Walk Through Visalia's Home History

Walk Through Visalia's Home History

National Historic Preservation Month

Words by Jerome Melgar | Photos by Topograph

May heralds the onset of National Historic Preservation Month, a time of festivity and reverence for municipalities across the United States committed to safeguarding their local heritage by preserving historic residences, commercial edifices, and key landmarks. In Visalia, this noble endeavor is overseen by the diligent custodians of the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee (HPAC). Established in 1979 as a response to the alarming trend of demolishing historical single family homes during the 1960s and 1970s, HPAC comprises a Chair, Vice-Chair, and five dedicated committee members who generously volunteer their time to uphold and draw attention to Visalia's rich historical tapestry. The HPAC was tasked with administering the Historic Preservation District Ordinance, aimed at preserving and promoting the city’s cultural heritage.

Currently, Visalia boasts several distinctive neighborhoods that form the Historic District, along with individual structures both inside and outside these districts, all of which are enshrined in the “Local Register of Historic Structures”. These neighborhoods hold many different building styles, representing a thriving heritage that gives neighborhoods their unique charm and tells the stories of notable people from Visalia's past. Within the District, you'll find three neighborhoods that encapsulate Visalia’s rich history and architectural styles, the beauty of which you can truly appreciate up close.

Victorian Marvels

Homes of the late 19th to Early 20th Century

Many of the early movers and shakers of Visalia resided in these opulent homes. Richard Hubbard Stevens, an owner of one of the largest general mercantile establishments in the early San Joaquin Valley, lived in a now three-story Queen Anne-style home that was built in 1883. On the western portion of N. Locust St. between W. Race Ave. and W. Murray Ave. you can walk through a row of tree-lined, majority- Victorian homes built between 1890 and 1910. Solon Patrick, who was an editor of the Visalia Daily Times (before its merger with the Delta), built and lived on

N. Locust with his wife Salina, who was a descendant of the Bequette Family, early settlers of the area.

Location: N Encina St | NW 1st Ave | N Locust St | W Murray Ave

Period Revival

Preserving History

Here you will find a wide array of architectural beauty, such as Tudor Revival, Pueblo Revival, Dutch Colonial Revival and Craftsman Shingle. The McSwain House, on the southwest corner of Tulare Ave and Court Street, was a home built in a blend of Neoclassical and Colonial Revival in 1917 by Bay Area architect Joseph J. Rankin. The Steuben Home on S. Church St, in which the family still resides to this day, was built in the Vernacular style in 1904. At the same time, you will see many multi- family dwellings. While these newer dwellings are an important part of the fabric of the neighborhood, the original historic streetscape was altered when they were constructed.

Location: S Court | E Mineral King | S Church St | E Tulare

Craftsman Tract Homes

Addressing Housing Shortages

Caused, in part, by limited and restricting financing opportunities, a group of local investors created a corporation called Visalia Home Builders to help ease housing shortages. They constructed some of the earliest tract homes in Visalia, with the majority being built in the American Craftsman style. Home Builders Addition #1 features a wide array of Craftsman-style architecture, including the California Bungalow and Airplane Bungalow. At the Parkside Tract, many front porches display clinker bricks—wet bricks that were placed too close to fires inside kilns, resulting in distorted shapes—on their columns and bases. Initially discarded, these bricks were eventually repurposed by avant-garde architects for their visual energy and natural beauty. One of the investors, Benjamin Dudley, built a Mission-Revival home for his wife, Helen, on the northwest corner of Main and Giddings. Additionally, a street inside the Parkside Tract is named after him.

Each neighborhood holds a treasure trove of history waiting to be unearthed, from the names of prominent architects to the stories of esteemed residents who left an indelible mark on Visalia's landscape. As we celebrate National Historic Preservation Month, let us continue our commitment to safeguarding these invaluable cultural assets for generations to come. Remember to keep an eye out for the 'Historic District' signage atop street signs, guiding us to these cherished landmarks.

Location: Home Builder Addition #1 E Kaweah | S Conyer | E Mineral King | S Watson Parkside Tract: W Main | N Conyer | W Center | N Giddings

Join Our Meetings: Historic Preservation Advisory CommitteeWhen: 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 5:30pm Where: 220 North Santa Fe St, Visalia, Conference Room Contact: Cristobal Carrillo (559) 713-4443