HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 6c. Add 531 Dana Street as a Master List Resouce (Dana-Barneberg House) Item 6c
Department: Community Development
Cost Center: 4003
For Agenda of: 6/15/2021
Placement: Consent
Estimated Time: N/A
FROM: Michael Codron, Community Development Director
Prepared By: Walter Oetzell, Assistant Planner
SUBJECT: A REQUEST TO INCLUDE THE PROPERTY AT 531 DANA STREET IN
THE CITY’S INVENTORY OF HISTORIC RESOURCES AS A MASTER
LIST RESOURCE (DANA/BARNEBERG HOUSE)
RECOMMENDATION
As recommended by the Cultural Heritage Committee, adopt a Resolution entitled, “A
Resolution of the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo, California, adding the
property located at 531 Dana Street to the Master List of Historic Resources as “The
Dana/Barneberg House” (HIST-0091-2021).”
DISCUSSION
Background
Brian Tuohy has requested that the property at 531 Dana Street be designated as a
Master List Resource in the City’s Inventory of Historic Resources as the Dana/Barneberg
House. The property is currently designated as a Contributing List Resource and is
located with the Downtown Historic District.
Previous Council or Advisory Body Action
On April 26, 2021 the Cultural Heritage Committee considered this request and found that
the property meets eligibility criteria for historical listing to a degree that qualifies it for
designation as a Master List Resource and recommended that the City Council designate
the property as such in the City’s Inventory of Historic Resources.
Site and Setting
The property is on the south side of Dana Street, about 400 feet west of Nipomo Street,
within a smaller residential section of the Downtown Historic District that includes a
spectrum of settlement from the mid-19th century to the 1920s. The applicant has
provided an evaluation of the property and its eligibility for historic listing prepared by
Betsey Bertrando of Bertrando & Bertrando Associates (Attachment B).
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Item 6c
The dwelling that is the subject of this evaluation was originally constructed in the late
19th Century, from about 1887, on property across Dana Street (at 550), and moved to
the subject site in 1914.1 The property (531 Dana) appears as a “Contributing Property”
on the listing of historic properties adopted by the City Council in 1988 (by Resolution
No. 6424).
Building Architecture
As described in the applicant’s
Historic Resource Evaluation, the
dwelling reflects Victorian
vernacular architecture,2 sheathed
in shiplap siding, with several
distinctive elements:
Unusual mix of roof lines,
including flat front and
gable with two-patterned
shingle
Square bays on front
façade, with ins-set
columns at corners and
continuous sill
Recessed porch with flat
sawn balusters, wood railing, and saw cut border of circles above
The City’s Historic Context Statement describes the growing prevalence of wood fra me
construction in the City’s late 19th-Century Residential Development, noting
representative forms and styles of the era that include cottages and Folk Victorian. The
specific architectural and historical characteristics of the building are more fully discussed
in the Historic Resource Evaluation submitted with this application, and summarized in
the Evaluation section of this report, below.
John Wesley Barneberg and Grace Barneberg
The applicant’s Historic Resource Evaluation also provides biographical details about
John Wesley Barneberg and his daughter Grace, who are most closely associated with
the property. John Wesley Barneberg, born in Iowa, had been farming in Arroyo Grande
and relocated to Dana Street after marrying Sarah Elizabeth Anderson in 18 73. As more
fully described in the Historic Resource Evaluation, he was active in the community,
running a foundry and machine shop and a hardware store, serving as City Tax Collector,
and involved in many civic committees, later becoming president of two local banks, and
having some success in exploration and development of oil resources in the region.
1 See description of building history, from page 17 of the Bertrando Historic Resource Evaluation (Attachment B)
2 Bertrando, Historic Resource Evaluation (Attachment B), from pg. 23.
Figure 1: 531 Dana (1995 View)
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Item 6c
His daughter Grace lived much of her life in the house, up until the time of her death. She
taught high school, having been educated at Stanford and Berkeley, was one of the
founders of the Monday Club, and was active in several local organizations and boa rds.
She also helped her parents raise her brother’s two children, Helen Maxine and Jack
Barneberg, grandchildren of Charles William Dana, who, in turn, was the son of William
Goodwin Dana.
Further detail, including discussion of the intertwined relationship between the Dana and
Barneberg families, is provided from page 11 of the applicant’s Historic Resource
Evaluation (Attachment B).
Evaluation of Eligibility
To be eligible for listing as an historic or cultural resource, the resource must exhibit a
high level of historic integrity, be at least 50 years old, and meet one or more of the
eligibility criteria described in § 14.01.070 of the Historic Preservation Ordinance (see
Attachment C). As provided in § 14.01.050 of the Ordinance, the most unique an d
important resources and properties in terms of age, architectural or historical significance,
rarity, or association with important persons or events in the City’s past may be
designated as “Master List Resources.”
1. Architectural Criteria
As described in the applicant’s Historic Resource Evaluation, the dwelling exhibits
many characteristic features of Victorian vernacular examples form the late
19th Century, in a manner that expresses interesting details with notable
attractiveness, consistent with listing criteria for “Style” and for “Design”:
The 1880s architectural style of the Dana/Barneberg House used
an abundance of elements that were popular with the prominent
citizens of San Luis Obispo at that time. Using elements found on
Queen Anne cottages such as the squared bay, panels under the
windows, and shingle work under the gables, it also represents a
composite of borrowed elements. The saw cut balustrades and
scroll sawn border under a narrow front facing gable behind a shed
roof belie other aspects of design. […] (pg. 26)
2. Historic Criteria
The Historic Resource Evaluation provides a summary (pp. 26 & 27) of the local
activities in which John Wesley Barneberg and his daughter Grace were engaged,
illuminating their contributions to the local community, and notes the association
of the Barnebergs with the Dana family, to demonstrate the association of this
property with the lives of persons important to local history, as described by listing
criteria for “History – Person.”
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Item 6c
3. Integrity
To demonstrate satisfaction of listing criteria for “Integrity,” the Historic Resource
Evaluation notes the retention of the original design, footprint, and character -
defining elements of the home intact in moving to its current site from its original
site across Dana Street, the lack of significant alteration of the building, and its
sensitive restoration in 2006, overseen by Darryl Joseph “Joe” Shauerman, a local
glazer and craftsman (pp. 20-21, pg. 28).
Overall, the house retains more than enough of its character to
communicate its significance as an innovative, abstracted example
of Minimal Traditional architecture with some extraordinary interior
features. (pg. 24).
Conclusion
The information in the Historic Resource Evaluation prepared for this appli cation,
documenting the architectural character and integrity of the house, and describing the
people associated with the property, provides a basis for the Council to find that the
dwelling satisfies Architectural Criteria for Style and Design (§§ 14.01.070 (A) (1) & (2)),
Historic Criteria for “History-Person” (§14.01.070 (B) (2)), and Criteria for Integrity
(§§ 14.01.070 (C) (1) & (2)), to a degree that qualifies the property for designation as a
Master List Historic Resource.
Policy Context
The recommended action on this item is supported by historical preservation policies set
out in § 3.0 of the Conservation and Open Space Element of the City’s General Plan, and
with procedures and standards for listing of historic resources set out in the City’ s Historic
Preservation Ordinance §§ 14.01.060 & 14.01.070.
Public Engagement
Public notice of this hearing has been provided to owners and occupants of property near
the subject site, and published in a widely circulated local newspaper, and hearing
agendas for this meeting have been posted at City Hall, consistent with adopted
notification procedures. Public notice was also previously provided for the Cultural
Heritage Committee meeting of April 26, 2021.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA). Inclusion of the subject properties on the City’s Inventory of Historic
Resources does not have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment,
and so is covered by the general rule described in § 15061 (b) (3) of the CEQA Guidelines.
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Item 6c
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: No Budget Year: 2021
Funding Identified: No
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding
Sources
Total Budget
Available
Current
Funding
Request
Remaining
Balance
Annual
Ongoing
Cost
General Fund N/A $ $ $
State
Federal
Fees
Other:
Total $ $0 $ $0
ALTERNATIVES
1. Decline to designate the property as a Master List Resource in the Inventory of
Historic Resources. This decision would be based on finding that the Property is not
considered to be sufficiently unique or important, or found to satisfy Evaluation Criteria
for listing to a degree warranting such designation. The Property would remain in the
Inventory as a Contributing List Resource.
2. Continue consideration of the request for additional information or discussion.
ATTACHMENTS
A – Draft Resolution
B – Historic Resource Evaluation (Bertrando & Bertrando)
C – Evaluation Criteria
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R ______
RESOLUTION NO. _____ (2021 SERIES)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, ADDING THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT
531 DANA STREET TO THE MASTER LIST OF HISTORIC RESOURCES
AS “THE DANA/BARNEBERG HOUSE” (HIST-0091-2021)
WHEREAS, the applicants, Susan and Mark Hoffman, filed an application on
February 8, 2021, for review of the inclusion of the property at 531 Dana Street on the
City’s Master List of Historic Resources; and
WHEREAS, the Cultural Heritage Committee of the City of San Luis Obispo
conducted a public hearing via teleconference from the City of San Luis Obispo, California
on April 26, 2021 and recommended that the City Council add the property at 531 Dana
Street to the Master List of Historic Resources; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo conducted a public
hearing on April 20, 2021 for the purpose of considering the request to add the properties
to the Inventory of Historic Resources; and
WHEREAS, notices of said public hearings were made at the time and in the
manner required by law; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has duly considered all evidence, including the record
of the Cultural Heritage Committee hearing and recommendation, testimony of the
applicant and interested parties, and the evaluation and recommendation presented by
staff.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo as follows:
SECTION 1. Findings. Based upon all the evidence, the City Council makes the
following findings:
a) The subject property is eligible for inclusion in the City’s Inventory of Historic
Resources as a Master List Resource because the dwelling on the property
satisfies at least one of the evaluation criteria for historic resource listing
described in § 14.01.070 of the City’s Historic Preservation Ordinance (HPO),
exhibits a high degree of historic integrity, and is more than 50 years old.
b) The dwelling on the subject properties satisfies Architectural Criteria for Style
and Design (§§ 14.01.070 (A) (1) & (2)), Historic Criteria for “History-Person”
(§14.01.070 (B) (2)), and Criteria for Integrity (§§ 14.01.070 (C) (1) & (2)) to a
degree that qualifies the property for designation as a Master List Historic
Resource.
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Resolution No. _____ (2021 Series) Page 2
R ______
It conveys a purity of style, exhibits attractiveness through detailing and
craftsmanship, and exhibits many characteristic features of Victorian
vernacular examples form the late 19th Century in a manner that expresses
interesting details with notable attractiveness. The building occupies its original
site, with its exterior and interior largely unaltered, and retains its characteristic
design and materials. The property is associated with John Wesley Barneberg
and his daughter Grace, who were active in the community, local organizations
and boards, and its civic affairs, and had an intertwined relationship with the
Dana family.
SECTION 2. Environmental Determination. The project is categorically exempt
from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Inclusion of the
subject properties on the City’s Inventory of Historic Resources does not have the
potential for causing a significant effect on the environment, and so is covered by the
general rule described in § 15061 (b) (3) of the CEQA Guidelines.
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Resolution No. _____ (2021 Series) Page 3
R ______
SECTION 3. Action. The City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo does hereby
include the property located at 531 Dana Street in the Master List of Historic Resources
as “The Dana/Barneberg House.”
Upon motion of Council Member ___________________, seconded by Council
Member__________________, and on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this ____ day of _____ 2021.
________________________________
Mayor Heidi Harmon
ATTEST:
__________________________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
__________________________________
J. Christine Dietrick
City Attorney
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the
City of San Luis Obispo, California, on ______________________.
________________________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
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HISTORIC RESOURCE EVALUATION
DANA/BARNEBERG HOUSE
531 Dana Street
City of San Luis Obispo, CA
APN 002-402-008
550 Dana Street .-c.1880s
Prepared for: Brian and Kristina Tuohy
531 Dana Street
San Luis Obispo, CA
Prepared by: Betsy Bertrando
531 Dana Street -2008
Bertrando & Bertrando Research Consultants
267 East Foothill Boulevard
San Luis Obispo, CA
January 2021
RECEIVED
CfTV OF SAN LUIS OB\SP()
rEB -B 2021
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TABLE of CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................. l
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 1
PROJECT DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................................................... 1
METHODS .................................................................................................................................................... 2
Interviews ..................................................................................................................................................... 2
Archival Research ........................................................................................................................................ 2
Field Investigation ........................................................................................................................................ 2
SIGNIFICANCE CRITERIA ...................................................................................................................... .3
Architectural Criteria .................................................................................................................................... 3
Historic Criteria ............................................................................................................................................ 4
Integrity ........................................................................................................................................................ 4
BACKGROUND .......................................................................................................................................... 5
FINDINGS ................................................................................................................................................... 6
Archival Research ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Dana Street Neighborhood ........................................................................ -...................................... 6
Dana Street Property Owners -Prior to 1870 ....................................................................... 7
Dana Street Project Area Property Owners -1872 ............................................................... 8
531 Dana Street -Project Parcel ....................................................................................................... 9
The Brewery ......................................................................................................................... 9
The Gas Company .............................................................................................................. 10
Dana/Barne berg House Resident History to Present.. .................................................................... 11
Charles William Dana ......................................................................................................... 12
Emelinda Estella "Stella" Dana Bameberg/Martin ........................................................... .13
Helen Maxine Bame berg Van Schaick ............................................................................... 13
John Wesley Bameberg ...................................................................................................... 14
Grace Bame berg ................................................................................................................. 16
5 31 Dana Street Owners and Occupants ........................................................................... .16
Dana/Barne berg House Construction History ................................................................................ 17
Additional Construction Information -550 and 531 Dana Street.. ..................................... 19
The Schauerman Restoration -2006 .................................................................................. 20
Late 19th Century Residential Development ................................................................................ .21
Field Investigation ...................................................................................................................................... 22
Architecture ................................................................................................................................... .23
Comparison Properties ................................................................................................................... 24
Grounds .......................................................................................................................................... 25
SIGNIFICANCE DETERMINATION ....................................................................................................... 26
City Guidelines for Architectural Criteria .................................................................................................. 26
City Guidelines for Historic Criteria .......................................................................................................... 27
City Guidelines for Integrity ...................................................................................................................... 28
CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................. 29
-i-
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REFERENCES CITED .............................................................................................................................. 30
Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................... 30
Deeds ........................................................................................................................................................... 31
Interviews ................................................................................................................................. , ................. 31
Maps ........................................................................................................................................................... 31
Petitions for Land in San Luis Obispo ....................................................................................................... 32
APPENDIX A: Project Location Maps
APPENDIX B : Dana/Barneberg House Floor Plan, Gable Pattern, East Exterior Elevation by Darryl
Joseph Schauerman
APPENDIX C: John Wesley Barneberg Sons -John Frederick and Chester Harry
John Wesley Barneberg's Brother-in-law -Jefferson "Jeff' Lee Anderson
-ii-
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ABSTRACT
A request was made by the owners, Brian and Kristina Tuohy, for an
historic significance evaluation of the Dana/Barneberg House . The Dana/
Barneberg House is located at 531 Dana Street within the City of San Luis
Obispo . This study finds that the house on the parcel is historically significant as
defined in the City of San Luis Obispo Guidelines for evaluating historic
resources . In an effort to recognize its historical importance, this report
recommends that the Dana/Barneberg Home be placed on the City of San Luis
Obispo Master List of Historic Resources.
INTRODUCTION
The research carried out to complete this historic significance evaluation was conducted
by Betsy Bertrando, of Bertrando & Bertrando Research Consultants (BBRC), who was assisted
in the field by Luther Bertrando . The project property (APN 002.402 .008) is depicted on the
San Luis Obispo 7 .5 quadrangle topographic map as existing in the City of San Luis Obispo at
531 Dana Street -Block 61, lot 8 (Appendix A). Currently, the house sits within the Downtown
Historic District and is on the City of San Luis Obispo's List of Contributing Historic Resources .
The findings and conclusions of this study are that the Dana/Barneberg House satisfies the
criteria necessary to place the house on the City's Master List of Historic Resources.
The new owners of the property are in the process of renovating the house after it has
been unoccupied for a period of time . The owners have requested an historical evaluation of the
house to determine whether their property would be eligible to be upgraded to a Master List
property.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Bertrando & Bertrando Research Consultants was contacted by the owners, Brian and
Kristina Touhy, in late October, 2020, to proceed with an evaluation of the house, referred to as
the Dana/Barneberg House, on their recently purchased property. Researching the Dana/
Barneberg House took place over a three month period . The house had been moved from 550
Dana Street in 1914 to its current location at 531 Dana Street. The 550 Dana Street property,
across the street from the project parcel, was once owned by Charles W. Dana. In the 1880s, the
house, in its current form , was located at 550 Dana Street when it was the Barneberg family
home . Because of this complicated history, this research investigated the home's history on both
parcels (550 and 531 Dana Street). The evaluation has focused on a thorough search of all
available records that pertain to the architecture, land and ownership history of the parcel and
house up to the present for both properties . The study also includes the history of the the Dana
and Bameberg families and their relationship to the house .
531 Dana St., San Luis Obispo -1
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METHODS
Background for the property was gathered to establish the structure's architectural
history, historic use and people associated with the property. This included research to
investigate if historic events or persons important to the history of the City of San Luis Obispo
were associated with the structure.
Interviews
Phone interviews were conducted with long time neighbors on Dana Street, Tim Olson
and Sharon Kamm . They provided background for the area and prior changes to the house. In
addition, documents and photographs were made available by Eleanor Schauerman. It was her
husband, Darryl Joseph Schauerman, who took on the extensive restoration project that saved the
house in 2006 . Photographs documented all the restoration work that took place over a two year
period . Eleanor Schauerman shared floor plans and elevations that were invaluable to this
researcher.
Archival Research
Over a three month period, background for the property was gathered by a search of the
historic literature; maps, directories, newspapers , documents, the internet, building permits,
census and Great Register records including :
• The private archive of Bertrando & Bertrando Research Consultants -publications, maps
and documents essential to the project.
• The personal files and photographs of Eleanor Schauerman
• On line sources including, Genealogy Bank and Ancestry.com, for access to San Luis
Obispo directories, family genealogical information and newspapers . Other sources were
the Department of the Interior BLM, City of San Luis Obispo Permits and Maps, San Luis
Obispo County Assessor, San Luis Obispo County-Clerk/Recorder, Cal Poly Special
Collections and the San Luis Obispo History Center.
Field Investigation
The field investigation took place on October 23, 2020. The purpose of the investigation
was to record and photograph the setting and exterior of the residence . Survey assistance was
provided by Luther Bertrando . The current owners allowed access to the interior and were
helpful in sharing any information that they had regarding prior ownership and changes in the
structure . Notes were written focusing on the original features of the house and property.
Important information collected included :
531 Dana St., San Luis Obispo - 2
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• Architectural features within the context of the "Historical Period of Significance"
• Type of construction and materials used
• Modifications through time
• Setting and Landscaping
SIGNIFICANCE CRITERIA
In the preparation of this report the City of San Luis Obispo criteria for evaluating
historic properties was used. The City of San Luis Obispo evaluation criteria for historic
resources was amended by Ordinance 1557 § 3 in 2010. Under 14.01.070, the standards will be
used to determine if the property should be listed as a historic or cultural resource as defined in
the Ordinance, as well as, consideration of the State Historic Preservation Office standards.
In order to be eligible for designation, the resource shall exhibit a high level of historic
integrity, be at least fifty years old and satisfy at least one of the following criteria:
A. Architectural Criteria. Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or
method of construction, or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic value.
1. Style. Describes the form of a building, such as size, structural shape and details
within that form. Building style will be evaluated as a measure of:
a. The relative purity of a traditional style;
b. Rarity of existence at any time in the locale; and/or current rarity although the
structure reflects a once popular style;
c. Traditional, vernacular and/or eclectic influences that represent a particular
social milieu and period of the community; and/or the uniqueness of hybrid
styles and how these styles are put together.
2. Design. Describes the architectural concept of a structure and the quality of artistic
merit and craftsmanship of the individual parts. Reflects how well a particular style or
combination of styles are expressed through compatibility and detailing of elements.
Also, suggests degree to which the designer interpreted and conveyed the style. Building
design will be evaluated as a measure of:
a. Notable attractiveness with aesthetic appeal because of its artistic merit, details
and craftsmanship;
b. An expression of interesting details and eclecticism among carpenter-builders,
although the craftsmanship and artistic quality may not be superior.
3. Architect. Describes the professional directly responsible for the building design and
plans of the structure. The architect will be evaluated as a reference to:
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a . A notable architect, including architects who made significant contributions to
the state, or region, or an architect whose work influenced development of the
city, state or nation.
b . An architect who, in terms of craftsmanship, made significant contributions to
San Luis Obispo .
B. Historic Criteria
1. History-Person. Associated with the lives of persons important to local, California,
or national history . Historic person will be evaluated as a measure of the degree to which
the person or group was:
a. Significant to the community as a public leader or for his or her fame and
outstanding recognition -locally, regionally, or nationally.
b . Significant to the community as a public servant or person who made early,
unique, or outstanding contributions to the community, important local affairs
or institutions.
2. History-Event . Associated with events that have made a significant contribution to
the broad patterns of local or regional history or the cultural heritage of California or the
United States. History event will be evaluated as a measure of:
a . A landmark, famous, or first-of-its-kind event for the city-regardless of
whether the impact of the event spread beyond the city.
b . A relatively unique, important or interesting contribution to the city.
3 . History -Context . Associated with and also a prime illustration of predominant
patterns of political, social , economic, cultural , medical , educational , governmental,
military, industrial, or religious history . Historic context will be evaluated as a measure
of the degree to which it reflects:
a . Early, first or major patterns of local history, regardless of whether the historic
effects go beyond the city level , that are intimately connected with the
building.
b . Secondary patterns of local history, but closely associated with the building.
C. Integrity . Authenticity of a historical resource's physical identity evidenced by the survival
of characteristics that existed during the resource's period of significance. Integrity will
be evaluated by a measure of:
1. Whether or not a structure occupies its original site and/or whether or not the original
foundation has been changed, if known.
2. The degree to which the structure has maintained enough of its historic character
or appearance to be recognizable as a historic resource and to convey the reason(s) for its
significance.
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3. The degree to which the resource has retained its design, setting, material,
workmanship, feeling and association . (Ord . 1557 § 3 (part), 2010
In addition to meeting any or all of the designation criteria listed above, properties
nominated must also possess historic integrity . Historic integrity is the ability of a
property to convey its significance and is defined as "the authenticity of property 's
historic identity, evidenced by the survival of physical characteristics that existed during
the property's historic period ."
These criteria were applied in this report.
BACKGROUND
The first recorded European contact in San Luis Obispo occurred on September 6, 1769
when the Spanish land expedition, led by the Governor of Baja California, Gaspar de Portola,
arrived from Loreto, Baja Sur, via San Diego . At that time, Fr. Crespi gave the name La Canada
de Natividad de Nuestra Sefiora near the location where Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa was
founded three years later (Engelhardt 1933). The time of greatest growth for the mission was
between 1790 and 1810 (Kocher 1972). Unfortunately, the annual reports that were filed by the
Mission Fathers giving the extent of growth and construction for a twenty-five year period are
m1ssmg.
Later in 1822, Mexico, (including California), achieved independence from Spain and the
missions began to be secularized (Kocher 1972). Ownership of the large mission ranchos and
outposts were petitioned for by Mexican citizens and awarded to them by their new government.
In 1846, the American Flag was raised in Monterey, briefly the capital of California, thus
heralding the beginning of the American Period . Many languages were spoken in the town of
San Luis Obispo at this time when it struggled to form a community under the laws of the United
States Government. Small adobes housed saloons and not much else during the 1850s
(Bertrando 2009). Reading and writing were uncommon skills and lawyers were needed to
resolve the land court cases that resulted from the breakup of the large rancho tracts of land .
Besides English and Spanish in the newspapers, French, German, Portuguese and Italian
were common voices in the small hamlet that still thought of itself as a pueblo. A few native
Chumash, Yokut and Salinan speakers were still heard as well. Many residents originally came
to California to work the goldfields in the north . Some became disillusioned, drifted south and
stayed in San Luis Obispo . San Luis Obispo, the county seat, served an agricultural and
ranching community that was rather isolated . Markets in San Francisco were reached by sea
using ports along the coast.
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By the late 1880s, construction in the town had evolved from adobe to wood and was
entering an era of brick commercial buildings that formed an increasingly bustling downtown.
Brick construction, an improvement offering more protection from fires, began encouraging local
businesses to built grander, more permanent structures. At about the same time, speculators were
gambling on the Southern Pacific railroad building a coastal line from San Francisco to Los
Angeles. In 1886, the rails entered San Miguel at the northern county line. Near the line of the
proposed tracks, a grand hotel -the Ramona -was opened in San Luis Obispo in 1888.
However, it took the railroad until 1894 to reach San Luis Obispo after building a series of
tunnels to descend the grade into town.
The impact of the Southern Pacific Railroad coming in 1894 and the development of the
California Polytechnic State University in the early 1900s forever changed the future of San Luis
Obispo. Comparable affects in the community weren't felt until World War I, the Great
Depression and World War II .
FINDINGS
The findings have focused on; Dana Street neighborhood, 531 Dana Street project parcel
history, owners of the Dana/Barneberg House and construction history of the house.
Archival Research
In recognition of its long history, the City of San Luis Obispo established a Cultural
Heritage Committee in 1981 . One of its functions was to inventory and compile a list of historic
properties and form specified districts. The "Downtown Historic District" was formed in 1983
and expanded later to include Dana Street properties. With the street's close association to the
Mission and the earliest development of San Luis Obispo, it is a significant part of the history of
San Luis Obispo.
Dana Street Neighborhood
Prior to 1890, Dana Street was sometimes referred to as South Monterey Street in the
documents, while it was also known as Dana Street (Figure 8 -1888 Sanborn Map). Being
closely associated with the early development around the mission, by the 1860s, Dana Street
already had the beginnings of a neighborhood. Only a block long, the street is situated at the
confluence of two creeks; San Luis Obispo Creek (Arroyo San Luis) and Stenner Creek (Arroyo
de la Huerta Vieja, AKA Garden Creek). The early names reflect the Spanish heritage of early
California and are often used on maps of the area. For the purposes of this report, the land
bordering Stenner Creek is referred to as the north side of Dana Street and the land bordered by
San Luis Obispo Creek as the south side of the street.
Most of the earliest property owners on Dana Street; Durazo, Simmler, Dana, Wilson and
Limas, were all members of the Vigilance Committee. The committee was established in 1858
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when lawlessness was threatening the small community that had settled around the mission
(Angel 1979). The same property owners still owned the land when the 1872 Act to
Reincorporate the Town of San Luis Obispo was passed, one hundred years after Mission San
Luis Obispo de Tolosa was founded. This allowed the town to appoint an attorney and surveyor
and finally address civic improvements such as "the opening and grading of roads , addressing
sanitation and caring for the roads within the Town limits" (Carotenuti, 2006 :39).
On the north side of Dana Street bordering Stenner Creek, three Master List Historic
Resources remain;
(1) 466 Dana Street -The old J. J. Simmler property, is currently owned by the City of San Luis
Obispo and known as the Rosa Butron Adobe.
(2) 532 Dana Street -The "J. F." [sic] Anderson Home was constructed in 1898 on the former
property ofW. C . Dana according to the city inventory (The city inventory incorrectly gives
the middle initial as F. when it should be L. for Jefferson Lee Anderson).
(3) 550 Dana Street -The Barneberg Home was constructed in 1914 and has important
connections to the project parcel that are discussed in another section of this report .
Dana Street Property Owners -Prior to 1870
Early property owners on Dana Street were the first to develop San Luis Obispo after
1850 . Many of their families have remained in the community and continue to thrive. Listed
below are the property owners on the north side of the street, beginning at the corner of Ni porno
and Dana Streets, then heading west to the end of Dana Street.
• Ricardo Durazo and his wife, Refugio had an adobe on a 270 ft plus frontage on
Dana Street. Durazo came to San Luis Obispo in 1854 from Sonora, Mexico.
•
•
•
Charles William Dana with a 235 ft frontage on Dana Street that contained a house on
1.52 acres that was fenced and planted with fruit trees (Figure 1).
A. Limas had an adobe on his parcel near the location of the current 1.0.0.F. Hall.
J.J . Simmler owned land on both sides at the end of the street Simmler arrived in
San Luis Obispo in 1852 from Alsace, France. He made a name for himself serving as
Postmaster, Justice of the Peace, School Trustee and Town Trustee. His adobe, owned by
the City today, still stands with the name of his wife, Rosa Butron.
Two owners had the property on the south side from the San Luis Obispo Creek bend
after Simmler's land east to Nipomo Street.
• Captain John Wilson and his wife Ramona owned the deed for land 460 ft. along Dana
Street heading east, but a brewery business was on the site in the 1860s (Figure 2). The
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title was eventually settled in court. At one time, prior to 1850, Wilson was the largest
land owner in the county.
• William B. Haley had the last 195 ft. to the comer of Dana and Nipomo Streets .
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Figure 1: 1870 C. W. Dana Petition
for Land with the Dana/Barneberg
House at its Original Location
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Figure 2: 1870 Ramona Wilson Petition for Land -
Site of the Current Location of the Dana/
Barneberg House
Dana Street Project Area Property Owners -1872
Ownership for this period began with requests for land filed by the residents from 1869 to
1872 who could now attain formal title to their land (Bertrando 1996). By that time, some of the
petitioners had been on the land for several years. In 1870, Ramona Wilson applied for land that
was previously conveyed to her deceased husband in 1859 under Ordinance #14 . It included a
portion of the Wilson property that the Dana/Barneberg House is currently located .
East of the brewery structures, a house at 581 Dana Street was occupied by Frank and
Hannah McHenry. They had an upholstery and paper-hanging business next to the Pioneer
Brewery. Frank died in 1888 leaving his widow, Hannah, to make a living washing and ironing
at her house. During the early 1900s, the house had various occupants until the 1920s when the
Bowles family lived in the house and ran a fish market out of the back shed (Bertrando, 2003).
William Berryman Haley built his brick house on the northeast corner of Dana and
Nipomo Streets in 1867 .
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531 Dana Street -Project Parcel
The Dana/Bameberg House is on part of the original Ramona Wilson property. The
Wilson property, stretching between 459 and 581 Dana Street, has been split into seven parcels.
Currently, Lot 8 at 531 Dana Street, contains the Dana/Bameberg House. A brewery and gas
company operated on the Wilson property before the house was moved from 550 Dana Street.
The Brewery
The Wilson property discussed above contained a brewery in the 1860s . It comprised the
first known group of structures on the property. A court case to settle title on lands, originally
confirmed to John Wilson, allowed Julius Lindenmeyer and George Deffner to formally acquire
the land that contained a house and brewery.
Coming from Bavaria, Deffner was a liquor dealer in San Luis Obispo by 1863. Living
next to the Sauer Adobe on Chorro Street, Deffner also ran a saloon . Lindenmeyer was born in
Baden, Germany, in 1833 and came to California in 1863. In 1869, the first editions of the
newspaper were advertising the Pioneer Brewery "on Monterey just below the bridge." (San
Luis Obispo Weekly Tribune. Aug 7, 1969). The following year Julius Lindenmeyer bought out
the interest of his retiring partner, Deffner, in the "old firm." (San Luis Obispo Tribune, June 4,
1970). Lager beer newspaper ads continued weekly throughout the 1870s with Lindenmeyer
requesting the community to patronize his home industry.
"PIONEER BREWERY -Hearing that great improvements were in progress at this
brewery, we called in on Tuesday last to ascertain the truth of the report . We found Mr.
Lindenmeyer, the gentlemanly proprietor, over head and ears in the work of
reconstruction and enlargement of his establishment. He informed us that for several
months past the call for this most invigorating Teutonic beverage (lager) has been so
great that he was compelled to enlarge his brewery to meet the demands. A huge caldron
has taken the place of the old one; a cooling vat, capable of holding several hundred
gallons; a malt mill , driven by horse power; a new kiln for drying malt has been erected,
with a heating surface of twelve feet square, and sundry other improvement too numerous
to mention. With these additions he hopes to be able to supply the needs and slack the
thirst of all that are bibulously inclined. He also intends keeping teams running
throughout the county, so that all may drink of the bowl that 'cheers but not inebriates '. "
(San Luis Obispo Weekly Tribune May 25, 1872)
The same year Julius Lindenmeyer took on a partner, Harry Hollman, formerly of San
Francisco (Deed Book E/264). The partnership did not last long as the following year the
Holman share went back to Julius Lindenmeyer (Deed Book E/341). Later in 1875, another
brewery was opened in Guadalupe under the management of Julius Lindenmeyer.
The Dana Street operation had changed hands by 1881 under new ownership . With a
new name, it became the Tivoli Brewery. The Tivoli Brewery was known for serving superior
lager beer with Echlin and Fink as the proprietors. In 1884, the Maier brothers, Reinhold and
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Joseph, took over as new owners with another name change. "The repairs of the Gambrinus
Brewery having been completed . The new proprietors, having had a long experience, will
furnish a first class article." (San Luis Obispo Weekly Tribune May 2, 1884). Soon the brewery
was a place of entertainment as well. Parties in the improved gardens made the Maier brothers
much admired for their operation. It did not last for long. The Maier brothers declared
bankruptcy and the Sheriff took possession of the estate in 1885 (San Luis Obispo Weekly
Tribune Oct. 9, 1885). One of the brothers, Joseph, later achieved great success as president of
the Maier Brewing Company in Los Angeles . At Joseph's death in 1909, his funeral was
elaborately reported in the local newspaper as one of the largest ever held in Los Angeles with
fourteen police to handle the crowds . An orchestra, quartet, forty piece band, the largest floral
piece ever made were accompanied by large groups of Elks, Masons, Eagles, Native Sons, and
Turnerein marching to the cemetery.
In 1887, Otto Tullman acquired the brewery property from the bank following the
bankruptcy (Deed Book W/635). Otto already had the old Haley property with the brick house
on the corner of Dana and Nipomo Streets. Tullman added a warehouse , a saloon and ice plant
as well as another brick building that faced Nipomo Street. Once a prominent part of historic
San Luis Obispo, the buildings on the corner property were removed and offices constructed in
1999 (Bertrando 1998). The old warehouse along the creek was rebuilt with a similar
appearance.
Early in 1900, the brewery property was owned by Ora Eleanor Stockton while Tullman
kept his property at the corner ofNipomo and Dana Streets . The directory for San Luis Obispo
in 1912 noted that Susan Stockton, widowed , was living at 581 Dana Street with Cecil L.
Stockton, a Cal Poly agricultural student. Cecil graduated the following year. He later settled in
San Pedro and began his career as a nurseryman . Later in 1921, Ora Eleanor Stockton living in
San Francisco, transferred the rest of the property "land commonly known as the Pioneer
Brewing Company," according to the deed, to Susan J. Stockton, a widow living in San Luis
Obispo (Deed Book 150/112,113).
The Gas Company
Before Julius Lindenmeyer left the brewery, he sold a part of the property. The parcels
included 507, 515, and 525 Dana Street. The property forms a triangle where the San Luis
Obispo Creek meets Dana Street. The property was sold in 1875 to the newly formed San Luis
Gas Company (Deed Book H/142). The first Gas Company superintendent was D. C. Norcross
whose house was built in 1874 on the opposite side of San Luis Obispo Creek. On the triangular
property, the Gas Company had a building with storage, office on either side of the retort that
was adjacent to a large gas tank. The townspeople soon began to question who will ever use it?
Nevertheless, seventy-five lamp posts were ordered and cast at the Bameberg & Philbrick
foundry after a pattern procured in San Francisco for lighting the town . Early in 1877, the
company received 30 tons of Sidney coal and began producing gas .
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An awning was allowed to be erected on the property. A later superintendent was
arrested for neglecting to repair the streets that were torn up to lay the gas lines. The same
superintendent was also arrested for obstructing Dana Street with piles of rubbish in front of the
Gas Company in 1878.
An early resident recalled that the gas:
" ... was made from coal and one could smell the coal fumes as one went by a house that
was using gas to cook with . There was no heating by gas nor gas lights in the city. There
was only one electric light in San Luis Obispo in 1905." (Maino n .d./6)
The Gas Company was relocated to Pismo Street in 1904 when the newspaper reported the
following:
Moving Big Tank
"The Gas & Electric Co . moved the last of the old gas plant from Dana Street to the
new location on Pismo Street yesterday morning . It was the old tank 18 feet high by 30
feet in diameter which was hauled on trucks by eight horses. Jos . Maino did the job.
Owing to the narrow bridges on Nipomo and Broad streets the tank had to be hauled up
Monterey to Chorro street. Some difficulty was experienced in getting under numerous
telephone and other wires but the job was done by nine o'clock. The people of Dana
street welcome the removal of the gas plant." (San Luis Obispo Morning Tribune May
11, 1904)
The former gas tank on Dana Street would have been on the west side of the project
parcel before the Dana/Bameberg House was moved there . The current (now "old") Gas Works,
at 280 Pismo Street is on the City's Master List of Historic Resources.
In 1912, Neil Stewart, receiver of the Bank of San Luis Obispo sold part of block 61,
formerly known as the Gas Company, to Susan Stockton for $1850. The following year, Ora
Eleanor Stockton sold the parcel at 531 Dana Street to John Wesley Barneberg (Deed Book
100/40,41)
Dana/Barneberg House Resident History to Present
The Dana/Bameberg House once sat on a large parcel that was owned by Charles
William Dana on the north side of Dana Street. Currently, the property has two Master List
houses; the Anderson House (532 Dana Street) and the Bameberg House (550 Dana Street).
Barneberg moved his first house across the street to 531 Dana in 1914 and then constructed the
large two-story house Master List property we see today at 550 Dana Street. Anderson built his
home adjacent to Barneberg in 1898 on what was once vacant Dana land . John Wesley
Barneberg married Anderson's sister, Sarah Elizabeth . Their son married William C . Dana's
daughter, Emelinda Estella "Stella." The history of the people associated with the house
involves three families that intermarried and have resided on Dana Street (Table 1 ). Research
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was focused on the families up to 2005 -Dana, Barneberg and to a lesser extent on Anderson
(through marriage).
TABLE 1 -Dana/Barneberg House Addresses and Occupants
Date Address Owner Occupant
1867 550 Dana Street Charles William Dana until sold to Phillip Biddle in 1881
1881 550 Dana Street Phillip Biddle -resold to John Wesley Barneberg
1882 550 Dana Street John Wesley Barneberg m. Sarah Anderson, son Harry m. C.W. Dana daughter, Stella -
their son, Jack and daughter, Helen Maxine were raised by John and Sarah Barneberg.
1914 531 Dana Street House was moved by John Barneberg and rented the house until granddaughter Helen
Maxine Barneberg m. Eugene Van Schaick and lived there.
2005 531 Dana Street Family ownership ends with Helen and Eugene's daughter Betty Maxine. Betty Maxine
m. Norman Holt. House sold by their son, Robert Holt.
Charles William Dana
Charles William Dana was born 1837 in Santa Barbara. Two years later he moved with
his family to their Nipomo Rancho. Charles was the grandson of Gov. Carrillo and his parents
were Captain William Goodwin Dana and Josefa Carrillo, the grantees of the Nipomo Rancho in
1837. Charles was educated both in Mexico and in eastern schools. In 1866, Charles married
Figure 3: Charles W. Dana, wife Blandina and children c. 1875
Blandina Refugio Esquer and was farming in San Luis Obispo. They had seven children reach
adulthood (Figure 3). Charles had a career in San Luis Obispo that included serving in 1859 as
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Clerk of the San Luis Obispo Board of Trustees for over twenty years, elected to the State
Assembly 1863-1875 and Mayor of San Luis Obispo in 1881. His 1896 death in San Luis
Obispo was reported in a long article in the San Francisco Newspaper headlined "San Luis Loses
a Valued Citizen." "The death of few men will be more widely lamented in the counties of
Monterey, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo than that of Charles W. Dana ." (San Francisco
Call, Feb 29, 1896)
Emelinda Estella "Stella" Dana Barneberg/Martin (1880-1938)
The Dana and Barneberg families came together when one of the Charles William Dana
daughters married into the Barneberg family after Dana's property on Dana Street was sold to
John Wesley Barneberg. Stella Dana married Chester Harry Barneberg (1880-1944), the son of
John Wesley and Sarah Barneberg in 1901. Harry and Stella had a daughter, Helen Maxine
Barneberg (1901-1989), and a son, John Chester "Jack" Barneberg (1903-1977). The marriage
didn't last however. Soon in 1908, the two children were placed under the guardianship of John
Wesley Barneberg, their grandfather, with the consent of their parents. The same year, Stella
Barneberg relocated to San Francisco with her mother and Harry opened a cigar store in San Luis
Obispo. Not long after Stella and Harry Barneberg divorced, Stella married Charles Edward
Martin, a harness maker, and had two children, Letitia C. Martin (1909-1976) and Mary Fidelia
"Dolly" Martin (1915-2002). In 1932, they had a home on Mill Street in San Luis Obispo.
Helen Maxine Bameberg Van Schaick (1901-1989)
Helen Maxine, under the guardianship of her
grandfather, John Wesley Barneberg, grew up at 550 Dana
Street before the house was moved in 1914 (Figure 4 ). She
continued living at that location in the new Barneberg
house. Later, Helen Maxine married Eugene Chester Van
Schaick (1902-1973). They eventually settled across the
street in the old Dana/Barneberg House at 531 Dana Street
where they raised their daughter, Betty Maxine
(1923-2006). Helen Maxine is the only representative of
the Dana and Barneberg families that lived in the Dana/
Figure 4: Helen Maxine, c. 1920 Barneberg House at both of its locations. City Directories
list Helen and Eugene as residing at 531 Dana Street at
the Barneberg House at 550 Dana Street during the last
year of Eugene's life. Their daughter Betty Maxine married Norman Holt in 1944 and had a son,
Robert. Robert, was the last family member to have lived in the Dana/Barneberg House where
he used the kitchen as a photography studio. The family retained the property until it was sold in
2005 by the Holt family. Betty Maxine became an active member of the Monday Club following
the footsteps of her great aunt, Grace Barneberg.
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John Wesley Bameberg
John Wesley Bameberg (1851-1930) acquired the 550 Dana Street property in 1882. He
was born in Iowa from parents who were originally from Germany. He was farming in Arroyo
Grande in 1870 before he married Sarah Elizabeth Anderson (1857-1936) in 1873 . Sarah was
the sister of Jefferson "Jeff' Lee Anderson who built the house next door in 1898 (Appendix C)
The Barnebergs had two sons, John Frederick (1874-1935), Chester Harry (1880-1944)
(Appendix C) and a daughter, Grace Elizabeth (1877-1970) (Figure 5). Later in 1908 , they also
raised the two younger children of Stella (Dana) and their son, Chester Harry.
~1 •
Figure 5: Barneberg Family -Parents John Wesley and Sarah Seated;
Standing Left to Right, Grace, John and Chester Harry. c. 1890
In 1875, R . Philbrick and John Wesley Bameberg started a foundry and machine shop at
the corner of Higuera and Broad Streets . Near the foundry they erected a two story building that
had a store on the first floor and a large meeting hall above . John Wesley Barneberg also had the
J . W. Hardware store . Becoming active in the community, John Wesley Barneberg was City Tax
Collector in 1883 and served on many civic committees as the chair. John Wesley Bameberg
later became president of the Commercial Bank and the San Luis Savings Bank. His major
impact to the community was through his endeavors in banking, oil development and Democratic
politics.
In 1879 , John became interested in local politics serving as treasurer in the Working
Man's Convention when it first organized . By 1894, he was appointed a member of the state
Democratic committee and for many years served as chair of the Democratic Central Committee .
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Always active in democratic politics, in 1912, he was a delegate to the Democratic National
Convention.
John made a lot of money in the early exploration of oil in California serving as president
of Brookshire Oil Company in Orcutt, San Luis Obispo and Carisa Oil Company near
McKittrick, and as principle investor in Midland Oil Company. He made trips to Washington,
D .C. to promote issues important to the oil industry. Great excitement took over the town when
oil bubbled up in Stenner Creek behind his house . John Wesley was hoping for another oil
strike . Unfortunately, the boom was short lived and both Barneberg and the town were
disappointed (Black 1988).
In 1913, Ora E. Stockton deeded part of block 61 (south side of Dana Street) to John
Wesley Barneberg. Perhaps it was in preparation for the following newspaper article regarding
an event on Dana Street in 1914 .
BANKER TO ERECT NEW HOUSE
J . W. Bameberg of Commercial Bank Will Build 12-Room House on Dana Street
"Preparatory to the laying of the foundations for a twelve-room dwelling on Dana
Street for J . W. Bame berg of the Commercial Bank, on the site of the old house now
being moved by Contractor J. J. Maino to a lot directly across the street, work of moving
the old house is being rushed and it will be across the street this evening , weather
permitting, the structure being in the middle of Dana Street at noon today.
The new home will be of the most modem type, twelve rooms, and is to be given the
same outside finish that distinguishes the new Masonic Temple - a finish of plaster
known as Stuttle work.
Plans and specifications for the new home have been prepared some time but
commencement of the work has been delayed owing to the recent illness of the
contractor." (San Luis Obispo Daily Telegram, Jan 13, 1914)
Unfortunately a rainy January ensued and the Barneberg family was actually living "in" Dana
Street.
Move on Lot
"J. W. Bame berg and family, who started to move across Dana Street opposite the site
of the new dwelling which will be erected there and who have been 'marooned' in the
street the past few weeks of rainy weather, are now on the lot where they will remain
until the new home is built." (San Luis Obispo Daily Telegram, Jan . 31, 1914)
The Barneberg family had many comings and goings to San Francisco often reported in
the press. Both sons spent most of their life there (Appendix C). In 1922, the golden
anniversary of John Wesley and Sarah Elizabeth was celebrated at the Palace Hotel in San
Francisco. The San Francisco Call wrote about the event and the lists of attendees which
included family members, grandchildren, and the Anderson family. Eight years later, John
Wesley died at age 79 and was followed by Sarah Elizabeth in 1936 .
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Grace Barneberg
Grace Barneberg went off to Stanford University. After graduating in 1901, she returned
to get her teaching credential at University of California, Berkeley. For many years she taught
high school in San Luis Obispo until she retired. Grace became active in the town as one of the
founders of the Monday Club . As chairman of the
building committee she was responsible for obtaining
Architect Julia Morgan to design the building that is now
on the National Register. Grace traveled around the
world for a year and gave many lectures about her
experiences when she returned . She spent most of the
rest of her life promoting women's causes. Grace served
on State Women's Prison Board, and California Hospital
Libraries Board. She also spent her time lecturing
around California for free public libraries. Local health
availability issues were also a big concern for Grace.
She worked to start the San Luis Obispo County Health
and San Luis Obispo Dental clinics . While her father
was raising money for the WW I war effort, Grace was
serving in the Red Cross. Also, like her father, she was
Figure 6: Grace Bameberg c. 1905 responsible for starting organizations and always serving
in some Board capacity.
Grace was on hand to help her parents raise her brother's two children, Helen Maxine and
Jack. Grace never married and lived in the house her father built at 550 Dana Street until she
died. In her later years, with failing health and wheel chair bound, an elevator was added to the
house (Taylor and Lees 2010). The Grace Barneberg Papers are in Special Collections at the
Robert Kennedy Library at Cal Poly.
Charles W. Dana, John Wesley Barneberg and Grace Barneberg are the family members
that specifically relate to local and statewide contributions to our history as noted above. They
occupied the Dana/Barneberg House as well as other members of their families .
531 Dana Street Owners and Occupants
After the house was moved across the street in 1914, it had various renters until it became
the home once again of Helen Maxine Barneberg. Known as Maxine, the girl raised by her
grandparents, Wesley and Sarah Barneberg, married Eugene Van Schaick (1901-1989). Eugene
and Helen Maxine had a daughter Betty Maxine (1925-2006) who married Norman E. Holt in
1944 . In 1948 Betty and Norman had a son Robert Dana Holt. In 1993, and again in 1996, plans
were proposed to add a second story and do a renovation, but it was not acted on . The last
member of the family to live in the house was Robert Dana Holt. The family had the property
until it was sold in 2005. Information regarding owners after 2005 is found in Table 2.
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TABLE 2 -Owners after 2005
Year Sold Doc # Grantor/Grantee
2005 2005028013 Holt to Kelly & Tamara Gearhart
2006 2006069958 All Real Property,lnc, with Gary Miller
for Gearhart to Darryl & Eleanor
Schauerman
Additional Information
2008 2008036691 Schauerman et al to Ali Reza Sadeghi Sadeghi & wife Zarbkhsh were doctors from
& Leili Zarbkhsh Encino with thirty offices throughout California.
Ali, originally from Iran and Leili, specialized in
behavioral therapy services under California
Psychcare (CPC).
2009 2009904606! Name change to Retreat Center LLC
2020 2020046744 Retreat Center to Brian & Kristina
Touhy
Dana/Barneberg House Construction History
Property was sold after the death of Sadeghi.
The property had been rarely used and some
deterioration took place .
A house was located at 5 50 Dana Street as early as 1867. It is first depicted on a 1877
Birds Eye View of San Luis Obispo by E. S. Glover. It is shown again on a photograph taken c .
1891 of San Luis Obispo. Both views are from Cerro San Luis. Both views are difficult to make
out the footprint of the house under the foliage . It is possible that some or most of that early
house formed the basis for the Dana/Barneberg House. A better understanding of the house can
be had from the sequence of Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps that date from 1886 to 1957. Three of
the Sanborn Maps, 1888 , 1909 and 1926 are presented below.
Figure 7: 1888 Sanborn Map -The Dana/Barneberg House
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1886 -The brewery and south side of Dana Street are depicted, but the map cuts off the back of
structures on the north side of the street resulting in an incomplete footprint of a house at
550 Dana Street. The large lot that currently has the Anderson House has no structures.
1888 -The footprint of the front of the house is as it is today. Again, the back of the house
footprints on the north side of Dana Street are not depicted (Figure 7).
1891 -This is the first time that the Sanborn Map completely covers structures on the north side
of Dana Street back to Stenner Creek. The Dana/Barneberg House has the same footprint
we see today . Out buildings are also shown on the property .
1903 -For the first time the bays windows on the sides of the house are depicted. The out
buildings have increased in size and a new wagon shed was added . A small structure that
may have been an outhouse appearing on the 1891 Sanborn Map is no longer in evidence .
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Figure 8: 1909 Sanborn Map -Left to Right -Anderson House (532 Dana
Street), Dana/Barneberg House (550 Dana Street)
1909 -No changes (Figure 8)
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1926 -The Dana/Barneberg House is now at 531 Dana Street having moved in 1914 (Figure 9).
1957 -The Dana/Barneberg House has had the laundry room added to the back.
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Figure 9: Arrow Points to 531 DanaStreet House Illustrating the Same Footprint
After Moving From 550 Dana Street .
Additional Construction Information -550 and 531 Dana Street
Part of the house may date earlier to the 1870s . A photograph at the History Center
places the date at circa 1878 and as the Bamberg House . Today, the same view at the 531 Dana
Street address depicts a house unchanged from the old photograph . The only element missing
appears to be cresting on the top of the gables (Figure 10). Although John Wesley Barneberg
was here with a business in 1878, the property was not owned by him until 1881/82 .
The property information on file with the county assessor was dated 2008. This is the
first time the addition of 2006/7 was referenced. The original size of the house was 1,476 sq . ft.
and the addition added another 346 sq . ft.. The addition was to the southwest comer adding a
laundry room and decking across the back of the house . The current ironwork fencing was
installed after the 2006 restoration and had changed hands. Later in the assessment for 2020, a
detached room of 264 sq. ft. was added when the garage was converted into a bedroom and bath
with entrance from the south .
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Figure 10: The Dana/Barneberg House at its First Location at 550 Dana Street -c. 1878
Written on the Back of the Photograph Located at the History Center.
The Schauerman Restoration -2006
Darryl Joseph "Joe" Schauerman was a glazer and craftsman with a company in Morro
Bay. He purchased the Dana/Barneberg House in 2006. With Schauerman as the new owner, a
restoration of the c.140 year old house took place during an economic downturn to keep his
employees working. The house had been vacant and was badly deteriorated both inside and out.
The window framing, living room and west exterior had rotted. A new foundation and re-roofing
soon took place . The roof over the previous very low ceiling in the kitchen was raised (Figure
11 ). A portion of kitchen cabinets remained and were incorporated with new cabinets in the
same design (Figure 12). The other changes made in the kitchen were to allow for modern
appliances. The original two windows in the back wall of the kitchen were removed to add a
larger window and door. A utility room was added with its own entrance on the side at the back
of the house (Figure 13). A deck was added off the kitchen that overlooked the creek (Figures 14
and 15). The window framing was replaced with the same materials and design as the original as
was the siding where necessary. Original hardware that remained was cleaned and reused. After
the restoration was completed the house was sold in 2008.
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Figure 11: Original Kitchen Roof Line
Figure 13: Adding the Utility Room
Figure 15: Deck and Path with the
Garage in the Background
Figure 12: Kitchen After the Roof was Raised
Figure 14: New Deck, Kitchen Window and Door
The Schauerman Restoration
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Late 19th Century Residential Development
As the new County Seat, San Luis Obispo began to change its housing architecture and
materials. Adobe was no longer needed as wood became more available. Larger residences
began to be constructed. Successful citizens were often traveling to San Francisco for business
and pleasure. They liked what they saw in the styles of the period there and brought them back
to San Luis Obispo.
During the 1870s, there was great need for a planing mill in San Luis Obispo expressed
over and over again in the newspaper. Finally in 1885, Smith & Wait opened up a planing mill
and machine shop near the Pacific Coast Railway Depot on Higuera Street allowing
opportunities for "civilizing influences of improvements in dwellings ... " The long article
continued in the newspaper and an excerpt follows below .
. . . "The principal machinery comprise a turning lathe, different planes for surfaces,
moulding etc ., circular saws of various sizes and for various purposes, band and scroll
saws, morticing machines, two iron planers, drill press, and other implements and
appliances used and required in such works. Much fine work is done in preparing
mouldings, cornice, brackets, balustrades, newel posts and things of that class used in
ornamentation and furniture; the work of the turning lathe, moulding machine, scroll saw,
etc. The firm also do[sic] much iron and engine work for the fencing of the Court House
lot. ... " (San Luis Obispo Tribune -Weekly May 22, 1885)
Evidence of that time still exists in a few homes in the old neighborhoods when certain
repeated exterior enhancements began to appear. At the same time, pattern books became more
common here and elements from them appear as well. Many of the saw cut decorative features
and rectangular square bays are from that period. Some of those same features are found
unchanged in the Dana/Barneberg House.
Field Investigation
At the time of the field investigation, the house was in the process of having repairs made
to the floor. Interior walls were painted to cover up some of the graffiti and the exterior planned
to be painted next. The architecture has been addressed as it was viewed . There is some
evidence to explain the unusual footprint of the house . Portions may have been added to the
original residence prior to the 1880s. The portion in front of the east/west gable with the
rectangular square bays is an example of an 1880s addition. The unusual narrow area leading to
the kitchen at the back of the house may also predate the 1880s. Early kitchen construction was
often separated from the main part of the house because of fire issues. The narrow part of the
middle to rear of the house may have been an early attempt to bring the kitchen area into the
main part of the house (Figures 8 & 9). On the east exterior wall a vertical cut on the shiplap
from ground to roof line was visible . It had been made apparently when the bathroom was added
to the house. Judging from the way the shiplap was cut these changes, if correct, would date
prior to the 1880s .
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r Architecture
The Dana/Bameberg House reflects Victorian vernacular architecture and contains
several elements that were popular in the 1880s that pertain to, but are not specific to, a
particular style. The house also depicts an elaborate and well proportioned design.
The one story residence is clad in ten inch shiplap siding with hand wrought nails in
evidence. The flat roof covering the bays in front surround the high gable, one of several roof
lines in the unusual structure (Figure 16) (Appendix B). Two patterns of decorative shingles are
used under the front facing gable that covers a recessed porch. Victorian flat sawn balusters
support the railing with a post on either side at the top of the stairs leading onto the porch (Figure
16).
The two large rectangular square bays in the front are the primary features . The bays
have slender columns in-set on the corners that add an elegance to the design. Each bay has two
narrow windows on each side and three across the front. They are all the same size one-over-one
double hung sash with a continuous sill that wraps around the bays above inset panels . The
windows have screens that are hung from the top . Under the eaves and vertical board frieze, a
saw cut border of circles wraps around the bays above the windows and continues across the
porch entry (Figures 16 and 17).
Figure 16: Centered Front Entry
The two large square bays increased the
size of the front rooms . Both rooms have
transoms with two panes over the doors
entering from the foyer inside the front door.
The front rooms with very high ceilings are
mirror images of each other (Figure 18).
The west side of the house has a wide
bay with two fixed pane windows with a
screened one-over-one double hung sash
window on each side. A continuous sill wraps
around the bay . The room contains a fireplace
with a period appropriate mantle. Patterned
picture moulding surrounds a portion of the
large room. On the east side of the house,
there is a room with a smaller bay consisting of
three windows.
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Figure 17: East Corner Bay
Figure 18: East Corner Bay Interior
The wide decking across the back wraps around one side of the kitchen leading to a door
into the 2006 laundry room addition . New er double glass doors open out from the kitchen to the
deck and steps to the lower terrace formed from used bricks. The kitchen window that overlooks
the creek has two vertical rows of lights on each side and is not original.
Comparison Properties
The 1886 Sanborn Map depicted one other house with two front facing square bays
where the IOOF Hall is currently located on Dana Street. However, some of the design
elements found on the Dana/Barneberg House can still be seen on a few houses in San Luis
Obispo . Examples noted below are on the Master List. Varied dates of construction are from the
city records and other sources. They were not independently confirmed by this researcher.
A sample of remaining square bays can be found at the Mrs . V L. Latimer 's house at 858
Toro Street. The Latimer House was constructed in 1880 . The bay has one window on each side
and three facing front. A house at 571 Pismo Street next to the Biddle House has the same bay
configuration .
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The Lewin House, at 671 Pismo Street, has two of the elements found on the Dana/
Barneberg residence . It has the same cut work trim with circles across the front under the fascia .
The square bays are smaller with one window on each side and two across the front. Fish scale
shingles appear under the centered dormer over the front entry. The frame house with
"Carpenter Gothic influences" also described as a Queen Anne Cottage was dated in various
studies as 1876, 1890 or 1900 .
The Snyder House, at 1406 Morro Street, was constructed in 1885 . It has the same cut
work trim circles lining the house under the fascia as the Dana/Barneberg House.
Despite these similarities none of the above examples exhibit quite the same exuberance
in detail and balanced design as the Dana/Barneberg House. It's condition, after so many years,
retains its elegance as befitting the bank president John Wesley Barneberg.
Grounds
Used brick walkways surround the house that looks out across the street to the historic
Anderson House. The ornate wrought iron fencing and gate are not original, but were installed
by the previous owner (Figure 19). The restoration project in 2006 had used a white picket fence
of the same style as shown in the early photograph. The wrought
iron fencing, although not like the original white picket fence, is
a reminder of the original business of John Wesley Barneberg,
who started out in the 1870s with a foundry and machine
business nearby .
Figure 19: Wrought Iron Fencing
Figure 20: Garage at the End of the Driveway
On the west side, a garage sits at the end of the brick driveway (Figure 20). The garage
construction or relocation date is unknown . The siding is similar to the house under a low front
facing gable roof. The doors have six fixed pane lights on top of three door sections . The garage
has recently been converted into a casita with new entry from the back. The view of the Dana/
Barneberg House from the street is unchanged .
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There is a lemon tree by the garage that has an interesting history. According to local
lore, it is from the old lemon grove that still exists on the side of Cerro San Luis Obispo where
there is a spring. It is supposed to be a different variety that predates 1900. In 1996, Bill
Cattaneo wrote that in 1901;
"Mr. G. W. Chandler lived in a little cabin on San Luis Mountain, where he had a
yearlong supply of cool spring water. On a plateau overlooking downtown San Luis
Obispo, Chandler raised three acres oflemons and oranges ... " (SLO Century in San Luis
Obispo Journal August 1996)
SIGNIFICANCE DETERMINATION
The City of San Luis Obispo evaluation criteria for historic resources has been applied to
the pertinent sections of the Ordinance for the Dana/Bameberg House .
City Guidelines for Architectural Criteria
The City Guidelines for Architectural Criteria apply to the Dana/Barneberg House under
(1) Style -a. purity of traditional style and c. traditional, vernacular and/or eclectic influences
that represent a particular social milieu and period. It also applies under (2) Design -a. Notable
attractiveness with aesthetic appeal.
The 1880s architectural style of the Dana/Barneberg House used an abundance of
elements that were popular with the prominent citizens of San Luis Obispo at that time. Using
elements found on Queen Anne cottages such as the squared bay, panels under the windows, and
shingle work under the gables, it also represents a composite of borrowed elements. The saw cut
balustrades and scroll sawn border under a narrow front facing gable behind a shed roof belie
other aspects of design . The following elements are a part of the detailing still found on the
house.
(1) Style
• Two large, rectangular square bays in front
• Saw cut balustrades on front porch
• Two designs of decorative shingles under front facing gable
• Decorative saw cut trim below the fascia
• Two bays -one on each side of the house
• Multi-gabled roof
(2) Design
The balance of design was well thought out for its period of significance. It still
represents late 19th Century Residential Development at its best. Unchanged, the time it
531 Dana St., San Luis Obispo -26
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was constructed reveals there must have been artistic presence involved in the
planning whose name has been forgotten .
Extensive detailing brings aesthetic appeal and cohesiveness to the design
Exceptional craftsmanship produced the Victorian vernacular design .
Fully restored by another master craftsman, Darryl Schauerman .
City Guidelines for Historic Criteria
The City Guidelines for Historic Criteria applies to the Dana/Barneberg House under (1)
History-Person. a. Significant to the community as a public leader; and b. As a public servant
who made early and important contribution to the community.
The house reflects its significance from certain people connected with it. (1) Charles
William Dana, and (2), John Wesley Barneberg were important public leaders . (3) Grace
Barneberg is noteworthy for her contributions with women's rights and libraries . All three were
well known for their work throughout California.
(1) Charles William Dana -Civic Leader
Clerk of the San Luis Obispo Board of Trustees -1859 (for over twenty years)
Elected to the State Assembly -1861
Board of Director for the San Luis Obispo Railroad Company -1872
Formed franchise to bring water to San Luis Obispo -1872
County Auditor -1873/74
Secretary of the Agricultural Society -1875
Supervisor -1876/1877
San Luis Obispo's Mayor -1881
(2) John Wesley Barneberg -Business Leader
Co-owner of the early local foundry -1875
President of C. Reed Corporation
City Tax Collector -1883
Served on the Board for the San Luis Gas Company -1896
Chairman for the Democratic Central Committee -1898
President of the Commercial Bank
President of San Luis Savings Bank
Vice President Security First National Bank
President of the Pacific Southwest Trust and Savings Bank -Local Branch
Major stakeholder in the oil development in central California
Principle investor in Midland Oil Company
President Brookshire Oil Company
Principle in Obispo Oil Company
Served on Committee to establish Cal Poly -1901
531 Dana St., San Luis Obispo -27
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Democratic representative to the National Convention -1912
Chairman of the Liberty Loan Drive -WWI
(3) Grace Bameberg -Community Organizer
Founder and President of the Monday Club -1925
Statewide Service
State Women's Prison Board
Promoted Free Public Libraries
California State Hospital Libraries
San Luis Obispo Service
County Health Centers
San Luis Obispo Dental Clinic
Red Cross
The names Dana and Barneberg and their families have all been connected to the house,
before and after it was moved to its current location.
City Guidelines for Integrity
The City Guidelines for Integrity for the Dana/Barneberg House apply under; (2)
Maintained its historic appearance and character; and (3) the degree to which the structure has
retained its design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association.
(2) For almost thirty years the Dana/Barneberg House was at 550 Dana Street exhibiting its
historic appearance and character. Since 1914 it has been at 531 Dana Street with
almost no change in its original design and footprint. Characteristics from its period of
significance have not diminished and are the same as depicted in the old photograph
when it was across the street from its current location.
(3) Although it was once moved by the family that owned the house until 2005, it has been
107 years at its current location. Still in the same neighborhood, the Dana/Barneberg
House displays the high degree of craftsmanship that makes it one of the most unaltered
historic properties in the City of San Luis Obispo.
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CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATIONS
The Dana/Barneberg House is found to be significant under A. Architectural Criteria, B .
Historic Criteria, and C. Integrity, in the city's "San Luis Obispo Historic Preservation
Guidelines" for evaluating historic resources. As part of the Downtown Historic District, Dana
Street is one of the oldest neighborhoods in town . The Dana/Barneberg House is currently one
of ten properties on the Contributing List for the street that was last surveyed in 1987. As a
result of this current study, the Dana/Barneberg House qualifies for its age, design, integrity, as
well as, the people important to our history that were associated with the house . It is strongly
recommended that the residence be upgraded and added to San Luis Obispo's Master List of
Historic Properties.
ADDENDUM
Darryl and Eleanor Schauerman
Special thanks to Eleanor Schauerrnan for providing information critical to this
report. The efforts of the badly needed restoration of the house by 2006 was recorded
in photographs taken over the two years the project took place and have been used in
this report. It was due to the late Darryl Joseph Schauerrnan, the craftsman, and his
family that we have the house today. The voices of Tim Olson and Sharon Kamm, both
long time residents of Dana Street, also contributed to this report.
531 Dana St., San Luis Obispo -29
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REFERENCES CITED
Bibliography
Angel, Myron
1883 History of San Luis Obispo County. Facsmile Reprint 1979 by Fresno Valley Publishers,
CA.
Bertrando, Betsy
1996 Petitions for Land in the City of San Luis Obispo. Prepared for the City of San Luis
Obispo by Bertrando & Bertrando Research Consultants
1998 Cultural Resource Investigation of the Soda Water Works and the Tullman Residence
Complex. Report prepared for the owner Mary Mitchell-Leitcher.
2003 Historic Resource Inventory and House Evaluation 581 Dana Street . Prepared for
Timothy B . Becher by Bertrando & Bertrando Research Consultants
2009 National Register of Historic Places -William Shipsey House. Registration Form and
Documentation provided for Matt Quaglino, San Luis Obispo .
Black, Mary Gail
1988 Profile of the Daily Telegram . Tabula Rasa Press
Carotenuti, Joseph A.
2006 San Luis Obispo 1850-1876. Produced by Joseph A. Carotenuti , San Luis Obispo, CA.
City of San Luis Obispo
1983 Completion Report: Historic Resources Survey -Volume 3 . Community Development
Department.
2007 Historic Preservation Guidelines. Community Development Department.
2010 Historic Preservation Ordinance . Community Development Department.
2013 Citywide Historic Context Statement . Produced by the Historic Resources Group,
Pasadena.
Engelhardt, Fr. Zephyrin
1933 Mission San Luis Obispo in the Valley of the Bears . Mission Santa Barbara, CA.
531 Dana St., San Luis Obispo -30
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Kocher, Paul H.
1972 Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa 1772-1972. Blake Printing & Publishing, Inc., San
Luis Obispo, CA.
Lovell, Margaret
1992 Historical Resources Survey II Completion Report. Prepared for the City of San Luis
Obispo.
Maino, Charles A.
n.d. Old times (1887-1981). Manuscript edited by Jeanette Gould Maino, Charles R. Maino,
M.D. and Vernon J . Maino, M.D.
Taylor, Patti and Suzette Lees
2010 75 SLO City Sites. Published by the Graphic Communication Institute at Cal Poly
Deeds
1872 Deed Book E/264 -Lindenberg and Hollman
1873 Deed Book E/341 -Hollman to Lindenmeyer
1875 Deed Book H/142 -Lindenmeyer to Gas Company
1881 Deed Book N/254 -Charles W. Dana to Phillip Biddle
1882 Deed Book 0/308 -Phillip Biddle to John Wesley Barneberg -Bl. 60, 235 x 275 ft
1883 Deed Book P/555 -Charles W. Dana to G . B. Tuley
1913 Deed Book 100/40,41 -Stockton to Barneberg
1921 Deed Book 150/112,113 -Stockton to Stockton
2005 Doc #2005028013 -Holt family to Kelley V. Gearhart
2006 Doc #2006069958 -All Real Properties, Inc. to Darryl J. Schauerman
2008 Doc #2008036691 -Schauerman to Sadeghi and Zarbkhsh
2009 Doc #2009046068 -Sadeghi and Zarbkhsh name change to Retreat Center, LLC
2020 August to current owner Brian Tuohy
Interviews
Kamm, Sharon
Olson, Tim
Schauerman, Eleanor
Maps
1870 "Map of the Town of San Luis Obispo" -Surveyed by R, R, Harris and H. D. Ward
1872 "Map of the County of San Luis Obispo" -Published by R.R. Harris
1873 "Map of B . Brizzolara Addition" -Surveyed by Harris & Lakin
1877 "Birds Eye View of San Luis Obispo, Cal" -Mapmaker: E. S. Glover
531 Dana St., San Luis Obispo -31
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c . 1885 -Plat Map with owners on Dana Street
1886, 1888, 1891, 1903, 1909, 1926, and 1957 "Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of San Luis
Obispo"
Petitions for Land in San Luis Obispo
1860 Blas Castro
1870 William B. Haley with map "settled in 1869"
1870 Land claimed by Lindenmeyer and Deffner with map, one acre has brewery, dwelling
and fences
1870 Ramona Wilson with map and brewery
1870 Charles Dana with map 1.52 acres fenced with fruit trees, settled in 1867
APPENDIX A : Project Location Map
APPENDIX B: Dana/Barneberg House Floor Plan, Gables Plan and East Exterior by
Schauerman
APPENDIX C: John Wesley Barneberg Sons and Brother-in-law
531 Dana St., San Luis Obispo -32
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531 Dana Street Location, Dana/Barneberg House -Lot 8
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APPENDIX B: Dana/Barneberg House Floor Plan, Gable Pattern, East Elevation
Restoration by Darryl Joseph Schauerman
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APPENDIX C: John Wesley Barneberg's Sons -John Frederick and Chester Harry
John Frederick Bameberg
John Frederick Barneberg, a miner in his youth, spent time in Dawson City in the Yukon
with a couple of others from San Luis Obispo that had "Klondike Fever." His first wife was
Maude Pierce, who he married in Washington when he returned. He and Maude settled in San
Francisco and became involved in several enterprises. He had a saloon in San Mateo, was a
cigar merchant and ran the notorious San Francisco Waldorf Gambling Club in 1913. In 1916,
he had another gambling club raided and, by 1918, was back to his parents house at 550 Dana
Street where Maude died . By 1920, John F. had married again and was living in San Francisco
living comfortably working as an oil company manager. John died in Los Angeles in 1935,
leaving his wife Ruby and daughter Jane. Jane was featured in the newspaper with a photo and
announcement of her return from Honolulu. "Inherits Estate, But Continues Dancing"-" ... Miss
Barneberg, who inherits her grandmother's large estate (Sarah Elizabeth Barneberg), plans to go
to New York to continue as a chorus girl ... " (Riverside Daily Press, Feb 24, 1936).
Chester Harry Barneberg
In 1899, Chester Harry Bameberg, as a result of a tragic accident, had his foot amputated
in San Francisco . He soon returned home with his sister, Grace, traveling with an artificial limb
while working for a house that produced them . In 1901, he married Estelle (Stella) Dana in San
Francisco. They returned to San Luis Obispo at the end of 1903 and Harry began working at his
cigar store on Monterey Street. The marriage ended after they had a son and a daughter. Harry
had ran off to San Francisco with another woman in 1905. Later, while still running the cigar
store on Monterey Street, Harry was shipping slot machines to San Francisco to support his
brother's gambling enterprises. For a brief period, Harry was employed by the Brookshire Oil
Company in Orcutt. Sent by his father, who owned the company, the job didn't work out and
soon Harry was back running the cigar store in San Luis Obispo. Harry's address during the time
he had the cigar store in town was in San Francisco . He later remarried and worked as a clerk in
San Francisco, with his wife Viola, until he died in 1944.
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John Wesley Barneberg's Brother-in-law -Jefferson "Jeff'' Lee Anderson
Jefferson Lee Anderson (1864-1958) was one of six
offspring born to John F. and Elizabeth Anderson.
John F. Anderson (1826-1909) was a farmer in San
Luis Obispo in the 1870s. Jeff married Margaret
Helen Albaugh in 1889. They had a daughter, Oma
(1891-1983), and a son, Harold (1897-1927). It was
Jeff's sister, Sarah Elizabeth, who became the wife of
John Wesley Bameberg. Today, the homes of
Anderson and Bameberg remain next to each other on
Dana Street where they are listed as Master List
historic properties in the City of San Luis Obispo.
The Anderson home was built in 1898 .
The city inventory also states that "the family of J.F. Anderson, the influential
businessman who built the Anderson Hotel, lived here in the early 1900s through the teens."(City
of San Luis Obispo -Volume 3, 1983). The Anderson Hotel was actually built by Jefferson Lee
Anderson, years after J. F. had died. By 1900, J. F. was age 72 and living with his son, Jefferson
and his family. The household included a border named Albaugh, age 67, who was a farmer,
probably a relation to Jeff's wife. There was also one servant in the household. Jefferson Lee
Anderson was a clothing merchant and had a clothing store at 898 Monterey Street. But he is
most remembered for the Anderson Hotel, the first five-story "high rise" building in San Luis
Obispo. When the hotel opened in 1923, the 84 rooms caused an uptick of civic pride in the
town. The first guest to sign the register was John Wesley Barneberg. Jefferson's son, Harold,
felt the hotel should have been named the "Jefferson Lee" after the dream his father had for
many years while he was operating his haberdashery store (Black 1988). Today the Anderson
Hotel at 955 Monterey Street is on the Master List of Historic Resources for the City of San Luis
Obispo.
It is Jefferson's sister, Sarah Elizabeth, who was married to John Wesley Bameberg that
lived in the Dana/Barneberg House before it moved across the street in 1914. Many social items
in the newspaper reflect the activities of the Anderson, Barneberg and Dana families closely
connected through marriage and neighborhood, often traveling together.
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Zoning, or remove the property from historic listing if the structure on the property no longer
meets eligibility criteria for listing, following the process for listing set forth herein.
14.01.070. Evaluation Criteria for Historic Resource Listing
When determining if a property should be designated as a listed Historic or Cultural Resource,
the CHC and City Council shall consider this ordinance and State Historic Preservation Office
(“SHPO”) standards. In order to be eligible for designation, the resource shall exhibit a high
level of historic integrity, be at least fifty (50) years old (less than 50 if it can be demonstrated
that enough time has passed to understand its historical importance) and satisfy at least one of the
following criteria:
A. Architectural Criteria: Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or
method of construction, or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values.
(1) Style: Describes the form of a building, such as size, structural shape and details
within that form (e.g. arrangement of windows and doors, ornamentation, etc.). Building
style will be evaluated as a measure of:
a. The relative purity of a traditional style;
b. Rarity of existence at any time in the locale; and/or current rarity although the
structure reflects a once popular style;
c. Traditional, vernacular and/or eclectic influences that represent a particular social
milieu and period of the community; and/or the uniqueness of hybrid styles and how
these styles are put together.
(2) Design: Describes the architectural concept of a structure and the quality of artistic
merit and craftsmanship of the individual parts. Reflects how well a particular style or
combination of styles are expressed through compatibility and detailing of elements.
Also, suggests degree to which the designer (e.g., carpenter-builder) accurately
interpreted and conveyed the style(s). Building design will be evaluated as a measure of:
a. Notable attractiveness with aesthetic appeal because of its artistic merit, details and
craftsmanship (even if not necessarily unique);
b. An expression of interesting details and eclecticism among carpenter-builders,
although the craftsmanship and artistic quality may not be superior.
(3) Architect: Describes the professional (an individual or firm) directly responsible for
the building design and plans of the structure. The architect will be evaluated as a
reference to:
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a. A notable architect (e.g., Wright, Morgan), including architects who made
significant contributions to the state or region, or an architect whose work influenced
development of the city, state or nation.
b. An architect who, in terms of craftsmanship, made significant contributions to San
Luis Obispo (e.g., Abrahams who, according to local sources, designed the house at
810 Osos - Frank Avila's father's home - built between 1927 – 30).
B. Historic Criteria
(1) History – Person: Associated with the lives of persons important to local, California,
or national history. Historic person will be evaluated as a measure of the degree to which
a person or group was:
a. Significant to the community as a public leader (e.g., mayor, congress member,
etc.) or for his or her fame and outstanding recognition - locally, regionally, or
nationally.
b. Significant to the community as a public servant or person who made early, unique,
or outstanding contributions to the community, important local affairs or institutions
(e.g., council members, educators, medical professionals, clergymen, railroad
officials).
(2) History – Event: Associated with events that have made a significant contribution to
the broad patterns of local or regional history or the cultural heritage of California or the
United States. Historic event will be evaluated as a measure of:
(i) A landmark, famous, or first-of-its-kind event for the city - regardless of whether
the impact of the event spread beyond the city.
(ii) A relatively unique, important or interesting contribution to the city (e.g., the Ah
Louis Store as the center for Chinese-American cultural activities in early San Luis
Obispo history).
(3) History-Context: Associated with and also a prime illustration of predominant
patterns of political, social, economic, cultural, medical, educational, governmental,
military, industrial, or religious history. Historic context will be evaluated as a measure
of the degree to which it reflects:
a. Early, first, or major patterns of local history, regardless of whether the historic
effects go beyond the city level, that are intimately connected with the building (e.g.,
County Museum).
b. Secondary patterns of local history, but closely associated with the building (e.g.,
Park Hotel).
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C. Integrity: Authenticity of an historical resource’s physical identity evidenced by the
survival of characteristics that existed during the resource’s period of significance. Integrity
will be evaluated by a measure of:
(1) Whether or not a structure occupies its original site and/or whether or not the
original foundation has been changed, if known.
(2) The degree to which the structure has maintained enough of its historic character
or appearance to be recognizable as an historic resource and to convey the reason(s)
for its significance.
(3) The degree to which the resource has retained its design, setting, materials,
workmanship, feeling and association.
14.01.080 Historic District Designation, Purpose and Application
A. Historic (H) District designation. All properties within historic districts shall be designated
by an “H” zoning. Properties zoned “H” shall be subject to the provisions and standards as
provided in Ordinance 17.54 (Zoning) of the Municipal Code.
B. Purposes of Historic Districts. The purposes of historic districts and H zone designation are
to:
(1) Implement cultural resource preservation policies of the General Plan, the
preservation provisions of adopted area plans, the Historic Preservation and
Archaeological Resource Preservation Program Guidelines, and
(2) Identify and preserve definable, unified geographical entities that possess a significant
concentration, linkage, or continuity of sites, buildings, structures, or objects united
historically or aesthetically by plan or physical development;
(3) Implement historic preservation provisions of adopted area and neighborhood
improvement plans;
(4) Enhance and preserve the setting of historic resources so that surrounding land uses
and structures do not detract from the historic or architectural integrity of designated
historic resources and districts; and
(5) Promote the public understanding and appreciation of historic resources.
C. Eligibility for incentives. Properties zoned as Historic Preservation (H) shall be eligible for
preservation incentive and benefit programs as established herein, in the Guidelines and other
local, state and federal programs.
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