a
Virgin ery
Win
Dare
Winer
y
Att: Rancho Cucamonga City Council and Planning Commission,
From: the Historical Preservation Association of Rancho Cucamonga
Subject:
Consideration of the empty Richfield Service Station (circa 1915) located at
9668 Foothill Blvd. (Rte. 66), west of Archibald to be established as a historical
point of Interest and “Historic Landmark” for the City of Rancho Cucamonga,
the State of California and the National Register.
Background:
Along the nationally recognized historic Route 66 sits an abandoned gas
station that is fenced off and boarded up. To the immediate passerby, it may
appear to be a nuisance or an unsightly building but really it is much more than
that. There the building sits with its integrity fully intact and a story of rich
diverse history to tell.
This property came to
my attention in the 1970s
after it had been closed as a
service station. From 1972
until today, travelers on what
is now Foothill Blvd. seen this
structure housing other varied
temporary business while
retaining its 1920s “gas
station” architecture.
Richfield Gas Station
One of the our goals in
Rancho Cucamonga, California
establishing the Historical
Preservation Association of Rancho Cucamonga is to advocate retaining and
resurrecting portions of Alta Loma, Cucamonga and Etiwanda to become
historical tourism destinations. The Richfield Station on Route 66 in
Cucamonga is a “diamond in the rough” not only for our city but for future
generations and could eventually become a well visited historic site and
museum.
The current property owner is TLC properties. They retain this site to
protect the large advertising billboard on the eastern edge of the property.
From a meeting with their representative, we believe them to be in favor of
retaining the single-story gas station in its historic and current configuration.
The billboard may also be an asset to advertising for route 66 and its local
business.
Architecture
The gas station, Also known
as the Cucamonga Service
Station, is located on its
original site along Historic
Route 66 (Foothill Blvd.) in
the community of Cucamonga
and is a fine example of
Mission Style Spanish
Colonial architecture that was
very popular starting from the
1850s and still very common
to this area today. Typical
character defining features of
the Mission and Spanish
styles are the flat roof canopy
surmounted by square
RICHFIELD Cucamonga Garage on Route 66
columns with vertical color
circa 1929
insets topped with tile
coverings. The surrounding decorative feature above the pump islands has
curved arches and topped with a Spanish style parapet extending around the
entire structure. Many local structures have copied these features in an attempt
for historical continuity.
A secondary building of the same general design and used as the service
bay area is situated to the rear of the main building.
The exterior of this historic Richfield Station remains as is was in about
1920 except for the removal of signage, gas pumps and the small secondary
“bathroom building” on the east side of the lot. The door and windows have
been boarded up.
Route 66
The 1920s brought 210,000 people from the mid-west on Route 66 into
California to escape the despair of the Dust Bowl. This station witnessed this
migration and many of these tired and mostly unwanted migrants (ref. novel,
Steinbeck – Grapes of Wrath) passed by or stopped at this station for fuel or
water. From 1933 to 1948 thousands of unemployed youths were put to work
as laborers on road gangs to pave the final stretches of the road. This station
was there. The Chicago to L.A. Rte. 66 highway was reported as “continuously
paved” in 1938.
From the 1920s until its closure in 1971, this station survived the trials of
our country from the 1929 great depression and through WW II and served its
community until it was no longer modern enough and too far off the new routes
that detoured growing traffic around our community.
History:
In 1914 the property where the Station now stands was the Hugh Larson Ford
Repair building. The sign said “General Repair Welding and Brazing”. This
large wood-framed structure was later moved to
1914
the rear of the lot and the doors and roof
CUCAMONGA
remodeled to become the service bay area. A
HUGH LARSON
FORD REPAIRING
small 400 sq. ft. building was added to the front
GENERAL REPAIR
(south facing) area of the property for fuel pumps
WELDING and BRAZING
to provide drive in service for gas and oil.
This Mission style Spanish Colonial gas station
was built in 1915 as a refueling and automobile
service stop for local residents and travelers on
the “State Route”. By 1925 this historic Highway
was designated as US Route 66. Families were
coming from all over the United States and
following the “mother road” (Route 66) from
Chicago to L.A. thru Barstow, the Cajon pass, San Bernardino, Fontana,
Etiwanda and Cucamonga toward their
final destinations in Southern
California
Richfield Oil Company
The Richfield Oil Company
opened their main headquarters in
downtown Los Angeles on Figueroa
St. and began supplying many of the
stations along the Southern California
Routes. The “Cucamonga Service
Station” became a Richfield Oil
Distributor in the 1920s until the 1970s
when the name changed to the new
“Atlantic Richfield Company” (ARCO).
The Richfield Petroleum Co. was also
environmentally friendly for it’s time. It
created a new method making high
octane fuel in 1932 that eliminated the
use of acid in the process and cutting
down on the corrosive properties for
later versions of the fuel.
This type and style of station is
one of the very last few remaining that
1925 Richfield Advertisement
California Diamond Jubilee
once numbered in the thousands and lined the pre world-war II highways
across the U.S. and the west coast from California to Washington. It also
added a small separate “bathroom” building for its tired travelers.
William Harvey - First Station Owner 1915 - 1925
When
Cucamonga was only a very small area near Etiwanda and Ontario, one of the
very few places to get auto service or fuel was the service station on the State
Highway, west of Archibald. It was opened in 1915 by William B. Harvey, who
had lived in California since 1903.
Ancil Morris 2nd Owner 1925-1944
In 1925 the garage added a Mechanic to the directory listing. His name was
Ancil H. Morris (wife Dolores) and his name remained with the station until
1945. He resided in Cucamonga for 44 years and
was very active locally. He was a Richfield oil
distributor, a charter member of the Cucamonga
Lions Club, Life member of the Cucamonga
Service Club, member of the Chamber of
Commerce and a member of the American
Legion. Mr. Morris died in 1970 at 83 yrs.
Arvid “Chief” Lewis – 1945 - 1971
Cucamonga’s first full-time Fire Chief
From 1945 through 1971 the Ontario / Upland
Circa 1925
telephone directory listed the owner of the
Cucamonga Garage as Arvid Lewis. He also was
very active in the small community of Cucamonga. His obituary from the Daily
Bulletin Feb. 15 1994 called him Cucamonga’s first full time Fire Chief. He
joined Pete Klusman and Rudy Pimentel in forming a fire department for
Cucamonga in the late 1940s. Mr. Lewis was a founding member of the
Cucamonga fire department and served as its chief from 1954 until 1972
when he retired from the garage and the fire department. He was also past
president of the Cucamonga
Service Club, a charter member of
the Cucamonga Lions Club and a
member of the California State
Fire Association. Mr. Lewis “had
the garage because of a lifelong
love of cars” daughter Donna
Rogers said.
Diner being demolished
This lonely little unsightly station
Cucamonga service station (in rear)
could be remodeled to reflect
almost any time period from the early 1900s to the 1950s and remind our
future generations of a long ago era that was a true part of the lives of
their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. Many local
residences can still remember their families “filling up” at the station and
having a meal at “Dolly’s Diner”, a converted bus, next door to the station.
Route 66 – the present
The following text was copied from the Rte. 66 “Legends of America” and
titled “The urban sprawl at the end of Route 66” and follows the historical
portion through the southern cites of California to its end in Santa
Monica. This portion is from Fontana to through Rancho Cucamonga.
…Continuing along, you will soon reach the suburb
of Fontana that presents a couple of vintage
roadside peeks. At the southwest corner of Foothill
Boulevard and Sultana Avenue sits a classic Italian
restaurant called Bono’s. Unfortunately, as of this
writing, Bono's is closed and the building is for
rent. Right next to it, however, you can see the last
of many orange juice stands that once dotted all of
Californ
ia's
Route
66.
Rancho Cucamonga was once known for
its many vineyards and orange groves
which have since been replaced by
POST CARD - 1978
numerous businesses as the city has
RICHFIELD GAS STATION
become one of the fastest growing
CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA
suburbs in the metropolitan area.
However, this suburb does provide a
couple of Route 66 era opportunities. At Haven Avenue is one of California's oldest
wineries, the Virginia Dare, and at the northwest corner of Foothill Boulevard and
Archibald sits the 1920s Richfield Oil station. Dating back to time when Route 66
passed through nothing but country side and vineyards, this place stands out among
the more modern views of the road.
Recommendations
The Historical Preservation Association of Rancho Cucamonga
recommends that the Cucamonga Service Station be remodeled and
preserved as a Museum and a living part of community life and
development, in order to foster an understanding of the city’s past so
future generations may have a genuine opportunity to appreciate, enjoy
and understand Rancho Cucamonga’s rich heritage.
Conclusion
Our city’s character and history are reflected in its cultural, historical and
architectural heritage. We have a rare opportunity to return this 93 year
old icon and its surrounding area to a historical destination within Rancho
Cucamonga, a Landmark for the State of California and become a part of
the National Historic Register.
We would appreciate any assistance in this manner,
Thank you
Historical Preservation Assn.
Edward J. Dietl (Mr. Ed)
Tele: 909 985-2231
Fax: 909 912-8888
Email: historicalsoc_rc@verizon.net
09/10/08
Appendix
Owners shown in Ontario / Upland Directories
*1915 thru1927 Originally called the “Cucamonga Garage” and listed in the
Ontario directory as located on the “State Highway - west of Archibald”
*1928 thru1933 Ancil H. Morris Listed as a Mechanic in 1928
Route 66 - west of Archibald
*1934 – 1940 Gas Station - Ancil Morris 116 W. Foothill
*1945 – 1971 Cucamonga Garage A.E. Lewis, 9668 Foothill
*1972 – present Closed as service station
Thanks to:
Ontario City Library
City of Ontario
City of R.C. Planning Dept.
For information and help in preparing this document