”50 The following year, Fremont was again asked to make an exploration of the area and selected 60 men to accompany him. One of the men was Edward “Ned” Meyer Kern, a Philadelphian. He was 23 years old and a talented artist who sketched pictures for the expedition. Fremont named the Kern River after him in 1845.

The Mexican Secularization Act of 1833 directed the closure of the California missions. The regulations intended to return the land to the indigenous inhabitants, assigning them one half of the mission lands and property to Native Americans in grants of 33 acres of arable land, along with common land sufficient enough to pasture their stock. However, the distribution of mission lands did not unfold in the way that the regulations anticipated. Local men assigned to distribute the lands to the indigenous people systematically denied indigenous peoples’ access to the nearly eight million acres of mission lands.

In order to attract settlers to the region, Mexico established a system of land grants that divided the land into large tracts known as ranchos. The Mexican government granted these ranchos to private individuals who were Mexican soldiers, settlers, or financiers. Kern County had five such ranchos: San Emigdio, La Liebre, El Tejón, Rancho Castac, and Los Alamos y Agua Caliente. On July 14, 1842, Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado granted Jose Antonio Dominguez the four-square league Rancho San Emigdio at the south end of the San Joaquin Valley. The rancho eventually ended up in the holdings of the Kern County Land Company.51 By 1840, Mexican families were living just south of present-day Bakersfield. Historian Eugene Burmeister notes that one of these was the Cuen family.52 Perfecto Cuen (1858-1933) was born to Ventura Cuen and María Jesús Moreno Cuen.

Yokuts relations with Mexican colonizers were similar to those of the Spanish colonizers they had replaced. Yokuts continued to conduct raiding parties as a means of resisting colonization, even trading stolen Mexican horses with American traders. By this means, Yokuts used the presence of Americans in the region to further resist the Mexican military.53 In 1833, an American party of fur trappers introduced an epidemic disease to the area, likely malaria, decimating the population of Yokuts in the San Joaquin Valley.54 It is estimated that over 20,000 Central Valley Yokuts, Miwok, Wintun, and Maidu Native Americans perished in the epidemic.55 As recorded by Colonel J.J. Warner, who traveled through the epicenter of the plague:

Late in the summer of 1833 we found the valleys depopulated. From the head of the Sacramento to the great bend and slough of the San Joaquin we did not see

50 Bailey, Bakersfield: Heart of the Golden Empire, 21. 51 Chris Brewer, Historic Kern County (San Antonio, TX: Kern County Museum Foundation and Historic Publishing Network, 2001),

9. 52 Eugene Burmeister, City Along the Kern-Bakersfield, California 1869-1969 (Bakersfield, CA: Kern Publishing House, 1969), 2. 53 Akins and Bauer, 109.
54 Arkush, 629.
55 “Short Overview of California Indian History,” State of California Native American Heritage Commission, https://nahc.ca.gov/resources/california-indian-history/ (accessed October 19, 2022).

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more than six or eight live Indians… uninhabited and deserted villages had been converted into graveyards…56
During the Mexican American War (1846-1848) and the fight for American statehood, several Yokuts, led by José Jesús, joined with Americans on the side of the California Republic.57 Following American victory, indigenous people signed 18 treaties with the United States, reserving 7.5 million acres of land. These treaties were ultimately rejected by the U.S. In turn, over the following years, Americans systematically enslaved thousands of Native Americans across the state through forced labor and indentured servitude. The country then moved to a system of mission-like “temporary” reservations under the leadership of Edward F. Beale. These reservations were limited in size to 25,000 acres and sought to instruct Native Americans on the “benefits of work and labor” while keeping them “under federal agents and the United States Army’s watchful eye.”58 At the end of the Mexican American War, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo gave the United States a huge tract of land, including present-day California.

THEMES
As there are no known extant built resources in the City of Bakersfield dating from this period, no themes have been developed for this context.

56 Frank T. Gilbert, History of San Joaquin County, California (1879), 11-12, as cited in: S.F. Cook, “The Epidemic of 1830-1833 in California and Oregon,” University of California Publications in American Archaeology and Ethnology 43, no. 3 (Berkeley, University of California Press, 1955), 318.
57 Akins and Bauer, 129.
58 Akins and Bauer, 146.

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SETTLEMENT, THE RAILROAD & CITY INCORPORATION,
1849-1898
This is God’s country! Someday it will be filled with happy homes. The largest town south of Stockton will have its site here. Three or four lines of railroads will come through the mountain passes and center here. This place is rich in future possibilities.59
Col. Thomas Baker, 1862, as remembered
by Mrs. Mary Ellen Baker Tracy,
Bakersfield Morning Echo, 1904.

Early Settlement
The history of Bakersfield’s development is inextricably linked to the Kern River, flooding, and drought. Early settlers were drawn to Bakersfield by the rich and fertile soil, but the fickle river would dictate lives and livelihoods. For this reason, Bakersfield’s early name was “Kern Island.” In 1853, General Edward Fitzgerald “Ned” Beale (1822-1893), California’s first Superintendent of Indian Affairs, established the first of multiple reservations on Rancho el Tejón lands at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, approximately 30 miles south of present-day Bakersfield. As recounted by historians Damon B. Akins and William J. Bauer, Jr.:

Tejon was a military reservation, chosen because officials believed that restricting Yokuts to a reservation would protect Los Angeles area ranchers from their widespread horse raids. The Yokuts were the most populous indigenous group in California at the time of first European contact, but their population was in steep decline, and reservation life contributed to that. From approximately fourteen thousand in 1848 the population of Yokuts fell to around six hundred by 1880.60
In 1863, Beale purchased Rancho el Tejón for private use, and many Yokuts were forcibly removed from the land. Some relocated to the Tule River Indian Reservation established in 1857 near Porterville in Tulare County, while several remained in Tejón.61 Beale was a figure of national and international importance. He was a naval officer, military general, explorer, frontiersman, Indian affairs superintendent, California rancher, and diplomat.

The landscape that had sustained the Yokuts for thousands of years was also changing during this period. The removal of many Yokut land stewards to reservations, the encroachment of private irrigation, and a series of floods in the 1860s, all dramatically reduced water availability in the area. The state subsequently turned over the land to agricultural and ranching opportunities. In turn, diminished grasslands challenged the Yokuts’ adaptation to the horse over the previous century. In 1873, the Tule River Indian Reservation was moved approximately

59 Bailey, Bakersfield: Heart of the Golden Empire, 35. 60 Akins and Bauer, 147.
61 “Our History,” Tejon Indian Tribe, https://www.tejonindiantribe.com/our-history/ (accessed October 19, 2022); Gayton, 46.

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ten miles southeast of its original location.62 Originally, the majority of the Yokuts at the reservation were the Yaudanchi and Wikchamni tribes.63
Permanent settlement of what would become the City of Bakersfield is generally regarded as beginning with Christian Bohna (1805-1872), who moved his family into a hunting cabin originally built by Thomas Fitzgerald. Bohna built a home for his family on a site near present- day intersection of 20th and K streets in downtown Bakersfield. Sparrell W. Woody, another early settler who came to Kern Island to farm, married Bonha’s daughter, Sarah Louise. Other early settlers included Robert Gilbert, John McCray (farmer and stock raiser), Harvey K. Skiles (who planted the first cotton in 1862), Thomas Banes (who planted the first alfalfa in 1864), Edward Tibbet, Wesley W. Shirley, and Lewis Reeder. Gilbert, who moved to present-day Bakersfield in 1860, was also credited with being the first to discover of the Kern River oil district.64
The Yowlumne village of Woilu was located on a knoll where Lewis Reeder built a two-story house; the site became known as Reeder Hill. Eventually, the house burned, and the mound was removed when the Santa Fe Railroad was constructed through Bakersfield. As recorded by ethnographer Frank R. Latta:

Trainloads of sandy soil were hauled from the mound to build the railroad grade in both directions from Bakersfield. During this work many hundreds of stone mortars and pestles and Indian burials were uncovered and scattered along the grade from Wasco to Caliente.65
Perhaps the most important early settler, however, was Col. Thomas Baker (1810-72), founder of the town of Bakersfield. Born in Zanesville, Ohio, Baker became one of the first settlers in Iowa. Although he had little formal schooling, he studied and became a frontier lawyer and surveyor. Prompted by the death of his wife and gold rush fever, Baker headed for California where he founded the town of Visalia. Baker also had political ambitions. He served in both the California State Assembly and in the State Senate, representing Tulare and Fresno counties in the early 1860s.

Baker also served as receiver for the United States Land Office, where he became an expert in the Swamp and Overflow Lands Act of 1857. Under the terms of this Act, brothers Joseph and William Montgomery and two other partners were authorized to reclaim all state-owned swamp and overflow land between Kings River Slough and Tulare Lake. They promised to build navigable canals, and once they did, would receive rights to the land. However, the brothers’ plans were derailed, first by the great flood of December 1862, which washed away the settlers’ adobe homes, and then by drought. Col. Baker and Harvey Brown subsequently purchased the

62 “Tule River Indian Reservation,” historical plaque, Tule County Historical Society, October 16, 1949, Internet Archive, https://ia902806.us.archive.org/25/items/cvicl_001688/cvicl_001688_access.jpg (accessed October 20, 2022). 63 A large migration of Yowlumne Yokuts from Bakersfield to the reservation at the end of the 19th century influenced the language at the reservation, so that by 1905 Yowlumne was the most commonly spoken dialect. 64 “First Settler In Bakersfield Returns After A Long Absence,” The Daily Californian, June 21, 1902, no page. 65 Latta, 279.

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brothers’ interests. Baker then bought out Brown and secured a one-year extension from the government.

In 1854, Lt. Robert Stockton Williamson was dispatched to identify transportation corridors for the railroad. As part of this work, he identified the Tejon Pass and the Grapevine (Canada de las Uvas). Many old wagon roads and Indian trails were identified. Ultimately, one of these roads would become part of the Sumner-Los Angeles Road (Cottonwood Road and present-day Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard).66
On September 10, 1863, Baker moved his new wife to Christian Bohna’s house and hired Native Americans to help him reclaim 400,000 acres of swamp and overflow land. He built a head gate on the river, a levee, and a dam. He also built a home near present-day 19th and N streets. He farmed corn, beans, potatoes, and other crops. Baker fenced off ten acres—bounded by present-day 17th Street, 14th Street, P Street, and M Street—and planted alfalfa for travelers in the area. The area became known as “Baker’s Field” (later revised to “Bakersfield”), and it was the only stopping point between Visalia and Los Angeles.

Water continued to control the destiny of Bakersfield’s development. After five dry winters, in late 1867 it began raining. Then, on December 23rd, the rain stopped and the Kern River went dry. A natural dam had formed upriver and on Christmas Eve it broke, unleashing a wall of water between 60 and 100 feet high down the river gorge.67 The mostly adobe homes along the riverbanks were washed away, and the flooding rerouted the Kern River to the path it holds today.

After a second reclamation project was derailed the following year, this time by the government, Baker pivoted and went into the real estate business. He mapped out a new town site, with streets measuring 82.5 feet wide and avenues 115 feet wide, wider than in other city where he had observed that horses and buggies barely had room to pass one another.68 From his last reclamation project, Baker had retained 80 acres for a homestead and sold or donated the rest of the land for the new city. The exact location of the townsite was determined by General William Palmer of the U.S. Topographical Corps. As depicted in the original tract map, the townsite extended from E Street on the west to N Street on the east, and from 12th Street on the south to 26th Street on the north.

In 1866, Kern County officially broke away from Tulare County and established Havilah as its county seat. By April 1869, the town of Bakersfield had a population of some 600.69 The first stores were opened by Livermore & Chester in 1865, and by Jacoby & Co. in 1869. Other early establishments included a photographic gallery, a blacksmith shop, a telegraph office, and a post office. These enterprises all occupied wooden, vernacular-style buildings.

66 Fatima Bugharin, email to Cecelia Griego, March 14, 2023. 67 John Arthur Maynard, Bakersfield: A Centennial Portrait (Encino, CA: Cherbo Publishing Group, Inc., 1997), 13. 68 Burmeister, 7.
69 Burmeister, 8.

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“Map of Bakersfield, Kern County, Cal. Incorporated May 7th, 1873.” (Kern County Public Works)

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In 1870, Bakersfield was re-surveyed and shade trees were planted at each corner lot. Also that year, the California State Legislature passed a bill to move the county seat from Havilah to Bakersfield, but Governor Henry H. Height refused to sign it. The Bakersfield Club, the forerunner of the Chamber of Commerce, ultimately sued, causing an election and subsequent recount. The Kern County seat was officially moved to Bakersfield in February of 1874, and a Beaux Arts-style courthouse was erected in 1876. However, Col. Baker would not live to see the transformation; he died of typhoid in 1872.

Col. Baker’s passing marked the beginning of Union Cemetery.70 Col. Baker himself selected the ground in which he was to be interred. Prior to 1972, Bakersfield and Sumner had neglected, run-down cemeteries. Kern County bought the property and united the two existing cemeteries into “Union Cemetery.” It became the resting place for hundreds of Kern County pioneers whose names are on the city’s streets. In addition to Baker and numerous early Bakersfield pioneers, Union Cemetery is the resting place hundreds of Civil War veterans from both the Union and Confederate sides of the conflict in an area designated as the “Grand Army of the Republic.” In 1904, the nonprofit Union Cemetery Association purchased the land and administered the historic site. The cemetery remains in use to this day.71 Bakersfield officially incorporated as a city in 1873. Alexander Mills was hired as the new municipality’s first marshal. By many accounts, Mills was a testy figure who had a penchant for airing people’s dirty laundry. In order to get rid of him, Bakersfield decided to discorporate in 1876, effectively eliminating his job. For the next 22 years, the community was managed by a citizens’ council. Bakersfield ultimately reincorporated in 1898 and never looked back.

70 This property was listed on the Bakersfield Register of Historic Places in 2012. 71 “Historic Union Cemetery,” American Cemetery & Cremation, November 2014, http://www.interment.net/data/us/ca/kern/union- cemetery-bakersfield-history-article.pdf (accessed February 28, 2023), 18-19.

Kern County Courthouse, no date. (Kern County Museum)

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Early Chinese Community
Beginning in the late 1850s, Chinese laborers were being recruited to work in the Kern River mines. According to Mary Ming, Bakersfield resident and Chinese community scholar, the first group of Chinese men came to Kern County in 1857. The next large group came in 1860. They were farm laborers contracted by ranchers including Col. Thomas Baker.72 By the end of 1862, Chinese were moving to Kern County in large numbers to work the placer diggings along the river and in gulches.73 By 1870, there were 50 Chinese residents in the City of Bakersfield, working as cooks, laundrymen, gardeners, and farm laborers. Col. Baker employed two Chinese residents: Choo Ly and Sue Hee. Instead of paying them in cash, Baker gave them land upon which they developed vegetable gardens, selling their harvest in town. Soon, the local Chinese community would become Bakersfield’s main source of vegetables.

By the early 1870s, Bakersfield’s Chinatown was taking shape. In its early days, it was an all- male enclave consisting of wooden buildings along 20th Street between K and L streets. The largest group of Chinese to settle in Bakersfield were the Southern Pacific Railroad workers who built the Tehachapi line from 1874-1876.74 By the 1880 Census, there were 250 Chinese living in the Bakersfield township. By this time, the local Chinese community included families,

72 Linda Wong, untitled article, The Bakersfield Californian, August 5, 1978, D11, clipping from “China Alley” Historical Sites file, City of Bakersfield.
73 William Harland Boydand Mary Sue Ming, The Chinese of Kern County, 1857-1960 (Bakersfield, CA: Bakersfield Historical Society, 2002), 8.
74 Wong.

Bakersfield street, c. 1882. (Security Pacific National Bank Collection, Los Angeles Public Library)

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with Chinese workers employed as merchants, butchers, restaurateurs, herbalists, and gamblers.75
Arrival of the Railroad…in Sumner
Urban development during the 1870s and 1880s was often dictated by the railroads. Railroad companies typically built their lines where they could get land concessions. However, Bakersfield refused to pay to play with the railroads, and as a result the city was bypassed and became largely isolated.

In 1874, Bakersfield got its Southern Pacific rail connection—two miles east of the town in a place called Sumner.76 The last spike in the Los Angeles-to-San Francisco line was driven in September of 1876, the same year Sumner opened its first post office. Sumner was a company town of the Southern Pacific, with the railroad depot as its focal point. A business district quickly developed along the railroad tracks near the present-day site of Sumner and Baker streets in what is now East Bakersfield. Among the earliest stores in Sumner were Amy & Ardizzi, Dugan & Ryan, and J.J. Murphy’s store. Hotels included the Noriega, Central, Lindsay, and Verdier. There was a saloon and dancehall on Baker Street.

In 1888, A.R. and C.D. Jackson built horse-drawn streetcar lines along Chester Avenue, 19th Street, and Baker Street, linking downtown Bakersfield with the new sprawling Richardsonian Romanesque-style Southern Pacific Railroad Depot [700-730 Sumner Street], completed in 1889.77 At this time, the Southern Pacific expanded into the east side of the San Joaquin Valley with a line from Fresno to Porterville, then on to the main line. The depot and adjacent hotel were built of brick by Curran and Swan (the precursor to the Bakersfield Sandstone Brick Co.).

75 Boydand Ming, 49.
76 Sumner was also known as Kern City, and then as East Bakersfield. 77 This property was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.

Sumner Southern Pacific Railroad Depot postcard, no date. (Card Cow)

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According to historian Christopher D. Brewer, the building was expanded and altered in 1895, and again in 1941.78 Railroad Road (now Truxtun Avenue) became the route for cattlemen to drive their steers to the depot for transport throughout the country.79 Growth of the Chinese Community
The arrival of the railroad in Sumner would also increase the Chinese population in Bakersfield, as even more Chinese laborers were recruited to help build rail infrastructure. Those who opted to remain local created their own community centered on 20th Street between K and L streets.

As the population of Chinatown grew during the 1880s, the enclave did not expand outward or build upward, but rather dug cellars under their existing buildings for additional living space.

Sanborn fire insurance maps show a substantial Chinatown already established by 1885, with dozens of stores and two Chinese laundries. The west side of 20th Street was densely developed with small one-story shacks. Reports of illegal gambling operations run by the Chinese were a consistent feature of local newspapers at the time.

Historically, Bakersfield’s “red-light district” was located just east of Chinatown, across L Street and adjacent to nearby saloons. By 1892, it was consolidated just north of Chinatown, comprising nearly a quarter of a city block, centered at the southwest corner of 21st and L streets. Historical accounts suggest that the district was quite robust in the 1880s and 1890s. In 1889, a two-story church mission was established for members of the Chinese community at 23rd and L streets.80
Various histories of Bakersfield suggest that there were “tunnels” beneath Chinatown. Local historians Gilbert Gia and Stephen Montgomery recount the Chinese often digging basements for additional space or heat relief, since they were barred from purchasing property outside Chinatown by restrictive covenants. Evidence of these basements, with their own separate entries, was exposed after the 1904 Chinatown fire.81
Basque Immigration
The French Basque colony established itself in Sumner in 1873, almost concurrent with the arrival of the railroad. French Basques are identified as those coming from three French regions:

Lapurdi, Behe-Nafarro, and Zuberoa.82 While there were Basque farmers as far back as the

78 “Southern Pacific Railroad Depot,” California DPR Form, prepared by Christopher D. Brewer, 1988, “Southern Pacific Railroad Depot” Historical Sites file, City of Bakersfield.
79 Ralph Anthony, “Pioneer Memory Days,” oral history, interview by Ralph Jester, Bureau of Land Management, October 30, 1977, 6, California State University, Bakersfield, https://csub-dspace.calstate.edu/bitstream/handle/10211.3/123030/Anthony_Ralph _U80.pdf?sequence=5.
80 Gilbert Gia, “Bakersfield and the Anti-Chinese Pogroms of 1893,” 2013, 5, Historic Bakersfield and Kern County, https://www.historicbakersfieldandkerncounty.com/_files/ugd/caae83_8c6558261fd3460793964c58cb4950ee.pdf (accessed January 18, 2023).
81 Gilbert Gia, “Underground Bakersfield (v.6),” 2012, 4-5, Historic Bakersfield and Kern County, https://www. historicbakersfieldandkerncounty.com/_files/ugd/caae83_27f097e6cfcd4e3bb82d79e88bbfa2c2.pdf (accessed January 18, 2023). 82 These regions are known today as Labourd, Basse-Navarre, and La Soule.

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Spanish and Mexican periods, it was during the 1870s when a large influx came to Bakersfield.

The largest groups came to the city between 1872 and 1914.83 Although some Basques came to California as part of the gold rush, the majority immigrated to the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The decision to immigrate was partially a reaction to the Spanish Carlist Wars, mandatory military service imposed by Napoleon III, and the Industrial Revolution that lowered demand for Basque goods. As with many immigrant populations, initial Basque immigrants were single men between the ages of 18 and 25.84 Young Basque men were often agriculturalists and herders of sheep. The Miller & Lux Ranch and the Kern County Land Company were responsible for drawing many Basques to Kern County between 1870 and 1900, employing them as sheepherders and effectively establishing a Basque pipeline to Bakersfield.85 Non-Basques in Bakersfield and throughout the county viewed the Basques as interlopers, and competition for grazing space fueled many clashes, mostly outside Bakersfield. Tensions eased somewhat by the 1880s when a severe drought drove many of the Anglos out of the sheep business.

As described by authors Gordon Morris Bakken and Alexandra Kindell, the French Basque colony in East Bakersfield started in 1873 with the construction of the Basque-owned French Hotel. Soon there were other hotels, including the Pyrenees, Metropole, and the Noriega Hotel86 and Restaurant [513-531 Sumner Street]. Faustino Mier Noriega (1856-1922) worked for Miller & Lux in 1882 and eventually became a foreman at one of their Kern ranches. In 1893, Noriega and Fernando Etcheverry opened the Iberia Hotel, with 13 rooms for boarders on the second floor and communal washrooms at either end of a long corridor.

These Basque businesses were concentrated in a one-block area between Baker Street and Humboldt Street (now East 21st Street), from 19th Street to what is now Highway 178. For new Basque immigrants arriving by train, the hotels served were known as osatuak—literally, “home away from home.” Basque hotels offered room and board, with a family-style meal held at noon and at 6 p.m. They acted as employment agencies as well as cultural and social centers for the growing community. They also provided a place where the Basque community could play pelote, or handball. The handball court next to the Noriega Hotel was constructed in 1933 and remained in constant use until 1975, when the Kern County Basque Club built a new facility [2301 S. Union Avenue].87 Immigrant Basque women typically found employment as cooks and housekeepers in Basque hotels and restaurants. Bakken and Kindell credit Basque women who worked in the hotels with being “the creators of a Basque cultural enclave in East Bakersfield.”88

83 Gordon Morris Bakken and Alexandra Kindell, Encyclopedia of Immigration and Migration in the American West (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2006), 250.
84 Bakken and Kindell, 248.
85 Jeronima (Jeri) Echeverria, “California-Ko ostatuak: A History of California’s Basque Hotels,” (PhD Diss., North Texas State University, 1998), 95.
86 This property was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. 87 Bakken and Kindell, 249.
88 Bakken and Kindell, 249.

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In 1898, an arsonist set a fire in East Bakersfield that destroyed the entire business district.89 The community soon rebuilt, and by this time Basques were working in various other industries, such as butchery, bakery, blacksmithing, and restaurants. The present-day Pyrenees French Bakery [717 East 21st Street],90 originally known as the Kern City French Bakery when it was founded in 1887, was both a bakery and a saloon. The Pyrenees Café originally opened as a boarding house for Basque immigrant sheepherders dating back to 1901, and perhaps earlier.

Italian Immigration
In addition to the Basques, there was also a significant influx of Italian immigrants to the city during this period. They were primarily from the Tuscan community of Lucca. These men, young and old, came alone to seek better lives. The railroad offered many jobs and the industry was well suited to those who did not speak English. In addition to the railroad, Bakersfield’s agricultural activity also provided a draw for these rural Italian residents. Italian–born Clementine Borsi immigrated in 1869. He owned the Union Hotel [220 21st Street]. According to author Eugene Burmeister, Borsi raised grapes in his backyard, and Borsi and friends stomped the grapes and made wine for the hotel.91
The railroad sparked a thriving Italian community in Sumner. Small colonies of Italians developed around the shops and the roundhouse of the railroad. In 1876, Victory Amy, a Frenchman, and Beneditto Ardizzi, a Swiss Italian, became partners in a mercantile firm at the corner of Sumner and Baker streets. In addition to the store, Amy and Ardizzi loaned money to farmers and Basques, and ran a hotel on the second floor. Amy died in 1881, and Ardizzi took on

89 Bakken and Kindell, 249.
90 The bakery moved into its current building on the same site in the 1960s; the original wood-frame building was moved to Pioneer Village.
91 Burmeister, 34.

Pyrenees French Bakery, no date. (Kern County Museum)

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a new partner, Louis Virgin Olcese. The latter was fluent in French and thus was able to do business with the Basque community. In 1893, Ardizzi was appointed postmaster of Sumner.

In 1898, fire erupted in the old California House on H Street (present-day E. 21st Street), spreading quickly through the wooden buildings of Sumner. The Ardizzi & Olcese store was saved. Other merchants were not so lucky: J.L. Depauli received $4,000 in insurance, but A.

Cuneo had no coverage and lost everything.92 According to the Bakersfield City Directory of 1899, by the end of the 19th century there was a substantial Italian community in the city. They owned stores, restaurants, hotels, and saloons.93
The Latino Community
As described by historian Fatima Bugharin, “According to the census records for Bakersfield in 1870, the Mexican community in Bakersfield was large and mostly composed of Sonoran- Mexican families and a few single Sonoran Mexican men who were well trained Vaqueros (cattlemen).”94 These men worked on the ranchos scattered throughout the area. Ventura Cuen (1831-1918), an early Mexican farmer and rancher, opened a livery stable business and aided with cattle transportation. He owned land in Sumner, south of the Older Sumner Railroad Depot, which he eventually sold to Basque and French immigrants.95 During this period, the local Latino community would have been comprised almost exclusively of Mexican immigrants and Americans of Mexican descent. In 1874, there was a large Latino settlement known as Panama, some seven miles south of Bakersfield proper.96 As land was becoming more valuable for the cultivation of crops like cotton (see below), Latino residents were pushed northward and settled in La Colonia (the Colony), in what is now East Bakersfield.

During the 1890s, the First Congregational Church of Bakersfield began outreach with various “missions” to the communities of color in and around Bakersfield. The Latino community was no exception. They made outreach to find protestant Mexican preachers who would be willing to come to the area.

Panama also had its own cemetery, which was abandoned around 1887. In the 1970s, a mass grave was discovered at the intersection of DeEtte Avenue and Krista Street, west of Highway 99 and about three quarters of a mile north of Panama Lane in southwest Bakersfield.97 Through intensive analysis, it was determined that the mass grave was a re-interment of graves from Panama Cemetery, which had likely been located on land owned by the wife of Pablo Galtes, north and west of Panama.98

92 Donna Tessandori Weeks, The Italians of Kern County (Bloomington, IN: Xlibris Corporation, 2011), 39. 93 Weeks, 36.
94 Bugharin.
95 Bugharin.
96 “110 Anniversary of Sociedad Juarez Mutualista Mexicana,” video, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25x-k5F9-cI (accessed November 9, 2022).
97 Alan P. Garfinkel, Ph.D., “Native Americans and the Panama Cemetery Tracing the Local Roots of Catholicism in Bakersfield, Part 1,” Kern County Historical Society Quarterly Bulletin, Winter 2007, 1. 98 Bugharin.

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Cotton Comes to Bakersfield
Despite the fact that the railroad bypassed downtown Bakersfield, the town continued to grow.

San Francisco financiers James Ben, Ali Haggan, and Lloyd Tevis sent their representative, W.B.

Billy Carr, to acquire properties in Bakersfield with the intention of bringing large-scale farming to the region. The cultivation of cotton in the San Joaquin Valley began around 1884, although some scholars suggest the first crop of cotton may have been planted on Kern Island by Harvey Skiles as early as 1862. As cotton cultivation increased, Chinese laborers were recruited to work the fields, but there was still a labor shortage.

Haggin and Tevis envisioned the valley as another cotton-producing south.99 To that end, they began working with agents in the southern and eastern United States to recruit African Americans to come to Bakersfield. Due to many factors—including the collapse of Reconstruction, the failure of the crop-lien system and resulting debt servitude, Western boosterism, and the rise of Jim Crow—many African Americans sought new opportunities in the West. In March 1884, the Kern County Californian noted “fifty-six colored men with three women arrived here from Memphis, Tennessee.”100 A couple of weeks later, 200 African Americans arrived by railroad, and were taken to Haggin’s Cotton Ranch.101 This group included significantly more women and children along with a “clergyman” and a physician.

Some newspapers reported that soon after arrival, many of the workers left the region for other parts of the state, likely a reaction to the meager $12 per month pay they were given when similar work was paid at a rate of $25 to $35 per month.102 At one point, Haggin and Tevis intended to attract some 10,000 Blacks to work the cotton fields, but the actual number that came was far less.103 Still, a substantial African American community was established in Bakersfield. In 1892, Black businessman W.H. Walker was hiring people from the South, and helped provide work for many as domestic servants.104 The African American community was quick to establish their own fraternal orders and civic clubs. In 1894, R.W. Houston, H.H. Gillem, and A.W. Vessell established the Bakersfield Lodge of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows.

In 1905, the San Joaquin Lodge, Prince Hall Freemasonry was founded.

Canal Construction
After Col. Baker began the first canal project, agricultural interests in and around Bakersfield began digging their own canals and building their own levees. An early example of this was the Kern Island Canal constructed by Horatio P. Livermore and Julius Chester in 1871. The canal ran from the foot of the Panorama Bluffs to a flower mill owned by Livermore.105 Haggin and Tevis purchased the Livermore canal during the acquisition of nearly 60,000 acres of land.106

99 There is conflicting information as to whether the entity was Haggin and Tevis or Haggin and Carr. 100 “Thursday Night...,” Kern County Californian, June 7, 1884, no page. 101 “Arrival of the Colored Immigrants,” Kern County Californian, June 7, 1884, no page. 102 Gilbert Peter Gia, Race, Sports and Black Unity: 1875-1988 (Bakersfield, CA: Gilbert Peter Gia, 2019), 12. 103 Gia, Race, Sports and Black Unity, 14.
104 “Notice to the Public,” Daily Californian, May 7, 1892, no page. 105 City of Bakersfield Water Resources Department, “The Kern River Purchase,” Bakersfield, CA: City of Bakersfield, December 2003, 6.
106 City of Bakersfield Water Resources Department, 6.

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Construction of the Kern Island Canal began in 1874; it ran from the Panorama Bluffs, through Central Park, and southward.

The completion of the Kern Island Canal spurred other farmers to begin to dig their own irrigation ditches. Because there was no organized system of development at this time, new canals often diverted water from old ones. In 1875, Oliver P. Calloway started to build a canal on the north side of the Kern River. Financial difficulties forced the abandonment of the project, but Haggin, Tevis and Carr laid claim to the Calloway Canal, completing it in 1879. The 1870s also saw the construction of the Stine Canal and Pioneer Canal.107
Some of the smaller canals even ran directly through downtown Bakersfield. Sanborn maps from 1892 show a rather large irrigation ditch running down 23rd Street with bridges at Chester Avenue and K Street. At K Street, the ditch dipped southward only to climb back north of 23rd Street. Another irrigation ditch was dug just south of 22nd Street, from Chester Avenue to M Street.

As the town became more developed, many of these smaller canals were filled in and paved over.

Such was the fate of a canal on Chester Avenue that was covered by sidewalk in 1903.108 With the growth of the area in the 1920s, more canals were constructed, including the Friant-Kern Canal.109 Historian Gilbert Gia notes that in 1924, “…Myers & Stoll were awarded the contract to build a cement culvert bridge over the James Canal and a concrete syphon at the intersection of Kern Island Canal and 18th Street.”110 Canal construction continued during the 20th century.111 Great Fire of 1889
Disaster came to Bakersfield on July 7, 1889. A building fire at 20th Street and Chester Avenue spread throughout the entire downtown business district, burning for three hours. Ironically, it was once again water—or lack thereof—that would dictate the town’s destiny. Because there was insufficient water to fight the fire, it razed 120 buildings, rendered 1,500 people homeless, and caused over $1,000,000 in damage. The fire destroyed 147 businesses, 44 homes, and five hotels, including the original Southern Hotel (at the northwest corner of 19th Street and Chester Avenue).112 The Baker adobe was also destroyed. Only a few churches were saved, including St. Francis (at 17th and K streets) and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (on the northeast corner of 17th and present-day Eye streets). Scribner’s Water Tower (on the southeast corner of 17th Street and Chester Avenue) was also saved.

Prior to the fire, Bakersfield resembled a western town filled with vernacular wooden buildings.

The rebuilding effort now focused on fire-resistant brick buildings. The first Southern Hotel

107 “Our Fluid History With Water,” The Bakersfield Californian, December 1, 2016. 108 Gilbert Gia, “History in Bakersfield Sidewalks, 1893-2011 v. 3,” 2016, Historic Bakersfield and Kern County, https://www.historicbakersfieldandkerncounty.com/_files/ugd/caae83_5e9bb9784a184585a81013d971b08f60.pdf (accessed April 17, 2023), 5.
109 “Our Fluid History With Water.”
110 Gia, “History in Bakersfield Sidewalks,” 5.
111 The Cross Valley Canal, constructed by the Kern County Water Agency in 1975, runs from the California Aqueduct into Bakersfield.
112 Maynard, 31.

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had been something out of the Old West. The new Southern Hotel was a lavish wood and brick structure of 84 rooms with hot and cold running water. The elaborate Victorian-style edifice featured turrets and spires.

The Great Fire of 1889 had no effect on Sumner. By 1892, Sumner had blossomed into a large company town, with a passenger depot, a freight depot, and several hotels, all located south of the railroad tracks. There was also a four-block commercial area with its own red-light district of saloons and houses of prostitution. This commercial area was bounded by the present-day Union Pacific railroad yard on the north, E. 19th Street on the south, King Street on the east, and Kern Street on the west. North of the railroad tracks, there were several blocks of residential development consisting of small bungalows along present-day Jackson and Kentucky streets between Tulare Street and Beale Avenue. By 1899, Sumner was listed as “Kern City” on Sanborn fire insurance maps and enjoyed a population of some 1,600. By comparison, Bakersfield at this time had some 5,500 residents.113 In 1898, Bakersfield finally got its own railroad line: the San Francisco and San Joaquin Railroad brought its tracks from the north into the city proper. A $10,000 depot was built on the site of the Southern Methodist Church, which was moved to another location.114 Against this

113 U.S. Census, 1900.
114 Burmeister, 22.
19th Street and Chester Avenue, 1898. (Kern County Museum)

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backdrop, Bakersfield developed its early institutions, commercial district, industries, and residential neighborhoods.

Outside of the downtown area, a number of “colonies” and ranches developed during the late 19th century. While many of these colonies and ranches were established on land that is now part of the City of Bakersfield, years would pass before they would become officially absorbed or annexed into the city.

Panama Ranch
Panama Ranch was an early ranch established by Miller & Lux. Located in what is now the southern part of Bakersfield, the Panama area is one of the earliest known areas of Mexican settlement. Ventura (a.k.a., Bentura) Cuen, a native of Sonora, Mexico, settled in the area in 1869.115 According to historian Fatima Bugharin, his land was located in the northeast section of Stine Road and Panama Lane.116 The 160 acres of land was sold to Cuen under the auspices of the U.S. government’s Agri Scrip Patent act to establish colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanical arts, and signed by Ulysses S. Grant. Cuen sold to Miller & Lux.

Rosedale Colony
In the late 1880s, enterprising developers began planning large residential/farming “colonies” that would attract settlers and immigrants. The Rosedale Colony, approximately eight miles west of downtown Bakersfield was one of these developments. Some of Rosedale has since become part of the annexed land of the City of Bakersfield.

The mastermind of the Rosedale Colony was the British-born S.W. Fergusson who worked for Lloyd Tevis and James Haggin, owners of thousands of acres in Kern County. Fergusson had previously planned communities such as Paso Robles and worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad creating planned residential developments. Although no master plan for Rosedale survives, Fergusson master planned all of his previous endeavors. For Rosedale, Fergusson divided the acreage in the manner common to railroads: a grid.117 More than 250 palm trees were planted to add visual interest to the development.

Fergusson set up a sales office in the Southern Hotel and also recruited buyers from England.

Brochures and advertisements touted the merits of Rosedale as land good for farming, easy to clear, and far from the fog of the moors. Many of the early settlers of Rosedale were, in fact, English transplants. The first train of English transplants arrived in 1889. They began building homes and quickly established a school and an Episcopal Church.118 By early July of 1889, sales of the 20-acre plots were booming.119 The land sold for $20 per acre.120 Early settlers included J.H. Hunt, William C. Hunt, Albert L. Renfro, Mr. and Mrs. William T. Allen, C. Battey, W.E.

115 “Heritage Important to This State Appointee,” The Bakersfield Californian, February 8, 1976, 27. 116 Bugharin.
117 A good example of railroad land subdivision was the grid of Palm Springs that was ultimately used to delineate land for development and a Tribal reservation.
118 “The Rosedale Colony,” Shafter Press, November 3, 1976, 1B. 119 “The Rosedale Colony,” Bakersfield Magazine, August 11, 2015. Clipping from the Palm Cross File, City of Bakersfield. 120 “Bakersfield in 1891,” The Bakersfield Californian, August 13, 1910, 12.

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Underwood, and J.D. Bruton. S.W. Fergusson built himself a large home. A Mrs. Johnson built a large mansion and was the center of Rosedale social life.

Ultimately, Rosedale Colony was a failure. Its non-contiguous development plan was unsuccessful, the farming families were not well-versed in irrigation techniques, the fruit trees and crops they planted took too long to mature, and a period of serious drought made farming extremely difficult. By 1894, land values were falling significantly.121 Many of the settlers defaulted on their land, returning the acreage to what had now become the Kern County Land Co. Fergusson was replaced with Henry A. Jastro, who ceased marketing and selling Rosedale Colony. During the 1910s, a resurgence in interest in alfalfa cultivation in Rosedale sparked the building of dozens of pump and tank houses.122 When oil was found near the community, the Kern County Land Co. elected to hold onto acreage rather than sell it.

Over the years, many the buildings associated with Rosedale disappeared. Many buildings appear to have been moved. A one-story hotel was moved away. The Episcopal Church was relocated to the Kern County Museum. Around 2021, JRP Historical Consulting Services was able to identify only three homes built as part of the colony. The Cross of Palms, some eight miles northwest of downtown Bakersfield, is one of the few remnants of the original Rosedale Colony development.123
Virginia Colony
In the early 1890s in East Bakersfield, another colony, the Virginia Colony, was established. A large, irregularly-shaped tract, it was roughly bordered by the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks on the north, Virginia Avenue to the south, Jefferson Avenue to the east, and Washington Avenue to the west. The eastern end of the colony was bisected by the diagonal railroad tracks and East Side Canal as shown in the tract map filed in 1893. The area was subdivided by real estate men, R.E. Baughman and Douglas L. Wildy,124 however, Virginia-born John T. Bayse (1849-1944) appears to have had a hand in the Colony’s development.125 Early residents of the Virginia Colony included Emily Morrison, Annie B. Douty, and William Upton. By the early 1900s, the Bakersfield Morning Echo recounted the presence of several alfalfa and fruit farms in Virginia Colony.126 The Colony contained alfalfa farms of 20 and 60 acres with farmhouses.

Rio Bravo Colony
During the late 1890s, the Rio Bravo Colony was established west of the Rosedale Colony.

Pioneer Rio Bravo Colony families filed claims on land they obtained from the government.127

121 “Which Assessor Stood for People?,” Bakersfield Morning Echo, September 25, 1906, 4. 122 “Erecting Fine Tank House in the Rosedale Colony,” The Bakersfield Californian, September 25, 1911, 6. 123 This property was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Place in 1997, and listed on the Bakersfield Register of Historic Places in 2021.
124 As evidenced by their presence on the tract map for the Virginia Colony. 125 “Rites Held for John T. Bayse,” The Bakersfield Californian, September 12, 1944, 7. 126 “Kern Residence Properties,” Bakersfield Morning Echo, February 5, 1903, 7. 127 “Crops Growin Wide Variety When Great Water Supply Comes,” The Bakersfield Californian, September 9, 1924, 4.

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Early farmers and landowners in the Rio Bravo Colony included the Rio Bravo Vineyard, E.G.

Stetson, H.G. Parsons, E.C. Baker, E.B. Jewett, E. Chaffee, E.E. Underwood and E.O.

McClellan.128 Initially, irrigation water was supplied by the Kern County Land Co. Orchards, vineyards, and alfalfa was farmed there. When the Land Company water was diverted to other areas, farmers were forced to put in pump plants of their own. Windmills were the earliest pumps. Progress was slow and many farmers left the area. A steam plant was eventually built by Willis Baker, but farmers continued to leave the area.129 By 1900, there were only two children left in the local school.130
Rio Bravo Colony remained very rural throughout the period. During the first decade of the 20th century, it established a schoolhouse and organized a Congregational church.131 It had taken almost forty years for Bakersfield to realize the potential that Col. Thomas Baker envisioned for the place. It was now ready to leave the 19th century behind and step firmly into the 20th century. “Black gold” and “white gold” would lead the way.

THEMES
THEME: Pre-Incorporation Civic/Institutional Development The county courthouse schools, and houses of worship were among the first civic and institutional buildings erected during this period. The Kern County Courthouse (Chester Avenue between 16th Street and present-day Truxtun Avenue) was an elaborate structure. Its location a few blocks south of downtown saved it from burning down in the Great Fire of 1889.

The Kern Island School District was founded in February 1867. Seventeen students attended during the 1867-68 school year.132 By 1888, Bakersfield had its first public school, Railroad Avenue School (south side of Railroad Avenue between K and L streets). The four-room, Italianate-style building was constructed in 1876.133 On May 3, 1882, the Kern Island School District was renamed the Bakersfield School District, with an average daily attendance of 100 students.134 In July of 1892, Bakersfield’s second public school was under construction in the northwest part of town. The new H Street School (between 21st and 22nd streets) was larger than Railroad Avenue School. These schools were for younger children. There was no high school, and typically farm families expected their children to work in the fields as they approached adulthood. Alfred M. Harrell brought high school to Bakersfield for the first time in 1893, in two rooms on the second floor of Railroad Avenue School. In 1895, “Kaycee Hi” (for Kern County High School) moved to its own new building in the center of Elm Grove, the present-day site of Bakersfield High School .135

128 “Gas Extension; Menonite Plan,” Bakersfield Morning Echo, August 23, 1911, 1. 129 “Crops Growin Wide Variety When Great Water Supply Comes,” The Bakersfield Californian, September 9, 1924, 4. 130 “Crops Growin.”
131 The Congregational church was established by Dr. John F. Kenngott of Los Angeles. 132 Burmeister, 31.
133 Railroad Avenue School was damaged in the 1952 earthquake and demolished to make way for the Civic Center. 134 Burmeister, 33.
135 Bakersfield High School has had several names over the years. Between 1893 and 1915, it was known as Kern County High School.

From 1915 until 1945, it was known as Kern County Union High School. In 1945, the name was changed to Bakersfield High School.

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Religious organizations were building their first houses of worship during this period. The Methodist Episcopal Church (at the southeast corner of present-day Truxtun Avenue and H Street) was built in the Spring of 1874. The first Catholic mass in Bakersfield was held in 1871 in the rear of Galtes Store on 19th Street between Chester Avenue and K Street; services continued in that location for years.136 The first purpose-built Catholic Church was completed in 1882 at 17th and K streets. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church was founded in 1879; services were held at Railroad Avenue School until a dedicated church building was constructed in 1886 at 17th and Eye streets. The First Baptist Church was established in 1889 and met at George Wear’s Opera House until services were moved to the courthouse. In 1889-90, a purpose-built church was built at 22nd and Eye streets.

To serve the city’s African American population, the Cain African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church was organized in 1884; services were held at the corner of Sumner Street and Union Avenue until a dedicated church was constructed at California Avenue and O Street. The Second Baptist Church (a.k.a., Colored Baptist Church) was founded in 1892.

The first Joss House (Chinese temple) was built during the 1870s in the middle of a strawberry patch across Kern Island Canal from the Kern River Mill, where 17th Street runs today.

According to author Eugene Burmeister, it was a one-story structure of rough unpainted lumber, 16 feet wide and 20 feet deep with a front porch, two small single-paned windows, and a Chinese-style peaked roof.137 Sanborn fire insurance maps reveal the location of several Joss Houses in Chinatown through the years. A March 1889 Sanborn map shows a Joss House at the northeast corner of 10th and K streets and remained in this location through 1892.

One of the earliest doctors in Bakersfield was Dr. Lewis S. Rogers (c. 1835-1914), who resided in the city around 1870. In 1876, the G Street Hospital was built and managed by Dr. Henry S.

136 Donna Tessandori Weeks suggests that these locations also served the Italian immigrants, who were primarily Catholic. 137 Burmeister, 37.

Kern County Union High School, c. 1895. (Online Archive of California)

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Bachman, who became County Physician. In 1895, the County purchased six acres at 19th and Oak streets and built a 40-bed gabled-roofed hospital building.

Bakersfield also developed clubs and institutions early on. By 1888, the Masonic Lodge operated out of a small space near the northeast corner of 19th Street and Chester Avenue.

The Woman’s Club of Bakersfield was organized on March 2, 1896 in a meeting at the new Southern Hotel. By the following year, they had 125 members.138 Club meetings were scheduled in the parlors of the Southern Hotel, the Odd Fellows Hall, the Episcopal Church, and other locations. The Woman’s Club was instrumental in bringing about the re-incorporation of the City in 1898, the establishment of the first public library and reading room, and the first free kindergarten.

Criteria NRHP: A, B CRHR: 1, 2 BRHP: a, b, e Eligibility Standards
 Dates from the period pre-1898
 Is one of the few remaining examples of civic/institutional development from the pre- incorporation period in Bakersfield
 May also be associated with a person that played an important role in the founding and/or early development of Bakersfield
 May also be associated with an important early ethnic or cultural group in Bakersfield, such as the local Chinese, Basque, Italian, Mexican, or African American community  In East Bakersfield, may also be a rare remnant of Sumner or of Kern City  Retains sufficient integrity to convey its significance from the historic period  Properties with regional or national significance, or with exceptionally good integrity from the historic period, may be eligible for listing in the California and/or National Register.

Integrity Threshold
An eligible property under this theme should retain integrity of location, design, feeling and association. Due to the rarity of extant examples from this period, a greater degree of alteration may be acceptable.

THEME: Pre-Incorporation Commercial Development
As previously mentioned, early Bakersfield looked like an old western town, composed of vernacular wooden buildings. Unlike many cities, whose center was at First and Main streets, Bakersfield’s primary commercial corridor was 19th Street between Chester Avenue and L Street. This established a pattern of commercial development for downtown that would persist well into the 20th century. A Sanborn map from 1885 indicates that the city was largely

138 “Woman’s Club History Told,” Bakersfield Morning Echo, March 9, 1934, 7.

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commercial in nature, with very few residences in the downtown area—recalling the city’s essentially rural agricultural roots.

By 1885, Bakersfield had four hotels: the Arlington Hotel (at the southeast corner of 19th Street and Chester Avenue); the Montrose Hotel (18th Street between Chester Avenue and K Street); the S.T. Jones Hotel (19th Street between K and L streets); and the French Hotel (southwest corner of 19th Street and Chester Avenue). The 19th Street corridor was home to several general merchandise stores. Several saloons were located on 19th Street. The small Kern County Bank (at the corner of 18th Street and Chester Avenue) was the first bank in the city. Horse-related businesses—including carriage repair shops, saddleries, and stables—were scattered throughout the community. The presence of the horse in Bakersfield can still be felt today by the presence of several remaining metal hitching rings embedded in concrete curbs— known extant examples include one located near the Pyrenees French Bakery at 705 E. 21st Street, and the other in front of Luigi’s Restaurant and Delicatessen at 725 E. 19th Street. Also, a concrete sidewalk panel bearing the impressions of horseshoes and farrier tools is extant in front of former blacksmithing shop [1000 18th Street]. By 1888, entertainment and recreational opportunities included a skating rink, a bowling alley, and Wear’s Opera House.

In 1889, the Sanborn Fire Insurance Co. returned to Bakersfield to map the city’s growth, manifested as both increasing density and geographical expansion north and south of downtown. Fortuitously, the company mapped the city in March 1889, just five months before it would be razed by the Great Fire of 1889. The map below offers a picture of early Bakersfield as a thriving Central Valley city.

Criteria NRHP: A, B CRHR: 1, 2 BRHP: a, b, e Eligibility Standards
 Dates from the period pre-1898
 Is one of the few remaining examples of commercial development from the pre- incorporation period in Bakersfield
Sanborn fire insurance map, detail of 19th Street between Chester Avenue and L Street, March 1889. (Sanborn Fire Insurance Company)

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 May also be associated with a person that played an important role in the founding and/or early development of Bakersfield
 May also be associated with an important early ethnic or cultural group in Bakersfield, such as the local Chinese, Basque, Italian, Mexican, or African American community  In East Bakersfield, may also be a rare remnant of Sumner or of Kern City  Retains sufficient integrity to convey its significance from the historic period  Properties with regional or national significance, or with exceptionally good integrity from the historic period, may be eligible for listing in the California and/or National Register.

THEME: Pre-Incorporation Industrial Development
Infrastructure helped drive industrial development in Bakersfield. In 1883, the Bakersfield Water Company began operating the town’s first water system, including an octagonal water storage tower at 17th Street and Chester Avenue. In 1889, the first public gas lighting appeared in Bakersfield. The following year, the first electric lighting in Bakersfield was produced in 1890 in a plant built by the Bakersfield Gas Company.

The first industrial development appears on Bakersfield Sanborn maps in 1888. The northeast corner of 20th and M streets had the former City Brewery that had become a bottling works.

Denver’s Carriage Factory (at the southeast corner of 18th and K streets) was no longer operational by 1888. The following year, the Kern River Flour Mill was built along Railroad Road (present-day Truxtun Avenue). By 1888-1889, what was now known as Kern City was also home to the Sumner Grain, Bailed Hay and General Merchandise warehouse. The brick Kern County Land Company Warehouse [210 Sumner Street] dates from this period.139 Further to the northwest, the undated brick Union Ice Company warehouse [3401 Chester Avenue] appears to be a rare remaining example of early industrial development along the railroad tracks.

Another important industrial property in the city was the Bakersfield Sandstone Brick Co. (E. 18th Street and Sonora Street). Formed in 1886 by James Curran (1862-1952), it was originally located on 40 acres. The facility included a lumber planing building (on Sonora Street between Eureka Street and E. Truxtun Avenue) and other buildings. During the 1920s, the planing mill burned down but other buildings were not affected. The company originally manufactured common red brick, using clay mud that was first sun-dried and then kiln-fired. After a few years, the company started manufacturing sandstone brick, which involved a special machine that compressed the sand and lime and cooked in steam kettles. For many years, all brick used

139 This property was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.

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for building in Bakersfield was from the Bakersfield Sandstone Brick Co. The Beale Memorial Clock Tower was one prominent structure that used the sandstone brick. Another building made of sandstone brick was the 1927 James and Mary Curran’s Residence [222 Eureka Avenue].140 The company continued to manufacture sandstone brick until World War I, when getting replacement parts for the European-made compressing machine became impossible.141 Criteria NRHP: A, B CRHR: 1, 2 BRHP: a, b, e Eligibility Standards
 Dates from the period pre-1898
 Is one of the few remaining examples of industrial development from the pre- incorporation period in Bakersfield
 May be associated with an important early industry in Bakersfield, such as agriculture or oil
 May be a substantial feature of a larger municipal or regional infrastructural system, such as water, power, or transportation (rail or horse)  May also be associated with a person that played an important role in the founding and/or early development of Bakersfield
 May also be associated with an important early ethnic or cultural group in Bakersfield, such as the local Chinese, Basque, Italian, Mexican, or African American community  In East Bakersfield, may also be a rare remnant of Sumner or of Kern City  Retains sufficient integrity to convey its significance from the historic period  Properties with regional or national significance, or with exceptionally good integrity from the historic period, may be eligible for listing in the California and/or National Register.

THEME: Pre-Incorporation Residential Development
Between 1885 and 1888, the town roughly doubled its geographic footprint—mostly growing in a southerly direction. This period marks a transition in the community’s development, slowly evolving from a rather isolated commercial downtown into more of a residential community. In 1885, the number of dwellings appearing on Sanborn maps is minimal, suggesting that most of

140 “Curran House” Historical Sites file, City of Bakersfield. This property was listed on the Bakersfield Register of Historic Places in 1993.
141 Extant brick made by the Bakersfield Sandstone Brick Company is quite rare in Bakersfield today as the 1952 earthquake reduced most of the city’s unreinforced masonry buildings to rubble.

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the people who lived in town were the local merchants and shopkeepers and the large Chinese community. Three years later, the town had added a number or additional dwellings to the north and south. After Col. Baker’s death, his widow married Ferdinand August Tracy and they built a grand Victorian-style house (22nd and O streets). The residence survived the Great Fire of 1889, only to succumb to another blaze in 1949. The Jastro Residence [1811 20th Street] is a rare extant example of early residential development in the downtown area of the city.142 Originally located at 19th and G Streets, it was moved in 1917 for the construction of the Jastro (Standard Oil) Building [1800 19th Street].143 Jastro was one of the most influential men in Bakersfield from the 1890s through the 1920s. He was the head of the Kern County Land Company (a.k.a., Tenneco West), and also served as the Chairman of the Kern County Board of Supervisors, among many other posts.144
By 1892, Bakersfield had grown in virtually all directions. However, the majority of the residential growth was to the west and south of the downtown. New residences tended to be large Victorian-style homes centered on large parcels, with as few as four homes on a city block. Residential development to the south and east of the downtown was denser, with smaller-sized houses.

Between 1892 and 1899, residential growth in the southeastern portion of Bakersfield continued apace. Not only did residential densities increase, but the area devoted to residential development expanded, with houses now located as far west as D Street and as far south as 15th Street, along which the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad had laid their tracks. Residences spanned the gamut of popular architectural styles of the period. The Stark/Spencer Residence [1321 N Street],145 constructed in 1898 in the Queen Anne style, is an example of this period of residential development in Bakersfield.146 Additional residential development was added in the northwestern portion of the city, reaching as far as F Street. During this same period, residential development in Kern City grew substantially in the area north of the railroad tracks. Many of these residences were modest Residential Vernacular dwellings. A residence [2509 E. California Avenue] from 1898 is just one example. While individual houses remained modest in size, overall residential densities increased significantly during this period. Sanborn maps from 1899 reveal the relative rarity of multi-family residential development during this period, noting just a handful of boarding houses, including at 2029 I Street (present-day Eye Street) and at 1308 21st Street.

Criteria NRHP: A, B CRHR: 1, 2 BRHP: a, b, e Eligibility Standards
 Dates from the period pre-1898

142 This property was listed on the Bakersfield Register of Historic Places in 2005. 143 This property was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, and listed on the Bakersfield Register of Historic Places in 1994.
144 “Jastro House,” California DPR Form, prepared by Christopher D. Brewer, 1984, “Jastro House” Historical Sites file, City of Bakersfield.
145 This property was listed on the Bakersfield Register of Historic Places in 1995. 146 California High-Speed Rail Authority, Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS: Fresno to Bakersfield Section, November 2018, 3.17-61.

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 Is one of the few remaining examples of residential development from the pre- incorporation period in Bakersfield
 May also be associated with a person that played an important role in the founding and/or early development of Bakersfield
 May also be associated with an important early ethnic or cultural group in Bakersfield, such as the local Chinese, Basque, Italian, Mexican, or African American community  In East Bakersfield, may also be a rare remnant of Sumner or of Kern City  Retains sufficient integrity to convey its significance from the historic period  Properties with regional or national significance, or with exceptionally good integrity from the historic period, may be eligible for listing in the California and/or National Register.

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THE GREAT OIL RUSH & AGRICULTURAL BOOM, 1899-1928
Bakersfield has changed from the days of the frontier settlement, with its happy- go-lucky cowboys and miners tying their ponies to battered hitching posts while cattle roamed the plains. Today she stands a hustling, bustling modern city with wide paved streets and sidewalks, miles of shade trees and lawns, beautiful homes, roses galore, business structures of pleasing architecture, schools and churches of the type made famous by California, fully equipped playgrounds where young America develops, swimming and wading pools, golf courses, civic and service clubs, and fraternal organizations, business and women’s clubs, factories, railroads, new modern hotels, a county library of over 200,000 volumes and with two city branches, and all the things making life so worthwhile.147 Bakersfield City Directory, 1929.

During the 19th century, Bakersfield was on a steady path of moderate growth. However, towards the end of that century, the city found itself economically transformed by the discovery of oil and its impact on the nascent agriculture industry in Kern County. From 1900 to 1910, Bakersfield’s population tripled from 4,836 to 12,727. In 1910, Kern City was incorporated

147 1929 Bakersfield City Directory, 12.
19th Street looking west from Chester Avenue, with the Fish Building (left) and the Southern Hotel (right), 1907. (Kern County Museum)

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into the City of Bakersfield, becoming “East Bakersfield.” The foundations of “oil and ag” as the underpinnings of the city’s economy brought wealth, population growth, development, and the economic stability that would support the city for the better part of the 20th century. The wealth of companies like the Kern County Land Company can be seen in their Renaissance Revival style office building [1712 19th Street] (a.k.a., the Tevis Block) designed by architect Henry A. Schultze from 1893.148
Figure 2. Bakersfield Population Growth 1890-1920
Year Population Percentage Growth
1890 2,626 N/A
1900 4,836 84.2%
1910 12,727 163.2%
1920 18,638 46.4%
Source: U.S. Census
Oil Strike
The first signs of oil in the region were discovered on the west side of Bakersfield near McKittrick and Taft. Initially, the oil was not the star. Rather, people mined the sands for asphalt and the area earned the name, “Asphalto.” In May of 1889, however, James and Jonathan Ellwood struck oil on the property of Tom Means. This was the first discovery of the Kern River Oil Field and the first time a large supply of oil was found close to a rail line that led to San Francisco.149 Clusters of tents and shacks quickly appeared in the hills and along the riverbank.

148 This property was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. 149 Maynard, 38.

Kern River Oil Field. (Kern County Museum)

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In less than two years, Bakersfield was a certifiable boomtown. By June 1901, newspapers reported there were more than 500 wells in the Kern River Oil Field and 100 more in process.

The fields were yielding 12,000 barrels per day.150 By 1910, the city directory listed 95 separate oil companies.151 The price of farmland sky-rocketed due to its oil producing potential. By 1904, the Kern River Oil Field produced more than any other field in California—17.5 million barrels.

This caused a glut and oil prices dropped, driving some small firms out of business. In 1904, they banded together to form the Independent Oil Producers Agency.152 By 1908, Bakersfield was the recognized center of the California oil industry.153 People and money flowed into the city at an accelerated rate, fueling the construction of beautiful homes and impressive commercial and public buildings. The Southern Hotel served as the “nerve center for the nascent industry.”154
Chinatown & the Tenderloin
During the first decade of the 20th century, Bakersfield was struggling with its identity. Part Wild West and part new west, an influx of oil workers fueled the city’s vice industry. Sanborn maps dating from 1899 show there were effectively two Chinese enclaves in Bakersfield. Stores and lodging lined the north and south sides of 20th Street between K and L streets. An additional, less dense block of Chinese development appears between 21st and 22nd streets, M and L streets. This was also the site of two Joss Houses. The vast majority of the Chinese in Chinatown were day laborers in agriculture. Another area of Chinese concentration was in the block bordered by 18th and 17th streets, R and Q streets, where Sanborn maps identify a number of Chinese shanties.

In August 1889, Dr. Lewis S. Rogers, Bakersfield’s first physician, who was friendly to the Chinese, constructed a building for eight businesses and nearby property was purchased by Chinese. Leong Yen opened one of the first groceries. Din Toy sold Chinese and American groceries and opened a restaurant. Because this was outside the existing Chinese enclave, the area would become known as “New Chinatown.”155 New Chinatown attracted Chinese with different dialects than in Old Chinatown. Families who migrated to New Chinatown included the Leong Gee Ping, Jung Sing, Jung Wong Chee, Sam Yick, and Jung Chut families.156 Both Chinatowns had an unofficial mayor who could speak English, navigate the non-Chinese world around Chinatown, and settle disputes within the community. These liaisons to and within the Chinese community included Choo Li (a.k.a, Choo Ly), Sam Yick, Sam Yop, and Say Yup.

The area in and around Chinatown had long flourished as a red-light district offering liquor, gambling, prostitution, and drugs. At the turn of the century, the boomtown that Bakersfield

150 Maynard, 39.
151 1910 Bakersfield City Directory, 152-3.
152 Bailey, Bakersfield: Heart of the Golden Empire, 78. 153 Maynard, 44.
154 Bailey, Bakersfield: Heart of the Golden Empire, 78 155 This area should not be confused a later Chinese enclave oriented around the intersection of 18th and Q streets. 156 Boyd and Ming, 66.

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had become from the discovery of oil filled the town with overnight millionaires, big money speculators, and an army of single male oil workers looking for recreation. Matters frequently turned violent, with robberies, beatings, and deaths becoming commonplace.

By 1904, the tenderloin was bounded by 22nd and 19th streets, between M and L streets. This area included a dozen different dance halls (including Big Bertha’s), numerous saloons, gambling houses, cribs for prostitution, and opium dens, often in the basements of legitimate businesses. Patronage of these establishments actually interfered with oil production, as crews were often unable to work after a weekend in Bakersfield.157 Side-by-side, one-room attached apartments known as “cribs” faced the alley that ran from L to M streets between 19th and 20th streets.158 The configuration of these rooms was that the window and door fronted on the alley, where prostitutes could solicit passersby.159 Well-known madams and prostitutes of the late-19th and early 20th centuries included Marie Brignaudy, Jennie Foxtet, and Louise de Yough.160
One of the most notorious incidents was the shooting of James McKinney in 1903. McKinney— known as the “Last Badman” or “Last of the Outlaws”—was a violent drunkard responsible for shooting several men in several states. His chief skill was marksmanship, and McKinney did odd jobs and worked security to earn money for his drinking and gambling. He lived in Visalia, frequented Bakersfield, and served time in San Quentin prison. But mostly, he evaded the law after he gruesomely shot two men in Arizona. Subsequently, a reward was offered for McKinney and a series of posses tracked him to Bakersfield where he was hiding in a Joss House on L Street. On April 19, 1903, vigilantes, in concert with local Bakersfield sheriffs, raided the room where McKinney was hiding and shot him. McKinney would not go down without a fight. Two deputies were killed and numerous others wounded.

The incident propelled the town into regional and national news as a vice-filled, lawless place and was, thereafter, regarded by many as bringing to a close the Old West’s outlaw tradition.161 In the aftermath, the citizens of Bakersfield instituted a reform movement. Officials raided eight to ten Chinese places suspected of dealing in gambling, prostitution, or opium. They served notice to non-Chinese drug lords to clean up or suffer consequences. Every social, civic, and business organization backed reform efforts. As a result, “the worst offenders sought more convivial surroundings elsewhere and night life in the tenderloin became less frantic.”162 According to historian Gilbert Gia, the term “Tenderloin” ceased to be used for the area after World War I.163

157 Joseph E. Doctor, Shotguns on Sunday: The True Story of the West’s Last Badman (Bakersfield, CA: Brewer–Pipkin Publications, 1988), 27.
158 Gilbert Gia, “Mme. Brignaudy In the Bakersfield Tenderloin, 1905-1933 (v.15),” Historic Bakersfield and Kern County, 2019, https://hcommons.org/deposits/item/ hc:23495/ (accessed January 18, 2023), 3. 159 Guy Hughes, Battle of the Joss House (New York, NY: Carlton Press, c. 1968), quoted in Gilbert Gia, “Mme. Brignaudy In the Bakersfield Tenderloin, 1905-1933 (v.15),” 2019, 3.
160 For more on this topic see Gilbert Gia’s “Mme. Brignaudy In the Bakersfield Tenderloin, 1905-1933 (v.15),” Historic Bakersfield and Kern County, 2019.
161 Doctor, 13.
162 Doctor, 205.
163 Stephen Montgomery, email to Cecelia Griego, January 17, 2023.

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While Bakersfield’s red-light district continued to thrive well into the 1930s, it ceased to be the violent Wild West version of itself. Prostitution remained but was driven out of the cribs and into the hotels. Even the horse-drawn trolleys were officially replaced in 1901 when the Bakersfield and Kern Electric Railway was established.

Fire of 1904
On September 7, 1904, Bakersfield experienced another large fire that burned down three city blocks. Ironically, the fire was started by a drunken man who laid down in a storage shed behind a fire station. The man fell asleep while smoking a cigar and the blaze grew rapidly out of control. The fire consumed most of Chinatown reducing the buildings north of what was then termed “Jap Alley”—a small enclave of Japanese immigrants located south of 10th Street, between K and L streets—to rubble.164 Japanese replaced many Chinese agricultural and railroad workers in the late 19th and early 20th century. While some non-Japanese business owners were affected, it was the Chinese community that took the hardest hit. The merchant, Choo Li, dubbed “the richest Chinaman in the city” by the Stockton Independent, lost property valued at $15,000 (almost $400,000 in today’s dollars).165 Choo Li (c. 1836-1908) came to Bakersfield in 1872. At the time of his death in 1908, he was Bakersfield’s oldest Chinese resident, and as such, was often called-upon to settle disputes within the Chinese community. His funeral was a lavish affair with a procession including a marching band, a Chinese cavalry of six mounted marshals and a hearse. More than 1,000 non- Chinese attended the procession and funeral, which received page-one coverage in The Bakersfield Californian. At the time of his passing, his estate was estimated at $40,000 in cash and property along 20th Street.166 Li’s body was ultimately shipped back to Hong Kong for burial.

Other known merchants in Chinatown during this period included Chow Yee, a restaurant owner, Wan Low, Charley Leow, Leong Sow, Chung Gee, and Foo Chu. The vast majority of Chinese living in Chinatown was composed of male day or farm laborers. A very few were employed as cooks in private homes or as laundrymen. During this period there were approximately 450 Chinese males living in and around Chinatown.167 After the 1904 fire, many Chinese began to rebuild on less valuable land to the north of the site of the fire-ravaged Chinatown between L and M streets and between 20th and 22nd streets. By October, Sue Hee, an early employee of Col. Baker, was constructing a row of small wood- frame buildings for business purposes along what would become known as “China Alley,” comprising present-day 20th Place between L and M streets.168 The 1906 San Francisco earthquake also caused an influx of Chinese into the Bakersfield community. Among them were Wong Gun, Chick Po Lum, and K.C. Choy.169 Many Bakersfield

164 “Bakersfield in Ashes and Two Lives Lost,” Stockton Independent, September 8, 1904, 1. 165 “Bakersfield in Ashes,” 1.
166 “1,000 Curious Americans Saw Choo Li’s Funeral,” The Bakersfield Californian, August 24, 1908, 1. 167 Based on counting individuals born in China as enumerated in the 1900 U.S. Census for the township of Bakersfield. 168 Boyd and Ming, 50. “China Alley” was listed on the Bakersfield Register of Historic Places in 1992. 169 Wong.

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Chinese were farmers. Yen Ming was known as the Chinese Potato King of Kern County. He operated Ming Ranch. During the teens, Ming received $10,000 for his potato crop—making him one of the richest men in Bakersfield. Jim Chow Dai had a farm on land that was later used for Central Park. During the 1920s and 1930, many of these farmers were also truck farmers— taking their produce to sell in Los Angeles. Still other Chinese in the community had related businesses in trucking; Jung Sun Joke formed C&J Trucking.170 In addition to the two Chinese enclaves in the downtown area, 1910 Sanborn maps reveal the presence of a series of “Chinese and Mexican bunkhouses and kitchens” housing railroad workers on the north side of Sumner Street just east of Beale Avenue, just south of the tracks.

Bakersfield’s Chinese developed a number of community institutions, including the Ying On Association [2110 L Street], a benevolent association originally named the Suey On Tong, to help obtain jobs; and the Bin Kong Tong, a collective banking association at a time when other institutions would not loan money to the Chinese. Ying On was originally housed in a small wooden building constructed before the turn of the century.171 Sing Lee was a charter member of the Ying On Labor and Merchants Association.172

Quest for Respectability
During the late 19th century, Japanese residents were slowly creating a presence in Bakersfield.

After the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, Japanese men began immigrating to California to fill the jobs once occupied by Chinese. The Japanese newcomers, numbering approximately a dozen, appear to have found rooms along “Jap Alley” between K and L streets, and 18th and 19th streets.173 They were all day laborers and farm workers. Additional Japanese farm workers

170 Boyd and Ming, 94.
171 Ginger Cowenhoven, “Ying On Remodel Will Double Building Size,” The Bakersfield Californian, no date, F2, clipping from “China Alley” Historical Sites file, City of Bakersfield.
172 Judith Mince, “Chinese Americans In Kern County,” clipping from “China Alley” Historical Sites file, City of Bakersfield. 173 Based on the location of “Jap Alley” described in the 1926 and 1927 Bakersfield City Directories.

Ying On Association, 1953. (The Chinese of Kern County, 1857-1960)

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may have lived in the fields and more rural areas around the city, as it was a frequent practice to build small, vernacular structures near the fields in which they worked.

Along with reform efforts inspired by the McKinney incident and ongoing population growth, there came a rise in social and civic organizations and an expansion of religious organizations.

On January 17, 1900, the cornerstone was laid for the Woman’s Club Hall of Bakersfield at 1600 H Street. This early, purpose-built building was a significant achievement for the group that was founded in 1896 at the old Southern Hotel by 18 women. Early on, the Club focused mostly on arts and cultural activities, but gradually stepped into “civics” related arenas.

One of the early campaigns of the Woman’s Club was a 1912 resolution against the removal of Beale Memorial Clock Tower from the middle of Chester Avenue. In 1904, Truxtun Beale had the 64-foot, Moorish-influenced clock tower, designed by Clinton Day of San Francisco, erected in honor of his mother. A few years prior, Beale had also financed the Beale Memorial Library, the city’s first purpose-built library building, at Chester Avenue and 17th Street, in memory of his father, General Edward (Ned) F. Beale. Truxtun Beale also donated five acres for Bakersfield’s first city park (Beale Park) at Oleander Avenue and Dracena Street. In addition to the land, Beale also donated materials for landscaping, a swimming pool, and a Greek theater for performances.174 In appreciation for the younger Beale’s generosity to the people of Bakersfield, Railroad Road was renamed Truxtun Avenue.

174 Ken Hooper, “The Generous Truxtun Beale,” Bakersfield.com, https://www.bakersfield.com/bakersfield_life/the-generous- truxtun-beale/article_0ae613c2-4437-543c-92a4-f8263472ab76.html (accessed February 28, 2023).

Beale Memorial Clock Tower, c. 1905. (USC Digital Library)

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By the late 1910s, the Woman’s Club had outgrown their original clubhouse, and on November 19, 1921, opened their new Woman’s Club of Bakersfield building, designed by prominent local architect Charles H. Biggar [2030 18th Street/1806-1808 D Street].175 The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (W.T.C.U) of Kern County was founded in 1891. They met in members’ homes or at churches, such as the First Methodist Episcopal Church or First Baptist Church.

Given the various undesirable activities of Bakersfield’s tenderloin district, the W.T.C.U. was a popular club among the city’s women.

The American Red Cross established a chapter in Bakersfield in April of 1917. During World War I, as thousands of soldiers passed through the region on troop trains routed over the Tehachapi Pass, the local Red Cross provided “canteen activity”— serving food, drinks, and leisure articles—from kiosks at the Southern Pacific Depot. The Bakersfield Red Cross also provided care for those taken ill during the Spanish Flu epidemic, staffing pop-up care facilities during the worst of the pandemic. By 1918, a Bakersfield American Red Cross Negro Chapter had also been established.176 This specialized chapter also provided canteen service and was “the only group of colored canteen corps of workers in the country…Bakersfield was the lone city that took care to see that the country’s colored soldiers were cared for by members of their own race.”177
In addition to women’s civic groups, their male counterparts continued to be active early in the century and to experience membership growth. Virtually all of them formed building committees including the Knights of Pythias, the Elks Club, the International Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.), and the Bakersfield Club. Many of these clubhouse buildings did not come to fruition until the 1920s. These social-civic organizations engaged prominent local architects to build large, multi-story edifices. The first two decades of the 20th century represented a golden age of civic clubs in the city.

175 This property was listed on the Bakersfield Register of Historic Places in 1992 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2022.
176 J. Garth Milam, “Plague in the Boomtowns: The Spanish Influenza in Bakersfield and Kern County, 1918-1920,” M.A. History, California State University, Bakersfield, Fall 2012, https://scholarworks. calstate.edu/downloads/db78tg947 (accessed August 30, 2022), 62.
177 “Canteen Closes Career With Luncheon,” Bakersfield Morning Echo, November 22, 1919, no page.

Woman’s Club of Bakersfield, c. 1930s. (Woman’s Club of Bakersfield Archives)

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African American fraternal organizations in Bakersfield continued to congregate during this period as well, with Bakersfield becoming an early hub of civil rights activity. The city was the site of the assembly of delegates of the Afro American Congress in 1902 and the California convention of the Afro American League in 1912. The Colored Citizens League of Kern County was founded in 1912. Pearl Lowrey came to Bakersfield around 1910, joined Mt. Zion Church, and became Bakersfield’s resident reporter for the California Eagle, an African American newspaper in Los Angeles. She headed the Golden West Colored Woman’s Club, bringing many early speakers on women’s rights and civil rights.

Religious institutions flourished in the city during this period as well. In 1915, a group of Bakersfield’s Jewish citizens gathered in a home, establishing the Jewish Congregation of B’nai Jacob, the first Jewish congregation in Kern County. Five years later, they purchased the former Woman’s Club building at 16th and H streets as their new house of worship. The congregation had previously met in the Knights of Pythias Woddmen’s Hall and other buildings associated with fraternal organizations. Early religious and civic contributors included Oscar Rudnick, Alphonse Weill, Morris Himovitz, Sam Orloff, Max Himovitz, Fred Mooney, and L. Rubin.

Many religious denominations experienced growing congregations during this period that exceeded the capacity of their existing facilities. By 1916, there were 23 houses of worship in the city.178 Many of these institutions built new church buildings during the early decades of the 20th century, often designed by Bakersfield’s foremost architects.

The diverse but segregated communities of Bakersfield are represented in their church congregations. In 1909, Reverend Uchida of San Francisco and Reverend Kino of Fresno established a Japanese Buddhist mission at the corner of M and 22nd streets with a membership of about 70.179 The Japanese Buddhist Church of Bakersfield [2207 N Street] also served the community. As early as 1912, the Japanese Mission purchased a site at 1016 22nd Street, and by 1925 they had complete their Japanese Methodist Episcopal Church building.

Churches catering to the African American population included the Cain AME Church [1001 California Avenue, present-day 630 California Avenue], the Second Baptist Church [900 13th Street], and the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church [815 Fremont Street/present-day E. 18th Street]. These churches were the recognized centers of African American political and social activity between 1910 and 1930.180
In 1925, Father A.C. Stuhlmann established a Spanish-Mexican Mission for Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and constructed a church building near California Avenue and Baker Street in East Bakersfield. Over time, a parish school, grotto, and recreation hall were added [601 E.

California Avenue]. By 1929, a Mexican Evangelical Church 415 Fremont Street/present-day E. 18th Street was established. A Chinese Mission [1010 O Street] was established as early as 1921, offering services and Sunday school in both English and Chinese. Reverend Leang and Miss H.F. Buss presided over the instruction.181

178 1916 Bakersfield City Directory, 38.
179 “Japs Establish Buddhist Mission,” The Bakersfield Californian, April 19, 1909, 12. 180 Gia, Race, Sports and Black Unity, 23.
181 “Chinese Mission,” Bakersfield Morning Echo, March 12, 1921, 8.

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Significant population growth during the first two decades of the 20th century had real repercussions for the Kern County School District, resulting in the near-constant expansion of existing schools and construction of new schools. During these years, Emerson School [1313 Truxtun Avenue], Lowell School (10th and H streets), and Bryant School (21st and H streets) seemed to be in a continual state of expansion. Population growth in East Bakersfield was cause for school construction there. Another important factor was the national educational trend toward vocational training, which often required non-traditional classroom settings as students learned trades and domestic science.

During this period, there were several major bond issues to fund projects for the school district, including a $90,000 bond issue in 1917, a $300,000 bond issue in 1920, and a $350,000 bond issue in 1925. The school district then awarded these projects, large and small, to a cadre of talented Bakersfield architects, including J.M. Saffell, Orville L. Clark, and Thomas B. Wiseman.

During the 1920s, Bakersfield architect Charles H. Biggar was integrated into the mix. Most of the schools constructed during this period were wood-frame and brick.

Clarence C. Cullimore, Sr., Architectural Educator
School expansion and national trends toward vocational education would ultimately draw to Bakersfield a young man that would have a profound influence on the architecture of Bakersfield and beyond. In 1910, a young graduate from the University of California arrived in Bakersfield for his first job, as the teacher of freehand and mechanical drawing at Kern County High School. Having just completed a rigorous Beaux Arts education in architecture at the University of California in Berkeley, the 25-year-old Clarence C. Cullimore (1885-1963) seized the opportunity. Over the next forty years, Cullimore trained a cadre of young architects who would go on to populate the architectural programs of prestigious universities and ultimately shape the built environment of Bakersfield and beyond.

Cullimore’s architecture program went far beyond the mechanical drafting requirements of vocational education. It was just the second true architectural design program in California, after Los Angeles’ Polytechnic High School. It was also unique in that most architectural training at the time was exclusively a collegiate affair. During his decades at Kern County High School, Cullimore nurtured architectural talent that would go onto study architecture at Ivy League and other prestigious schools, including the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Southern California (USC).

Unlike his own traditional Beaux-Arts training in the atelier of John Galen Howard—which focused on drawing the Classical orders and designing projects for old-world problems— Cullimore established a pragmatic and practical pedagogy for the Kern County High School students. They were given contemporary building typologies, programs, and budgets as parameters for design projects. Cullimore wrote his own drafting textbook, Elementary Courses in High School Drafting, which was adopted as a supplementary text for students at the University of California, Berkeley in 1922 and reprinted by a San Francisco publishing house the following year for wider distribution. Cullimore also nurtured his budding talent by creating an annual Student Architectural Association (SAA) design competition open to Kern County High

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School and Bakersfield College students with a perpetual trophy cup. The names that appear on the cup comprise a veritable Who’s Who of Bakersfield architects.

During the late 1920s and early 1930s, Cullimore produced 20 future American Institute of Architects (AIA) members. By 1939, there were more graduates of the USC School of Architecture working in Bakersfield than any other city except Los Angeles. Through his educational efforts, Cullimore created a unique pipeline of talented professional architects who would return to Bakersfield and shape the architecture of the city for decades to come. “Bungalow Town”
During this period, Bakersfield significantly expanded its geographic footprint, growing outward from downtown in all directions. By 1905, there was significant development south of the railroad tracks extending as far as Dracena Street. By that same year, buildings extended roughly to 28th Street to the north and Cedar Street to the west, with commercial development creeping eastward toward Union Avenue. Just seven years later, in 1912, Sanborn maps show development extending north to 31st Street, east to Union Avenue, and west to Spruce Street.

East Bakersfield grew exponentially during this period, more than quadrupling its extent. By 1912, development reached Main Street to the north, Dolores Street to the south, Virginia Street to the east, and Union Avenue to the west. What were once two separate burgs were now one solid mass of development, holding its first consolidated city election in July of 1910.

Results included the paving of 19th Street, thus connecting the two business centers of the now combined City of Bakersfield.

In 1910, The Bakersfield Californian reported that industrial and wholesale businesses were “…moving northward on Chester Avenue,” retailers were swooping in to occupy vacated blocks, expanding the commercial footprint of downtown.182 The residential construction boom in Bakersfield during the oughts and teens, was chiefly composed of Craftsman-style California bungalows. A Californian headline read “Bungalow Town to Be Realized.”183 The proliferation of the ubiquitous California bungalow was fed in part by the rise of “kit homes.” As the name implies, individuals could purchase a building site and order a kit house from a mail-order catalog, such as Sears & Roebuck Co., to be delivered by rail. A typical kit included some 12,000 pre-cut pieces and an instruction manual for the assembly of a modest yet complete single-family residence. Kit homes were popular with middle and working class families during this period.

Michigan-based Aladdin Homes, started by brothers William and Otto Sovereign in 1906, was a pioneer in pre-cut kit homes. Pacific Ready Cut Homes dominated the market in the west.

Between 1908 and 1940 they sold 37,000 read-cut, ready-to-assemble homes from 1,800 plans.

Plans were mostly one-story bungalows, but they also offered plans for 2-story houses, duplexes, bungalow courts, apartment houses, hotels, gas stations, and offices. The Los

182 “Retailers Seek Good Location,” The Bakersfield Californian, April 7, 1910, 11. 183 “Much Building This Fall,” The Bakersfield Californian, July 11, 1911, 7.

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Angeles-based Bungalowcraft Co. advertised extensively in the Bakersfield Morning Echo. In the early 1920s, Pacific Ready Cut established a showroom on G Street in downtown Bakersfield. The kit homes movement lasted well into the 1920s—all through the boom years of Bakersfield. Local builders known to have specialized in bungalows and cottages were Dave Hirshfield and F.H. Leifitz.

In 1910, some 500 homes were built in Bakersfield proper; 195 new buildings were constructed in East Bakersfield.184 Areas of greatest development included along Orange Street; along 18th and 19th streets west of F Street; and more generally on the west side of town, where homes costing as much as $20,000 were erected.185 In 1915, a large tract northeast of downtown was developed as the Homaker Park Tract. Centered around 31st and Q streets, developers led by C.L. Clafin offered “pretty bungalow lots” with the option of having C.W. Newbery build the bungalow.

Deed Restrictions & Racial Covenants
In the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s, private developers participated in institutionalized racism by attaching restrictive covenants to their new residential developments. Restrictive covenants were legal clauses written into property deeds dictating that a property owner could only sell or rent a property to “Caucasians,” otherwise the owner could lose the property. In some covenants, the excluded groups were mentioned by name, and invariably included “African Americans, Mexicans, Asians, and Jews.” A typical covenant lasted for 20 to 50 years.186 Local, state, and federal jurisdictions all became involved in promoting and enforcing restrictive covenants. Restrictive covenants were challenged in the California and U.S. Supreme Courts in 1919 and 1926, but were ultimately upheld as constitutional, unleashing their widespread use.

184 “Millions of Dollars in New Buildings,” The Bakersfield Californian, December 23, 1910, 1. 185 “Millions of Dollars,” 1.
186 City of Los Angeles, Office of Historic Resources, SurveyLA: African American Historic Context Statement, 2018, 38.

Bakersfield: City of Beautiful Homes, 1910. (Hathi Trust Digital Library)

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The real estate industry also reinforced discriminatory practices and the “color line.” In 1924, the National Association of Real Estate Boards established a “code of ethics” which prohibited realtors from introducing “members of any race or nationality” to a neighborhood if it would threaten property values. This resulted in the practice known as “steering”—not showing properties in White neighborhoods to people of color. The penalty for not adhering to the ethics code, which stayed in effect until the late 1950s, was loss of license.187 Restrictive covenants and discriminatory real estate practices were widespread in Bakersfield during this period.

Around 1917, the Brandt Investment Co. developed the Laguna Square Tract, one of the earliest large tracts to be subdivided and one of the first in the county to advertise its racial covenants as an amenity. The tract was bordered by the south side of Bank Street to the north, the north side of Brundage Lane to the south, the west side of H Street to the east, and the west side of Oleander Avenue to the west. Vacant parcels and spec homes were offered for sale. Homes were built mostly in the Craftsman style, with some later Period Revival designs.

Amenities included extra-wide lots, the elimination of alleys, and the laying of sidewalks next to the curb.

Other racially restricted neighborhoods included the Burnetta Park Tract from 1921. The practical reality is that most subdivisions and tracts had deed restrictions, but these specific developments called them out as selling points. Other restricted neighborhoods advertised in the newspapers included the Consuelo Park District in the Lowell Addition; as well as the Beardsley, Alta Vista, Oleander Park, South Bakersfield, River View, Industrial Acres, and Airport tracts.188
Ridge Route from Los Angeles
In 1915, Bakersfield’s relative isolation would begin to decline with the opening of the Ridge Route through the Grapevine, the first reliable automobile link between Bakersfield and Los Angeles. The 20-foot-wide roadway was carved out of the mountains with horse-drawn dirt scrapers. As historian Fatima Bugharin describes, “Building a highway from Los Angeles over a ridge and on sandy soil to reach Bakersfield was no easy task.”189 The loose, sandy surface of the soil made regular construction methods difficult and innovative ideas by Guy F. Atkinson Co. were employed in the construction.190 Only a dirt road initially, the Ridge Route was fully paved by 1919.191 The posted speed limit was 15 miles per hour. Despite the tough driving conditions, the Ridge Route helped to limit Bakersfield’s isolation by enabling agricultural products and oil to be distributed in Southern California. It was also vital as a conduit for the

187 SurveyLA: African American Historic Context Statement, 40. As Richard Rothstein points out in his book, The Color of Law, the state licensure of these realtors did not make them government agents but in effect the state did contribute to de jure segregation by licensing organizations that utilized these practices. Rothstein, The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America (New York, NY: Liveright,/W.W. Horton, 2017). 188 Gia, Race, Sports and Black Unity, 32.
189 Bugharin.
190 Harrison Irving Scott, The Ridge Route: The Road that United California (Torrance, CA: H. I. Scott, 2015), 46. 191 Paul Duginski, “The Grapevine is the Heart of California’s Freeway System. It is also Vulnerable.” Los Angeles Times, December 28, 2019.

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migration of dust bowl workers who came to Kern County to work the fields. As described by author Harrison Irving Scott, the Ridge Route was “The Road that United California.”192 Basque Town, Italian Immigrants & East Bakersfield
By 1900, Bakersfield was home to 213 Basques and four Basque hotels.193 Basque Town was highly concentrated south of Sumner Street in East Bakersfield, with many hotels and other stores clustered near the railroad depot. This location directly across from the train station was the key to welcoming new Basque arrivals into the established Basque community.

Noreiga and Etcheverry renegotiated their partnership and built their second Basque hotel, named The Pyrenees, a brick building costing $9,000.194 The partners leased the Iberia Hotel to other operators, but the Noriega and Etcheverry families continued to live there. In 1906, they changed the name of the Iberia Hotel to Noriega’s.195 The Noriega Hotel [513-531 Sumner Street] remained relatively unchanged for many years. In 1920, a fire damaged the hotel and in 1928, another fire damaged the livery area and handball court. In the Crash of 1929, local Basques Jean and Graciana (Grace) Elizalde lost their sheep and turned to managing the Noriega Hotel.

Francisco “Frank” Amestoy migrated from the Basque region to Southern California in 1904, making his way to Bakersfield and working in the Iberia/Noriega Hotel. Frank and his wife, Anselma, were among the proprietors who ran the Noriega Hotel during the 1920s. In 1927, while still working at the Noriega, the Amestoys purchased the nearby Cesmat Hotel [622 E.

192 Scott, 1.
193 Jeronima Echeverria, Home Away From Home: A History of Basque Boarding Houses (Reno, NV: University of Nevada Press, 1999), 40.
194 Echeverria, Home Away From Home, 40
195 Basque scholar Mary Grace Pacquette traces Faustino Noriega to living at 1325 Baker Street in 1901.

Map of Basque Town. (Echeverria, Home Away From Home: A History of Basque Boarding Houses)

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21st Street],196 moving into the hotel the following year.197 They continued to run the Noriega until 1931, when they left to take over management of the Cesmat, renaming it the Amestoy Hotel. The Amestoys had become prominent members of the local Basque community, and with assistance from Ardizzi and Olcese, they established an informal East Bakersfield financial institution that helped many Basques with loans and financing. Their hotel/restaurant became a popular gathering place known for their steaks and authentic Basque fare. Frank and Anselma operated the Amestoy Hotel until 1953.

During the mid-1920s, the second-story Metropole Hotel (corner of Sumner and Baker streets) was run by Jean Estribou, as well as Jacques and Grace Iriat. In contrast to Noriega’s and the Amestoy—where French, Italians, and Basques regularly attended Saturday night dinners and dances, the Metropole was not as much of a social center for the local immigrant community.198 During prohibition, the French hotels of Bakersfield continued to serve alcohol to Basque patrons, mostly in the form of homemade wine.

East Bakersfield was home to more than just Basques, it also had thriving Mexican and Italian populations. The years of the Mexican Revolution, between 1910 and 1920, brought many Mexicans to California, including the Central Valley. The Borgwardt Tract, established in the late 1890s, bordered by California Avenue to the north, the south side of 9th Street to the south, the east side of King Street to the east, and Union Avenue to the west, was an early Mexican residential area. Latinos were allowed to purchase property in this subdivision, and many did so at the turn of the 20th century.

The Southern Pacific and Santa Fe Railways employed many Mexican railroad workers. Others were employed in the agricultural industry. Efforts to help these migrants were made by the Mexican Evangelical Church [415 Fremont Street/415 E. 18th Street] and the Sociedad Juarez Mutualista Mexicana [815 Fremont Street/815 E. 18th Street].199 J.C. Nava came to Bakersfield in the early teens and became a leader within the community. In 1910, he helped found the Portofirio Diaz Club/Juarez Mutual Aid Society for the purpose of raising money for charitable aid, social engagement, and celebration of Mexican culture and history. In addition to Nava, founders included. J.V. Garcia, Manuel Ortega, and Fermin Silva.

J.V. Garcia was an early and prosperous businessman who owned the Bakersfield Employment Bureau [1501 E. 19th Street] that brokered workers for oil fields, mines, ranches, dairies, hotels, and restaurants. Another early Mexican businessman, Fermin Silva, owned a saloon at [1300 20th Street], at the corner of 20th and L streets, as early as 1902. Early on, the club held events at other locations, like the Armory Hall. By the 1920s, membership was growing and the Juarez Mutual Aid Society severed its connection with the Protestant church and engaged with Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. They needed a building of their own. The Spanish-

196 This property was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. 197 This building was originally constructed in 1899 as the second Cesmat Hotel. In 1894, French immigrant Marius Cesmat erected a 22-room hotel on this site along Humboldt Street (now E. 21st St) near Baker, with a stable across the street. Both buildings were severely damaged in the Sumner fire of 1898 and immediately rebuilt.The reconstructed Cesmat Hotel was a two-story brick building with Neoclassical detailing. In 1900, the hotel was visited by President William McKinley while on a railroad tour, and he spoke from the balcony. Five years later, Cesmat was shot and killed by a deranged sheepherder. 198 Echeverria, Home Away from Home, 211.
199 This property was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.

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speaking community of Bakersfield also had a Spanish-language newspaper at this time, El Centenario.

During this period, Italian immigration to the United States increased nationally, a trend that was reflected in Bakersfield. By 1910, the census enumerated more than 100 Italian men, plus an additional 50 wives and children. A majority of the men were working for the railroad in capacities such as boilermakers, pipefitters, blacksmith, and other laborers.200 Women often took in laundry for the railroad workers to earn extra money or ran boarding houses for the men.

The 1920 Census shows a residential concentration of Italians in the 1200 block of Kentucky Street, and along Robinson and Miller streets. An example of one of the early Italian immigrant homes is that of John Banducci and his family [1228 Kentucky Street]. Banducci was a machinist for the Southern Pacific and his home was directly across from the tracks. The 1920 Census shows that in addition to his wife and three children, Banducci also housed three Italian-born boarders (a machinist, blacksmith, and trucksman for the railroad, respectively).

With an increasing number of Italians in the community, more Italian stores, cafes, and markets emerged; physicians and lawyers soon followed. Important members of the community included Antonio Pasquini and his wife Amelia. They opened a restaurant for a time, but by 1900 Antonio was working for Angelo Pierucci as a cook at the Union Hotel. Around this time, they bought 60 acres on H Street between Ming Avenue and Terrace Way. There they farmed and made wine which they sold to stores and restaurants. Their two sons, Frank and Pete, opened Pasquini Brothers Grocery [1209 19th Street]. They catered to the many Italians in the growing community by carrying items that other markets did not. Frank eventually went into business with Fred Banducci, buying the Mission Bar [1131 19th Street].

Another early Italian merchant in Bakersfield was Attilio Bertolaccini (1887-1949) who operated a dry goods store [1216 19th Street]. He came to Bakersfield in 1907.201 During the early 1900s, Giuseppe “Joe” Lemucchi (1881-1951) worked at several cafes in Bakersfield until he opened his own place. By 1910, he had both a café and a grocery store [725 E. 19th Street].

Giuseppe and his wife Emelia lived on the premises of the grocery store as was common for early merchants. During the 1920s and 1930s, the bar was added next to the old store and the restaurant expanded into the building to the east. The expanded business was then renamed “Luigi’s.” It remains one of Bakersfield’s oldest continuously-operating legacy businesses to this day.

Amy and Olcese continued to flourish, providing much needed capital in the Italian and Basque community. In 1918, the government stepped in and required Olcese to organize legally as a bank. It became known as the Alley Bank. It was later bought out by the Bank of Italy. By 1922, the Societa Dante Alighieri was founded as a mutual aid society to support the Italians of Bakersfield. The Bakersfield Californian also documented the social occasions sponsored by the society. Formation of the “Dante Society,” as it was known, was also an opportunity to share in

200 Weeks, 36.
201 “Pioneer Merchant Succumbs At 62,” The Bakersfield Californian, May 28, 1949, 27.

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the old ways. Over the years the Society remodeled the old 1909 Stine School into Dante Hall [4415 Wilson Road].

Suffrage, Temperance & Representation in Bakersfield
The defeat of suffrage late in the 1800s cooled the fervor of the suffrage movement, but by 1910 California women were ready to take another run at gaining the vote. Women were accorded the right to vote in California on October 10, 1911 by a margin of 2,051 votes.202 In Kern County, the majority in favor of suffrage was much narrower—1,759 for and 1,592 against—passage by just 170 votes.203
In 1919, Bakersfield elected one of the first four women to serve in the California State Legislature, Grace Storey Dorris (née Greed) (1887-1968). Born in Ventura, Dorris graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1909. She was an early suffragist and appeared on the scene in Bakersfield in the mid-teens as a teacher of ancient and modern languages at Kern County Union High School.

In 1918, Dorris decided to run for State Assembly on a pro-Prohibition, pro-labor, pro-suffrage platform, and on local issues regarding water and farming. Winning her election, she began serving in 1919, ultimately serving two terms. Dorris was also the first woman in the California legislature to introduce legislation. The bill limited the hours of service of a domestic servant to ten. While serving in the Assembly, she resided in a Craftsman-style bungalow at 1917 2nd Street. She later served in a leadership position for the American Civil Liberties Union and the League of Women Voters.

The Klan
During the early 1920s, the Ku Klux Klan began a national recruitment campaign for members.

In June of 1921, Homer R. Pitts arrived in Kern County to recruit members. Pitts was very successful, recruiting 400 people from the county and nearly 250 from Bakersfield.204 Although the Klan is regularly associated with racial violence, the Bakersfield klavern (i.e., chapter), known as the Kern River Klan, was more concerned with moral indiscretions related to sex and marital infidelity. Regardless, the Bakersfield Klan’s activity quickly turned violent, drawing negative attention from the local newspapers and the ire of District Attorney Jess Dorsey, who mounted a campaign to prosecute local members.205 As described in the Historic Kern Quarterly Bulletin, “…the west Kern Chapter of the Ku Klux Klan has the dubious distinction of being the first chapter in the history of the famous militia organization of being expelled for being too violent.”206

202 “County Majority Is For Suffrage,” Bakersfield Morning Echo, October 13, 1911, 1. 203 “County Majority Is For Suffrage,” 1.
204 Alicia E. Rodriguez, “No Ku Klux Klan for Kern,” Southern California Quarterly, Vol. 99, No 1, 14. 205 Jess R. Dorsey also served in the State Senate.
206 Kern County Historical Society, Historic Kern Quarterly Bulletin. Vol. 72, No 1, Fall 2024, 4.

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Initially the Kern River Klan met at the home of Harry D. Reynolds [921 Niles Street]. As it grew, meetings moved to the Taylor Building [1660 Chester Avenue] and the name of the organization was changed to the innocuous-sounding “Kern River Club.” Jean Eyraud, the Basque who operated a cigar and soft drink stand, was the first person in Bakersfield subjected to Klan violence, but he was not the last. As violence increased, Jess Dorsey was motivated to step up his investigation, eventually exposing the names of the members of the secret organization and prosecuting several of them. Some of the city’s most prominent citizens appeared on the list of members including Chief of Police Charles A. Stone, County Supervisor Stanley Abel, several deputy sheriffs, and two justices of the peace.

Dorsey’s indictments and trials served to effectively shut the organization down in Bakersfield within 13 months of the formation of the organization.207 By the mid-1910s, the primary employers of African American men in Bakersfield were the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe railroads.208 In 1918, just four years after the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded in Los Angeles, a Bakersfield chapter was established. The President was Mansion Hall and meetings were held in Winters Hall.209 The chapter hosted many regional and national speakers throughout the 1920s, some of whom would also lecture at Cain AME Church.

In 1927, George A. Handis became Bakersfield’s first African American doctor since the first wave of agricultural workers was brought to the region by Haggin and Tevis. The city’s first African American dentist was W.M. Pillow, who moved to Bakersfield from Los Angeles in 1933.

Agriculture, the Automobile & Suburbanization
The discovery of oil in Bakersfield coincided with the rise of the automobile in America and the insatiable demand for gasoline that came with it. Californians especially embraced the new mode of transportation. However, oil also drove innovation in farming. As oil ushered in electricity, it became possible to pump water from deep in the water table, thus freeing farmers from the irrigation canals and enabling crop rotation that increased production. With the lack of water no longer an issue, there was more flexibility regarding which crops could grow, and many Kern County farmers turned to cotton. Wofford B. Camp (1894-1986) founded the Cotton Experiment Station in nearby Shafter, where he eventually discovered a type of Mexican cotton called Acala, which was ideal for the growing conditions around Bakersfield.

This discovery perfectly dovetailed with a nation-wide cotton shortage. As agricultural pursuits increased, buildings related to cultivation and harvest were erected or expanded. Similarly, buildings and structures related to oil production became more visible on the landscape.

A series of factors—including discovery of oil, the completion of the Ridge Route, and the rise of the automobile—combined to spur the suburbanization of Bakersfield during this period.

During the early 1920s, moneyed investors started buying and developing residential tracts for

207 Rodriguez, 37.
208 Gia, Race, Sports and Black Unity, 38.
209 “Colored Citizens Will Meet Monday,” Bakersfield Morning Echo, August 18, 1918, no page.

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the sale of lots. Locations outside the existing city limits were especially attractive as they offered more affordable land prices and relief from city taxes. With the advent of the automobile, tracts no longer needed to be served by the streetcar, thus opening up land further from the city center for subdivision and development. Also during this period, Chester Avenue became Bakersfield’s “automobile row,” with new brick buildings constructed for dealerships, and livery stables converted for auto sale and service.210 Examples of suburban development from the early 1920s include Primavera Park. Located on the former Julius Newman estate, the 250-acre development in East Bakersfield opened in February of 1922. Marketed as “The Hollywood of Bakersfield,” model homes were erected to show what could be built for $2,500, $3,500 and $5,000. House designs were by Los Angeles- based architect Frank A. Brown,211 and the Spanish Colonial Revival style was encouraged. The development consisted of hundreds of parcels northeast of Niles Street at Mount Vernon Avenue including Oregon, Pacific, Locus Ravine, Camino Primavera, Quincy Drive, and Cypress Circle. Another large tract from this period was the approximately 350-parcel Descanso Park subdivision. Recorded in 1923, it was bounded by Niles Street to the north, Center Street to the south, Oswell Street to the east, and Barlow Street to the west.

The Sunset Park Tract, with over 300 parcels, was subdivided in 1925. Bordered by the south side of California Avenue to the north, the north side of Chester Lane to the south, the east side of Pine Street to the east, and Oak Street to the west, Sunset Park was another neighborhood of relatively modest bungalows. A model home was constructed at [2702 Park Way] in 1926 to lure potential buyers. To the north, the Highland Park Tract was subdivided in 1925. Divided into nearly 200 parcels, it was located on Douglas Street, Highland Drive, Francis Street and Arvin Streets between Wells Avenue and N. Chester Avenue. Other East Bakersfield subdivisions from this period included the Descanso Park Tract, the Watson Subdivision, and the Virginia Tract.

Bakersfield’s Central Park212 [500 19th Street] was first established in August of 1921 between 19th and 21st streets next to R Street. Shortly after it opened, the W.C.T.U. donated a public drinking fountain in the park. In 1925, San Francisco architect A. Foluboff prepared a design for a Japanese garden for Central Park, including a tori gate, bamboo garden houses, a tea house, and a pagoda.213 It is unclear if this was ever built.

During the 1920s, U.S. Route 99 (Highway 99), the premiere north-south road through the Central Valley, incorporated Union Avenue north of Brundage Lane. As a result, a number of automobile-related businesses and services began to populate the area. At the time, the State Route took a westward turn at 18th Street and jogged north along Chester Avenue. This coincided with the development of a number of light industrial and auto-related businesses along 18th Street (see below).

210 Bailey, Bakersfield: Heart of the Golden Empire, 85. 211 “Pin Money For the Ladies,” Bakersfield Morning Echo, October 29, 1922, 10. 212 Also known as Central Park in Mill Creek.
213 “Election of New Club Officers to Take Place at Meeting Tomorrow Evening,” The Bakersfield Californian, May 7, 1925, 9.

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By the end of the 1920s, Bakersfield’s population had doubled from 17,000 to 34,000.214 It had a thriving oil and cotton industry. As author and historian John Maynard described the situation, “Bakersfield not only had Black gold, but White gold as well.”215 With that came expansion in civic, institutional, commercial, industrial, and residential development. The prosperity that came from local industries, combined with the quest for respectability, meant Bakersfield’s physical development was on overdrive during this period. This included the construction of the Chamber of Commerce Building [3801 Chester Avenue], designed by Charles H. Biggar and completed in 1929.216 This Spanish Colonial Revival-style structure was located adjacent to the county fairgrounds and featured a large Exhibition Hall that was used to showcase Bakersfield’s agricultural bounty as well as its contribution to the oil industry.217 Thus, during the period 1899 and 1928, Bakersfield transformed itself from a Wild West outpost to a respectable, if sprawling, city with an impressive downtown. By 1929, there were some 34,000 residents within the city limits. Wealthy citizens hired talented local architects, as well as the occasional Los Angeles or San Francisco professional, to build residential, commercial, and civic/institutional buildings that reflected the town’s prosperity. During this period, Bakersfield became known as “The Queen of the San Joaquin.”

214 Maynard, 60.
215 Maynard.
216 This property was listed on the Bakersfield Register of Historic Places in 2008. 217 In 1941, the Chamber invited local residents to bring historical items and materials to the building in an effort to start a museum.

The effort picked up speed after World War II and in 1945, the Kern County Museum officially opened in the building.

Route of Highway 99 through Bakersfield, 1928-1933. (The Bakersfield Californian)

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Bakersfield Historic Context Statement 67
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THEMES
THEME: Early Civic/Institutional Development
Population growth required new civic and institutional development. A new Kern County Courthouse designed by Frederick Mayer in the Beaux Arts style was constructed around 1912 with a budget of $400,000. Mayer also drew the landscape plan. During the early teens, the city purchased the elaborate Victorian-style former county courthouse (7th and present-day Eye streets) for use as its city hall. Thomas B. Wiseman was engaged as architect for the remodeling.

The Baker Street branch of the Kern County Free Library [1400 Baker Street] was constructed in East Bakersfield.218 The Beaux Arts-style building was designed by architect Orville L. Clark and opened to the public in 1915.

In December of 1912, ground was broken for a new Mercy Hospital (at Truxtun Avenue and C Street). Designed by Orville L. Clark, the three-story structure, described in the Bakersfield Morning Echo as “Spanish Renaissance,” was conceived as a cross between the missions and modern hospital design. The building contained the city’s first elevator. Dedication of the building in November of 1913 drew Catholic Church dignitaries from Los Angeles. Five years later, Kern County Hospital required the building of an additional ward and engaged Orville L.

Clark to prepare the plans.

218 This property was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Kern County Free Library, Baker Street Branch, no date. (Kern County Museum)

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Bakersfield Historic Context Statement 68
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Kern County High School (present-day Bakersfield High School) continued to grow and expand. When Kern County High School opened in 1893, classes were held in two rooms on the second floor of a building at Truxtun and L Street.219 In 1895, a three-story Richardsonian Romanesque building with a fourth floor tower opened. As the campus grew, this building became known as the Commercial Building (razed in 1936). A large Beaux Arts Revival-style Administration Building (Charles H. Biggar, 1906) served as classrooms, auditorium and study hall.220 In 1915, a separate auditorium was constructed. That same year, the name of the school was officially changed to Kern County Union High School.

Around 1917, Orville L. Clark designed a boys’ and girls’ gymnasium and in 1918, an addition to the manual training building. The school was continually increasing its student body, and thus continually outgrowing its facilities, often turning to local architect Charles H. Biggar. In 1920, Biggar drew plans for two one-story buildings containing eight classrooms.221 Ludden Hall was added in 1922 offering home economics classrooms.222 Spindt Hall was designed by Biggar in 1924, when he also drew plans for additions to the school’s central heating plant. In 1924, Science Hall was added to the campus. In 1929, a new Mechanical Arts Building was constructed.223 That same year, a new, separate, Junior College building started construction. In 1936, Biggar designed additions to the Girls Gymnasium.

Kern County High was the county’s only high school for many years, and as a result a number of its students did not live locally. Sometimes, a parent would relocate to the city while children attended. In other cases, students rented rooms with local families as boarders. The high school

219 “History of Bakersfield High School,” Bakersfield Alumni Association, https://bakersfieldalumni.org/history-of-bhs (accessed February 28, 2023).
220 This building was damaged in the 1952 earthquake; today the site is occupied by the cafeteria building. 221 “New Classrooms at High School,” Bakersfield Morning Echo, July 11, 1920, 12. 222 The Oracle, 1951, no page.
223 The Oracle, 1951, no page.

Kern County Union High School (later Bakersfield High School), c. 1920s. (Kern County Museum)

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Finance, Economic Development and Jobs CommitteeSeptember 22, 2025

Finance, Economic Development and Jobs Committee
September 22, 2025