Fullerton's Lost Treasures

First Christian Church – razed 1971

When Charles Chapman, the City’s first mayor, moved to Fullerton in 1898, there was no Christian Church so he attended a church in Anaheim. Looking forward to having a church in his hometown, Chapman purchased a lot in 1904 at the northeast corner of Harbor and Commonwealth for construction of a small chapel. When the congregation outgrew this tiny building, it was replaced in 1911 with this stunning brick veneer Tudor Revival Church. Well-known architect Norman Marsh, who specialized in churches and schools, and noted for hundreds of buildings he designed throughout Southern California, was commissioned to develop the design. The church featured maple pews, frescoed walls, cathedral glass windows, and tapestry carpeting. The church was the only Tudor Revival styled religious building in Fullerton. It was razed in 1971 to make way for the current First Christian Church building.

Chapman Elementary School – razed 1950

Chapman School was built in 1920 and this photo shows the pupils gathered at the front entrance in 1928 on the southeast corner of Chapman and Lemon. The school was damaged in the 1933 earthquake and extensive repairs were undertaken at the cost of over $50,000. This reconstruction made it “safe for children”, provided improved classroom facilities, enlarged library, improved lighting, steam heat, and a separate kindergarten unit. Chapman School was demolished in 1950. The property is now owned by Fullerton College.

Marwood Apartments – razed 1980

Dr William Wicket, son-in-law of Charles Chapman, built the Marwood Apartments and Bungalow Court in 1913 on the northeast corner of Harbor and Whiting. They were sold in 1916 to A.R. Marson for $20,000, and later acquired by the legendary Lillian Yaeger in 1923 for an astounding $80,000. In 1927 the name of the building changed to the El Mirasol Apartments. They became part of Fullerton history when they were demolished in 1980.

Linebarger House – razed 1981

Located at the southwest corner of Pomona and Wilshire, this large Craftsman-style bungalow was built sometime around 1911 for local pioneer businessman Dallison Smith Linebarger, an Orange County Supervisor from 1902 to 1912. In 1917 he sold the house to Harold Walberg, head of the music departments at Fullerton High School and Fullerton Junior College, and director of the Orange County Symphony Orchestra. The City purchased the property, and the house was demolished in 1981 when the Wilshire public parking structure was built. The lot was developed into a downtown park to complement the plaza.

First Baptist Church – razed in 1967

This beautiful Classic-style church was designed by famous local architect Frederick Elery and dedicated on January 12, 1913, as the first permanent home of the Fullerton First Baptist congregation. Located at the southeast corner of Pomona and Wilshire, it was subsequently demolished in 1967 to build the newer, modern church that we see there today.

Chapman House – burned 1964

This beautiful 20-room mansion was located 1t 110 N Cypress (now the northeast corner of State College and Commonwealth). Charles Chapman, “the father of the Valencia Orange” built the home; construction was started in 1898 and completed in 1903. It was the largest dwelling in Orange County when it was built. In addition to being the family home where the Chapmans would gather for reunions, the home served in its later years as the post headquarters for Veterans of Foreign Wars. The house burned to the ground in 1964.

St George Hotel – razed 1918

The St George Hotel was built by the city’s founding Amerige brothers and opened in 1888 to house prospective buyers of lots in the new township of Fullerton. The two-and-one-half story redwood structure was located on the diagonal just back from the northeast corner of Harbor and Commonwealth. The hotel had 65 rooms with one bath on the second floor and one bath downstairs. There were balconies and balustrades above a veranda encompassing entrance, as well as vertical balustrades above and below the porch. The St George Hotel cost $54,000 to build with the furnishings costing an additional $15,000. Townspeople donated the shrubs and trees for the landscaping of the grounds. The hotel prospered for a few years and then fell on hard times, passing from owner to owner until it was razed in 1918 to make way for the business block that still stands today.

8 - Fullerton Public Library, Carnegie 2

Carnegie Library – razed 1941

Fullerton’s $10,000 Carnegie Library opened in December 1907 at the northwest corner of Wilshire and Pomona. Two families had donated the lots with two restrictions on the gift that the library would never allow liquor consumption on the premises and that no outhouse could be built within 75 feet of the street. The building had a Spanish mission tiles roof and plastered brick walls. The electric light fixtures were reported to have cost $350. The building was demolished in 1941 to construct the new WPA Library at the same location.

New Fullerton Public Library hours due to Elevator Enhancement