| Address: |
1855 E COLORADO Blvd |
APN: |
5746-017-091 |
This property is designated by the city as an individual historic resource (see "designation type" field for the specific city designation type). *
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| Address: |
1855 E COLORADO Blvd |
| City: |
Pasadena |
State: |
CA |
| Zip Code: |
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County: |
Los Angeles |
| County Code: |
37 |
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| Historic Name: |
DRAPER'S |
Common Name: |
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| APN: |
5746-017-091 |
Zoning: |
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| Building Sq. Ft: |
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Site Size (Acres): |
0.350 |
| Year Built: |
1932 Documented |
District: |
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| District: |
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Property Status: |
Designated |
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| Resource Description: |
The 0.35-acre property is located at the northwest corner of East Colorado Boulevard and North Parkwood Avenue. The approximately 5,000-square-foot building is oriented toward East Colorado Boulevard. The property is landscaped on the southern and eastern sides of the building, with the exception of a brick and concrete walkway from East Colorado Boulevard to the front of the building. Parking is located to the rear of the lot and is accessed from North Parkwood Avenue. The property is within the boundaries of the East Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan (Route 66 Sub Area).
The original building on the property was built circa 1914 as a one-and-a-half-story residential bungalow. City Directories indicate that the bungalow was used for a retail store, Simeon Draper’s Women’s Clothing, in 1929. A building permit was issued in 1938 to enclose the original front porch and to repair interior rooms. In 1948, the house was completely remodeled in the Moderne style, which remains today, by architect and contractor Walter C. Fain. Today, the only evidence remaining of the original 1914 house is the window and door configuration on the front elevation.
The one- and two-story building is clad in stucco and has a parapet roof. The second-story portion of the Colorado Boulevard elevation features a concave fluted area with a grouping of three metal-framed windows in the center and a sunshade canopy with aluminum slats below. The front door and storefront bay windows are framed in stainless steel and glazed with clear glass. Attached to the eastern end of the two-story portion of the building is a narrow rectangular pylon clad in corrugated metal; it extends from the ground to a height approximately ten feet higher than the building. The pylon, originally painted in an accent color, was used for neon signage (see historical postcard in photo attachment). A single-story volume extends east from the two-story building and attached sign panel.
The Parkwood Avenue elevation of the building has a parapetted two-story element on the southern end which transitions to a single-story mass to the north. The single-story portion was an addition to the original building and was constructed in 1948 at the time of the Moderne remodel. This elevation has a single grouping square steel windows on the second-floor portion, and several groupings of steel windows on the first floor, including two corner groupings of small square steel windows with corner canopies. All windows on this elevation have textured translucent glass.
At the corner of East Colorado Boulevard and North Parkwood Avenue is a freestanding sign, built in 1962, with a narrow canted pylon clad in corrugated metal supporting a large rectangular sign cabinet. A small portion of the pylon, the top of which has a cut-out “U”-shaped finial, continues above the cabinet.
The rear of the building, which is visible from Parkwood Avenue, has a glass door adjacent to a large window, two smaller windows with rounded metal grillework, and a solid door topped by a flat canopy with rounded edges. A new window opening, the same size as the two smaller windows has been cut into the wall adjacent to the solid door. On either side of the driveway is a rectangular freestanding sign pylon clad in corrugated metal.
A second building was constructed in the rear in 1963 and, because it does not possess any significant architectural features from this period, is noncontributing to the historic character of the property.
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| Legal Description: |
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| Primary Architectural Style: |
Streamline Moderne |
| Secondary Architectural Style: |
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| Architect: |
Walter C. Fain |
| Builder: |
Walter C. Fain Walter C. Fain Walter C. Fain |
| Contractor: |
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| Context: |
Recent Past
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| Original Owner: |
Simeon Draper & Virginia D. Christopher |
| Original Use: |
Commercial (Dress Shop) |
| Original Location: |
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| Demolished: |
no |
| Notes: |
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| Moved: |
no |
| Date Moved: |
n/a |
| Designation Date: |
11/13/2006 |
| Mills Act: |
A contract and work program
was recorded in 12/28/2007
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* This is a simplified statement of the property's status. Please review the NRHP Status Code field on the search screen for official, adopted status language.
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