Napa County Landmarks

Preserving irreplaceable historic buildings and properties.

  • Who We Are
    • Content Archive
  • Advocacy
    • Annual High School Scholarships
  • Support Us
    • Become a Member
  • Tours & Events
  • Store
    • A Napa Coloring Book
    • Events
    • Walking Tours
    • 2021 Napa County Landmarks Golf Tournament – Coming Soon!
    • Checkout
  • Resources
    • Newsletters
  • Contact

2020 Ten Most Threatened Treasures + One

April 27, 2020 by NCL

Napa County Landmarks (NCL) has identified Ten Threatened Treasures of Napa County for 2020. NCL has for many years gathered an annual compilation of local historic structures that are in danger of being lost. Our built heritage may be imperiled by “demolition by neglect,” earthquake damage, or an owner’s plans to demolish and redevelop a property. Since May has been designated National Preservation Month by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, this is the time of year we traditionally release and publicize our Ten Threatened Treasures.

There are several examples of historical buildings and structures that once were on the previous Ten Most Threatened Treasures lists and have been restored by owners to their former glory. Some examples of these include: The Old Adobe on Soscol Avenue; The Borreo Building (Stone Brewery); the once neglected small Italianate house that was moved to Clay Street and restored; and the Francis House, aka Calistoga’s “Old Hospital.” Our hope is that by publicizing this list, many of these currently threatened treasures will soon be celebrated as rehabilitated gems. Unfortunately, most of this year’s list have been carried over from 2019 – but we’re optimistic that many restorations will be underway by May 2121!

Here are the 2020 Napa County Ten + 1 Most Threatened Treasures:

Napa County Health & Human Services Campus
on Old Sonoma Road.

1. Health & Human Services (HHS) campus Old Sonoma Rd., Napa – This highly visible County owned property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places historic district (its listing was initiated and funded by NCL). It has three hospital/dormitory buildings constructed in 1912 and 1934 for the County Hospital, which in early Napa was the institution of last result for the elderly and indigent. Sadly, these historically and architecturally significant buildings were neglected by the County and suffered more damage in the 2014 earthquake. They were designed by William Corlett, an influential and versatile early Napa architect. The Mission-style buildings are the first known local examples of reinforced concrete construction technology. The “crescent” driveway, present on the site since the 1870s, is historically significant in its own right and retains its original design. This site has been discussed as an ideal location for badly needed work force and affordable housing. NCL and neighborhood residents objected to the Board of Supervisor’s initial plan to raze the site for apartments, urging the County to explore reuse of the historic buildings. Last summer, we were excited to see a step toward reuse when the County sold the property to affordable housing developer Caritas, LLC, which signaled an interest in retaining the historic buildings. However, the deal fell apart in escrow, reportedly because the company could not operate within the tight timeline the County set forth for due diligence. NCL hopes this year will bring a new project that restores the historic buildings and brings the vacant property into use.

 

CA State Hospital Luther Turton Home.

2. Two Luther Turton homes at the Napa State Hospital – Luther Turton (1862-1925) was a very important architect in early Napa history. Among his many notable works, were two large (approx. 10,000 sq. ft.) homes that sit just off on the main driveway leading into the hospital grounds. For years they served as residences for hospital psychiatrists and their families. In more recent years they have been used as offices for hospital staff, however, like the HHS property, suffered significant damage in the 2014 earthquake. They were deemed unstable and unsafe at that time. There have been no visible attempts to stabilize them or repair them. It is unknown if the owner of these homes (the State of California) will ever allocate the required funds to rehabilitate and reuse these homes.

 

Daniel J. Thomas House circa 1880, 2232 Oak Street in Napa.

3.  2232 Oak St., Napa – This is an 1895 sq. ft. residence built in 1880 as the Daniel J. Thomas residence, when the neighborhood was rural and had only about a dozen houses. Thomas was apparently a stone mason. Listed as a “1” on Napa’s Historic Resource Inventory, Page & Turnbull’s 2010 survey confirmed that it is National Registry of Historic Places (NRHP) – eligible. The grand Stick Eastlake style house is suffering from neglect and deferred maintenance. It is also becoming overgrown with vegetation that threatens to engulf it and eventually obscure it from the street.

 

Front view of 816 Brown Street, the Center Building.

4. The Center Building, 810 – 814 Brown St., Napa – This is a nineteenth-century office building (originally the F. Martin Building) is directly across the street from the historic Napa County Courthouse. Owned by local attorney and real estate mogul Brian Silver, it suffered serious damage after the 2014 earthquake. The damage was much worse than it should have been because of Silver’s defiance of the city mandate to retrofit unreinforced masonry structures. The Napa Valley Register has reported over the years that he intended to rehabilitate this building in conjunction with building a new office building on the cleared lot immediately adjacent to the north. NCL board members have been told Mr. Silver has an architect for a planned rehabilitation, but no apparent progress has been made recently.

 

Main Gate at Aetna Springs in Pope Valley.

5.  Aetna Springs, Pope Valley – At one time this was the summer “playground” for relaxation in the thermal springs, golfing, and socializing. Said to be designed by famed architect Bernard Maybeck, construction began in the 1870s. Active use by visitors waned during the 1960’s. In 1987 Aetna Springs was listed on the NRHP for its architectural and historical significance. There are approximately thirty-two buildings on over one hundred acres. Recent decades have not been kind to them, as disuse has led to neglect and decay. Over the last few years the property has changed hands and several owners have announced ambitious proposals for rehabilitation and revival of the resort; however, to date nothing along these lines has occurred.
 

Jacob Meily Winery, Pope Street in St. Helena.

6. Jacob Meily Winery, Pope St., St. Helena — Owned by the city of St. Helena, this historic building is decaying and unused. Several cars have crashed into it over the years. Previous proposals for re-use of the structure fizzled due to probable neighborhood opposition and high costs of restoration.

 

 

Pellet Winery, Vallejo Street in St. Helena.

7.  1870’s Pellet Winery, Vallejo St., St. Helena – This structure was built in the 1870’s by Swiss immigrant, Henry Pellet (1828-1912), who settled in the Napa Valley in 1858 and became St. Helena’s first mayor in 1876. At one time this winery was producing 80,000 gallons of wine annually. Mr. Pellet was unquestionably a very important figure in the early history of St. Helena. The winery structure is deteriorating badly, and reportedly the family does not agree on what to do next with this historic winery building.

 

1870s era Franco-Swiss Winery, St. Helena.

8.  Franco-Swiss Winery, Conn Valley Rd., St. Helena – This historic, crumbling stone winery is being offered for sale, reportedly in part, because the current owners were unable to bring to fruition a restoration plan. Historical records indicate as early as 1876 “20,000 gallons of red and white wine” was being produced at the Franco-Swiss Winery. To add to this structure’s deteriorating woes, the roof partially caved in a recent winter.

 

American Canyon Cement Silos.

9.  Three Silos at the old cement plant, American Canyon – These silos are the centerpiece of the city’s plans to establish a “town center” for American Canyon in a proposed agreement with a developer and the so called “Watson Ranch” development plan for homes, retail, and other services in this locale. However, these silos (like several other sites on this year’s list) suffered damage in the 2014 earthquake. As a result the developer has wavered at times in his commitment to stabilize and reuse the silos in the overall development plan.

 

 

York Creek Bridge, St. Helena

10. Stone Bridges of St. Helena – Caltrans intends to remove and replace the stone parapets of the York Creek Bridge (south of Beringer Vineyards) and the Sulphur Creek Bridge (near Gott’s Roadside) in St. Helena. Napa was once known as the “County of Stone Bridges,” but these iconic local structures are increasingly rare because they get in the way of road widening and flood control projects. Ironically, stone masonry arches are among the most durable historic building types and can survive for a thousand years. Both of these bridges have served the community well for over a century and can continue if Caltrans leaves them in place. There are irreplaceable parts of the unique cultural  heritage of both St Helena and Napa County. We urge Caltrans and St. Helena’s civic leaders to listen to the community and leave these historic bridges and their parapets in place.

Sulphur Creek Bridge, St. Helena

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rutherford Railroad Depot

And Plus One, the Rutherford Depot, Rutherford. This structure was not on the original list of the Ten Most Threatened Treasures, however, subsequent to the compilation of the original list, compelling arguments were presented to add it to this year’s list and make it the Eleven Threatened Treasures of Napa County. The Rutherford Depot had been on the NCL Ten Threatened Treasures list in several prior years and has fallen into further worsening condition over this past winter. The current owners of the Rutherford Depot are also the owners of the Napa Valley Wine Train, which is under a larger business development enterprise called “Brook Street”. They have, in their words, “submitted a use permit application and are working with the County to gain approval for a reuse of the building but (we) have a long way to go. The process is not an easy path and will take some time and is a discretionary action”. In other words, there lies ahead an arduous process to perhaps turn the Rutherford Depot to its former glory with the uncertain approvals of the County approval and permitting process looming. If Brook Street is not successful in all the required steps to gain the ability to re-purpose this old rail station, the building’s future is tenuous at best.

It was for this reason that the NCL Board thought it important and imperative to add the Rutherford Depot to the 2019 list.

Filed Under: Home Page, Slider, Ten Threatened Treasures

Cart

  • Who We Are
    • Content Archive
  • Advocacy
    • Annual High School Scholarships
  • Support Us
    • Become a Member
  • Tours & Events
  • Store
    • A Napa Coloring Book
    • Events
    • Walking Tours
    • 2021 Napa County Landmarks Golf Tournament – Coming Soon!
    • Checkout
  • Resources
    • Newsletters
  • Contact

Preservation Corner

Wooden Window Restoration

Top Ten Reasons to Restore or Repair Wood Windows

1. Because your windows fit your house.
    •  Quirky as they might be, your older windows fit your house. Care was taken to match the weight and style of window to the building, the trim, etc. They have expanded and contracted with the seasons. With proper weather stripping they can be made to fit and seal even better. Replacement windows have a rigid structure that fits within your window openings. Old houses move and shift over time and frequently the gaps that open up around replacement windows and the window openings result in more drafts than the original windows.

2. Because you appreciate good craftsmanship.
     •  The true mortise and tenon construction of antique windows is incredibly strong and even when it begins to weaken is easily repaired. Many unique window shapes were created because of the craftsmanship with wood joinery. Antique windows were built to last and not end up in landfill.

Example of curved antique glass. Photo courtesy: www:clearywindowrestoration.com.

3. Because you value good materials.
     •  Antique wood windows are constructed of old growth timber. The wood is much denser and more weather resistant than today’s tree farmed softwoods. Delicate profiles are possible because of the density of the wood. The reason these windows are still around, even with years of neglect, is because the wood is of very high quality requiring no cladding or additional materials to give them weather resistance. Minus all the ugly paint your wood windows are usually quite beautiful, graceful, and strong.

4. Because you love the character of antique glass.   
     •  Even the glass in antique windows tells a story. It may be roundel or cylinder glass, each indicating a certain era of manufacturing. Old glass has varieties of color and texture that are a delight to the eye. Two layers of glass are better than one, and in an antique home that second layer of glass should be the storm window that protects the original window.

5. Because you think a warranty should be more than 20 years.
     •  Chances are your windows have done their job for fifty or more years already. Sure, they may be a little creaky and may not be as attractive as they once were, but it’s a far better investment to repair a proven performer than to sink money into a new window that only has a 20 year warranty at best. With proper maintenance your antique windows should last another 100 years. Heck, even without maintenance they may last that long!

6. Because you want to avoid vinyl.
     •  Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is becoming one of the greatest concerns in the building industry. Not only does the production of it create an environmental nightmare, but the gases it emits over time are becoming a concern. Heaven forbid your house catches fire, and PVC burned will release toxic amounts of dioxin. If you are concerned about lead, please understand that it is used as a stabilizer in the manufacture of PVC. If you are concerned about our planet’s health you should read up on efforts to reduce the use of vinyl.

7. Because you want more light.
     •  Replacement windows are set into the window opening, and the sash is smaller than the originals. You get less viewing area and less light. Who wants less light?

Restoring the weight & pulley system in an antique window. Photo courtesy: doublehungwindow restoration.com

8. Because windows are a functional part of your house.
     •  Weights and pulleys are the best balance systems ever invented. There is a prevalent myth that a lot of cold air comes in through the weight pocket. If there is cold air in the weight pocket it’s generally because there is a gap between the outside trim of the house and the siding. It may also indicate a poor seal at the floor joists. Replacing easily serviceable weights and pulleys with vinyl jamb liners or invisible balance systems means installing a system that has a maximum life span of 10-20 years but generally fails in less time. You can’t believe how joyful it is to open and close windows easily with one hand when everything is restored to the way it was designed to work!

9. Because you really can save 30-40% on heating costs.
     •  According to the Field Study of Energy Impacts of Window Rehab Choices conducted by the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, the University of Vermont School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering laboratory the estimate first year energy savings between a restored wooden window with a good storm window vs. a replacement window was $0.60. Yup, less than a buck. In their conclusions section they noted “The decision to renovate or replace a window should not be based solely on energy considerations, as the difference in estimate first year savings between the upgrade options are small.” Broken glass, failed glazing, no weather stripping – these small and repairable items are what really effect energy efficiency in windows.

10. Because the greenest building is one that is already built.
       •  Replacement windows are touted as a way to save energy. But when evaluated from the perspective of the entire production, shipping, installation and removal process replacing windows consumes a whole lot of energy, or viewed the other way an older building has a great deal of embodied energy. If the total energy expenditure to manufacture replacement windows is considered the break even period stretches to 40-60 years. In the words of Richard Moe, President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation “We can’t build our way out of the global warming crisis. We have to conserve our way out. That means we have to make better, wiser use of what we have already built.” Repairs and restoration work are done by local craftspeople paying local taxes. The use a minimum of materials and resources and a maximum of labor. Restoring windows is the best use of existing materials and the best way to support the local economy.

 

Restoring antique stained glass windows. Photo courtesy: www:savingspaces.org.
 
Article written by New England Window Restoration Alliance, www.windowrestorationne.org
 

2021 Ten Most Threatened Treasures

Do you have suggestions for 2021?
Let us know, click here for details.

California Preservation Foundation

37th Annual
California Preservation Awards
Submit nominee click here.

  • Home
  • Who We Are
  • Support Us
  • Contact Us
like us on facebook