The century-old Cucamonga Service Station along Route 66 in Rancho Cucamonga, California, recently was designated to the National Register of Historic Places.
The listing to the National Register was effective July 23, according to an email Friday from the National Park Service.
The former gas station at 9670 Foothill Blvd. (aka Route 66) now serves as a museum after about $100,000 in fundraising and years of restoration by the Route 66 IECA group.
More from the National Register’s registration form:
The station, built in 1915, exhibits the character defining features Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Typical features of the style are flat roof canopy surmounted by square columns with vertical insets and topped with Spanish tile coverings. The surrounding decorative feature above the pump island has curved arches topped with a Spanish style parapet extending around the entire structure. Secondary facades feature three rectangular picture windows with a single pane in each window; both sides are mirror images of each other. The building rear has two windows and an offset rear door.
Before restoration began in 2013, the station had been abandoned since the early 1970s and had greatly deteriorated from decades of neglect. The roof and much of its wood had to be replaced and some of the wood in the walls had also rotted from water damage and was replaced. But the stucco on the exterior, the foundation, floor and Spanish tile topping the columns were all remarkably intact.
The concrete floor was given a period appropriate sealant and finish and the interior walls
restored to a period appropriate look as well. 1920s style light fixtures and push button light switches were used throughout.
Today, the exterior of this historic Richfield Station has been restored to its original Richfield colors and look as it would have appeared in the 1930s and 1940s. Restoration followed the guidelines set forth in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings, using a “Restoration” approach to return the building to an appearance appropriate to its period of significance. In September, 2016 the California Preservation Foundation awarded the Cucamonga Service Station an award for Design Preservation.
The Rancho Cucamonga City Council gave historic landmark status to the station in 2009.
Next on Route 66 IEcA’s to-do list: Rebuilding a garage that once stood on the rear of the property. It collapsed during a severe rainstorm years ago.
(Image of the Cucamonga Service Station via Route 66 IECA on Facebook)
Nice!
I am the person who submitted the application for the station and I have not yet been notified of it being listed. i am curious as to how you received word before me. I also have been checking the website on a weekly basis and as of today it is still not listed. Could you forward the email to me please.
David, for years I have received a weekly email from the National Park Service of newly listed properties on the National Register of Historic Places. This service is available to anyone.