by John Neiuber

Each year Claremont Heritage chooses a theme around which it plans events, educational programming, and focus. This year’s theme is “Preserving the recent past.”

In historic preservation, the recent past refers to buildings and sites from the mid-20th century onward, including architectural styles such as mid-century modern, that hold significant historical value in reflecting important social and cultural developments like the rise of suburbanization, new construction technologies, and changing societal norms.

The Grant House on west Ninth Street was designed by Jo Paul Rognstad, who later designed 18 skyscrapers in Honolulu. Photo/courtesy of Claremont Heritage

This is an important theme for Claremont Heritage, in that our local historic register does not include the vast majority of important structures built after World War II. The recent past includes suburban developments, postwar housing projects, and even certain commercial structures like early fast food restaurants or modern commercial buildings, which may not be traditionally seen as historic but contribute to understanding our recent past.

The vast majority of housing and commercial structures in Claremont were built in the boom years of the 1950s through the 1970s, into the early 1980s. Many custom homes were designed by important architects and occupied by noteworthy residents, which make the structures significant. In addition, housing developments such as the Cinderella homes in southwest Claremont, and Lewis Homes’ tracts in the northern part of the city, require appropriate design when updating so the neighborhood retains its character.

Recent past often includes styles like mid-century modern, brutalism, international, and postmodernism, which have unique design elements and preservation considerations. As a preservation organization, we need to actively advocate for the protection of these structures due to the perception that they are not historically significant.

Significance is important when assessing the recent past. Architectural style is one area of significance. Mid-century homes built in the post and beam style are an example of this. Architectural integrity also proves significance. A building that retains its original appearance and has not been altered or changed into another style in a manner that compromises its architectural integrity, may be determined to be historic. Think in terms of the classic California ranch house, a staple of housing in postwar Claremont.

Historical events and historical figures associated with buildings are other areas that determine significance. Sometimes it is the person who lived there. Consider the Peter Drucker home in Towne Ranch. The house itself is not architecturally significant; it draws its significance and placement on the National Register of Historic Places because of Peter Drucker, the father of modern management. Sometimes it is the person who designed the house such as the Grant house on west Ninth Street, designed by noted architect Jo Paul Rognstad, and now the home of architects Laurel Tucker and Mark Schoeman. Rognstad would later gain international attention for his 18 skyscrapers that changed the skyline of Honolulu.

Sometimes a building gains significance for the architectxws, the builder, and the people who lived there. I recently visited a mid-century post and beam masterwork on west Eighth Street designed by celebrated Claremont architects Criley and McDowell that was built by highly respected designer and contractor Ken McLeod, which added to its importance. Criley and McDowell later designed an addition to the home, and noted Claremont architect Everett Tozier designed one-of-a-kind louvres for the living room to regulate the sunlight from the south facing windows. And the home was owned by important and noted people, novelist Lawrence Thornton and long-time professor of English and women’s studies at Pomona College, Toni Clark.

The pergola of the Claremont Police Station, designed by Everett Tozier, is in need of restoration. Photo/courtesy of Claremont Heritage’s J. Shulman archives

Speaking of Everett Tozier, he is associated with other mid-century projects in Claremont, including the stair structure at Harvard Square, the tower structure at California Bank and Trust, and the walkway pergola to the entrance of the Claremont Police Station. While the tower structure at the bank has been maintained, the stair structure and the walkway pergola are in need of restoration.

The demolition of the former Claremont Library, a beloved Spanish Revival building by renowned Pasadena architects Marston and Maybury, was one of the actions that brought about the creation of Claremont Heritage. It was replaced in 1975 by an excellent example of modern brutalist architecture. Which, ironically, may someday require historic preservation advocacy by Claremont Heritage.

Another fine example of brutalist architecture is Pomona College’s Thatcher Music Building, which was designed by noted architects Whitney Smith and Wayne Williams in 1970. At various times since it has been evaluated for potential demolition and replacement.

These are but a few examples of the vast inventory of structures from the recent past. It is time to build an awareness and appreciation for these structures within the community and advocate for updating the local historic register, which will offer them protection.

The iconic stair tower at Harvard Square in an undated photo. It was designed by Claremont architect Everett Tozier. Courier file photo

The stair tower at Harvard Square, pictured recently, is in need of restoration. Photo/courtesy of Claremont Heritage