Elephant Packing House

The Elephant Packing House was built in 1924, in Fullerton, Orange County, Southern California.[1] Valencia oranges were packed here, from the abundant orchards that then dominated the county and gave it its name. William Wolfskill had developed and extensively planted the Valencia orange here in the 19th century. It is one of the last remaining examples of a citrus packing house in Fullerton.

Elephant Packing House
Mission Revival Style entrance facade.
Location201 W. Truslow Ave., Fullerton, California
Coordinates33°52′3″N 117°55′32″W
Built1924
Architectural styleMission Revival—
Spanish Colonial revival
NRHP reference No.83001214[1]
Added to NRHPSeptember 21, 1983

History

The packing house was built in 1924 by the Union Pacific Railway to complement its neighboring train station. The 23,000-square-foot (2,100 m2)[2] packing house first shipped oranges under the Elephant label, and was later leased by grower C.C. Chapman to pack his Old Mission brand oranges.[3]

After it fell out of use for orange shipping, the warehouse was used by a lawn furniture distributor. In 1960 the Union Pacific Railway sold the structure, which has been used by a variety of tenants. It was expanded in 1971. The railway station has since been relocated.[3]

Description

The packing house design is predominantly in the Mission Revival Style, with Spanish Colonial Revival Style architectural elements. The main building measures 165 feet (50 m) by 70 feet (21 m), with one story above grade and a full basement. The interior is lighted by two sawtooth roof monitors. The north side faces onto railroad tracks that run immediately adjacent to the packing house.[3]

Railroad shipping

The Elephant Packing House was located on the Union Pacific Railroad line for shipping to the East Coast and elsewhere. The line is no longer in service.

A Mission Revival style Union Pacific Railroad railway station (built 1923) was already adjacent. It has been preserved and been moved to the Fullerton Transportation Center, next to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway station there (built 1930).

All three buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

See also

References
Elephant Packing House, Fullerton.
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. "Elephant Packing House". City of Fullerton. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  3. Marsh, Diann; Deneau, Andy (January 1983). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Elephant Packing House". National Park Service. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
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