| State of California - The Resource Agency |
| DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION |
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| *Resource Name or #: |
DRAPER'S
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Survey Title: |
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| B1. |
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| B2. |
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| B3. |
| Original Use: |
Commercial (Dress Shop)
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| *B5a. |
| Primary Architectural Style: |
Streamline Moderne
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| B5b. |
| Secondary Architectural Style: |
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| *B6. |
| Construction History: |
Date Built: |
1932
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| *B7. |
| Moved?: |
 Yes
 No
Unknown
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Date: |
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Original Location: |
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| *B8. |
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| *B9a. |
| Architect: |
Walter C. Fain
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| b. |
Builder: |
Walter C. Fain Walter C. Fain Walter C. Fain
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| *B10. |
| Significance: |
Theme: |
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Area: |
City
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| Period of Significance: |
1948
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Property Type: |
Store
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| Applicable Criteria: |
| National Register Criteria: |
C
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California Register: |
3
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Local Register: |
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The Draper’s building at 1855 E. Colorado Boulevard is significant as an intact example of Art-Moderne style applied to a small-scale commercial structure. The building exhibits architectural integrity (its ability to demonstrate why it is significant) through its location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. It is in its original location, is a reflection of post-WWII development and architectural trends on East Colorado Boulevard and has undergone few alterations since it was remodeled in 1948.
A historic context report was prepared for East Colorado Boulevard as part of the East Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan. The report indicates that Route 66 was routed to East Colorado Boulevard from its previous alignment along East Foothill Boulevard in 1940 upon completion of the Arroyo Seco Parkway. The report states, “This change has a profound impact on the development of East Colorado Boulevard after 1940 and particularly during the 1950’s when Americans took to vacationing by automobile.” Given the date of the Art-Moderne remodel at 1855 E. Colorado Boulevard, it is highly likely that the style of the building was influenced by this change.
Although there are larger-scale examples of the Art-Moderne style in the Central District of the city (e.g., Bullock’s – now Macy’s – 401 South Lake Avenue, 1947, Wurdeman & Beckett; Pasadena Winter Gardens, 161-171 S. Arroyo Parkway, 1940, Cyril Bennett; Cornet Warehouse, 411 S. Arroyo Parkway, 1945, Nordstrom & Anderson; Barber Bros. Building, 310 S. Lake Avenue, 1948, Claude Beelman; Royal Laundry drive-through, 477 S. Raymond Avenue, 1939, George H. Whyte), the Draper’s building is a good example of the style applied to a smaller building. It is one of four commercial buildings on East Colorado Boulevard in the Moderne style (Jack’s Food Market, 2660 E Colorado, 1947; Medical Office Bldg., 2100 E Colorado, 1948; Western Auto Supply Store, 1155 E Colorado, 1939, Frederick Marsh & 1945 Bennett & Bennett). Including the subject building, three of these buildings were determined eligible for local landmark designation in the City’s updated historic resources survey of East Colorado Boulevard, completed in 2001, for the East Colorado Specific Plan.
The original design of the building from 1948 is fully intact, including stainless-steel front door and display windows, sign pylons and textured glass steel windows. The two-story, concave parapet on the front elevation appears to be the only remaining example in Pasadena of this distinctive feature (which has references to Art Deco and English Regency designs)—the foremost example of folded geometric walls on a retail store was the now-demolished 1941 storefront on Grayson’s, later Arden’s Dress, Shop, 306 E. Colorado, William D. Coffey, architect. The Draper’s building is one of a relatively small inventory of Art-Moderne buildings in the City and is important to its setting because it represents the Route 66 theme along this portion of E. Colorado Boulevard.
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| B11. |
| Additional Resource Attributes: |
HP06
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| *B12. |
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| B13. |
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| *B14. |
| Date of Evaluation: |
09/05/2006
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