Historic Architecture Preserved in Downtown Fullerton

Downtown Fullerton is the historical center of the city. In the past 20 years, this area has enjoyed a renaissance with an influx of specialty restaurants, sidewalk cafes, and unique shops. Many of its historic buildings have been rehabilitated and readapted. There are dozens of historic buildings in downtown so this blog article only touches the surface of what is available to explore. Pictured below is the Chapman Building which is considered the cornerstone of Downtown Fullerton. It was considered the tallest building in Orange County when it was built in 1923.

Chapman Building -- 110 E. Wilshire, Fullerton, Ca.

The original California hotel, now named the Villa del Sol, was completed in 1922. The project was initiated by Charles C. Chapman for the purpose of creating a first-class hotel in the city. It now currently has a variety of restaurants, specialty shops, and office space.

California Hotel / Villa del Sol -- 305 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton, Ca.

The Villa del Sol's courtyard used to be completely open to Harbor Blvd. Interestingly, during a 1964 renovation a new front portion was added which enclosed that courtyard. For the fine dining crowd, the renowned Cellar Restaurant happens to be located in the Villa del Sol.

Villa del Sol -- Courtyard

The historic Fullerton City Hall, now the Fullerton Police station, was dedicated in 1942. It represents the Colonial Revival architectural style. The station was built by the Works Progress Administration, a New Deal Agency, which put hundreds of unemployed people to work.

Fullerton Police Station -- 237 W. Commonwealth, Fullerton, Ca.

This building has a beautiful tower and sunken courtyard. It was later named the Wayne Bornhoft Police Facility in honor of the former police chief turned mayor. Much of the police department's activities have been moved to newer buildings behind this one.

Fullerton Police Station -- Courtyard

The Louis E. Plummer Auditorium, constructed in 1930, is an outstanding example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. It is typically used by music organizations from both Fullerton High School and Fullerton College. The building has many fine architectural details including the tower in the background. There also happens to be a WPA Fresco mural along the west side of the auditorium which was created by Charles Kassler.

Louis E. Plummer Auditorium -- 201 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton Ca.

Fullerton's Spanish Colonial Revival library, now museum, was built in 1941.  It has a variety of collections and holds various exhibitions. As an example, the current exhibition is titled "Ferry Cross the Mersey: The British Invasion." There is also a Leo Fender collection at the museum.

Fullerton Museum -- 301 N. Pomona, Fullerton, Ca.

Pictured below is the Dr. G. Wendel Olson Medical Office building turned Rutabegorz restaurant. Local residents saved this building from demolition in 1974 which sparked a wider preservation movement in Fullerton. Currently, Fullerton's preservation efforts are concentrated in the Fullerton Heritage organization. Their web page is loaded with information and is certainly worth your time.

Rutabegorz Restaurant -- 211 N. Pomona, Fullerton, Ca.

The Nenno House, a rare example of Colonial Revival architecture in Fullerton, was built in the 1920s. This old house has been repurposed to commercial use.


Nenno House -- 321 N. Pomona, Fullerton, Ca.

Fullerton's oldest post office, built in 1939, reflects Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Inside there is a small mural titled "Orange Pickers" that was created by artist Paul Julian. He would later have a busy career in animation with Warner Brothers.


US Post Office -- 202 E. Commonwealth, Fullerton, Ca.

The Dewella Apartments are an awesome example of several historic apartment units in the area. This complex happens to be the only garden court apartment in the city. Also, the Dewella sign is the oldest neon city in Fullerton. I happened to notice another similar sign outside the Fullerton Police station.

Dewella Apartments -- 232-252 Wilshire, Fullerton, Ca.

Built in 1909, the Original Methodist Church is the oldest operating church in Fullerton. It is also unique because it represents the Gothic Revival architectural style which is a rarity in Fullerton.

Original Methodist Church (Now Church of Religious Science) -- 117 N. Pomona, Fullerton

The Methodists sold their original gothic styled church and moved across the street to meet the needs of their growing congregation. Their new church, at 114 N. Pomona, was completed in 1929, the same year as the Great Wall Street Crash. I'm sure many souls wandered into that sanctuary due to the worst financial catastrophe in US history.

United Methodist Church -- 114 N. Pomona, Fullerton

Built in 1925, the Fox Theater was designed by Raymond Kennedy who also designed the Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. It was closed and left abandoned in 1987; however, it was later labeled as an official Fullerton landmark in 1990 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.


Fox Theater -- 510 N. Harbor, Fullerton, Ca.

The Fullerton Historic Theater Foundation is diligently working to restore the Fox Theater which is still closed. It has been estimated that the Fox will need about five more years and several millions of dollars before it can be reopened. Important seismic work was already completed and later this year some ceiling restoration work will commence. The theater's color scheme is depicted in the below picture. Donations can be made to the foundation on their web link. When this theater reopens it will be a masterpiece.


Fox Theater

Downtown Fullerton's great location in Orange County, proximity to the commuter trains, and nearby amenities have made it a very desirable place to live. Several modern apartment developments have sprung up in downtown. These mixed use developments include retail establishments on the first floor which is typical in many other large cities.

Pinnacle at Fullerton Apartments -- 229 E. Commonwealth, Fullerton, Ca.

The most current apartment development in Downtown is the Malden Station Apartments which will be completed in late 2015. This is a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) which is very close to the train station. It will have ground floor retail and a parking structure.


Malden Station Apartments Fullerton -- 250 W. Santa Fe, Fullerton, Ca. (Image Credit: Driver Urban)

Pictured below is the Malden building under construction.

Malden Station Apartments Under Construction (9-6-14)

Downtown Fullerton really is the jewel of North Orange County. I hope you enjoyed this tour, your comments are appreciated.