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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAssessment of the Doctors Houses at the Old Butte County Library ADDRESS: 1007B West College Avenue #534 Santa Rosa, California 95401 EMAIL: ebarrow@ebarrowassociates.com October 16, 2026 Rod Stinson Raney Planning & Management, Inc. 1501 Sports Drive, Suite A Sacramento, CA 95834 RE: Assessment of the Potential Historical Importance of the Houses at 2243, 2255, and 2269 Del Oro Avenue, Oroville, Butte County Dear Mr. Stinson, I am writing to provide my professional opinion on the potential significance of the three houses at 2243, 2255, and 2269 Del Oro Avenue, Oroville, Butte County, California under California Register of Historical Resources (California Register) criteria. Historical Resources Regulations When a project could have a significant impact on a potential historical resource, then the potential historical resource must be subjected to a formal evaluation. A formal evaluation must include the development of at least one historical context, but could include more than one if the resource could potentially be important under more than one context. The importance of a potential historical resource is measured in terms of the criteria for inclusion on the California Register. A potential historical resource is important if it meets one or more of the criteria, or if it is already listed on the California Register or a local register (Title 14 CCR, §4852). An historical resource, as defined in Section 15064.5 of the CEQA Guidelines, is one that: 1. Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of California’s history and cultural heritage; 2. Is associated with the lives of persons important in our past; 3. Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or method of construction, or represents the work of an important creative individual, or possesses high artistic values; or 4. Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. Eileen Barrow & Associates ADDRESS: 1007B West College Avenue #534 Santa Rosa, California 95401 EMAIL: ebarrow@ebarrowassociates.com Rod Stinson October 16, 2026 Page 2 In addition to meeting one or more of the above criteria, a potential historical resource must retain sufficient integrity to convey its importance for it to meet eligibility requirements for the California Register. The integrity elements that are considered include location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. The California Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) advocates that potential historical resources over 45 years old be recorded for inclusion in the OHP filing system. However, OHP recognizes that it is not reasonable or appropriate to document all evidence of human activities that is older than 45 years. Because of this, OHP encourages professional judgment when determining whether recordation is warranted (OHP 1995:2). This regulatory background is provided to advise that this letter is not a formal evaluation, but a professional opinion of the potential historical importance of the three houses that are the subject of this review. Brief Property History The houses at 2243, 2255, and 2269 Del Oro Avenue sit on the same parcel (APN 031-040-045) as the Old Butte County Hospital and several other public service buildings. The Old Butte County Hospital was built in 1939 as a joint effort between the Works Projects Administration and the County (The Gridley Herald 1939). A review of historical maps shows the property had been the site of an even older hospital United States Geological Survey 1891, 1912). After the Old Butte County Hospital was built, doctors working there needed housing, and the County constructed the three houses that are the subject of this study. It appears, based on a review of maps and aerial photos, that construction of these houses occurred between 1949 and 1952 (United States Geological Survey 1949; University of California - Santa Barbara). Brief Description of the Houses at 2243, 2255, and 2269 Del Oro Avenue Although a precise construction date for the houses could not readily be found, they all appear to follow the exact same plan, suggesting they were built at the same time. All three houses are single-story, wood- framed buildings on a rectangular plan. They have complex roofs that are both gabled and hipped. The roofs are covered with composite shingles, and all the buildings are clad with stucco. All three houses have a dropped roof porch across a third of the building, which covers the front door and a large picture window. A ramp has been added to the front of all three porches, likely for wheelchair access. The windows on other portions of the houses appear to be aluminum-framed vertical sliders. There is a brick chimney on the north wall of each house. When originally constructed, all three houses had a breezeway connecting the house to a detached garage. The house at 2255 Del Oro Avenue has been altered to enclose the breezeway, likely to enlarge living space. The garages are all clad with T-111 siding. All three garages have been altered. At 2243, the garage door was altered to have a pedestrian door set into it on one side. The larger part of the garage door likely no longer opens. At 2255, the garage has no door on the front, but in its place is a large picture window. ADDRESS: 1007B West College Avenue #534 Santa Rosa, California 95401 EMAIL: ebarrow@ebarrowassociates.com Rod Stinson October 16, 2026 Page 3 Smaller windows are on the side, all suggesting that the space is now used as a living space. At 2269, the garage does not have a garage door on the front, but has a pedestrian door in its place. Figures 1, 2, and 3 show each house. Figure 1. View of the house at 2243 Del Oro Avenue. Figure 2. View of the house at 2255 Del Oro Avenue. ADDRESS: 1007B West College Avenue #534 Santa Rosa, California 95401 EMAIL: ebarrow@ebarrowassociates.com Rod Stinson October 16, 2026 Page 4 Figure 3. View of the house at 2269 Del Oro Avenue. Building Assessment Based on archival research, the houses were not built at the same time as the Old Butte County Hospital, which was built to house doctors. Because they were built later and do not appear to be part of any major event, they do not have a significant association with the Old Butte County Hospital. On their own, it does not appear that they were associated with some other event separate from the hospital. Although these buildings could be considered in the context of post-World War II development, individual single-family houses generally do not meet Criterion 1 of the California Register, as they do not adequately convey associations with this theme (California Department of Transportation 2011). Given that they do not appear to be a part of an important historical event, they would not meet Criterion 1 of the California Register. Archival research also did not show that the construction of these houses was related to any important people; therefore, Criterion 2 of the California Register is not met. Architecturally, the buildings exhibit Minimal Traditional characteristics, which include: simple, compact massing, low-pitched roofs with shallow eaves, stucco cladding, small entrance porches or stoops, wood front doors, wood-framed or steel casement windows, bay windows, and a lack of ornamentation. These houses also typically have wood panel doors and brick or stone accents. The detached garages joined to the house by a breezeway are suggestive of a Ranch Style characteristic. Though these buildings exhibit some stylistic characteristics, they are not great examples of the Minimal Traditional style. In addition, they have been subject to alterations since the original construction, especially ADDRESS: 1007B West College Avenue #534 Santa Rosa, California 95401 EMAIL: ebarrow@ebarrowassociates.com Rod Stinson October 16, 2026 Page 5 2255 Del Oro Avenue. Given this, the houses do not appear to meet criteria for inclusion on the California Register under Criterion 3. Generally, Criterion 4 applies to archaeological sites and to resources where the study of physical construction could yield important analytical data. The three houses do not qualify for inclusion on the California Register under Criterion 4. In summary, it is my professional opinion that the houses at 2243, 2255, and 2269 Del Oro Avenue, Oroville, Butte County do not appear to meet criteria for inclusion on the California Register and may be demolished. Please let me know if you have any questions or need anything else. Sincerely, Eileen Barrow President Bibliography California Department of Transportation 2011 Tract Housing in California, 1945-1973: A Context for National Register Evaluation. Available online athttps://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/environmentalanalysis/documents/ser/ tracthousing-in-ca-1945-1973-a11y.pdf Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) 1995 Instructions for Recording Historical Resources. California Office of Historic Preservation, Sacramento. The Gridley Herald 1939 Butte Hospital Dedication Held. The Gridley Herald. August 29, 1939. United States Geological Survey 1891 Chico, California 1:125,000’ map. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C. 1912 Oroville, California 1:31,680’ map. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C. 1949 Oroville, California 7.5’ map. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C. University of California – Santa Barbara 1952 Aerial photo Flight AAX-1952, Frame 7k-202. Available online at https://mil.library.ucsb.edu/ap_indexes/FrameFinder/.