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Home My WebLink AboutCC RESO 10,967 Designating Historical Building and Site (Kimball Block / Brick Row)RESOLUTION NO. 10,967 RESOLUTION DESIGNATING HISTORICAL BUILDING AND SITE (Kimball Block/Brick Row) WHEREAS, Kimball Block/Brick Row, located between 9th Street and Plaza Boulevard on "A" Avenue, has occupied a prominent place in National City history since its construction in 1887, and WHEREAS, Kimball Block/Brick Row is a structure of unique arch- itectural qualities, being the only building of its type on the West Coast, and WHEREAS, Kimball Block/Brick Row was built by Frank Kimball, National City's founder, who was instrumental in bringing the rail- road to San Diego County and developing the agricultural economy of Southern California, and WHEREAS, Kimball Block/Brick Row has been identified with the cultural heritage of the City of National City and the entire South Bay area, and WHEREAS, the official General Plan of the City of National City designates Kimball Block/,Brick Row as a site of historical in- terest, and WHEREAS, the City Council of National City has officially en- dorsed the restoration and preservation of Kimball Block/Brick Row pursuant to Resolution No. 10,796, adopted September 5, 1972. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY, CALIFORNIA, that: 1. The City Council calls upon the State of California to enroll Kimball Block/Brick Row in the State Historic Plan. 2. The City Council calls upon the Secretary of the Interior of the United States of America to enroll Kimball Block/Brick Row on the National Register of Historic Places as authorized by the Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (P.L. 89-665). 3. The City Council direct the City Manager or his appointee to take all action necessary to effectuate the placement of Kimball Block/Brick Row on the National Register of Historic Places. PASSED AND ADOPTER this 6th day of February, 1973. ATTEST: .KIMBALL BLOCK .BRICK ROW KI118ALL BLOCK, commonly known cis BRICK ROW .%s the only dtltuctuhe o$ it's type on the Wezt Coazt. The vcehitectwral 5.ty& uz that of the 19th Century PUladeeph.ia /tow house, unique -to the Eastekn United States. BRICK ROW, on itz oizLg-in.al site, was one ob the i,ittst hubztant%a2 dthuctutces .in Na tone City, Cae-i4onnLa. It ways built by F' ank Kimball, National Ci ty'-s {youndet, who ways ,instrcumental in 6/tinging the .taL?n.oad to San Diego County and estabt sbu.ng the agti uetwta2 economy o{y Southern Cati.5o/tn.ia. 8u,i P.t .in 1887-88 du Lng National C.ity'a decLLne ass a naitnoad center, .it Ls po44 Lbfe Ertank K,i.mba2e constructed the ,impot»Lng edi6ice in an q6ov to demonstrate to na,ibtoad o.icia z that NatLonae City wa4 becoming cobmopot tan. KIMBALL BLOCK BRICK ROW TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM Attachments: List o4 PAopetoty Ownexs Desc'ri.pt-Lon ob 1n e'tLoft o5 KIMBALL BLOCK/BRICK ROUT Unedited Recoxds 6tom the Hision-Lc Amexican &u,2ding3 Swtvey II. BIOGRAPHY OF FRANK KIMBALL III. KIMBALL BLOCK/BRICK ROW LEGAL DESCRIPTION & CHAIN OF TITLE IV. BIBLIOGRAPHY & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS V. NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES - PROPERTY MAP FORM Attachment: NatLona. City Quadnangee VI. NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES - PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM Attachments: Fowc PhotogrLaphe o6 Extet on. KIMBALL BLOCK/BRICK ROW Thhee Photogn.aphs o{6 Intetion KIP.MBALL BLOCK/BRICK ROW w/dupt i.cates Form 10-300 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (July 1969) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STATE: NATIONAL. REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY: INVENTORY — NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE (Type all entries — complete applicable sections) 11. NAME' COMMON: BRICK ROW - ANO/OR HISTORIC: - • _ KIMBALL BLOCK 12. LOCATION STREET AND NUMBER: Between 9th & l0th Streets on the west side of "A" Avenue CITY OR TOWN: • National City STATE_ rs CODE COUNTY: CODE California 06 San Diego 073 13' CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY - (Check One) OWNERSHIP STATUS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC ❑ District ® Building ❑ Site 0 Structure El Object ❑ Public Ljy Private ❑ Both Public Acquisition: ❑ In Process �' Being Considered - EN Occupied 0 Unoccupied ❑ Preservation work in progress Yes: ■ Restricted ❑ Unrestricted W No PRESENT USE (Check One or .More as Appropriate) 0 Agricultural ❑ Government 0 Park 0 Transportation Comments 51 Commercial ❑ Industrial El Private Residence 0 Other (Specify) Real estate 1 El Fav_...._..cl ❑ MI11t.. )f 1 0..1: i'v nGt{ _ 4 ❑ Entertainment ❑ Museum ■ Scientific one unit t4..OWNER OF PROPERTY _ OWNER'S NAME: See Attachment __ -_. .. - . b .. STREET AND NUMBER: 906-08, 910, 912, 916, 922-24, 926, 928, 934-36, 938, 940 "A" Avenue CITY OR TOWN: STATE: 1 CODE National City - California (` 06 5„LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION' COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: Office of the County Recorder, San Diego County COUNTY: i STREET AND NUMBER: 220 West Broadway (County Operations Building) CITY OR TOWN: STATE CODE San Diego California 06 ENTRY NUMBER FOR NPS USE ONLY 16. REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE. OF SURVEY: Historic American Buildings Survey Cal-1969 DATE OF SURVEY: August 1971 J Federal 0 State ❑ County ❑ Local DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: Library of Congress (Copy of Photographic Data STREET AND NUMBER: CITY OR TOWN: STATE: CODE Washington Dist. of Columbia 0 -I m Sticeet Address Aszessoez St'Lee t Addtezd Azz edzat'z St teet Addte,sd 4,sz ezz oh' z a iteet kddnedd Adsesson'd Street Addte.4d Adz ezz ot's Stee Addnedd Addessot'h St ee. Addnedz Aszeddat'd St'teet Addteu Adzezzot's Stiteet Addtem Adzezzot's Stiteet Addtea4 Asseissot's BRICK 906-08 "A" Avenue National City, Ca. Patce. Number 556-471-06 910 "A" Avenue National City, Ca. Pateee Numbet 556-471-07 912 "A" Avenue National City, Ca. Patce.e Numbers 556-471-08 916 "A" Avenue National City, Ca. PateeL Numbest 556-471-09 922-24 "A" Avenue National City, Ca. Parcel. Numbers 556-471-10 926 "A" Avenue National City, Ca. Patad. Number 556-471-11 928 "A" Avenue National City, Ca. Pate... Number. 556-471-12 934-36 "A" Avenue National City, Ca. Parsee.. Number 556-471-13 938 "A" Avenue National City, Ca.- Patcee Number 556-471-14 940 "A" Avenue National City, Ca. Pate... Numbet 556-471-15 ROW Name 6 Addnezd 06 tkvnen CAMACHO, Jose L. 4453 Orchard Avenue San Diego, Ca. 92107 ALLEN, Edna ALLEN, 910 "A" Avenue National City, Ca. SCHUMAN, Edward M. 912 "A" Avenue National City, Ca. HOLLEN, Marriane K. 2844 Lincoln Court National City, Ca. Billy E. 92050 92050 c/o DAWSON, Mary 92050 DAWSON, Mary HOLLEN, Marriane K. 2844 Lincoln Court National City, Ca. 92050 DILLOW, Emelia I. DILLOW, Harvey L. 926 "A" Avenue National City, Ca. 92050 STAFFEN, Benie G. 928 "A" Avenue National City, Ca. 92050 MULLEY, Thomas L. & Mary H. 936 "A" Avenue National City, Ca. 92050 SPITZER, Julius A. & Dorothy G. 938 "A" Avenue National City, Ca. 92050 FLORES, Pompello V. & Lucy C. 940 "A" Avenue National City, Ca. 92050 Note: 06 .the ten units, -there ate 7 which .ate owneft-occupied; two hemaining units • have ,the name abaentee owner. A.e are pn.ivate nes.idences w.i,th ,some temodeeed -to include a bat the unit, 906 "A" Avenue which -its a. teat. estate o66.ice. o4 the three nevttae except DESCRIPTION CONDITION `❑ Excellent s 1 ght ly (Check One) aAltered ❑ Unaltered EX Good ❑ Fair (Check One) 0 Deteriorated ❑ Ruins 0 Unexposed (Check One) 0 Moved ❑ Original Site DESCRIBE THE PRESENT ANO ORIGINAL (if known) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE KIMBALL BLOCK/BRICK ROW BRICK ROW was built in 1887-88 by Frank Kimball, the founder of National City In his diary he noted, "Contract to Mr. Hunt of Griffith & Hunt, San Francisco. To build 10 houses, covering 250 x 45 feet for a lump sum of $22,000..." The 19th Century ten -unit, two-story building was constructed according to drawings sent from Philadelphia. The Philadelphia row house scheme, unique to the East Coast, contrasted with the detached Victorian residences typical in California at that time. The block -long structure is situated on the west side of "A" Avenue, facing east and extends from 9th Street on the north to loth Street on the south. There is a shallow strip of lawn between the side- walk and the building and a tree lawn between the sidewalk and the street. The building appears to consist of five units but each comprises two apart- ments. Individual units are L-shaped with the plan reversed for every other unit creating U-shaped service yards. The brickwork of the facade was carefully planned to esthetically break the severe lines of the long wall. The bricks above the second story of each unit are set upright and at an angle. The same motif is carried out in a border around the whole building. The two end walls are recessed to give a panel effect relieving their plainness. The half-moon ventilators modify the rigid lines of the gabled parapet. The curved concrete window lintels are of a unique design;;,inich is carried out In reverse on tilt caved brackets deco- rating the porch. The one-story porch runs the length of the front of the building. Wood dividers corresponding to the party wall insure privacy for each unit. The south unit has a side porch similar to the front. Originally there were sixteen ornamental chimneys in front with utility chimneys in the rear. All front chimneys have been removed but four which are located at intervals along the facade. Each unit is entered from the front porch. Service entrances are located at the rear, on the court side of the unit. There is a group of three windows on each level of the facade, in addition to two single windows on the upper story and a single window on the lower. The front door is situated below the inner second story single window. The original sheet metal and pitch roof on the structure installed by the Silver - gate Pipe Works was inadequate; so Frank Kimball interceded using his ingenuity to alternate layers of canvas covered with shellac making the roof water -tight. Reinforced rods with eight inch washers on the outside anchor the front wall to the rear wall. The brick foundation holding the building is set three feet in the ground on mortar. The joists, 2 x 10 inches and 25 feet long are set on 4 x 5 inch stringers. All wood is redwood and there are over 240,000 bricks in the structure. Attachmentis: VeseAptLan oi In,(`.et on Unit: 926 "A" Avenue Reconds linom the Histoaie Are/c,Lcan Buiedingh Sauey m m z -+ 0 z V1 KIMBALL BLOCK/BRICK ROW 7. DESCRIPTION -- IntehLan. Unit The following description of the interior of one of the apartments in BRICK R(X!J, 926 "A" Avenue, typiifies every other unit with the remaining units having- a reverse version of the plan. Entry is made to a stair hall having an open rail stairway against the right hand wall. To the left is the living room having a fireplace centered on the south wall. Windows are located on the east and west walls. At the end of the short hall is the dining room with a fireplace on the north wall and windows on the south wall. Beyond the dining room is a laundry room and kitchen. The stairway consists of three risers to a landing then seventeen risers to the second floor. At the top of the stairs is a hall. Over the entry hall is a small room. A master bedroom is situated over the living room and corresponds in size to the room below. Along the south side of the hall are two more bedrooms with the hall terminating in a bathroom. The stairway has an open railing of oak balusters which are turned pieces alternating with simple square spindles. A newel post terminates the curving handrail at the foot of the stairs. Wood board flooring is used except for the kitchen and bathroom which are asphalt tile. All doors have four vertical panels, two over two. The trim around the doors and M . a er_. t beautify the windows is of mooed stained wood. Molded �,lus� vaork �� .,�uut;� .,r light fixtures adorns the ceilings of the hall, living room and dining room. The fireplaces are of cast iron with black precast 'stone' mantels and facings decorated with stenciled gold. .All major rooms have a picture rail 18" from the ceiling. Records from The Historic American Buildings Survey Buildings represented in the Historic American Buildings Survey are carefully selected as notable examples of the development of architecture in the United States. Compiled by HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY OFFICE OF ARCHEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION NATIONAL PARK SERVICE With the professional assistance of AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS Records maintained by Division of Prints and Photographs LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON, D.C. //. A, /3, S, HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY KIi.B ALL BLOCK ROW HOUSES CAL-1969 906_940 AVaiUE NATIONAL CITY SAN DIEGO COUNTY CALIFCRNIA ARCrIT�.ECTU ) -LINTEREST :N D In ? I T: This "brick row,. built by Frank• Kimball in 1887/88 as housina for officials of the California Southern Railroad iS a unj.aue collection as ouildi:^__`s i._1 Southern California. The 10-d.rellin` , 2-story tenement was constructed accord in- to druwl_.nrs sent from Philadelphia. The Philadelphia row. • ,� _ house scheme Mood in contrast to the detached residences • so prevalent in the city at that time. • Condition- of fabric - very good. .T-,r-C +...,n ..- 7",:m";') TOC'. Overall dilrtensior - The total Sire of the ten -unit complex is 250! x = 5' ; each unit was 25' x 4.51 with the narrow side facine; the street. Number of Units - 10 dwellings, paired so as to give the • appearance of 5 units. Number ?J VV1 Wvv 9 Layout, shape: Each unit is L-shaped and the plan is flipped for every other unit, thus creating. U-shaped rear service Yards. Foundations: I rick foundations, three feet dean on mortar. (.�_ Kimball, llfthe builder owned the brickyard in �ant. i. w b'ational City). Wall ConstructionP •finis'r P color: The walls are of brick Li boarin' wail_ construction. Currently por tions of t .e main facade are l- in'.,ed white 0t _er portions remain in nat ural b_ic'_ of common rod and tuff tones. Concrete . lintels are ^•_ t in the wal ln_ over the onenin7s. half of n••�.y,1}�ii- .•�.__ a ..-,lZ_Tedi..ent, which when coupled with the adjacent one is connlete. n tn,c =..•,.nl c-..._.s. .�--� 2 10 ;o; st, f 2.5' Tore-, srn between een the rly :'? 1. and ar o carried on 4 x 6 :-;tri: -crs. the woo_ is redwood. Reinf .rcinC rods with 8" washers on the p2• Porches: Along the front facade (east) is a one-story wood porch. Every two bays of the porch corresponds to the Tarty wall line. Turned spindles and carved brackets decorate the porches. Each porch is separated from the next by wood dividers although in reality the porch is continuous. The south end unit has a side porch of the same decorative details. Chimneys: Accordinn to accounts, there were a total of 16 -.'chimneys originally (there was a utility chimney at the rear of the units:. I.:any of the chimneys have been removed although four remaining chimneys are located at intervals along the main facade. Openings - doors: There is a mian entry to each unit from the front porch. Service entrances are located at the rear, on the court side of each unit. Panel doors with glass lights are common. Openings windows: All windows are of the double -hunk; variety. On the main facade each unit has a p'ro: pin_, of three windows on each level., 2 sinzle windows on the second floor and a sin'"le window on the first (the door is in the composition where one of the. second floor windows do located) . :it the rear, double- hung' Y, indows , grouped and singular, are found. Roof: The roof is built up and put in place by Frank.Kimball • when the original roof leaked. e uz3ed alternate lavers of canvas covered with shellac, building ur a roof of suffici ent• thickness and weatherproofin. L'rese. lavers were found when conventional composition roofing was later laid. aro und the building having a brick � corbeled.. top. A sheet metal cornice is place atop the corbel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE IhI=IOR: T� (T �� u d of H 11 Floor Plans: : (The floor plan described is that 926 :i Avenue, selected because of its relative ccmz)leteness . and cr -_nal .,'u=::. rt.^e plan would be th t for every other unit: the r.=:.. 'nds of the units have '�s:.•le '� flipped version of the plan.) CY First Floor- fro:.t the _ron,v porch, entry.is :::.de to an •entry/stair 1111 hDvin^- an open rail ::fair:; .:t' 6;aims tthe right hand (north) wall. To the left (south) in the Il j.ildo+'(S is re located on the east and west walls. At the end of the short hall is the dining room with a fireplace .on the north wall and windows on the south wall. Beyond the d inin= room is a laundry room ! corner of the plan) and a kitchen (S,i corner of the plan,. Second Floor at the tot of the .stairs is a hall (against the north ;:ill except where it aligns with the south side of the stairs). liver the entry hall is a small chamber. A large chamber is situated over the living room and c0rre31-0nds in size to the room belo'. . Along the south side of the -ha11 are two more chambers; ; the hall is terminated by a bathroom. Stairways: The stairway is •located a~a_inst the party wall of the unit. There are three risers and a landin-, then 17 risers to the second floor. The stairway had an open railing, the wood ballus ,ers of which are turned and Square. (1Qor .i..yr: .i VVJbo--if } nj ?i ?- _s used with the exceptio n e vand of t_;1tC._2n bathroom which are of asphalt tile. Wall and ceiling finish: Lath and plaster Doors and doorways: Al!doors have Vertical ... d r�_ � ?;=.reels 2 over 2).The trin .:"r0La V}doors is of :lolled board., with carved block corners where jamb and head.; �. y meet. �-_ the trim _s o_. stained :food. Special decorative features: The wood ba l'+_us tors of the stair r-;, areturned (•. r� V�1. :1 pieces altern< �,j_n with simple sau re spindles. The 1 m stands in contrast to�the ;;lain:?'.!_ r.urfaces 1 _ plaster-work:is found on the ceiling at hanging fixtures. i11 major r co s have a picture rail ca 1 C" from the ceiling. The fireplace mantels are black with gold painted stencil work. T Notable hardware: Standard hardware is employed - butt hir._;es, knobs, etc. Vechan='--,l ,,7..... n- -_ portable r_ei.: tors connected to the firePlacn chimnc', . Lit,:ltin - electric P4, SITE AND SURROUi'DINGSi General Settini The block of buildings is situated on the west side of -"A" ;venue facing east and extends from 9th Street on the north to loth Street on the south.. An alley is on the west side. There is a shallow strip of lawn between the sidewalk and the houses and a tree lawn between the sidewalk and the buildings. There are no other structures in the composition. On the rear side, the iattern of buildings works to create U-shaped rear yards between every pair of units. Prepard by: Robert C. Giebner Project Supervisor HABS .. San Diego Auguat 24, 1971 tit.: SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD (Check One or More as Appropriate) ❑ Pre -Columbian, 0 16th Century ❑ 15th Century 0 17th Century Built September 1887 - March 1888 SPECIFIC DATE(S) (If Applicable and Known) ❑ 18th Century • 19th Century AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More ae ApproPriate) Aboriginal 0 Education ❑ Political ❑ Prehistoric 0 Engineering ❑ Religion/Phi- Historic ❑ Industry losophy 0 Agriculture ❑ Invention 0 Science N Architecture 0 Landscape 0 Sculpture ❑ Art Architecture ❑ Social/Human- O Commerce 0 Literature itarian ❑ Communications ❑ Military 0 Theater O Conservation 0 Music ® Transportation STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE BRICK ROW is a two-story ten -dwelling Victorian row house patterned after the 19th Century architectural style of Philadelphia-. Built by Frank Kimball, National City's founder, it was one of the first substantial structures in National City and contrasted with the detached dwellings common in California. It is the only structure of its type on the West c)Coast. According to National City folklore, Frank Kimball built BRICK ROW to pro- vide housing for officials of the railroad which he tried so desperately to CI bring to National City. This may have been his original intention, as the drawings for BRICK ROW are from Philadelphia, the home office of the Texas & sr Pacific, the railroad company he ompanyhe visitedso frequently inan effort to duce them to build a line to National City, ndeed, he bo land upon which the structure stands in 1872. However, the Texas & Pacific was not th company which finally brought the railroad to National City although Frank Z Kimball negotiated with them from 1870-1879. The railroad industry was cut- - throat and unregulated: Texas & Pacific became a pawn of larger railroad w interests, unable to make a commitment. W In 1880 the California Southern Railroad was incorporated by San Diego Land .nd Town. The first railroad spike was driven in National City in October f that year. The contract with San Diego Land and Town called for terminal hops to be located in National City. National City built a 225 acre termi- al ground, the largest in the Country. In November 1885, the last spike as driven near Cajon Pass connecting the California Southern with the tcheson, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. But, by that time, rumors were cir- ulating that the railroad shops would be moved from National City. The • ontract had stated that the shops were to be built in National City, but id not include the words, "and maintained". The shops were moved to San ernardino and the employees went with them. In March 1886, the payroll of he California Southern had been more than $20,000 per month; by March 1887, he payroll was $4,000 per month. RICK ROW was not built until September 1887 - March 1888. In his letters, Frank Kimball does not mention his motivation for building the structure. Perhaps he constructed it to offset National City's decline as a railroad enter, making a final extraordinary attempt to convince the California outhern officials that National City was becoming cosmopolitan and worthy f their reconsideration. ❑ 20th Century ❑ Urban Planning ❑ Other (Specify) BIOGRAPHY OF FRANK KIMBALL BRICK ROW was built by Frank Kimball, who with his brothers, Levi, Warren and George founded National City, the second settlement in San Diego County. Originally from New England, the Kimball brothers were successful builders and contractors in San Francisco. However, Frank Kimball's health could not tolerate the damp climate of Northern California so he traveled the length of the State looking for a desirable place to settle. Impressed by the equitable weather, desert beauty and potential for development of Southern California, he secured seventeen verbal options on lands in the South Bay area of San Diego County. On June 18, 1868, the Kimball brothers purchased El Rancho de la Nacion consisting of 26,631 acres for S30,000. The National City townsite was plotted next to the Bay. Most of the rancho as well as 4/5ths of the townsite eventually went to the railroads as land subsidies to establish a line to National City connecting with the railroads of the East. The Kimballs were prominent in the financial world and considered the wealthiest men in San Diego County. Frank Kimball made a fortune from land, railroad stock, agriculture and several businesses; yet, later in life he was penniless having been victimized by trusted friends. In addition to being a builder, contractor, architect and land promoter, Frank Kimball founded a number of businesses and established the agricultural economy _ _1_ His I with the Mission Oliva o-^1 hCr.A" P of .Civul.�i�i ii 1.u.1��.iY ..iCl. 117� work i'1?�Siv•I Olive, � it was brought from Spain by Franciscan Padres and cultivated at the San Diego Mission from`1790, established the United States' olive industry. He was also instrumental in developing the citrus industry in the 1870's and 1880's by growing varieties of oranges, lemons, limes and citron from other parts of California and other countries. He helped popularize the lemon and introduced the grapefruit from Mexico. He traveled to agricultural fairs all over the Country to acquaint people with California -grown produce, winning numerous awards, one for the best oranges from the United States or any foreign country. He brought the tangerine back from a New Orleans' exposition. Eucalyptus groves were unknown in San Diego County until 1876 when the Kimball brothers planted them in Sweetwater Valley for use as fuel in their brick kilns. The Kimballs also raised sheep which were kept in movable pens to fertilize soil for the new orchards and groves. Frank Kimball established an Experimental Station for Horticulture on his ranch and from 1888-98 served as State Commissioner of Agriculture. In this capacity, he experimented with the date palm, avacado, pomegranate, Adriatic white fig and other fruits and vegetables thought to have economic promise. One of his greatest contributions, second only to the establishment of the olive industry, was his work with grapes. Experimenting with more than fifty varieties from all over the world, he propagated a seedless raisin grape from Greece and brought it to the attention of California growers. Concerned with the needs of a growing community, Frank Kimball searched his land for a reservoir site to meet the expanding population's need for water. He and his brothers had formed a water company in 1869 shortly after the purchase of National Ranch. They bought the water rights surrounding the selected site for the Sweetwater Dam which was built by San Diego Land and Town, the railroad -land company which finally brought the railroad to National City. With the exception of the Mission Dam, this was the first water conservation in San Diego County. In 1880 he purchased half of the Janal Ranch upon which the Upper and Lower Otay Dams are now located. The dams were built in 1891 by Frank Kimball and E. S. Babcock, the developer of Coronado, who acquired the Janal Ranch in 1898 after Kimball's fortune declined. Many of the businesses Frank Kimball established were related to his agri- cultural endeavors such as the olive mill, which could process 18 tons of olives in 24 hours and the lemon packing plant. However, his willingness to back developing businesses made him an easy target for unscrupulous businessmen and led to bad investments. He lost money in business ventures such as the 0tay Watch Company which folded after only a few weeks of operation and the National City Carriage Company which produced a costly but inferior product. Even so, Frank Kimball's extraordinary 'know-how' in so many areas would have saved him had it not been for the perfidity of those close to him. Several business associates made purchases in his name and kept the profits from subsequent sales. These purchases were so extensive that a Trust Deed was filed against his property in 1893. 1893 was the year Frank Kimball was chosen to be Chief of the Horticulture Bureau of the Chi .. Wnrld's Fair, but wasunable to attend because of iJ�l GO. '1 yi.r �.: e'L:a jJ V. +�: Ju:. � .. financial difficulties. His brother, Warren Kimball, went in his place. Frank Kimball owned 32,000 fully -paid shares in San Diego Land and Town and counted on his stock to see him through the crisis but it steadily decreased in value. In 1880, San Diego Land and Town had created the California Southern Railroad thereby fulfilling Frank Kimball's longtime dream of a railroad line to National City. With the incorporation of the railroad, the bulk of National Ranch passed out of Kimball hands. San Diego Land and Town absorbed all rail- road lands which included 80% of National City. At the time, the Kimball lands going to the Company were valued at $25,410.00. This included 17,355 acres and 485 town lots. The Kimball brothers, by donating their land, were given a sixth interest in the Company; the other five shares were held by The Syndicate, Eastern money interests, composed of George B. Wilbur, Lucius G. Pratt, Benjamin Pierce Cheney, Thomas Nickerson and the firm Kidder, Peabody & Co., all of whom were large stockholders in the Atcheson, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. In 1886 stock in San Diego Land and Town was $186.00 on the New York Stock Exchange reaching a high of $266.00 before dropping to $48.00 by 1894. At that time, B. P. Cheney took over the Company and made an assessment of $1.00 per share. Frank Kimball was unable to pay the assessment on his shares so they reverted to San Diego Land and Town, thereby eliminating him from the Company to which he had given most of his life's earnings. 2 When the first Trust Deed was filed against his property, Frank's brother, Warren, was named one of the two trustors. Frank's property was worth several times the $800,000 debt against it. The property in the Trust Deed included BRICK ROW as well as forty-one houses, town lots, orchards and groves, businesses and several hundred acres of land. Mismanagement of the Deed resulted in much of the income property being sold, leaving taxes on the remaining property unpaid. In 1894 a second Trust Deed was filed. The tax delinquent property was taken in 1896 by Ralph Granger, a friend of Frank's, who had made a fortune from Colorado silver mines. He took it with the understanding that Frank Kimball could redeem any or all of the property whenever he was able. BRICK ROOD, along with most of the other property was never redeemed. Frank Kimball's financial situation was so bad that in the fall of 1897 he lost his home of thirty years through a mortgage foreclosure. Frank and his wife, Sarah moved to an old restaurant building owned by a nephew. Discouraging days followed. Frank labored from dawn to dusk doing any work available. He was often ill. It was the olive -- symbol of peace; the light, heat, food and medicine of mankind -- that enabled Frank Kimball to regain part of his loss. Some people let him make oil from their olives, on commission, as he could not buy his own. He leased land from Warren and planted olive cuttings. Beina appointed to the St. Louis World's Fair in 1899 gave him incentive. In 1902 he served on the Sub -Tropical Committee of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. In 1905 he was able to redeem his oil mill and again sell olive oil and pickled olives. In 1908, he bought a house. After ten years of dwelling, first in a restaurant then an old bank building, Frank and Sarah had a real home. In 1910 he rented an office from Warren and began selling real estate. But Frank Kimball was an old man. In 1912 his wife of fifty-five years passed away and he died the following year at the age of 81. Frank Kimball was a true pioneer who was willing to sacrifice everything for progress. His life had its full measure of joy and sorrow. In later years, he confided, "I have oent the be yeanz o{y my ti4e tnyin.g to mz!ae thoae I come in contact with happier and the nesu ,t .bs unsat.i“acton.y. I am con- 6Aonted, at even.y 4-tap, by ung.'Latque. people, but I loofa back and thank God I have rived and az -4aL az 1 know, I have done my bat." 1 Irene Phillips. The'Railroad Story of San Diego County, p. 54 3 KIMBALL BLOCK/BRICK ROW LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Lots 11-20 .in &och 1 ob W. C. K.imbatt's Subdivision ob 10 acne Lot 2 o4 Quajrte/L Section 154, 05 Rancho de .P.a Nacion, .u2 the City 06 NatLona.0 City, County 06 San Diego, State o 4 Ca.2 i , o'Lni.a, c c c o,t i.ng .to maps the. teo i on .i;ee .in the o65Jee 06 the County Recon.der 06 San Diego County. CHAIN OF TITLE: Cow tesy og Titee Inaunanee 5 Mast Company GRANTOR GRANTEE DATE OF FILING F.A. & W.C. KIMBALL Levi KIMBALL 1871 [1/5 interest in El Rancho de la Nacion] F.A., W.C., & L. KIMBALL F.A. KIMBALL 1872 [Lots 11-20, etc.] F.A. & Sarah KIMBALL W.C. KIMBALL & 11-18-93 [A. O'Connor. vs. G.F. HARJIS, TRS. F.A. K..mbaa, eat at..] W.C. KIMBALL & G.F. HARJIS, TRS. Ralph GRANGER 2-17-96 [Foreclosed Mortgage] [Ralph Gtu.nge't vs. W.C. K.imba P_ S G.F. Hanj.L4, TRS.] 12-19-96 Ralph GRANGER, et ux. D.F. & Sarah PARK 7-12-97 [Party wail - Lot 19] Ralph & Jessie GRANGER Charles & Lillian OGDEN 1-22-07 [Lots 11-19] Charles & Lillian OGDEN B.G. & Margaret PECKA 7-31-09 [Lots 11-19] The above record indicates that the land upon which BRICK ROW is situated was purchased by Frank and Warren Kimball and 1/5th interest sold to their brother, Levi. In 1872, Frank Kimball bought the land from the partnership. Construction of BRICK ROW began in September 1887 and was finished March 1888. The ten units were put in the first Trust Deed filed against Frank Kimball in 1893. Ralph Granger took over BRICK ROW in 1896 for $7500.00 delinquent taxes. Apparently the north end unit on Lot 20 was sold separately at this time. Granger held the remaining units (Lots 11-19) until 1907 when he sold them to the Ogdens. The last owners of BRICK ROW were B.G. & Margaret Pecka who purchased the struc- ture in 1909. They sold the units separately over the next year except for the unit on Lot 11 which they occupied. A Declaration of Homestead for that unit was filed by the Peckas in 1914 but the dwelling was sold later that year. The individual units have subsequently been sold and resold by their separate owners. The Dillows, of 926 "A" Avenue (Lot 15) are the occupants having the longest residency, since 1944. They have preserved the unit much as it was originally. The photographs accompanying this application were taken in the Dillow home. BIBLIOGRAPHY. Phillips, Irene, The Chula Vista Story 1868 - 1968. National City, California: South Bay Press, 1968 Phillips, Irene, Development of the Mission Olive Industry and Other South Bay Stories. National City, California: South Bay Press, 1960 Phillips, Irene, National City: Pioneer Town. National City, California: . South Bay Press, 1960 Phillips, Irene, The Railroad Story of San Diego County. National City, California: South Bay Press, 1956 Phillips, Irene, The Story of El Rancho de la Nacion. National City, California: South Bay Press, 1959 National. City LLbnatuy: Kimball Family Letters (1887-89) Kimball Family Diaries Irene Phillips' Scrapbook '1 National City Record (1886-88) Helen Lamb'i Notebook County Recond4 TLtie. IvzWuance and Tiw t Company: OwneiushJp Recanda ACKNOWLEDGMENTS NATIONAL CITY HISTORICAL COMMITTEE Mns . Heien Lamb Mius. Thelma Hott i.ngzwonth Mr.. Geohge James Mns . Henty (VU/s on Mjus . Ida Mae Kett (!-f/t4. Hazee Stockman Mt. Ronald Enz fins. Cheri Lynn No55man 19.,; MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Giebner, Robert C., Kimball Block Row Houses. The Historic American Buildings Survey, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation, National Park Service, August 1971 Phillips, Irene, National City: Pioneer Town. National City, California: South Bay Press, 1960 Phillips, Irene, The Story of El Rancho de la Nacion, "Land & Town" Edition. National City, California: South Bay Press, 1959 1 lU. I GEOGRAPHICAL DATA . LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY 0 LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PROPERTY OF LESS THAN TFN ACRES CORNER LATITUDE LONGITUDE R LATITUDE - LONGITUDE NW NE SE SW Degrees Minutes Seconds o - a • ° r Degrees Minutes Seconds o - ° • .. o - .... 0 • Degrees Minutes Seconds 0 • 117 06 16 Degrees Minutes Seconds o r 32 40 29 _ APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: ILIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE: CODE COUNTY CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE ftl:^'c/intl 4000 A 7Sr1 °v.: NAME AND TITLE: Cheri Lynn Hoffman, Historic Research Assistant ORGANIZATION National City Historical Committee DATE January 1973 STREET AND NUMBER: 1243 National Avenue - - CITY OR TOWN: STATE CODE National City _ - California - I12 :STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICATION NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION As the designated State Liaison Officer -for the Na-'" clonal Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665),.I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set - I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register. - "" forth by the National Park Service. The recommended level of significance of this nomination is: National [] State ■ Local Chief, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation Date Name Title ATTEST: Date Keeper of The National Register • 1 Date z Let n 0 z CA tel. z 0 W IL1 V1 H z 0 1- 0 1— Vf z Form 10-301 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Dec. 1968) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY MAP FORM (Type all entries - attach to or enclose with map) STATE California COUNTYSan Diego FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE 1.: NAME COMMON: BRICK ROIL • AND/OR HISTORIC: KImBALL BLOCK 2. LOCATION STREET AND NUMBER: Between 9th & l0th Streets on the west side of "A" Avenue CITY OR TOWN: National City STATE: California CODE COUNTY: San Diego CODE , 06 073 13.'i1AP REFERENCE SOURCE: National City Quadrangle California - San Diego County - Attached SCALE: 1" = 2000' (7.5 Minute Series - Topographic) DATE: 1967 d.REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS .1. Property broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM (Type all entries - attach to or enclose with photograph) STATE California COUNTY $an Diego FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER I DATE 1. NAME COMMON: BRICK ROW AND/OR HISTORIC: KIMBALL BLOCK 12. ' LOCAT ION STREET AND NUMBER: Between 9th & l0th Streets on the west side of "A" Avenue CITY OR TOWN: National City STATE: California - CODE COUNTY: San Diego CODE 06 073 13. PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT: Ron Enz^ National City Department of Planning DATE OF PHOTO: Sept. 1972 NEGATIVE FILED AT: 14. IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. EXTERIOR: 1. Front Facade, from SW; 2. South Side, from S 3. Detail -- Front Porch: 4. Detail -- Upper Story INTERIOR: 5. Entry Hall - Stairway: 6. Plasterwork - Dining Room 7. 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