Adventure 141, Center 04-Merced Welcome Center

Gary and the Merced Welcome Center

Capture California, the Game-2013

Adventure: 141, Center 04-Merced Welcome Center

Team: YOLT

Date:  September 18, 2013

Location: 710 W 16th St Ste A, Merced, CA 95340-4626

Description:
Our fourth Welcome Center, this time a bit closer to home, and which we visited last year.

Adventure 003, Site 085-Merced Internment Camp

Gary at the Merced Interment Center Plaque

Capture California, the Game-2013

Adventure: 003, Site 085-Merced Internment Camp

California Landmark Number:935

Team: YOLT

Date:  September 18, 2013

Location:

Coordinates: 37° 17.48′ N, 120° 29.104′ W

Address: 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Merced, CA

Description:

Last year we became interested in what happened during World War II to the Japanese -Americans. We visited several internment center sites, including the Merced Fairgrounds. It is moving to see the extent of the forced exile of these people.

From the California Office of Historical Preservation:

NO. 934 TEMPORARY DETENTION CAMPS FOR JAPANESE AMERICANS-MERCED ASSEMBLY CENTER - This was one of 15 temporary detention camps established during World War II to incarcerate persons of Japanese ancestry, a majority of whom were American citizens, without specific charges or trial. From May to September 1942, 4,669 residents of Northern California were detained until permanent relocation camps were built. May the injustices and humiliation suffered here as a result of hysteria, racism, and economic exploitation never recur.
Location: Merced County Fairgrounds, 'J' St at 7th St, adjacent to parking lot at entrance to fairgrounds, Merced

References:

• Wikipedia
• Noehill
• Historical Marker Database (HMDB.org)
• Waymarking
• History of Prejudice about Japanese
• Merced Sun-Star on Memories of Japanese Americans
  

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)
• Noehill (NOE)
• Historical Marker Database (HMDB)
• WayMarking (WAY)
  

Adventure 051, Site 171 – Detention Camps For Japanese Americans

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 171 – Detention Camps For Japanese Americans

California Landmark Number: 934

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  September 22, 2012

Location:

Latitude: 37° 17.48′ N

Longitude: 120° 29.104′ W

Address: 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Merced, CA

Description:

Thing One and Thing Two have gone to some of the Internment or Detention Camps. Each time which we do, we are hit by the sorrow of how shameful conditions have us do shameful things. In this case, 4,500 Japanese and Japanese-Americans were forced to come to the Merced Fairgrounds to moved them to permanent relocation camps during World War II.

From the California Office of Historical Preservation:

NO. 934 TEMPORARY DETENTION CAMPS FOR JAPANESE AMERICANS-MERCED ASSEMBLY CENTER - This was one of 15 temporary detention camps established during World War II to incarcerate persons of Japanese ancestry, a majority of whom were American citizens, without specific charges or trial. From May to September 1942, 4,669 residents of Northern California were detained until permanent relocation camps were built. May the injustices and humiliation suffered here as a result of hysteria, racism, and economic exploitation never recur.
Location: Merced County Fairgrounds, 'J' St at 7th St, adjacent to parking lot at entrance to fairgrounds, Merced



Inscription from Noehill:
Merced Assembly Center
This was one of 15 temporary detention camps established during World War II to incarcerate persons of Japanese ancestry, a majority of whom were American citizens, without specific charges or trial. From May to September 1942, 4,669 residents of Northern California were detained until permanent relocation camps were built. May the injustices and humiliation suffered here as a result of hysteria, racism, and economic exploitation never recur.
California Registered Historical Landmark No. 934
Plaque placed by the State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the Japanese American Citizens League, Livingston-Merced Chapter, February 19, 1982.




References:

• Wikipedia
  
• Noehill
  
• Historical Marker Database (HMDB.org)
  
• Waymarking
  
• History of Prejudice about Japanese
  
• Merced Sun-Star on Memories of Japanese Americans
  

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)
  
• Noehill (NOE)
  
• Historical Marker Database (HMDB)
  
• WayMarking (WAY)
  

Adventure 051, Site 170 – Tioga Hotel

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 170 – Tioga Hotel

National Registry ID: 1980000821

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  September 22, 2012

Location:

Latitude: 37°18′08″N

Longitude: 120°29′08″W

Address: 1715 N Street , Merced, CA

Description:

Date Built: 1928

Architect: Ralph McLeran & Company

As you travel down Highway 99 and are passing through Merced, there are two things which catch your eye. The first is the blazing light of the Razzarrii billboard. But the second is much more enjoyable—it is the form of the Tioga Hotel in downtown Merced. It is the largest building for 40 miles are more. In prior years, the hotel was a matter of pride for the city as it hosted dignitaries from all over the world. Now it has fallen on hard times and is doing business as Tioga Apartment Homes. But if you hit things right, there is still a streak of pride in the place. Thing Two had a conversation with one person who was entering the building. You could tell when the man was talking about the hotel, there was a gleam of pride, right down to the telling about the revolving door and the door man who would be stationed by the door.

From NRHP:
The Tioga Hotel, built in 1928 is significant not only for its architectural merit which is an excellent example of commercial hotel design of the 1920's, but for its social/cultural history, as well. Situated at the connecting routes of the Southern Pacific Railroad, which traveled north and south from San Francisco, and the Yosemite Valley Railroad, which traveled east and west to Yosemite National Park, it became a gathering place for some of the most prominent figures of this century. Dignitaries from all over the world would utilize this route making an overnight stop in Merced to stay at the Tioga, before continuing their journey to Yosemite.
References:

• National Registry of Historical Places-Documents and Photos
  
• Noehill
  

Overall Landmark References:

• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)
  
• Noehill (NOE)
  

Adventure 051, Site 168 – US Post Office, Merced

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 168 – US Post Office, Merced

National Registry ID: 1983001208

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  September 22, 2012

Location:

Latitude: 37°18′08″N

Longitude: 120°28′50″W

Address: 401 West 18th Street, Merced, CA

Description:

Date Built: 1932

Architect: Allison & Allison

US Post Offices were grand buildings, even for small farming towns like Merced. This one is no different, Built during the Great Depression, these buildings showed communities like Merced the US Government was going to be there for them. This Post Office does have its original engraved stone built date on it, but we could not locate a plaque with the National Historic Registry on it.



From the NRHP:
As a moderately scaled, relatively small public building, the Federal Building at Merced does not present a radical departure from the other architecture of the city. It differs primarily in the degree of refinement of design and construction which it displays - a degree unmatched in the Merced central business district. For this reason, and given the building's heavy business and social use, it stands out as a local landmark, a visual anchor for the neighborhood and a prominent architectural feature in the city.



References:

• National Registry of Historical Places-Documents and Photos
  
• Noehill
  

Overall Landmark References:

• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)
  
• Noehill (NOE)
  

Adventure 051, Site 165 – Cook House

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 165 – Cook House

National Registry ID: 1983001207

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  September 22, 2012

Location:

Latitude: 37°18′17″N

Longitude: 120°28′42″W

Address: 356 West 21st Street, Merced, CA

Description:

Date Built: 1887

Architect: P.A. Buell & Company

Major George Beecher Cook, that is the official name of this house. When we came up to it, it looked more German with the spires on the side. It sort of reminds Thing One of a sea captain's home. For at least 30 years, it has called the Greenbrier House. It is on the National Registry for Historic Places, but the plaque is behind a gate and hard to get a good picture of it.



From NRHP:
The house was the residence of an important early merchant: and civic leader, Major George Beecher Cook, said to have been a relative of the noted American writer, Harriet Beecher Stowe. Major Cook was a native of Connecticut, and enlisted as a private in the Army of the Potomac when the Civil War broke out. He served through the war and left with the rank of Major. After the war he came to San Francisco and went into business with Thomas O'Connor. In approximately 1880, he moved to Merced and established the grocery firm of 0'Connor and Cook. After a few years, he bought out his partner and operated the business himself until his death. In 1882 he married Mrs. Cora Hanna of San Francisco. He was prominent in the Republican Party and eventually served as Mayor of the City of Merced. He died on November 24, 1898 at his home; the Merced Express described him as an "enterprising and patriotic citizen". His prominence was noted as far away as San Francisco, where the San Francisco Call carried the news of his death. He was 63 years of age at the time of his death.



References:

• National Registry of Historical Places-Documents and Photos
  

Overall Landmark References:

• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)
  

Adventure 051, Site 166 – Thomas H. Leggett House

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 166 – Thomas H. Leggett House

National Registry ID: 82002207

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  September 22, 2012

Location:

Latitude: 37°18′16″N

Longitude: 120°28′42″W

Address: 346 West 21st Street, Merced, CA

Description:

Date Built: approx, 1890

There are two Leggett Houses on the National Registry—one street apart. Both are Queen Anne designs, but they currently colored differently. There are seven buildings in Merced built before 1900 and Leggett lived in two of them—that man knew his houses. Unfortunately, they both do not have plaques on them.

From NRHP:
The Thomas H. Leggett House was built circa 1890 at a site three blocks from the courthouse in an early residential section of Merced. The single story cottage has retained high integrity of design, and is an outstanding local example of its type and period. Styling is highly eclectic, combining elements of Queen Anne, Stick and Eastlake into an eye-catching statement of late 19^th century design. Of the homes built prior to 1900 in the community, it is one of only seven which still remains. It is directly associated with an important local citizen who served as Constable and as Postmaster during the early years of the community's history.



Thomas H. Leggett, a native of Warren County, New York, immigrated to California in 1858 at the age of 18. In February of 1872, Leggett became a citizen of Merced County, where he served as Peace Officer for nine years, and from 1881 to 1884, he was a deputy Sheriff. He then became Constable, and held that office until he resigned to accept the appointment as Postmaster of Merced on December 11, 1890. Leggett bought the lot at 346 W. 21st Street for ten dollars in gold coin in April of 1889.

The house constructed by Leggett remains virtually unaltered. It is one of

the finest examples of a Queen Anne Cottage in Merced County, and is one of

the few surviving 19th century residences in the city of Merced. The elaborate millwork is especially noteworthy, combining spindles and sunbursts with other turned and sawn decorative elements. With its high integrity of design, it remains an exceptionally valuable statement of the community's 19th century architecture

References:

• National Registry of Historical Places-Documents and Photos
  
• Noehill
  

Overall Landmark References:

• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)
  
• Noehill (NOE)
  

Adventure 051, Site 169 – Bank of Italy, Merced

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 169 – Bank of Italy, Merced

National Registry ID: 2004001135

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  September 22, 2012

Location:

Latitude: N 37° 18.094

Longitude: W 120° 29.011

Address: 501 West Main Street, Merced, CA

Description:

Date Built: 1928

Architect: Minton, Henry Anthony

As we continued our walk around Merced, our next stop was the Bank of Italy building. The building does not have the old, tired, deteriorated look which the Fresno Bank of Italy building does. This building now houses the administrative offices of UC California, Merced. It gives a feeling of newness and optimism. Still, there was no plaque, just an entry on the National Registry of Historic Places.






From NRHP:
The Bank of Italy building is a good example of commercial and banking architecture during in the 1920s in which buildings draw on Classical architectural features as a representation of the prosperity, growth, pioneering spirit and progress of the people. This theme is particularly well expressed by the Bank of Italy's opening announcement placed in the April 19, 1928 edition of the Merced Sun Star Newspaper, "This new building of the Bank of Italy in Merced, together with its-all inclusive banking-service, is substantial and abiding proof that this great bank is living up to its pledge to work at all times for the greater prosperity of Merced and surrounding community. This living monument marks the shoulder-tc-shoulder progress of both the Merced district and the Bank of

Italy."

References:

• National Registry of Historical Places-Documents and Photos
  
• Waymarking
  

Overall Landmark References:

• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)
  
• Historical Marker Database (HMDB)
  
• WayMarking (WAY)
  

Adventure 051, Site 167 – Leggett House

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 167 – Leggett House

National Registry ID: 79000501

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  September 22, 2012

Location:

Latitude: 37°18′19″N

Longitude: 120°28′40″W

Address: 352 West 22nd Street, Merced, CA

Description:

Date Built: 1884

Architect: E.M. Herron

No, this is not the same house as the previous adventure(051, Site166)—it is a different address and different colors. But the same style—both are Queen Anne, and the same person, Thomas H Leggett. This house is just as attractive as his previous house. But neither one of them have a plaque, but they both are part of the National Registry of Historic Places. We enjoyed seeing both of them.



From NRHP:
When the city was 13 years old, E. M. Herron, a prominent rancher in the area, purchased the property from the Crocker Huffman Land & Water Company. (This partnership consisted of Charles Crocker of Southern Pacific Railroad fame and C. H. Huffman, wheat king of the San Joaquin Valley. Crocker Huffman Land & Water Company was the precursor of the Merced Irrigation District.) Herron built the house on a knoll high enough to escape the flood waters of Bear Creek which often escaped its boundaries during heavy rainfall. He sold the house to T. H. Leggett, one of the early settlers of the community, who served as one of the first postmasters of Merced. In 1894, the front parlor of the home became Leggett's Jewelry Store, the first such establishment in the city. A search of Merced County tax records reveal an easement of $1,500 on an inventory of jewelry at this residence in that year. The house remained a private residence until the 1930's when it became a rooming house. Later, in the 1950's, the building became a duplex apartment. In 1975, it was restored as a private residence.

The house is one of seven surviving private homes built prior to 1900 in Merced. With its prominent turret, it remains one of the finest examples of Queen Anne style architecture in the city. Important to the local community, this house has been featured in publications and walking tours as an example of Victorian tract housing. The Leggett House is one of the few historic homes in the city that has suffered only minor alterations to its original appearance.

References:

• National Registry of Historical Places-Documents and Photos
  
• Noehill
  

Overall Landmark References:

• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)
  
• Noehill (NOE)
  

Adventure 051, Site 164 – Merced County High School

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 164 – Merced County High School

National Registry ID: 84000909

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  September 22, 2012

Location:

Latitude: 37°18′24″N

Longitude: 120°28′54″W

Address: 2125 M Street, Merced, CA

Description:

Date Built: 1897

Architect: John Miller and Louis Stanwood Stone

Looking at the pictures which came from old yearbooks, this county high school looked impressive. It was imposing with a tall steeple, students who were nicely dressed and had an element of pride. When we visited the site, the building was still there, but boarded up. The floor leading to the main, padlocked doors was rather tenative to walk on. The building had not been used for years, except maybe by those who were in desperate need of shelter. So no plaque, just questions and the National Registry of Historic Places to remind us of past glory.



Written in 1984, the NRHP says:
Merced County High School is a large two story 1897 Richardsonian Romanesque institutional building with stucco over the original red brick. It is located east of the 1875 courthouse in the city's courthouse square. The original appearance of the building has been altered by the removal of the upper portion of the central wooden tower around 1903, and the addition of stucco over the original brick in 1956. The interior was remodeled for library use circa 1921 and for county offices in 1953. Although integrity has been compromised somewhat,, the building still retains its commanding presence in the city's major historic public space, and conveys a strong sense of its original historic character.
This building was the first building specifically designed and constructed as a high school in Merced County, and as such marks a cultural transition in Merced County, it also served as an early home of the Merced County Library and other civic/governmental offices (see below). This building was and still is a major visual city landmark.

References:

• National Registry of Historical Places-Documents and Photos
  
• Noehill
  

Overall Landmark References:

• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)
  
• Noehill (NOE)
  

Adventure 051, Site 163 – Merced County Courthouse

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 163 – Merced County Courthouse

National Registry ID: 1975000441

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  September 22, 2012

Location:

Latitude: 37°18′22″N

Longitude: 120°29′00″W

Address: West 21st and N Streets, Merced, CA

Description:

Date Built: 1875

Architect: A. A. Bennett, the State Capital Architect

This is the second county courthouse in Merced County (the first is in Snelling) and it does show the pride of the area. Since we started on this historical adventure a couple of weeks ago, Thing Two has been lamenting the loss of Fresno's old courthouse. The courthouse in Merced was its twin, not quite identical, but maybe its superior, at least in the people of Merced's eyes.



From NRHP:
This building is the best proportioned and well handled of its type in central California. Its facade, rendered eclectically in the Italian Renaissance style, is typical of the American esthetic for public buildings before the turn of the century. True to tradition, this courthouse symbolically illustrates the American ideal of respect for justice.



Significance:

1. This courthouse is a physical reminder of the transition of the area from a struggling pioneer community to a prospering county.
   
2. This building was and still is a major visual city and county landmark.
3. This building is one of few historic buildings that has suffered only minor alteration to its original appearance. Although courthouse functions were moved to a new building in March of 1975, this building served its original purpose for 100 years.
4. This building is the best example of the Italian Renaissance revival remaining between Sacramento and Los Angeles.
5. This building's almost identical twin has already been destroyed.
6. This building is in itself a museum of genre architecture.
7. This building could be used in the future as a county cultural museum and/or a county agricultural museum. There is no museum in Merced at this time.

References:

• National Registry of Historical Places-Documents and Photos
  
• Waymarking
  

Overall Landmark References:

• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)
  
• WayMarking (WAY)
  

Adventure 051, Site 162 - Kaehler-Rector House

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 162 - Kaehler-Rector House

National Registry ID: 1982002206

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  September 22, 2012

Location:

Latitude: 37°18′31″N

Longitude: 120°28′36″W

Address: 408 West 25th Street, Merced, CA

Description:

Date Built: 1892

Architect: Wegner,Louis

When we walked up to this house, and it was the first one which we saw in Merced, the thought which went through Thing One's mind was, Wow, if this is how the rest of the historic houses are in Merced, this will be a great stop. This house was actually the better of the houses we saw, but not by much—it set the tone for the older part of the city.



From NRHP:
It [the house] is popularly referred to as one of the "'old castles" of Merced, and is one of the better restored of this group. Integrity remains high despite minor alterations at the rear, which the owners intend to correct,. Both Kaehler and Rector were prominent men in Merced history.



George Kaehler, the original owner, was a prominent businessman. Kaehler and his brothers, Reinhold and Max, were in the wholesale liquor business in Merced, Fresno, and Los Banos.

Judge E. N. Rector, the second owner, served on the Superior Court of Merced County for 38 years. His father had been instrumental in the formation of Merced County, leading the drive to separate it from Mariposa County in 1855. Rector occupied the home from 1903 until his death in 1941.

References:

• National Registry of Historical Places-Documents and Photos
  

Overall Landmark References:

• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)