Known as “Historic Home Tours” during early years of CHPS
The Corona Historic Preservation Society reactivated its Historic Home Tour
program in 2007 after a ten-year hiatus. We called the event “2007 Vintage
Home Tour” and celebrated five beautiful and distinctive homes that were built
more than 75 years ago. On a balmy May 12
th
, we welcomed over 350 visitors as
they discovered the craftmanship and charm of homes built during another era.
One of the goals of the tour was to educate the public so that they might acquire
a desire to preserve that which remains of Corona’s past glory and that they
would be favorably disposed to return for future events.
Guests were invited to walk through the homes which served as windows to the
past. Visitors saw classic architectural elements, beautiful woodwork, unique
windows,
designs and craftsmanship that would be hard to duplicate today.
Everyone was encouraged to admire details, the little extras, beautiful furnishings
and finish work which remain after nearly a century.
Note: Four of the featured homes were Corona Historic Landmarks. They have
been identified by the Planning Commission and the City Council as physical
elements of Corona’s historical development that provide the community with its
own unique civic identity and character. Requirements for Corona Landmark
status: Site must be at least 50 years, have significant historic, cultural or
architectural value, and demonstrate authenticity of physical identity as
evidenced by the survival of characteristics that existed during the Landmark’s
period of significance.
The Corona Historic Preservation Society plans to continue Vintage Home Tours
so visitors can experience both historically and architecturally significant homes
that continue to be used after many decades.
Please plan to join us at future Vintage Home Tours. |
2011 Vintage Home Tour
Held on Saturday May 7, 2011
Akio Yoshikawa is credited with most of the photos included in this collection. Other contributors: Tom Muñoz, Doris Osko, Alexandria Stern and Mary & Richard Winn |
The Chaffin residence at 1939 S. Main Street, also known as the Stoner House, was built
in 1893 in the “Victorian Carpenter’s Gothic” style of architecture. |
This stately architectural gem served as the “headquarters” of the 2011 Vintage Home Tour. Tickets were sold by Mary Winn and Lauralynn Hake under the canopy in the driveway in the lower right. |
Many have desired to visit this home for years. Here we see a line of guests waiting for their opportunity to enter. The magnificent roses bloomed at just the right time of year to showcase the front yard. |
Jackie Bland, CHPS Board Member and co-captain of the home, is seen here
pointing out lovely characteristics to guests just inside the ornate entry of the home. |
Bay window sitting room with antiques on the front of the home.
|
Docents Marian Perez and her granddaughter Kori Coop, outfitted in their Victorian
dresses, are dressed just perfectly for serving as docents here. |
Glen Chaffin’s office features some of his collections, on the walls, on the floor, in
barrister bookcases and in a built-in display case for mementos and collectibles. The vintage gold
and blue tin ceiling is particularly noteworthy as it was originally found in a building in Downtown
Corona.
Glen salvaged it and incorporated it into the home. |
Docent Trudy Whittaker points to the corner mirrored armoire in one of the bedrooms. |
The reverse view of the bedroom showing the bookcase, painting of an historic scene and the quilt-covered bed reflected in the photo above. Notice the intricate cove molding at the ceiling and the light fixture. |
In the kitchen, one can see the beautiful ceiling restoration and updating of appliances complimenting
the hardwood cabinetwork. On the wall at the left is a framed swatch of the original wallpaper and
paint found while owners scraped away multiple layers of covering materials. |
The master bedroom features vintage door and window casings with corner plinth blocks. Above the doors in the bedroom and hallway one can see the vintage glass transoms characteristic of the Victorian era. |
This bathroom has both a tub and shower with the wall between the tub and shower utilizing
glass blocks. Notice the beautiful dressing table and mirror in the foreground. |
As one leaves this house one gets a second opportunity to see the beautiful front yard
landscaping in bloom and other enthusiastic guests awaiting their opportunity to view
this well preserved example of Victorian Era architecture. |
Various vintage Model-T and Model-A Fords of the early part of the 20th century are
available for guest viewing courtesy of local Model-T and Mode- A car clubs. |
Home owner Glen Chaffin stands in his front yard near the colorful flowers of his tree
rose plants. He and his wife Theresa have resided here since 1965.
|
House Captains Bubba and Jackie Bland, in vintage attire, lend a certain ambiance to the
event from their vantage points on front porch rocking chairs |
Docents (L-R) are Kathy Fichtelman, Trudy Whittaker and Melanie Child
as they enjoy touring the homes on the tour. |
Docents Cathy Hahn, Nancy Royce and Vintage Home Tour Coordinator Mary Winn pose
next to Glen Chaffin’s Model-T Ford Runabout in its unpainted state. |
For our guests to safely cross a busy Main Street to the adjacent home on the tour, the
Corona Police Department cooperated with the Corona Historic Preservation Society
and provided electronic traffic warning signs and a uniformed officer to ensure the safety
of our tour guests as well as drivers along Main Street. |
This three-story Vernacular Wood Frame styled early citrus ranch home at 1934 S. Main Street,
built in 1907, is located across the street from the Chaffin residence and is owned by Mike
and Annette Rios. The Rioses and CHPS president Christine Gary stand to the side of the
porch entry. A vintage 1930 Model-A Ford is seen on the front yard lawn. |
Here on the front porch are docent Doris Osko and Captain Christine Gary
ready and eager to welcome tour guests to the Rios home. |
Docent Nan McVeigh and her son Will, also a docent. |
East end of living room with wood casement windows and wide casing framing windows. |
West end of living room. The doorway on the left has a Dutch door and leads to the kitchen. |
Dining room in red and white with small crown molding at the ceiling. |
Interior kitchen wall of used brick is on the right side. View to the rear is
the front living room window as seen through the Dutch door.
|
Granddaughter Faith’s whimsical bedroom with large butterflies
flying around the ceiling and purple netting draped over her trundle bed. |
The master bedroom features a diagonal four-post bed with a ceiling drape. A
decorative patterned quilt and throw pillows add to the early 20th century ambiance. |
The third floor family room with angled ceiling rafters provides plenty of space for
conversational groupings of furniture. The balcony outside the window an the end of
the room offers
spectacular views of the
community below in the Santa Ana River basin
as well
as sunset views of mountains to the west. |
This interesting view down the carpeted spiral staircase from the
family room leaves no doubt that this is an intriguing home. |
Homeowners Mike and Annette Rios are seen here on the front porch
accompanied by their darling granddaughter, Faith. |
CHPS Board Member Don Williamson, who served as a docent at the Rios home,
was photographed with long time
friends (since kindergarten) and fellow docents Denea
Brietenbucher and Vic Solorzano. They were visiting another home on the tour. |
Eager tour guests queue up to visit the 1916 Craftsman Airplane Bungalow
owned by Julie Stern and located at 1314 S. Victoria Avenue. |
In addition to the front door that opens into the living room, the front porch has this secondary
entry into a “mudroom/library” floored with the same concrete as the front porch. |
After passing through the “mudroom” one can see the dining room.
Docent Trisha Henson is in the foreground. |
Looking back from the living room toward the entry mentioned above, the original Craftsman front door,
with its six colored glass panes, can be seen, flanked by docent Cherie Peterson. Julie mentioned that she
loves it when light shines through the door projecting a colorful pattern on the hardwood floor. |
Cozy and inviting definitely describe the living room seen here.
The fireplace and display of family photos add to the coziness of the room. |
Five windows provide daylight illumination to the master bedroom.
The lace curtains compliment
the patterned quilt on the bed. |
Only bathroom is roomy and has original black & white 1” tile floor and a claw foot bathtub. |
This kitchen provides a very cheerful environment with its bright yellow walls and cabinetwork.
The cabinets are original and provide a very narrow 4” tiled work surface with a raised tile edge. |
Hallway at top of stairs with stenciled leaf pattern and pocket windows receives more than
adequate daylight illumination. A graceful chandelier illuminates the staircase at night. |
Julie Stern is seen here, on the far left, with docents who helped others enjoy her showpiece property.
They are (L-R) Eileen Foate, Dixie Weir, Richard Winn, Cherie Peterson, Trisha Henson and Tracy
McDiarmid. Docent Dave Wright also served at the home but is not seen in this photo. |
The Carriage House at Lemonia Grove at 2750 Rimpau, before restoration of the exterior stairway. |
The Lemonia Grove estate was purchased by Oscar Thieme in 1893 and he
commissioned local
architect Leo Kroonen Sr. to build the carriage house immediately.
He subsequently developed additional acreage totaling some 66 acres. Here we see
the Victorian Carriage House at
Lemonia Grove after restoration and rebuilding
of the exterior stairway.
CHPS has a Preservation
Grant Program for homeowners
who wish to improve the curb appeal of their vintage home. This involves submitting
an application, an on-site inspection by grant committee members,
the evaluation
of the proposal
by the Society’s Board of Directors, completion of the proposed work,
submittal of the statements or invoices for the materials, a completed project inspection
and
then comes the check.
Typically, grants are for material costs up
to an agreed limit or percent of total cost. |
Grant Program coordinator Thurston “Bubba” Bland is presenting a CHPS check for $1,000
to Jim and Patti Anderson who used the society’s grant program to help defray some
of the costs of the restoration of the staircase to its original form. |
This is a mockup of an historic site marker which will be CHPS Historic Marker #16 when
it is completed.
An etched image of Lemonia Grove’s original ornate gate is located above the text.
The black granite plaque will eventually be affixed to a concrete monument,
near the Rimpau Street gate, by Boy Scout Joey Clark in order to complete his Eagle Scout project. |
Original carriage “coach garage” was covered with brick flooring and had a heavy planked rolling door. |
Vintage sink with hand pump on display for visitors. |
Upstairs living quarters of the estate’s caretaker with rich floral
detailed linoleum flooring, original to the room. |
Docent Jerry Neumann and a tour guest discussing carriage house second floor details. |
Spinning wheel in a room that most likely once was a bedroom in the living quarters. |
It is unclear what second-floor leaded glass door on the west side of the carriage once led to
as it has been barricaded since the Andersons became owners of the property.
It has been blocked to prevent egress because there is nothing on the other side. |
The Anderson residence originated as the curing shed and packing
house that was enlarged and remodeled over decades. |
Tom and Paula Muñoz served as co-captains at the former citrus estate known as Lemonia Grove. |
Docent Trisha Henson with a huge Morton Bay Fig tree with very large roots. |
Beautiful plank hardwood flooring is found in the entry area just
inside the doors from the large wrap-around porch. |
Dining area with its broom handle chair backs and collection of baskets
and other artifacts is a very welcoming living space.
Living room floor area was once the original crop curing shed but now provides
a homey atmosphere. The far door goes into the kitchen. |
The red, gold and white accents make this master bedroom quite lovely. |
This view is from the master bedroom looking toward the living room |
This sunken tub and glassed-in stall shower in the master bathroom
is adjacent to the owners’ master bedroom.
This “outdoor sports” room contains a snowshoe, several oars, a
vintage fishing pole and a creel mounted on the far wall. |
Staircase leading to basement area is found just inside the entry doors from the wrap-around porch. |
Narrow basement hallway, with an even narrower hall runner and
built-in cabinets for storage, leading to bedrooms |
In spite of slight fuzziness, one can see the bright smiles here of all those who served as
docents and helped share fabulous Lemonia Grove with others. |
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