Adventure: 051, Site 027 – Brix Building

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 027 – Brix Building

National Registry ID: 1983001178

Local Registry ID: 89

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  September 16, 2012

Location:

Latitude: 36°44′31″N

Longitude: 119°46′56″W

Address: 2844 Fresno, Fresno, CA

Description:

Date Built: 1911

Architect: Edward T. Foulkes

Edward T. Foulkes designed this Italian villa for Herman and Helena Brix. We did not find a plaque on the building, but look at the elegance of it.



Mr. Brix, born in Germany, immigrated to Coalinga in the early 1880's. He and his wife were among the pioneers of this region in the western San Joaquin Valley. After failing as a grain farmer, Mr. Brix went to the gold fields of Alaska where he had more success. Upon his return to Coalinga, he invested in the emerging oil industry, securing his fortune. Brix formed a water company on his homestead and made a fortune investing in oil properties. By 1915, Brix and his associates owned 1400 acres of west-side oil lands. He was associated with the Confidence Oil Company, was President of the B & B Oil Company, President of the San Francisco Oil Company, a director of the St. Paul & Fresno Oil Company, and a one-sixth investor in the Coalinga Syndicate. In 1903, he moved to Fresno, invested in many properties, and built a suitable home, the only pure Italian villa in Fresno. He was very influential in the commercial expansion of Fresno.
Today the Brix Mansion is a commercial property housing law offices.



References:

• Guide to Historic Fresno
  
• Noehill
  

Overall Landmark References:

• David Schmitt's California State Historical Landmark (Schmitt)
  
• Wikipedia: California's National Landmarks (WCNL)
  
• State of California's California Historical Landmarks (CHL)
  
• Wikipedia: California State Landmarks (WCSL)
  
• State of California Historical Resources (CHR)
  
• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)