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WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING IN NILES
by Jill M. Singleton
E Street Entrance to Auditorium
Veterans Memorial Building floor plan
(E and 2nd. Street, Niles District of Fremont, CA)
The Veterans Memorial Building in Niles was the fourth of ten Veterans Memorial Buildings built in towns throughout Alameda County between 1927 and 1935. County architect Henry Haight Meyers (1887 – 1943) used a monumental, often Beaux Arts style, in the bigger cities.
The Niles building was designed with associate architects George R. Klinkhardt and Mildred S. Meyers. The latter, daughter of Henry Meyers, took the lead role with the Niles Memorial project, promoting the ‘California Spanish style’ in both the Niles building exterior and interior. She later described the process in an article titled “Memorials” in the August 1935 issue of ‘The Architect and Engineer, a professional journal based in San Francisco. She notes that it was a compliment to the architects, when three other communities requested the same style developed for Niles.
She noted that the California Spanish style was carried out in the interior by exposing the structural members of the roof trusses, treating these with stencil designs inspired from old Spanish ceilings, the stencils designed by herself. Walls were deliberately finished with an uneven texture, kept simple in color and given a glaze finish, as part of color studies that included the design of decorative tile and draperies. ‘Old Spanish designs’ inspired the light fixtures.
The Veterans Memorial Building in Niles has military references, including the terracotta bust of a World War I doughboy in a niche above the main entrance, characteristic of the memorial character of the building. Walls of local Kraftile hollow clay tile, scrolled ironwork and red Spanish tile are also original to this building. An original feature of the Veterans Memorial Building for Niles is the enclosed loggia that once faced onto a patio garden and central flagpole. In 1951, the patio replaced by a full dining wing and the flagpole moved near the sidewalk..
In 2000, Siegel and Strain Architects of Emeryville, were hired by Alameda County with the support of the City of Fremont. Seismic rehabilitation combined with accessibility and code upgrades recognized the historic and architecturally significant features of the original 1930 building. These historic features include the Lobby, the Auditorium with its maple floors, stenciled trusses, stage and metal lined, elevated Film Projection Room, the paneled Lodge Room linked by an Entry Hall to the Men’s Clubroom and its intact fireplace. The unique indoor pillared Loggia links this interior hierarchy of 1930 spaces with the updated 1951 dining wing.
TIMELINE:
1842
Rancho Arroyo de la Alameda grant to Don Jose de Jesus Vallejo
1853
County of Alameda created from parts of Contra Costa and Santa Clara Counties
1856
James and Lucy Shinn settle on east side of Alameda Creek, near Vallejo’s Mills
1857
Vallejo grant confirmed by President James Buchanan, deed signed January 1, 1858
1863
Southeast portion of Rancho Arroyo de la Alameda acquired by Jonas Clark
1869
Central Pacific Railroad completes transcontinental railroad through Niles Canyon
1871
Shinn Nursery operation begun with stock from the Rock and Fox Nursery in San Jose
1877
Jonas Clark authorizes broker to sell Rancho Arroyo de la Alameda parcels, including to the Southern Pacific Railroad (200 ac.) and the California Nursery Company (400 ac.)
1884
Southern Pacific Railroad acquires Central Pacific Railroad and registers plat for Niles
1888
Sale of Shinn Nursery stock and goodwill to Trumbull and Beebe, San Francisco
1880’s
James Shinn acquires prime agricultural land between Niles plat and the California Nursery Company. Crops include pear orchard, sugar beets and strawberry rhubarb
1891
Chautauqua Circle begins providing cultural events for over three decades in Niles
1898
Niles Improvement Club formed by Joseph Clark Shinn
1900
A.J. Mayhew and J.C. Shinn begin the Niles Water Company
1901
Suburban Electric Company brings its lines through Niles and Niles Railroad Depot built
1910
Western Pacific Railroad constructed through Niles Canyon,
1910
Niles has over 1,500 people, 3 churches, 3 hotels, the county bank, jail and courthouse
1911
Niles School District parcel on School Street bought from Shinns and Southern Pacific
1912
Niles Grammar School moves from Old Town to the New Town
1914
Niles Sanitary District formed
1921
Niles Chamber of Commerce is re-organized and provides leadership for locating the Veterans Memorial Building in Niles
1921
Laura Thane Whipple chairs a Niles Memorial Day event with luncheon, parade, band, tree planting, guns in the schoolyard and patriotic speeches. This lead to local veterans organizing Township Post No. 195, with a charter finalized in 1923.
1927
Veterans Memorial Halls in Alameda County funded by tax rate for county towns that can provide publicly owned or donated land for the construction of memorial buildings.
1927
Shinn family conditionally donates land for a Veterans Memorial Building in Niles
1928
Ford family donates Jane Clough Memorial Library for the people of Niles
1930
Niles Veterans Memorial Building is dedicated on May 30, 1930 as memorial to those who fought in World War I – to those who fell and to those who survived.
1930
E Street and Second Street constructed through pear orchards.
1937
Charter dinner for the new Niles Rotary Club held Dec. 9, 1937
1939
Niles Grammar School rebuilt to latest seismic standards, this time facing towards Second Street. Temporary classrooms take over part of the Veterans Memorial Building.
1942
Red Cross blood bank in the Niles Veterans Memorial Building during World War II
1951
Veterans Memorial Building at Niles expanded with a dining wing replacing former patio
2000
Siegel and Strain Architects, Emeryville, undertake seismic rehabilitation of the building, a cooperative effort by the County of Alameda and Fremont Redevelopment Agency
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING IN NILES |
by Jill M. Singleton
|
The Veterans Memorial Building in Niles was the fourth of ten Veterans Memorial Buildings built in towns throughout Alameda County between 1927 and 1935. County architect Henry Haight Meyers (1887 – 1943) used a monumental, often Beaux Arts style, in the bigger cities.
The Niles building was designed with associate architects George R. Klinkhardt and Mildred S. Meyers. The latter, daughter of Henry Meyers, took the lead role with the Niles Memorial project, promoting the ‘California Spanish style’ in both the Niles building exterior and interior. She later described the process in an article titled “Memorials” in the August 1935 issue of ‘The Architect and Engineer, a professional journal based in San Francisco. She notes that it was a compliment to the architects, when three other communities requested the same style developed for Niles.
She noted that the California Spanish style was carried out in the interior by exposing the structural members of the roof trusses, treating these with stencil designs inspired from old Spanish ceilings, the stencils designed by herself. Walls were deliberately finished with an uneven texture, kept simple in color and given a glaze finish, as part of color studies that included the design of decorative tile and draperies. ‘Old Spanish designs’ inspired the light fixtures.
The Veterans Memorial Building in Niles has military references, including the terracotta bust of a World War I doughboy in a niche above the main entrance, characteristic of the memorial character of the building. Walls of local Kraftile hollow clay tile, scrolled ironwork and red Spanish tile are also original to this building. An original feature of the Veterans Memorial Building for Niles is the enclosed loggia that once faced onto a patio garden and central flagpole. In 1951, the patio replaced by a full dining wing and the flagpole moved near the sidewalk..
In 2000, Siegel and Strain Architects of Emeryville, were hired by Alameda County with the support of the City of Fremont. Seismic rehabilitation combined with accessibility and code upgrades recognized the historic and architecturally significant features of the original 1930 building. These historic features include the Lobby, the Auditorium with its maple floors, stenciled trusses, stage and metal lined, elevated Film Projection Room, the paneled Lodge Room linked by an Entry Hall to the Men’s Clubroom and its intact fireplace. The unique indoor pillared Loggia links this interior hierarchy of 1930 spaces with the updated 1951 dining wing.
TIMELINE:
1842 | Rancho Arroyo de la Alameda grant to Don Jose de Jesus Vallejo |
1853 | County of Alameda created from parts of Contra Costa and Santa Clara Counties |
1856 | James and Lucy Shinn settle on east side of Alameda Creek, near Vallejo’s Mills |
1857 | Vallejo grant confirmed by President James Buchanan, deed signed January 1, 1858 |
1863 | Southeast portion of Rancho Arroyo de la Alameda acquired by Jonas Clark |
1869 | Central Pacific Railroad completes transcontinental railroad through Niles Canyon |
1871 | Shinn Nursery operation begun with stock from the Rock and Fox Nursery in San Jose |
1877 | Jonas Clark authorizes broker to sell Rancho Arroyo de la Alameda parcels, including to the Southern Pacific Railroad (200 ac.) and the California Nursery Company (400 ac.) |
1884 | Southern Pacific Railroad acquires Central Pacific Railroad and registers plat for Niles |
1888 | Sale of Shinn Nursery stock and goodwill to Trumbull and Beebe, San Francisco |
1880’s | James Shinn acquires prime agricultural land between Niles plat and the California Nursery Company. Crops include pear orchard, sugar beets and strawberry rhubarb |
1891 | Chautauqua Circle begins providing cultural events for over three decades in Niles |
1898 | Niles Improvement Club formed by Joseph Clark Shinn |
1900 | A.J. Mayhew and J.C. Shinn begin the Niles Water Company |
1901 | Suburban Electric Company brings its lines through Niles and Niles Railroad Depot built |
1910 | Western Pacific Railroad constructed through Niles Canyon, |
1910 | Niles has over 1,500 people, 3 churches, 3 hotels, the county bank, jail and courthouse |
1911 | Niles School District parcel on School Street bought from Shinns and Southern Pacific |
1912 | Niles Grammar School moves from Old Town to the New Town |
1914 | Niles Sanitary District formed |
1921 | Niles Chamber of Commerce is re-organized and provides leadership for locating the Veterans Memorial Building in Niles |
1921 | Laura Thane Whipple chairs a Niles Memorial Day event with luncheon, parade, band, tree planting, guns in the schoolyard and patriotic speeches. This lead to local veterans organizing Township Post No. 195, with a charter finalized in 1923. |
1927 | Veterans Memorial Halls in Alameda County funded by tax rate for county towns that can provide publicly owned or donated land for the construction of memorial buildings. |
1927 | Shinn family conditionally donates land for a Veterans Memorial Building in Niles |
1928 | Ford family donates Jane Clough Memorial Library for the people of Niles |
1930 | Niles Veterans Memorial Building is dedicated on May 30, 1930 as memorial to those who fought in World War I – to those who fell and to those who survived. |
1930 | E Street and Second Street constructed through pear orchards. |
1937 | Charter dinner for the new Niles Rotary Club held Dec. 9, 1937 |
1939 | Niles Grammar School rebuilt to latest seismic standards, this time facing towards Second Street. Temporary classrooms take over part of the Veterans Memorial Building. |
1942 | Red Cross blood bank in the Niles Veterans Memorial Building during World War II |
1951 | Veterans Memorial Building at Niles expanded with a dining wing replacing former patio |
2000 | Siegel and Strain Architects, Emeryville, undertake seismic rehabilitation of the building, a cooperative effort by the County of Alameda and Fremont Redevelopment Agency |
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