Two SLO County sites considered for federal historical designation
Two San Luis Obispo County properties — the Monday Club of San Luis Obispo and the former Paso Robles Almond Growers Association Warehouse — are considered eligible for federal historic designation.
The California State Historical Resources Commission on Friday approved nominations for those two properties and 16 others statewide for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.
The list will now be sent to the federal keeper of the National Register for review and final approval, state historian Jay Correia said. Nominations are nearly always approved.
The Monday Club, built in 1934 at 1815 Monterey St., was designed by master architect Julia Morgan, who is best known for designing Hearst Castle, and constructed by local builder James Jepson. The club formed in 1925 and still meets today, with membership on an upswing, treasurer Jennifer Alderman said.
Alderman said the club reached out to Morgan to see if she would be interested in designing the clubhouse through a taxi driver who took her up to Hearst Castle on weekends. Having the historical designation, Alderman said, will protect the building from any future changes being made to it.
In North County, the Paso Robles Almond Growers Association started construction in 1922 on a warehouse and processing plant at 525 Riverside Ave. It was engineered so that a handful of men could process 500 tons of nuts, according to Derby Wine Estates.
Owners Ray and Pam Derby purchased the building in 2010 and rehabilitated the structure consistent with guidelines for historic properties.
The building “represents an important historic legacy to the city of Paso Robles’ architectural heritage and is (a) significant architectural landmark along U.S. 101,” reads a letter of support from Paso Robles Mayor Steve Martin to the historic resources commission.
Cynthia Lambert: 805-781-7929, @ClambertSLO
This story was originally published January 29, 2016 at 1:45 PM with the headline "Two SLO County sites considered for federal historical designation."