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Landmarks pay homage to Napa's preserved history
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CommentA courthouse, a cow barn, an elegant winery and a simple 19th-century schoolhouse are among the recipients of Napa County Landmarks annual Awards of Merit for Historic Preservation for 2006. Also singled out for honors are two historic homes, a library and a bank.
A new award category, public art, was announced this year.
A new award category, public art, was announced this year.
Landmarks’ highest award "Preservationist of the Year" was presented to two government officials. Retiring Napa County Judge Scott Snowden and current Court Executive Officer Stephen Bouch were given this honor for their leadership in the restoration of the Napa County Courthouse.
Homeowners, architects, civic officials and preservationists gathered at Schramsberg Winery Sunday for the 32nd annual event, held during Historic Preservation Month.
Homeowners, architects, civic officials and preservationists gathered at Schramsberg Winery Sunday for the 32nd annual event, held during Historic Preservation Month.
Napa County Landmarks is the nonprofit historic preservation organization for all of Napa County. It fosters community awareness of the rich cultural heritage of the past found in irreplaceable buildings and sites. Landmarks sponsors educational programs, public policy advocacy, research and technical assistance.
Membership is open and invited. For further information visit www.napacountylandmarks.org or call 255-1836.
Membership is open and invited. For further information visit www.napacountylandmarks.org or call 255-1836.
The award categories, the winning sites and their principals include:
Preservation or
restoration of a building
at least 50 years old:
Old Napa County Courthouse and Hall of Records
825 Brown St., Napa
Owner: Napa County and Napa County Superior Court
Architect: Ross Drulis Cusembery
Builder: John F. Otto Inc.
Built in 1878, with its Hall of Records -- now the Jury Assembly Room-- built in 1916, it is the fifth oldest continuously operating courthouse in the state of California and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
A 1978 addition bridged the two buildings but the interior space was totally out of character with the original. A recently completed interior renovation brings it to the most modern efficiency while restoring the High Victorian style. During construction an interior dome was uncovered and it was determined a window once graced that aperture. Napa artist Gordon Huether has crafted a period appropriate replacement, which will soon be publicly unveiled.
The Goodman Library
1219 First St., Napa
Owner: City of Napa
Architect: Access Solutions, Berkeley
Builder: Andrews & Thornley, Napa
Napa Mayor Jill Techel and Community Development Director Cassandra Walker accepted the award for the city.
Designed by Luther Turton as one of Napa's few stone buildings in the Richardson Romanesque style, it was a gift to the city by banker and philanthropist George Goodman in 1902. It functioned as a library until 1974 when the new one opened. It is now home to the Napa County Historical Society and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The building has undergone significant seismic strengthening, necessary after the 2000 earthquake and funded in part by a FEMA grant. It is also now compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act for entrances and bathrooms, while preserving its historic architecture and finishes.
Jacob Schram House verandah
1400 Schramsberg Road, Calistoga
Owner: Jamie Davies
Architect: Lail Design Group
Builder: Andrews & Thornley
The Jacob Schram House is one of the oldest homes in Napa Valley, built in 1862. Here writer Robert Louis Stevenson visited, tasting the wines which he called "liquid poetry" during his 1870 stay in the valley.
Winery owner Jamie Davies spoke meaningfully about the rebirth of Napa Valley winemaking in the mid-20th century and her own family's part in that history, then invited guests to enjoy the view from her elegant verandah.
The L.J. Norton House
447 Randolph St., Napa
Owner/Builder: John Reaksecker, JFR Construction, Napa
The two Napa homes receiving honors were designed by the city's two most famous architects of the last century: Luther Turton and William Corlett. Each the height of fashion in their time, each was in great need of major restoration.
The L.J. Norton house now owned by John Reaksecker was designed in 1905 for the owner of the Sawyer Tannery, then Napa's largest employer. Reputed to be the city's first stucco house, it is probably most famous as the temporary home of film stars Clark Gable and Carole Lombard during the filming of a 1930s movie here. A major renovation was required to restore the home to its stately elegance. It is part of the Napa Abajo/Fuller Park Historic District.
The J.L. Brown House
1543 Main St., Napa
Owner/Designer: Erik Nickel
Builder: Dave May Construction, Napa
Architect W.H. Corlett designed an 1891 home that combined Queen Anne, Bungalow and Greek Revival elements for J.L. Brown the owner of the Nickels and Brown Brothers Meat Market a block away. Over the years it was carved into apartments, later reunited as one home, and now restored to its full glory.
Owner Erik Nickel is seemingly indefatigable. He received an Award of Merit in 2004 for his work on a home two doors away, and this year faced a second major re-do in as many months on the present house from damage caused by the New Year's Eve flood.
Rehabilitation or
adaptive reuse
The Franklin
Primary School
218 Franklin St., Napa
Owner: Napa Women's Club
Builders: Cello & Mandru, Napa Castino's Restaurant Equipment, Ronhert Park
The simple schoolhouse, once the 1901 Franklin Primary School, was used at various times as a church, a preschool, a music school and home to a children's theater group. In 1948 the Napa Women's Club purchased the property and, with a recent grant from the Gasser Foundation, the club has been able to restore and refurbish the building for both its own use and for community rental. Located near the Fuller Park Historic District, the transitional style building is eligible for the California Historic Register.
Cow Barn
2850 Silverado Trail, St. Helena
Owner: Tom Leonardini Sr.
Architect: Mary Sikes, St. Helena
Builder: Benjamin Beltran, Napa
A cow barn built decades ago reputedly for the St. Helena Sanitarium, had a massive scope of seismic retrofit and renovation. It will now serve as a gathering place for family and friends of the owner.
Public art
Napa Mill fountain and mosaics
500 Main St., Napa
Owner: The Napa Mill
Artist: Alan Shepp
Builder: Treeline Construction, Napa
The new category for public art award was accepted by Harry Price, owner of the Napa Mill, for the Fountain and Mosaics designed by artist Alan Shepp.
The gigantic fountain installation, several years in the planning and installation, depict the historic and natural past of Napa County. There are references to the Wappo native residents, the Chinese laborers, Bear Flag revolt and Napa River trade and commerce. A meandering path of water leads from the fountain across the Riverbend Performance Plaza and into the river.
Commendation
Bank of Napa
903 Main St., Napa
Owner: Wells Fargo Bank
Architect: McGinnis Chen San Francisco;
Contractor: Rainbow Waterproofing
The Main Street building was erected in 1923 of reinforced concrete in the Beaux Arts Classicism style. Major renovations have ensured the safety and continuing beauty of the building.
Preservation or
restoration of a building
at least 50 years old:
Old Napa County Courthouse and Hall of Records
825 Brown St., Napa
Owner: Napa County and Napa County Superior Court
Architect: Ross Drulis Cusembery
Builder: John F. Otto Inc.
Built in 1878, with its Hall of Records -- now the Jury Assembly Room-- built in 1916, it is the fifth oldest continuously operating courthouse in the state of California and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
A 1978 addition bridged the two buildings but the interior space was totally out of character with the original. A recently completed interior renovation brings it to the most modern efficiency while restoring the High Victorian style. During construction an interior dome was uncovered and it was determined a window once graced that aperture. Napa artist Gordon Huether has crafted a period appropriate replacement, which will soon be publicly unveiled.
The Goodman Library
1219 First St., Napa
Owner: City of Napa
Architect: Access Solutions, Berkeley
Builder: Andrews & Thornley, Napa
Napa Mayor Jill Techel and Community Development Director Cassandra Walker accepted the award for the city.
Designed by Luther Turton as one of Napa's few stone buildings in the Richardson Romanesque style, it was a gift to the city by banker and philanthropist George Goodman in 1902. It functioned as a library until 1974 when the new one opened. It is now home to the Napa County Historical Society and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The building has undergone significant seismic strengthening, necessary after the 2000 earthquake and funded in part by a FEMA grant. It is also now compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act for entrances and bathrooms, while preserving its historic architecture and finishes.
Jacob Schram House verandah
1400 Schramsberg Road, Calistoga
Owner: Jamie Davies
Architect: Lail Design Group
Builder: Andrews & Thornley
The Jacob Schram House is one of the oldest homes in Napa Valley, built in 1862. Here writer Robert Louis Stevenson visited, tasting the wines which he called "liquid poetry" during his 1870 stay in the valley.
Winery owner Jamie Davies spoke meaningfully about the rebirth of Napa Valley winemaking in the mid-20th century and her own family's part in that history, then invited guests to enjoy the view from her elegant verandah.
The L.J. Norton House
447 Randolph St., Napa
Owner/Builder: John Reaksecker, JFR Construction, Napa
The two Napa homes receiving honors were designed by the city's two most famous architects of the last century: Luther Turton and William Corlett. Each the height of fashion in their time, each was in great need of major restoration.
The L.J. Norton house now owned by John Reaksecker was designed in 1905 for the owner of the Sawyer Tannery, then Napa's largest employer. Reputed to be the city's first stucco house, it is probably most famous as the temporary home of film stars Clark Gable and Carole Lombard during the filming of a 1930s movie here. A major renovation was required to restore the home to its stately elegance. It is part of the Napa Abajo/Fuller Park Historic District.
The J.L. Brown House
1543 Main St., Napa
Owner/Designer: Erik Nickel
Builder: Dave May Construction, Napa
Architect W.H. Corlett designed an 1891 home that combined Queen Anne, Bungalow and Greek Revival elements for J.L. Brown the owner of the Nickels and Brown Brothers Meat Market a block away. Over the years it was carved into apartments, later reunited as one home, and now restored to its full glory.
Owner Erik Nickel is seemingly indefatigable. He received an Award of Merit in 2004 for his work on a home two doors away, and this year faced a second major re-do in as many months on the present house from damage caused by the New Year's Eve flood.
Rehabilitation or
adaptive reuse
The Franklin
Primary School
218 Franklin St., Napa
Owner: Napa Women's Club
Builders: Cello & Mandru, Napa Castino's Restaurant Equipment, Ronhert Park
The simple schoolhouse, once the 1901 Franklin Primary School, was used at various times as a church, a preschool, a music school and home to a children's theater group. In 1948 the Napa Women's Club purchased the property and, with a recent grant from the Gasser Foundation, the club has been able to restore and refurbish the building for both its own use and for community rental. Located near the Fuller Park Historic District, the transitional style building is eligible for the California Historic Register.
Cow Barn
2850 Silverado Trail, St. Helena
Owner: Tom Leonardini Sr.
Architect: Mary Sikes, St. Helena
Builder: Benjamin Beltran, Napa
A cow barn built decades ago reputedly for the St. Helena Sanitarium, had a massive scope of seismic retrofit and renovation. It will now serve as a gathering place for family and friends of the owner.
Public art
Napa Mill fountain and mosaics
500 Main St., Napa
Owner: The Napa Mill
Artist: Alan Shepp
Builder: Treeline Construction, Napa
The new category for public art award was accepted by Harry Price, owner of the Napa Mill, for the Fountain and Mosaics designed by artist Alan Shepp.
The gigantic fountain installation, several years in the planning and installation, depict the historic and natural past of Napa County. There are references to the Wappo native residents, the Chinese laborers, Bear Flag revolt and Napa River trade and commerce. A meandering path of water leads from the fountain across the Riverbend Performance Plaza and into the river.
Commendation
Bank of Napa
903 Main St., Napa
Owner: Wells Fargo Bank
Architect: McGinnis Chen San Francisco;
Contractor: Rainbow Waterproofing
The Main Street building was erected in 1923 of reinforced concrete in the Beaux Arts Classicism style. Major renovations have ensured the safety and continuing beauty of the building.
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