2012 01 19 HPCHistoric Preservation Commission Agendas
are now available on the City.s Web Page
@ www.la-auinta.ora
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
AGENDA
The Regular Meeting to be held in the Study Session Room at the
La Quinta City Hall, 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, California
JANUARY 19, 2012
3:00 P.M.
Beginning Minute Motion 2012-001
I. CALL TO ORDER:
A. Pledge of Allegiance
B. Roll Call
II. PUBLIC COMMENT:
This is the time set aside for citizens to address the Historic Preservation
Commission on matters relating to historic resources within the City of La Quinta
which are not Agenda items. When addressing the Historic Preservation
Commission, please state your name and address and when discussing matters
pertaining to prehistoric sites, do not disclose the exact location of the site(s) for
their protection.
III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA:
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. Approval of the Minutes for December 15, 2011.
Historic Preservation Commission Agenda
V. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. Historic American Building Survey Report Conducted in Conjunction with
the West Adobe HABS/HAER Program
Applicant: David Maman Design
Consultant: Archaeological Associates
Location: 81-891 Avenue 58
VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL:
VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS:
Vill. PLANNING STAFF ITEMS:
IX. ADJOURNMENT:
DECLARATION OF POSTING
I, Carolyn Walker, Executive Secretary of the City of La Quinta, do hereby declare that
the foregoing agenda for the La Quinta Historic Preservation Commission meeting of
Thursday, January 19, 2012, was posted on the outside entry to the Council Chamber,
78-495 Calle Tampico, and the bulletin board at the La Quinta Cove Post Office, on
Wednesday, January 12, 2012.
DATED: January 12, 2012
a# MOW
CAROLYN WALKER, Executive Secretary
City of La Quinta, California
MINUTES
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING
A Regular meeting held in the Study Session Room
at the La Quinta City Hall
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
December 15, 2011
This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order at 3:04
p.m. by Commissioner Wilbur.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. Pledge of Allegiance
B. Roll Call
Present: Commissioners Maria
Allan Wilbur
Absent:., None
Staff
PU(
mon, and
Presents, Planning Manager David Sawyer, Associate Planner
Jay Wu, and Secretary Monika Radeva
C. Election' of Chair and Vice -Chair.
It was moved and seconded, Iby Commissioners Puente/Wilbur to elect
Commissioner Redmon as Chairperson. Unanimously Approved.
It was moved and ;seconded by Commissioners Redmon/Wilbur to
elect Commissioner Puente as Vice -Chair. Unanimously Approved.
II. PUBLIC COMMENT:,
Mr. Ronald Fitzpatrick and Mr. Kevin Maevers introduced themselves and
gave a brief summary of their education, qualifications, and professional
experience. They expressed their interest in becoming active members of
the Historic Preservation Commission and were looking forward to the
upcoming scheduled interviews with the La Quinta City Council.
III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed.
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR:
Historic Preservation Commission
December 15, 2011
It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wilbur/Redmon to approve
the minutes of June 16, 2011, as submitted. Unanimously Approved.
D�=11M11PRIM 11:4JiR11
A. Historical/Archaeological Resources Survey — Washington Street
Apartments a request submitted by the La Quinta Housing Authority
and Redevelopment Agency located at 42-800 Washington Street.
Associate Planner Jay Wuu preset
staff report, a copy of which is on
Chairperson Redmon asked
project was a low-income ho;
Chairperson Redmon asked,'the
would also be affordable housiri
affordable housing and would''
qualifying programs through the
the City's Redevelo'oment, Agenc
existing units on the site
the
Manager
for th4: C
as
n contained in the
1 Department.
Street Apartments
:aff confirmed.
ial units proposed to be built
Staff repliedAhey would be
ide available` either through
Housing Authority or through
1 is currently in charge of the
the project exhibits
open -land, undeveloped portion of
for an off -site sewer.
irpersorrn Redmon asked who owned the site and if it had already
1 approved. Staffreplied the site was owned by the City of La
1ta and it was currently in review for approval.
Commissioner Wilbur said CRM TECH, Inc. was a company with a lot
of experience and the report didn't identify any potential problems
with the site.
Vice -Chair Puente asked to clarify if the City's Redevelopment Agency
was in fact the owner of the project site. Staff confirmed.
Vice -Chair Puente asked who was providing funding for the project.
Staff replied the project was being funded through the City's
Redevelopment Agency.
FA
Historic Preservation Commission
December 15, 2011
There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Wilbur/Puente to adopt Minute Motion 2011-003
approving the Historical/Archaeological Resources Survey for the
Washington Street Apartments project, as submitted with staff's
recommendations. Unanimously approved.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None.
VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS: None.
Vill. PLANNING STAFF ITEMS:
A. 2010 - 2011 CLG Annual
Staff gave an overview of the 2010 20T1,CLG Annual Report.
Chairperson Redmon pointed out,,a few,,typographical corrections.
Chairperson Redmon „asked if the Historic Plaques Project should be
included in the rpott Staff replied.;, that because the project was
managed by the L'a Quinta Historical Society it should not be included in
the report. J 6,
vO,il
The Coganiission '6xpressed a consensus tQ accept the 2010 - 2011 CLG
Annual Report as submitted.
7missioner ", bur''asked on t,,p status of the Historic Tour Brochure
lied the project would be completed in conjunction with ect. Staff rep
City's thirtieth anniversary celebration in 2012.
Commissioner Wilbur asked about the Historic Context Survey. Staff
replied''the project ;was underway and explained that first the two Historic
Context Surveys''jtecords would be consolidated into one and digitized,
then the dig ized'data would be converted into a database which would
be linked to e;GIS mapping program. This would allow for the database
to be searchable and a PDF copy of the document would also be available
on the City's website.
Staff briefly reminded the Commission that attendance in the Annual
Historical Preservation Conference would not be covered by the City and
that the Commissioners are encouraged to take advantage of any local
opportunities to meet their CLG requirement. Staff would continue to
notify them of such opportunities.
3
Historic Preservation Commission
December 15, 2011
IX. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Redmon/Wilbur to adjourn this Meeting of the Historic
Preservation Commission to the next Meeting to be held on January 19,
2012. This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was adjourned
on December 15, 2011, at 3:26 p.m. Unanimously Approved.
Submitted by
Monika Radeva
Secretary
0
BI # A
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
COMMISSIONERS ITEM
DATE: JANUARY 19, 2011
ITEM: COMMISSIONER REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS OF THE
WEST ADOBE HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDING SURVEY REPORT AND
HISTORIC AMERICAN ENGINEERING RECORD
LOCATION: SOUTH SIDE OF AVENUE 58, 510 FEET WEST OF MONROE STREET
BACKGROUND:
The Phase I Cultural Resources Report for Tentative Tract 33848 was originally
reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission on July 15, 2006. In the report, a
home proposed for demolition on the site was identified as being an adobe structure.
The item was continued pending further study and the preparation of a peer review.
On April 17, 2008, the Phase I report was approved under Minute Motion 2008-001.
The Final Environmental Impact Report and Tentative Tract Map 33848 were later
approved by the City Council with a 4-1 vote under Resolutions 2008-42 and 2008-
43. The mitigation measures included a requirement that the applicant fully document
the structure prior to demolition through the preparation of a Historic American
Building Survey Report and Historic American Engineering Record, also referred to as
HABS/HAER Reports. These reports were recently completed and submitted to the
Planning Department for a conformance review.
During their original review of the project, the Historic Preservation Commission
expressed an interest in reviewing the HABS/HAER reports once completed. The
purpose of this agenda item is to provide the Commissioners with a copy of the
reports as requested. While the Commission may discuss the reports, no action is to
be taken.
Attachments:
1. Master HABS Report
2. Master HAER Report
Prepared by:
Andr J. Mogensen, AICP
Prin al Planner
ATTACHMENT 1
HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDING SURVEY REPORT CONDUCTED IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE WEST ADOBE HABS/HAER PROGRAM,
81891 AVENUE 58, CITY OF LA QUINTA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
submitted to:
City of La Quinta
Planning Department
78495 Calle Tampico
La Quinta, CA 02253
Attn:Andrew Mogensen
Principal Planner
prepared for:
Mr. David Maman
David Maman Design
6541 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 203
Los Angeles, CA 90028
prepared by:
Laura S. White, M.A
Robert S. White
David M. Van Horn, Ph.D.
Archaeological Associates
P.O. Box 180
Sun City, CA 92586
TEL (951) 244-1783
FAX (951) 244-0084
November, 2011
HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDING SURVEY
OF THE WEST ADOBE
Location: 81891 581h Avenue
City of La Quinta
Riverside County
California
U.S.G.S. Indio Quadrangle
7.5 Minute, 1956 (Photorevised 1972)
Universal Transverse Mercator Coordinates:
Zone 11, 570980 Easting, 3720870 Northing
Present Owner: David Maman Design
6541 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 203
Los Angeles, CA 90028
Present Occupant: None (Vacant)
Present Use: None (Vacant)
Statement of
Significance: The West Adobe appears to be a rare and well-preserved example of
the final stage of development in traditional southern California
residential adobe construction. Because the adobe retains sufficient
architectural integrity, it is a good example of local adobe
construction techniques, use of local materials, and construction
technologies. Therefore, it appears eligible for the California
Register of Historical Resources (CRHR) at the local level under
Criterion 3.
The adobe and its setting are also locally significant because they
represent a rare surviving example of an early stage of residential
development promotion ("date palm estates"). This is an important
historic context in that this residential theme has been a critical
element in developing a lifestyle that many identify with La Quinta
and the surrounding area in the early 201h century. Therefore, in
addition to Criterion 3, the West Adobe may also be eligible for the
CRHR at the local level under Criterion 1. Today, most of the adobes
in the region have either decayed away or been removed for modem
development (Mouriquand 1997). The fact that the West Adobe is in
good condition and stands within its original date palm setting is, in
itself, suggestive of the structure's historical significance.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION
II. PRIOR RESEARCH
III. LOCATION AND SETTING
PAGE
IV. ARCHIVAL RESEARCH 3
V. PROPERTY HISTORY
VI. PROPERTY DESCRIPTION 18
VII. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. 19
VIII. COMMENTS ON STYLE 36
REFERENCES CITED 38
iii
LIST OF FIGURES
PAGE
Figure 1. Regional location of the West Adobe as indicated 4
on a portion of the USGS Palm Springs 1:100,000 scale
Topographic Map Sheet.
Figure 2. Location of the West Adobe as shown on a portion 5
of the Indio 75 Topographic Quadrangle (1972).
Figure 3. West Adobe and remnant date grove as shown on. 7
aerial map.
Figure 4. West Adobe Site Plan 8
Figure 5. West Adobe Floor Plan 20
Figure 6. West Adobe Window Detail. 27
Figure 7. West Adobe Courtyard Plan. 35
LIST OF TABLES
PAGE
Table 1. Property ownership records from 1920-1927. 9
Table 2. Property ownership records from 1928-1932. 10
Table 3. Property ownership records from 1933-1954. 11
Table 4. Property ownership records from 1955-1959. 18
iv
LIST OF PLATES
PAGE
Plate I. Top: Marie Montaigne West and her two children . 14
(Gage Montaigne West and Jane Marie West) circa 1920.
Plate II. Top: Marie Montaigne West Coffy.
Bottom: Albert Coffy and his dog Eleanor on the
patio of the West Adobe.
Plate III. Top: Close-up of lower wall construction
on north elevation. Bottom: Close-up of concrete
wall footing on north elevation.
Plate IV. Left: Early photograph of porch supports.
prior to being encased with plaster. Right: Close-up
of courtyard wall footing.
Plate V: Top: Easterly half of cobblestone fireplace set
in living room wall. Bottom: Easterly view across main
roof showing cobblestone chimney and decorative
limestone roof covering.
17
21
22
24
Plate VI. Top: Top of chimney showing inscribed date of . " 25
construction. Bottom: Close-up of door construction on
north elevation showing filled dead space between door
frame header and lintel.
Plate VII. Top: Southeasterly view of north elevation courtyard 29
wall topped with red tiles. Bottom: Close-up of north elevation
wall detail showing laths attached to wall in preparation for stucco.
Plate VIII. Top: West family and friends posing for photograph 30
on south elevation. Note that adobe bricks appear to be unpainted
and unplastered. Bottom: View of eastern living room wall showing
decorative treatment of adobe bricks.
Plate IX. Top: Tripartite set of casement sashes located in kitchen. 33
on north elevation. Bottom: Typical one -over -three casement. Note
inverted splayed timber lintel.
v
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
I. INTRODUCTION
The following report was written by Archaeological Associates for David Maman Design.
It describes the results of a Historic American Building Survey (HABS) program that was
conducted for the West Adobe located at 81891 Avenue 58 in the City of La Quinta, Riverside
County. An illustrated and photographic record comprising scale drawings and black & white
photographs of the adobe can be found in the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) which
is a companion to this document.
II. PRIOR RESEARCH
In 2005, Archaeological Associates conducted a Phase I Cultural Resources Assessment of
the above -mentioned 4.84 acre property designated Tentative Tract Map No. 33848 (White et al.
2006). The property comprised a neglected date grove that surrounded a single-family home. Upon
closer inspection, it was discovered that the residence was constructed of adobe. Riverside County
Appraisal records yielded an estimated construction date of 1928 for the adobe residence. Archival
research and interviews revealed that it was initially the desert home of the West family of Los
Angeles.
Archaeological Associates concluded that the West Adobe appeared to be a rare and well-
preserved example of the final stage of development in traditional southern California residential
adobe construction. Additionally, the adobe is one of the last of its kind in the La Quinta region.
Thus, it appeared eligible for the California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR) under
Criterion 3.
Secondly, the West Adobe and its setting are also locally significant because they represent
a rare surviving example of an early stage of residential development promotion ("date palm
estates"). This is an important historic context in that this residential theme has been a critical
element in developing a lifestyle that many identify with La Quinta and the surrounding area.
Department of Parks and Recreation Forms 523 A and B were completed for the West Adobe and
submitted to the Eastern Information Center (EIC) at University of California at Riverside. The
residence was assigned Primary # 33-14940.
At the request of the City of La Quinta, Architectural Resources Group (ARG) conducted
a peer review of Archaeological Associates' 2006 initial report. The study also included a site visit
1
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
to discern the original adobe construction and its current condition. ARG concluded that the West
Adobe meets the level of significance necessary for listing on the California Register of Historical
Resources (CRHR) at the local level (specifically Criteria 1 and 3). Furthermore, they agreed with
Archaeological Associates assessment findings that the West Adobe is in good condition.
Because the West Adobe retains sufficient architectural integrity, it
remains (sic) good example of local adobe construction techniques,
use of local materials, and construction technologies. It is a strong
example of its type, period, method of construction, and style (Perrin
2006:6).
Supplemental historical and architectural research on the adobe was conducted by
Archaeological Associates in 2007 (White et al. 2007). The purpose of the study was to provide
additional information on the property history and the techniques used to construct the residence.
The study was intended to serve as an addendum to Archaeological Associates 2006 report.
Proposed development plans for the parcel include: 1) demolition of all standing structures,
and 2) subdividing the parcel into 12 single family residential home lots. Individual lots will be
accessed from Avenue 58 via a central, north/south trending cul-de-sac. Other improvements entail
construction of a retention basin and landscaped parkway adjacent to the south side of Avenue 58.
As a result of the Initial Study, the City of La Quinta determined that the project's impacts
on cultural resources could be potentially significant, and that an Environmental Impact Report
(EIR) should be prepared to fully evaluate the potential impacts. While preservation of the adobe
is the preferred mitigative option, current plans do not allow for the adobe to be preserved or remain
in place. Therefore, prior to any disturbance to the project site, City mitigation measures stipulated
that a Historic American Building Survey (HABS) and Historic American Engineering, Record
(HAER) recordation program be completed (Terra Nova 2008). Since the ultimate repository for
the data generated by this HABS/HAER study is the City of La Quinta rather than the Library of
Congress in Washington D.C., strict compliance with National Park Service HABS/HAER
requirements were not required. Rather, the study was conducted within the "spirit" of the HABS
and HAER formats pertaining to projects at the local level. Nonetheless, every effort has been made
to provide for a comprehensive study including scale drawings derived from hand measurements and
the employment of both large and medium photographic formats.
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
III. LOCATION AND SETTING
Regionally, the West Adobe is located in the western portion of the Coachella Valley,
northeast of the Santa Rosa Mountains and south of Highway 111. The Desert Resorts Regional
Airport (Thermal Airport) lies 3.5 miles to the east as does the core of La Quinta 4.5 miles to the
northwest (Figure 1). Legally, the adobe is situate in the Northeast 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 of
Section 27, Township 6 South, Range 7 East, San Bernardino Base Meridian as shown on a portion
of the Indio USGS 7.5' Topographic Quadrangle (Figure 2).
Specifically, the West Adobe lies adjacent to the south side of Avenue 58 (aka 581h Avenue)
approximately 510 feet west of Monroe Street. Historically, this area comprised the western portion
of the community of Thermal and was annexed by the City of La Quints in 2002. The property is
bordered on the north by Avenue 58 and newly constructed, single-family homes (Figure 3).
Existing date groves lie to the east and west. To the south, the property adjoins a combination of
date groves and fallow agricultural land.
The 4.84 acre property is rectangular in shape and identified as APN 764-180-003-3. As
previously mentioned, it carries the address of 81891 58`h Avenue, City of La Quinta, Riverside
County. The adobe residence lies within a remnant date palm grove that is unmaintained. Access
to the property can only be achieved from 581h Avenue. The adobe is set back approximately 220
feet from 58th Avenue and is largely obscured from view by tall hedges of oleanders that front on
581h Avenue. Although currently vacant, prior to 2007 it had been continuously occupied (Figure
4).
IV. ARCHIVAL RESEARCH
A. County Records
Research on the history of the West Adobe was conducted at the Riverside Assessor -County
Clerk -Recorder offices in Riverside and Palm Springs and the Robert J. Fitch Archives in Riverside.
Specific data procured from these facilities included: 1) Property ownership entries from 1920-1959
Lot Books, 2) Grantee -Grantor records, Appraisal records (building records and permits), and deeds.
Additional documentation was provided by the property owner in the form of a partial Chain of
Title.
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
31
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Figure 1. Regional location of the West Adobe as indicated on a portion of the USGS Palm
Springs 1:100,000 scale Topographic Sheet.
2
West Adobe HABS Report
Citv of La Ouinta
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Figure 2. Location of the West Adobe as shown on a portion of the Indio 7.5' Topographic Quadrangle (1972).
5
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
B. Historic Map and Aerial Photo Research
Supplemental research included the examination of historic maps and aerial photos. The
majority of maps included USGS topographic quadrangles (1901-1972) housed in the map room of
the Science Library at the University of California at Riverside. Ms. Leslie Mouriquand (Riverside
County Archaeologist) also kindly provided us with a copy of the 1917 H.D. Bradley map of the
Coachella Valley. Other local maps and aerial photos (1938-1960) were examined at the Coachella
Valley Water District (CVWD) and Whittier College (Fairchild Aerial Photography Collection).
C. Genealogical Research.
Genealogical information including U.S. Federal Census records, the California Death Index
from 1940-1997, the Social Security Death Index, California Voter Registrations (1900-1968), and
City Directories were accessed through the databases of Ancestry.com and Rootsweb.com.
Interviews were conducted with Marlou Rau Belyea (daughter of Allan Francis Rau and Louise La
Rue Rau) and several other members of the Coachella Valley Historical Society. Members.Connie
Cowan, Thomas Moody, Lee Anderson, Walter Geissler (deceased), Patricia Laflin, and Louise
Neeley all graciously made time to answer questions.
Most recently, we were very fortunate to have the opportunity to speak with Dr. Robert T.
McBratney and his sister, Patricia M. McBratney (grandchildren of Marie Montaigne West Coffy
and offspring of Jane Marie West [aka Virginia Marie West] and Dr. Robert Francis McBratney).
We thank them for sharing their memories of the date ranch and assisting us with the West family
history. Several photos and newspaper articles were also provided to us from the McBratney family
album compiled by their mother, Jane Marie West McBratney.
V. PROPERTY HISTORY
A Property Leval Description (320-acres comprising the East 1/2 of Section 27 Township 6 South,
Range 7 East)
1. The Thresher Family
A review of the 1917 H.D. Bradley map of the Coachella Valley shows the family name
THRESHER written across the entire East 1 /2 of Section 27, Township 6 South, Range 7 East.
According to Lot Book and Deed records (Book 734, Pages 539-541) on file with the Riverside
0
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
Avenue 58 To Monroe St. 513 Ft.
09
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Date P.I.
Ufa SITE PLAN
UV
`t 81891 Avenue 58
1.4 Qufnta, CA 92253
of
Property Boundary
Figure 4. West Adobe Site Plan.
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
Assessor -County Clerk -Recorder office, George P. and Florence E. Thresher owned the 320 acre
parcel (which included the subject property) through 1927. Property values (land only) in the 1920s
ranged between $6,000-8000. During this period, there were no entries in the lot book records that
would suggest that the property contained any buildings (improvements) or trees/vines (Table 1).
Table 1.
Property ownership records from 1920-1927.
Property Description:
Initially part of the East
1/2 of Section 27, Township 6 South, Range 7 East (320-acres)
Values
Year
Book/Paee
Line
Name of Owner Land Buildings Trees & Vines
Acreage
1920
22/23
1
George P. Thresher 6000 ---- ----
320 ac.
1921
22/23
1
George P. Thresher 6000 ---- ----
1922
22/23
1
George P. Thresher 6000 ---- ----
1923
22/23
1
George P. Thresher 6000
"
1924
22/23
1.
George P. Thresher 8000 ----
"
1925
22/23
1
George P. Thresher 8000 ---- ----
"
1926
25/33
49
George P. Thresher ----- ---- ----
320 ac.
1927
25/33
49
George P. Thresher
"
The Threshers were both bom in Massachusetts between 1856-1857. According to the 1880
United States Federal Census Records, George P. Thresher was a Boot and Shoe Dealer in
Cambridge, Massachusetts at the age of 24. It is not known when the couple moved to California.
They had one daughter, Maria Thresher Webb, who most likely married into the Webb family of
Thermal.
B. Property Legal Descript�ion (40-acres comprising the Northeast 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 of Section
27, Township 6 South, Range 7 East)
1. Allan F. Rau and the Rau Ranch Company
In January of 1923, Allan F. Rau entered into an agreement with the Threshers to purchase
40 of their 320 acres comprising the Northeast 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 27. This 40-acre
parcel included the project area (Table 2). Tragically, before the transaction was completed, Mr.
Thresher unexpectedly died. As a result, it took four more years and a court action in 1927, before
E
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
his widow, Florence E. Thresher, was officially ordered to convey the aforementioned 40-acre
property to Mr. Rau (Deeds: Book 734, Page 540). Florence Thresher and her daughter lived in the
Los Angeles area until their deaths.
Table 2.
Property ownership records from 1928-1932.
Property Description:
Portion of the Northeast 1/4 of
the Northeast 1/4 of Section 27, Township 6 South, Range 7 East (40-acres)
Values
Year Book/Page
Line
Name of Owner Land Buildings Trees & Vines Acreage
1928 25/33
49
Allan F. Rau ----- ---- ---- 40 ac.
1929 25/33
49
Rau Ranch Co. 2000 ---- ----
1930 25/33
49
Rau Ranch Co. 2000 ---- "
1931 25/33
49
Rau Ranch Co. 2000 ---- "
1932 25/33
49
Rau Ranch Co. 2000 ---- ---- "
Allan Francis Rau was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1898. Like so many people in the
early 201" century, he came to the and Coachella Valley to dry out his lungs as he had been
diagnosed with tuberculosis. He settled in the Mecca area and with financial help from his parents
(Henry "Harry" William Rau and Caroline "Carrie' Lowe) established a ranch there betwen1915 and
1920. He eventually sold the ranch to his brother Harry in favor of another land investment (Belyea
2006:pers. comm.).
Allan Rau married Louise La Rue of North Dakota in 1924. They eventually bought 150
acres in the Thermal area surrounding the intersection of Monroe Street and Avenue 58. It was at
the southwest corner of Monroe and Avenue 58 that they started the Rau Ranch and raised their
three children (Marguerite [Marlou], Allan Francis Jr., and Carolyn).
C. Property Legal Description (Portion of the Northeast 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 27
Township 6 South, Range 7 East comprising 4 84-acres)
1. Development of the Rau Ranch
Wishing to be remembered as a developer rather than a farmer or rancher, Mr. Rau decided
10
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
to subdivide an unknown amount of his property. After clearing the land, he split it into various
small parcels ranging in size from 2 to 5 acres. An irrigation system was then installed in
preparation for planting groves of date palms (Deglet Noor). Individual parcels were planted and
irrigated by Mr. Rau. Once the groves became well -established (within a few years), the parcels
were sold and buyers would then commission to have a home built. Similar to today's small
ranchette situated within vineyards or citrus groves, Rau envisioned winter or vacation homes
surrounded by date palms which he would maintain and harvest. According to Rau's daughter,
several parcels were sold to well-to-do Los Angeles residents as winter get -a -ways (Belyea
2006:pers. comm.).
A review of the Lot book information contained in Tables 2 and 3 suggests that Mr. Rau
began dividing the Rau Ranch Company land between 1932-1933. This is the time period in which
the study area was separated from the larger 40 acre parcel (Northeast 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 of
Section 27) and reduced to two small parcels (2.43 and 2.41 acre). It is important to note that the
information provided for the year 1933 in Table 3 indicates an assessed value of $270 for a building.
This notation is thought to reflect the initial construction of the subject adobe residence.
Consequently, it appears that the West Adobe was not built in 1928 (as estimated by Riverside
County Assessors) but was constructed between 1932-1933 by the property owner Allan Rau.
According to his daughter Marlon Rau Belyea, individual adobe bricks were made on -site by
Mexican laborers. A water tank was brought in and the bricks were formed and sunbaked
(2006:pers. comm.).
Table 3.
Property ownership records from 1933-1954.
Property Description:
Portion of the Northeast 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 27, Township 6 South, Range 7 East (4.84-acres)
Values
Year Book/PaeeLine Name of Owner Land - Buildines Trees & Vines Acrease
1933- 25/33 66 Rau Ranch Co. ----- *270 ---- 2.43 ac.
1934
1933- 25/33 67 Rau Ranch Co. ----- _--- -__- 2.41 ac.
1934
11
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
Values
Year
Book/Page
Line
Name of Owner
Land
Buildings
Trees & Vines
Acreage
1935
25/33
66
Marie W. Coffy
375
900
----
2.43 ac.
"
67
Marie M. West
375
----
----
2.41 ac.
(guardian)
1936-
25/33
66
Marie W. Coffy
370
2000
----
2.43 ac.
1938
1936-
25/33
67
Marie M. West
370
----
----
2.41 ac.
1938
(guardian)
1939-
25a/33a
4
Marie W. Coffy
370
2000
----
2.43 ac.
1941
1939-
25a/33a
5
Marie M. West
370
----
----
2.41 ac.
1941
(guardian)
1942-
25a/33a
4
Marie W. Coffy
300
2000
150
2.43 ac.
1943
1942-
25a/33a
5
Marie M. West
370
----
----
2.41 ac.
1943
(guardian)
1944
25a/33a
4
Marie W. Coffy
300
2000
340
2.43 ac.
1944
25a/33a
5
Marie M. West
270
----
340
2.41 ac.
1945
25a/33a
5
Marie M. Coffy
270
2000
340
2.43 ac.
(Albert L.)
1945
25a/33a
6
Marie M. West
270
----
340
2.41 ac.
(guardian)
1946-
25a/33a
5
Marie M. Coffy
270
2000
450
2.43 ac.
1947
(Albert L.)
1946-
25a/33a
6
Marie M. West
270
----
450
2.41 ac. _
1947
(guardian)
1948
25a/33a
5
Marie M. Coffy
250
2000
360
2.43 ac.
(Albert L.)
1948
25a/33a
6
Marie M. West
250
----
360
2.41 ac.
(guardian)
1949
25a/33a
5
Marie M. Coffy
540
3200
270
2.43 ac.
(Albert L.)
1949
25a/33a
6
Marie M. West
540
----
270
2.41 ac.
(guardian)
1950
25a/33a
5
Marie M. Coffy
490
3200
270
2.43 ac.
(Albert L.)
1950
25a/33a
6
Marie M. West
490
----
270
2.41 ac.
(guardian)
1951-
25a/33a
5
Marie M. Coffy
470
3200
270
2.43 ac.
1952
_
(Albert L.)
1951-
25a/33a
6
Marie M. Coffy
490
----
270
2.41 ac.
1952
1953-
25a/33a
5
Marie M. Coffy
600
2560
600
2.43 ac.
1954
1953-
25a/33a
6
Marie M. Coffy
480
----
320
2.41 ac.
1954
* Building
value first noted in 1933.
12
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
2. Marie Montaigne West, and the West Adobe
In 2006 and 2007, Archaeological Associates reported that the West family (Dr. Sydney V.
and Mane Montaigne West) of Los Angeles had purchased the subject property from Allan Rau
circa 1927 and subsequently commissioned the construction of the adobe residence. Since that time,
new information has emerged and is reported here. Interviews with surviving members of the West
family and an examination of the aforementioned County Lot Books housed at the Robert J. Fitch
County Archives (which opened to the public in 2008) have enabled us to make corrections to the
history of the West Adobe.
Based upon the Lot Book records presented in Table 3, it appears that sometime in 1934,
Marie Montaigne West/ Marie West Coffy alone bought the adobe and surrounding 4.84 acres from
the Rau Ranch Company. A native of South Dakota, Marie Isabelle Montaigne was born in
Ferndale, Cook County on January 23, 1897. She was the only child of Theodore Montaigne and
Jennie E. Gage.
Marie was initially married to Dr. Sydney Vattel West. According to California Voter
Registrations (1900-1968) records, Sydney V. West and Mrs. Marie M. West fast appear as husband
and wife in the 1914-1916 rolls for Orange County. They are listed as living at 1501 N. Main in
Santa Ana. Sydney's profession is identified as a "Specialist' while Marie is listed as "Housewife".
Shortly thereafter, the couple had two children: Gage Montaigne West and Jane Marie West.
However, following WWI, their marriage ended in divorce (Patricia McBratney 201 Lpers. comm.).
Marie and her children continued to live in Los Angeles with her mother Jennie E.Gage Dodge
(Plate I.:top).
Dr. West moved to northern California where he married Gertrude Smythe Scheuren, a
landscape artist from San Francisco (Anonymous n.d.). Census records indicate that Sydney Vattel
West was bom on January 27, 1874 in Indian Creek, Norfolk County, Virginia (now City of
Richmond, County of Henrico). His parents were Anna Augusta Saunders and Dr. Joseph Simeon
West (physician) and he was one of seven children.
University records indicate that Sydney V. West received his B.S. Degree in Colusa in 1898
(University of California 1899) and graduated from the University of California at San Francisco
Medical School in 1903 (University of California 1921). He later served as Captain in the Army
during in WWI (Patricia McBratney 2011:pers. comm., Plate I:bottom). According to Mr. Steven
Greenberg, Coordinator for Medical Services at the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, MD.
13
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
r
r!
14
x
mb g �''� v ti+'e a •> FAIN
3
�c a
i
t
Plate I. Top: Marie Montaigne West and her two children (Gage Montaigne West and Jane Marie
West) circa 1920. Bottom: Captain Sydney Vattel West, M.D. during WW1. Photographs courtesy
of the McBratney family.
14
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
"Sydney Vattel West was born in Richmond, Virginia in 1874 and
attended public school there. He received his degree in Medicine in
1903 from the University of Califomia. He was an Army doctor at
Camp Lewis in San Francisco during WWI (1917-1918) but did not
go overseas. He moved around quite a bit in Southern California,
living in Bakersfield, Chico, San Diego, Los Angeles and Riverside
to name a few. He subsequently became Assistant Professor of
Otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat) at the College of the
Evangelist, Los Angeles (White Memorial Hospital). Record of
death was April of 1930" (Greenberg 2007rpers. comm.).
Sometime prior to 1934 while living in Los Angeles, Marie Montaigne West befriended Albert
Lincoln "Link" Coffy. According to Coffy's 1917-1918 World War I Draft Registration Card, Albert
was a native of Illinois. He was born in Chicago on July 6, 1890 and at time of registration (age 26),
was employed as a telegraph operator. Census records indicated that in1930 Albert Coffy and his
mother, Marina H. Coffy, had moved to California and like Marie West, were residing in Beverly
Hills. His occupation at the time was listed as "broker, stocks & bonds" and this was probably the
business through which Marie met Link.
In any event, the two were marred by 1934 as the California Voter Registrations (1900-
1968) indicate that Albert L. Coffy, Mrs. Marie M. Coffy, Mrs. Marina Coffy (Albert's mother), and
Mrs. Jennie E. Dodge (Marie's mother) were all registered voters living at 1918 N. Whitley Avenue
in Los Angeles between 1934-1938. Also note that in Table 3 above starting with the year 1935,
Marie W. Coffy is listed as owning half of the subject property (2.43 acres). Under the name Marie
M. West, she also served as guardian for her children Gage Montaigne West (a minor) and Virginia
Marie West (a minor) for an undivided one-half interest each in the adjoining 2.41acre parcel. By
1945, Table 3 shows Albert L.Coffy as joint tenant with Marie W. Coffy for the 2.43-acre parcel.
According to Marlou Rau Belyea (2006:pers. comm.), the West/Coffy family traditionally
vacationed at the adobe. Both Gage and Jane Marie West appeared to enjoy their visits to the desert
as they had many friends in the Thermal area. They also enjoyed horseback riding and owned their
own horses. `Birdy" was Gage's horse and "Lucy" was Jane Marie's (Patricia McBratney
2011:pers. comm.).
On June 23, 1954, Marie Montaigne West Coffy passed away in Los Angeles at the age of
62 (Plate II:top). A review of her death certificate indicated that she had been staying in Thermal
15
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
just five days prior to her death. Funeral services were held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in
Glendale. According to the Superior Court Hearing conducted on May 3, 1955 in the Matter of the
Estate of Marie Montaigne Coffy (also known as Mane Montaigne West Coffy), the entire 4.84-acre
adobe property was bestowed to Albert L. Coffy (Table 4). Although, Gage and Jane Marie West
received other real estate and assets, they were quite disappointed that they had been excluded from
the date ranch property (Patricia McBratney 2011:pers. comm.).
3. The Coffy Ranch
Albert Coffy continued to own the adobe property for the next fifteen years (Plate II:bottom).
In 1958 he married Myra Heine. They were married for about 12 years before Albert's death in
1970 (April 12t). Appraisal Records for the property indicated that in 1969 under his ownership,
4.15 acres were planted in dates (Deglet Noor). At the time, the grove included 217 date palms
planted on 30 x 30 foot centers. As young children, Robert and Patricia McBratney recall that the
room in the house presently referred to as the "den" was previous used to process and store the dates
during harvest time (Robert and Patricia McBratney 2011:pers. comm.).
It appears that Albert Coffy eventually made the adobe his permanent residence. The 1946-
1952 Palm Springs City Directories show that Albert L. Coffy, Manager of E.F. Hutton & Co.,
resided in the Thermal/Coachella/Indio area during this time. The E.F. Hutton office in Palm
Springs which he managed was located at 115 N. Palm Canyon Drive. Information obtained from
his death certificate states that he died while residing at Avenue 58 in Thermal. It also indicated that
during his adult life, Albert Coffy was an Investments Manager for the E.F. Hutton Company. The
following biographical information (from a Coachella Valley) was also included in an obituary from
the McBratney family album. His remains are also located at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in
Glendale.
Born in Chicago, July 6, 1890, Mr. Coffy had been a resident
of this community for 35 years and of the state for 45 years. Mr.
Coffy was a date grower and manager during his 35 years in the
valley and was manger of the E.F. Hutton Investments of Hollywood
and Palm Springs for 40 years. He was a member of the Masonic
Lodge (Anonymous 1970).
16
4
i
�
I
i
7 4_-
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
Table 4.
Property ownership records from 1955-1959.
Property Description:
-
Portion of the Northeast
1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 27, Township 6 South, Range 7 East (4.84-acres)
Values
Year Book/Paee
Line
Name of Owner
Land Buildines
Trees & Vines
Acreaee
1956 25a/33a
5
Albert L. Coffy
490 2560
600
2.43 ac.
"116
-Albert L. Coffy
920 ----
840
2.41 ac.
1957 25a/33a
5
Albert L. Coffy
490 2560
600
2.43 ac.
°116
Albert L. Coffy
920 ----
840
2.41 ac.
1958 25a/33a
5
Albert L. Coffy
490 2560
600
2.43 ac.
" "
6
Albert L. Coffy
920 ----
840
2.41 ac.
1959 25a/33a
5
Albert L. Coffy
490 3510
600
2.43 ac.
"
6
Albert L. Coffy
920 ----
840
2.41 ac.
4. Modern History of the West Adobe
Myra Heine Coffy sold the adobe property in 1972. The new owners were Dr. and Mrs.
Albert G. Lucero of Palm Desert. It was during the. Lucero's ownership that many of the
improvements were made to the property. Building permits indicate that in 1976, Dr. Lucero
contracted with Aquatic Pools of Rancho Mirage to install the swimming pool. It is believe that at
the same time, Lucero remodeled the garage and office portion of the main house that fronted the
swimming pool area. Large single pane windows and aluminum sliding glass doors had been
installed. The Luceros appear to have owned the residence until 1990. For the last 21 years, the
adobe has been owned by a handful of individuals. There is an indication in the assessors records
that a fire occurred at the residence in 1997. The fire appeared to have been restricted to the den
area (see description below). Up until 2007, the adobe had been continuously occupied. Since that
time, the 79 year old adobe has sat vacant.
VI. PROPERTY DESCRIPTION
The West Adobe lies at the end of a straight dirt driveway flanked by a low, split -rail fence,
equestrian paddocks, and date palms. The driveway terminates at a tall wooden gate which is an
W-i
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
extension of an adobe wall. The low wall encloses the veranda and serves to separate the
house/living area from its date palm grove setting.
Information obtained from the Riverside County Assessors Office in Palm Springs
indicates that the single story adobe occupies 2196 square feet and comprises a 3 bedroom, 2
bath residence with a living room, dining room, kitchen, and den. Attached to the east end of the
adobe is a 270 sq. ft. modern office addition that is covered by a low-pitched, shed roof that is
covered with decorative limestone. It extends the full breadth of the east gable of the main
house. The adobe fronts on 567 sq. ft. of colonnaded porches around a central veranda.
The residence is accompanied by a 580 sq. ft. detached garage which has subsequently
been remodeled to serve as an art studio. The stuccoed frame structure lies very close to the
main house, the northwest comer of the studio being only about three or four feet from the
southwest comer of the office addition. The converted garage (studio) and office addition both
front onto a 15 x 30' swimming pool.
VII. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
A. Floor Plan and Foundations
The floor plan of the adobe comprises an ell with the long leg, or main wing, oriented
east -west and the short leg, or west wing, extending north -south from the western end of the
main wing (Figure 5). The two wings enclose a rectangular courtyard bounded by an adobe wall.
The entire ell rests on a concrete slab which also forms the full-length porches which span the
lengths of both wings and join in the crotch of the ell. This conclusion is based on our inspection
of a rectangular cut which has been made below the kitchen windows near the east end of the
north elevation (Plate III).
This method of construction is very different from traditional adobe building techniques.
Whereas adobe wall footings were typically built of cobbles placed in a trench, the West Adobe
is built on a 5-6" thick concrete slab. The eight stuccoed rectilinear posts which support the
porch roofs stand directly on the surface of the foundation slab. The stuccoed posts measure 7.5
x 9.5" which suggest that they represent 6 x 8" wood timbers which have been covered with 3/4"
of plaster. A photograph provided by the McBratney family shows these supports prior to them
being plastered (Plate IV:top).
19
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
Figure 5. West Adobe Floor Plan
20
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
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aIM
IMP
,
7,7
� [ t� - �' �' ,yy'.. +rir a�yg a..ry,:• ,t+ C v k ♦ .. ^ a t
9.1
' f + tt l l •' Z.� yR-R• w.•
t .
.a
Ice
J t
Plate III. Top: Close-up of lower wall construction on north elevation.
Bottom: Close-up of concrete wall footing on north elevation.
21
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t � 5 a �' � � � �'.
� r � �
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West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
Construction plans must have begun with a simple grading program consisting of leveling
the house/courtyard area. This would have not entailed moving much earth since the location
was naturally relatively flat. The next step was to string and excavate the footings for the
exterior walls and interior supporting walls that would also be built with adobe bricks. A footing
trench was also dug for the entire courtyard wall enclosure (Plate IV:bottom).
Cast iron pipes were laid for the kitchen and bathroom drains followed by the installation
of forms for the 12" concrete footing. Then the footings were poured to an elevation flush with
the ground surface. The first course of adobe brick was set on the footing (see below).
The next step was to pour the slab for the house floor and porch paving. The slab, which
appears to be unreinforced, was carefully floated to a smooth surface. A cement wall base cove
was formed against the first course of adobes at this time. This cove may be observed at the
interior and exterior bases of the adobe walls throughout the house.
The courtyard wall footings were left unfinished except for the gated entry which we
believe was located at the east end of the porch on the main wing. This placement is based upon
a small surviving patch of smooth concrete found on top of the rough surface of the wall footing
just east of the porch. No other indications of outside access to the courtyard were observed.
B. Fireplaces and Chimney
The most outstanding interior feature of the adobe is the large cobble fireplace found in
the middle of the common adobe wall between the living room and den (Plate V:top). A footing
for the fireplaces was probably poured at the same time the wall footings were formed. The
double fireplace and chimney were built using local cobbles of fairly uniform size. Steel was
used as headers in the rectangular opening of the fireplaces which were placed back-to-back, one
facing the living room and one facing the den. The chimney tapers upward, not attaining its
minimum width until a short distance below what was to become the apex of the cathedral .
ceiling. Above the center of the living room fireplace is an arched -shaped niche or recess. This
area was probably intended to display a religious object, shrine, or small art object.
The rooftop section of the cobble chimney comprises four courses of cobbles and
measures 35" (east -west) x 48" (north -south; Plate V:bottom). Above the roof, the chimney
measures 24" in height. The top of the chimney is capped with a concrete coping. Written in
script on the northern section of coping is "May 19 1932°(Plate VI:top).
23
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
p
M t _
I
-
'Uly ,.' .....
a r `
r t =
y3" r 4
Plate V. Top: Easterly half of cobblestone fireplace set in living room wall.
Bottom: Easterly view across main roof showing cobblestone chimney and decorative
limestone roof covering.
24
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
a
M s~
mot. .. _..
Plate VI. Top: Top of chimney showing inscribed date of construction.
Bottom: Close-up of door construction on north elevation showing filled dead space
between door frame header and lintel.
25
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
C. Exterior Walls. Windows, and Doors
All exterior walls and interior supporting walls were built with adobe bricks. These
bricks were manufactured from local lakebed sediments which are very silty and have a low clay
content. Although straw binder is visible in the bricks of some of the walls, particularly on the
south (rear) of the building, almost no binder is visible in the bricks of the early 19'h century
Chapin Adobe in Indian Wells (White and Van Horn 1989).
The dimensions of the adobe bricks also vary. Most are 16 to 18 inches long; averaging
about 17 inches in length. Thickness varies from 3.5 to 4 inches. Width, however, is uniformly
12 inches which perfectly matches the footings. The variable dimensions of the adobes may
indicate that the forms used in their manufacture were not consistent in length. Alternatively, it
is possible that long forms capable of producing multiple bricks were used. The variations in
length occurred when the resulting long adobe was separated into individual bricks.
As mentioned earlier, the first course of brick was laid in mud mortar directly on top of
the concrete footing. The wooden thresholds for the entries were probably set in place when the
first course was laid. Successive courses were placed to form a running bond pattern. In some
parts of the building, the mortared joints between the adobes are indistinguishable. We interpret
this as indicating that the mortar and/or adobes were wet when the bricks were set -so wet that
the courses melded together to form solid adobe. In other areas, the materials were sufficiently
dry that the joints remained visible.
When the walls reached the height of the lowest window levels, the wooden window sills
were set in place. These served to mark the various window locations so that they could be left
open as the walls rose. When the height of window header had been exceeded by a wall course,
an inverted splayed timber lintel was set across the window opening (Figure 6). The same
procedure was followed with the doorways. The window side frames and door jams were
installed followed by a header to complete framing of the opening. This always left a narrow
empty space between the top of the header and the bottom of the lintel (Plate VI:bottom). This
space was filled with adobe mortar and covered by a narrow filler molding that covered the space
between the bottom of the lintel and the top of the header.
Although not visible in the finished building, bond beams must have been placed on top
of the last course of adobes. This would have served to stabilize the walls and, most importantly,
spread the weight born by the rafters so that the latter did not dig into the soft mud brick.
26
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
Figure 6. West Adobe Window Detail.
27
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quints
D. Roof
The house was constructed with a cross -gabled roof. The central supporting adobe wall
and chimney helped bear the ridge beam of the main wing while the central supporting adobe
wall of the west wing helped bear the ridge of its roof. The two porch roofs were framed
following completion of the house roof frames. The courtyard ends of the porch rafters were
supported by continuous lintels on 6" x 8" wooden posts standing on the porch pavement along
the southern and western edges of the courtyard. The roofs were finished with boards covered in
rolled, composition paper that were then hot mopped with tar. They were then sprinkled with
limestone pea gravel, followed by ground limestone, and topped with limestone aggregate for
decoration (Plate V:bottom). Originally, we believe the roofs were tile (Rau 2006:pers. comm.,
Robert and Patricia McBratney 2011:pers. comm.) as this was the traditional adobe house roof
type. Moreover some or all of the roof tiles currently serving as coping for the veranda wall may
well have originated from the roof of the house (note tiles in Plate VII:top).
E. Adobe Wall Finishes
All adobe surfaces on the exterior are covered with a stuccoed -like finish. This was
accomplished by incising vertical slots in the adobe walls into which wooden laths were placed
and affixed with nails. The laths were used as a backing surface for a layer of black paper
followed by a layer of chicken wire (Plate VII:bottom). The lime -mortar plaster was then
applied. This same method was used to plaster the wooden porch posts and rafter lintels.
However, this may not have always been the case for exterior wall treatments. An undated photo
of the West family taken at the southeast corner of the adobe shows the south elevation wall
unpainted and certainly unplastered (Plate VIII:top).
The interior adobe walls in the living room and den were left exposed. It appears that the
horizontal and vertical joints between bricks were exaggerated by wiping with a wet rag (Plate
VIII:bottom). This had the effect of rounding off the edges of the brick and enhancing their
masonry wall effect. The adobe wall surfaces were then whitewashed and subsequently painted.
F. Ceilings and Interior Non -Supporting Walls
Taken together, the living room and den comprise the central area of the house where the
main and west wings converge. Each of these two rooms has adobe walls on all four sides and a
W
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
Plate VII: Top: Southeasterly view of north elevation courtyard wall topped with red tiles. Bottom:
Close-up of north elevation wall detail showing laths attached to wall in preparation for stucco.
29
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
1..
i ---- a; Y, 7.
^++d r r t
Plate VIII: Top: West family and friends posing for photograph on south elevation. Note that
adobe bricks appear to be unpainted and unplastered (Courtesy of the McBratney family).
Bottom: View of eastern living room wall showing decorative treatment of adobe bricks.
30
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
cathedral ceiling. The cathedral ceiling consists of three rectangular timbers, a central and two
laterals, which span the distance between adobe gables. Tongue -and -groove boards are fastened
to the bottoms of the rafters running parallel to the timbers. In 1997, the den was damaged by a
fire. Fortunately, since adobe is fireproof the damage was restricted to the exposed roof beams,
tongue -and -groove ceiling boards and window casings. The ceiling timbers were chard and
repaired by boxing the beams with wood siding. The ceiling boards were covered or replaced
with wall board or wood paneling and plastered white. The window casings were repaired as
needed.
The rooms at the outer ends of both wings feature smaller rooms (kitchen, dining room,
bedrooms and bathrooms) with drop ceilings. The ceilings and walls of these rooms are 2 x 4"
frames covered with lath and plaster. Wooden baseboards are found at the bottom of these walls.
The drop ceilings in the smaller rooms created attic spaces which had to be ventilated in
order to discourage condensation from collecting (an especially important consideration in adobe
buildings). On the main wing, ventilation was accomplished by leaving three 4" square holes in
a triangular pattern just below the peaks of the exterior adobe gable on the east and the eastern
living room adobe gable (Plate VIII:bottom). None are found in the western adobe gable of the
den. However, a similar three -hole vent is found in the northern exterior gable of the west wing.
The chicken wire fastening for the exterior stucco walls also formed a grill for the exterior vent
holes.
All of the interior adobe walls exhibit plastered baseboards or curbing that slightly flare
out at the floor. This feature resembles what is known today as a cove base. The height of the
cove base averaged 5" and all baseboards have curved corners. They are used to protect the base
of walls from damage and to provide a finished and more aesthetically pleasing look.
G. Interior Floors
The concrete surface of the porch is solid although false joints are indicated by incised
lines. As mentioned earlier, this slab extends under the entire residence. In all interior rooms of
the house (including the addition), the concrete floor has been paved with attractive 11 112"
square Mexican tiles that are 5/8" thick. These plain tiles vary in color from a pinkishibeige to a
pinkish/red and compliment the early Californio effect of the interior walls. It is not known how
much of the flooring may be original. There is quite a variation in the width of the tile grout.
31
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
Both the living room and dining room exhibit the most professionally laid tiles. However, the
central portions of these floors are heaved. On the other hand, the tile work in the den and
bedroom behind kitchen is noticeably more irregular with over a 3/4" difference in grout width
throughout the rooms.
The only decorative floor tiles in the house can be found in the short hallway and
bathroom off of the kitchen. These areas are laid with 9 x I I" unsealed, pinkish/red Spanish
Mission Red Terracotta tiles that are scalloped in shape. This particular style of tile has been
identified as Arabesque.
H. Bathrooms
The West Adobe contains two, relatively small bathrooms. The bathroom located
immediately south of the kitchen was equipped with a toilet and bathtub (which have since been
salvaged). It includes plastered 4" wood framed walls that are painted and not tiled. Flooring in
this bathroom comprises decorative 9 x I I" terracotta tiles (see above).
An inspection of the inside of the bathroom western wall resulted in the discovery of two
rolled -up newspapers. One is dated December 13, 1973 (Palm Desert Post) while the other
newspaper is dated December 12, 1973 (Daily News, Indio). The dates of these newspapers
correspond to the time when the residence was owned by Albert G. Lucero & Claudia G. Lucero
and major remodeling occurred.
The second bathroom is located between the two bedrooms in the west wing of the adobe.
It features a sink and counter area bordered with white and pink tile, a toilet, and a tub/shower
enclosure. According to the McBratney family, all of the fixtures in this bathroom used to be
black (Robert and Patricia McBramey 201 L•pers. comm.).
I. Fenestration
As previously mentioned, the West Adobe fenestration consists of wood casement sashes.
The kitchen area exhibits the best lighting and has a tripartite set of three -pane wood casement
sashes near the center of the facade (sink area; Plate IX:top). Other fenestration on the facade
consists of a pair of horizontal three -pane wood casement sashes east (left) of the kitchen door
and a pair of vertical casements west of the living room entry. The most common and simplest
style consists of 18 x 36" openings with one -over -three panes (IX:bottom).
32
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
Plate IX. Top: Tripartite set of casement sashes located in kitchen on north elevation.
Bottom: Typical one -over -three casement. Note inverted splayed timber lintel.
33
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quints
J. Water and Electrical Power
Water pipes were routed overhead above the drop ceilings in the kitchen and two
bathrooms. The location of the well was located just to the southwest of the adobe. The new
adobe apparently had electrical service from the beginning. This statement is based on the fact
that tube and socket (cloth -covered copper) wiring is built into the adobe walls and several
receptacles found at the bases of the adobe walls. in the living room are an early type. Service
was from a box located on the western elevation at the southwestern corner of the building.
K. Courtyard Walls
The rectilinear courtyard or veranda is the focal point of the adobe residence. It is
enclosed on three sides: the main house on the south, the west wing on the west, and the
courtyard wall on the north. As mentioned earlier, 12" wide concrete footings were poured for
both the norther and eastern courtyard walls (Plate IV: bottom). Adobe walls were built on
these footings using the same materials as were used to build the walls of the residence. The
tops of the walls were protected from the weather by a layer of cement mortar and a roof tile
coping in which the tiles were set perpendicular to the length of the wall so that they overhung
the wall surfaces on either side. These courtyard walls were low, attaining a height of only about
two feet along most of their length. However, they ascended to a height of about four feet at
their corners (Plate II:bottom).,
L. Courtyard Paving and Landscaping
The courtyard is paved with bricks and square quarry tiles of varying sizes (Figure 7).
The basic layout consists of a walkway which spans the middle of the courtyard. The eastern
portion of the walkway is paved with standard building bricks set in a square parfait pattern (area
marked "C" in Figure 7). The eastern portion of the walk, which terminated at the former eastern
adobe courtyard wall, was paved with 11 x 11" square quarry tiles (Figure 7, "B"). Other
rectilinear areas are paved with 9.5" x 9.5" or 10.5" x 10.5" square quarry tiles. Access to the
patio from the main wing porch is via a short narrow little walk paved with 11.5 x 11.5 square
tiles (Figure 7, "A" and "D"). The variation in quarry tiles sizes suggests that the courtyard was
paved in several different stages.
34
West Adobe HABS Report
Citv of La Ouinta
West Adobe
La Quints
Courtyard 15 Feet
Adobe Wall With Tile Coping
Succulents Plastered Adobe Curb Succulents
❑ Olive Tree
D
FA FA
C Dirt Di t
B 's ` ❑ u C
U Succulents A ❑❑❑
t: Succulents a
❑ ❑ ❑ ❑
Concrete Porch Concrete
A= 9 h x 9'/ Square Quarry Tile E= 1 I '/: x I I% Square Quarry Tile
B= I I x I I Square Quarry Tile a Vertical Brick Border
C = Double Brick Parrott - = Horizontal Brick Border
D = 10 %: x 10 % Square Quarry Tile
Figure 7. West Adobe Courtyard Plan.
35
Archurn/nFnnl A�cuaiutra
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
Landscaping was dominated by an olive tree growing next to the center of the northern
courtyard wall. Narrow flower beds set along the wall to the east and west of the olive tree were
planted with succulents. These flower beds, including the semi -circular border around the trunk
of the olive, were set off by a narrow plastered adobe curb. Other flower beds planted with
succulents bordered the porch of the main wing. At some time after the brick and quarry the
paving was installed, rocks were placed around the border of the flower beds bordering the main
porch.
VIII. COMMENTS ON STYLE
The United States was deep in the Great Depression in 1932 when the West Adobe was
built. Doubtless this economic disaster had much to do with the fact that the house is an adobe.
As Iowa so aptly put it for New Mexico adobes, their architecture was sometimes "predicated
upon an economy of scarcity" (1985: 9). La Quinta was a sparsely populated agrarian area in the
early 1930's and adobe would have been the only inexpensive locally available building material.
In several important ways, the West Adobe reflects the classic traditions of residential
adobe construction in southern California. It is single -story with low pitched gable roofs, thick
adobe walls, and open interior ceilings. Rooms are arranged in rows with individual room
exterior entries. They open onto colonnaded post -and -lintel porches which, along with an adobe
wall, enclose a central veranda or courtyard. The original roof was probably tile as is the coping
of the courtyard wall. The courtyard is paved with red tile and brick. Fenestration is minimal,
the small vertical casement windows being embrasured into the wall.
Prominent timber lintels are found over every wall opening. However, these lintels
exhibit one feature not commonly seen in traditional adobes; namely their inversely beveled ends
(Plate IX:top). Traditional adobe timber lintels usually have square ends. Moreover, the ends of
most exposed lintels in all styles of architecture are either square or splayed (i.e., with beveled
ends, the widest surface being at the top).
We know of at least two other adobes in the Coachella Valley which exhibit this feature.
One is the adobe residence located just to the west of the West Adobe (81773 Avenue 58). The
other is the former physician's residence (Smiley Home) in Indio which currently houses the
Coachella Valley Museum and Cultural Center. This adobe residence dates to the 1920's and
features at least one original inverted splayed lintel. Were it not for the fact that the adobe stands
M.
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
on a concrete pad, it could easily be mistaken for a 19'h century structure which had been
plastered and fitted with 20th century window sashes.
The West Adobe includes other architectural elements which are characteristic of
southern California houses during the 1930's. Most notable is the pre -manufactured wood sash
casement fenestration. The 18" three vertical pane sashes are seen everywhere in the adobe both
as singles and combined. Especially typical of the era is the tripartite set of these sashes on the
facade (kitchen windows over sink). Such an arrangement is found on many vernacular frame
houses of the period in the greater Los Angeles area.
Spanish colonial revival elements are also present. We refer to the three hole triangular
pattern of the vent holes in the house's adobe gables. These resemble the "canales" so often
found in Spanish Colonial Revival designs.
Although adobe is a traditional building material, the practice of placing stucco plaster on
the exterior is strictly a 201h century phenomenon; traditional adobe exteriors having been
finished with mud plaster (Ibid. 96). Stucco may be offensive to purists who are quick to point
out that the hard plaster may be damaging to an adobe because it retains dampness within the
wall. On the other hand, the stucco may also protect the adobe bricks from the weather and we
know of at least one traditional 19th century adobe which would not survive today had its 20'h
century owner not plastered it with stucco. This is the Ramon Peralta Adobe in Anaheim Hills
(Van Horn and Elliot 2003).
37
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
REFERENCES CITED
Anonymous
n.d. Dr. S.V. West Weds in San Francisco. Newspaper clipping from the McBratney
family album.
1970 Albert L. Coffy. Obituary. Newspaper clipping from the McBratney family
album.
Belyea, Marlon Rau
2006 Personal communication. Daughter of Allan Francis Rau and Louise La Rue Rau.
Greenberg, Steven
2007 Personal communication. Coordinator for Medical Services. National Library of
Medicine. History of Medicine Division. Bethesda.
Iowa, Jerome
1985 Ageless Adobe: History and Preservation in Southwestern Architecture. Stmstone
Press. Santa Fe.
McBratney, Patricia M.
2011 Personal communication. Granddaughter of Marie Montaigne West and daughter
of Jane Marie West McBratney.
McBratney, Robert T.
2011 Personal communication. Grandson of Marie Montaigne West and son of Jane
Marie West McBratney.
Mouriquand, Leslie J.
1997 Draft City of La Qunita Historic Context Statement. City of La Quinta Planning
Department.
Nolte Associates, Inc.
2008 Alternate Tentative Tract Map No. 33848 and Conceptual Grading and Drainage
Plan (Revised). IN: Draft Environmental Impact Report (SCH# 2007021060) for
Tentative Tract Map 33848 prepared by Terra Nova Planning & Research, Inc.
Palm Springs. Palm Desert.
Petrin, Katherine
2006 Peer Review for the Adobe Structure at 81891 581h Avenue, City of LaQuinta,
("the West Adobe"), ARG Project No. 06072. Architectural Resources Group.
San Francisco.
93
West Adobe HABS Report
City of La Quinta
Terra Nova Planning & Research, Inc
2008 Draft Environmental Impact Report (SCH# 2007021060) for Tentative Tract Map
33848. Palm Springs.
University of California
1921 Directory of Graduates, 1864-1921. University of California Bulletin. Third
Series, Vol. XV, No. 3 (Medical School). University of California Press.
Berkeley.
1899 Register 1898-99. The University Press. Berkeley.
Van Horn, David and John Elliott
2003 Investigations at the Ramon Peralta Adobe. Pacific Coast Archaeological Society
Occasional Paper Number 3.
White, Laurie S. and David M. Van Horn
1989 Archaeological Investigations at the Chapin. Adobe, City of Indian Wells.
Unpublished report on file with Archaeological Associates. Sun City.
White, Robert S., Laura S. White, M.A. and David M. Van Horn, Ph.D.
2007 Supplemental Historic Research for the West Adobe (TT 33848), Located at
81891 58`h Avenue, City of La Quinta, Riverside County. Appendix "B" IN: Draft
Environmental Impact Report (SCH# 2007021060) for Tentative Tract Map
33848 prepared by Terra Nova Planning & Research, Inc. Palm Springs.
2006 . A Cultural Resources Assessment of a 4.84-Acre Parcel as Shown on TTM
33848, Located at 81891 581h Avenue, City of La Quinta, Riverside County.
Archaeological Associates. Sun City.
www.ancestrv.com
www.rootsweb.com
39
ATTACHMENT 2
HISTORIC AMERICAN ENGINEERING RECORD: AN ILLUSTRATED AND
PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD OF THE WEST ADOBE LOCATED AT 81891
AVENUE 58, CITY OF LA QUINTA, RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
submitted to:
City of La Quinta
Planning Department
78495 Calle Tampico
La Quinta, CA 92253
Attn: Andrew Mogensen
Principal Planner
prepared for:
David Maman Design
6541 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 203
Los Angeles, CA 90028
prepared by:
Laura S. White, M.A.
Robert S. White
David M. Van Horn, Ph.D.
Archaeological Associates
P.O. Box 180
Sun City, California 92586
Tel: (951) 244-1783
Fax: (951) 244-0084
November, 2011
Page 1 of 9
(West Adobe, City of La Quinta)
I. INTRODUCTION
. The drawings and photographs that follow comprise a visual record of the historic West
Adobe located at 81891 Avenue 58, City of La Quinta, Riverside County. Current development
plans call for demolition of the adobe residence, detached garage (converted studio), and swimming
pool. Project proponents plan to subdivide the 4.84 acre parcel (TPM 33848) into twelve, single-
family residential home lots (Nolte 2008). The property will also include: 1) a central north -south
trending cul-de-sac from Avenue 58 to access the individual lots, 2) a retention basin at the
northeastern corner of the property, and 3) a landscape parkway (42 feet in depth) south of Avenue
58 (Terra Nova 2008).
The West Adobe was constructed in 1932 within a newly planted date grove. Although the
architect's name remains a mystery, the builder of the structure was most likely Allan Rau (property
owner at the time). Employing Mexican laborers, adobe bricks were manufactured (formed and
sunbaked) on -site using native soil (lakebed sediments). Construction of the adobe within a date
palm grove was part of Mr. Rau's early development concept of "date palm estates". Marie
Montaigne West and her two children, Gage and Jane Marie West, were the first occupants of the
adobe.
This single -story adobe residence is representative of the final stage of traditional adobe
construction in southern California. It is also one of the last surviving adobe residences in the
Coachella Valley (White et al. 2007). The adobe is ell -shaped in plan with the kitchen and living
area (main wing) comprising the long leg of the ell which is oriented east -west. The short leg of the
ell (west wing) extends north -south from the western end of the main house and includes guest
quarters. The two wings enclose a rectangular courtyard which is encircled by a low, adobe wall
topped with clay tile.
The facade and exterior walls comprise solid adobe that has been covered with black felt
("roofing") paper and chicken wire, and then skinned or plastered with mortar. The main house and
west wing are covered by low-pitched gable roofs. The roofs are presently clad in rolled
composition paper that has been hot mopped with tar. They were then sprinkled with limestone pea
gravel, followed by ground limestone, and topped with limestone aggregate for decoration.
Originally, the roofs are believed to have been red tile (probably Spanish) as this was the traditional
adobe house roof type and the style remembered by the family. It was also the type of coping still
found on the adobe walls enclosing the courtyard.
The facade also incorporates several other classic southern California adobe components.
These include post -and -lintel porches and multiple entries around a central veranda. A tripartite set
of three -pane wood casement sashes near the center of the facade of the main wing sets the tone for
standard fenestration throughout the adobe. Casement windows such as these were very popular
in southern California between the teens and thirties of the 20" century. Furthermore, all original
exterior entries and windows in the adobe exhibit timber lintels over each opening. However, unlike
traditional adobe timber lintels that have squared ends, lintels on this residence consist of inverted
splayed timber lintels. Many additional details regarding the history and architecture of the
residence are presented in the Historic American Building Survey (HABS) report which is a
Page 2 of 9
(West Adobe, City of La Quints)
companion to this Historic American Engineering Record (HAER).
Prior to 2007, the West Adobe had been continuously occupied. However, since that time,
it has sat vacant. Despite the boarding of all openings, vandals found their way into the residence
and stripped it of all wiring and plumbing fixtures. Interior and exterior walls were also covered
with graffiti and the yard strewn with trash. Consequently, prior to conducting the HAER program
at the residence, it was stipulated that all debris be removed from around the adobe as well as the
courtyard and interior. Furthermore, all graffiti on the interior and exterior of the building were to
be painted over with white paint.
Clean-up efforts at the adobe occurred in January, 2010. The work was performed by Mr.
Jimmy Monroe of Quality Wrecking and Demolition Co., Lake View Terrace. For safety reasons,
the swimming pool was demolished first. Refuse and fiuniture were subsequently removed as was
dense vegetation and several dead date palms that obscured views of the adobe. All necessary walls
were'then painted by Archaeological Associates prior to photo documentation by Mr. Taylor
Sherrill.
Fieldwork for the HAER recording program was conducted by David M. Van Horn, Laura
S. White, and Robert S. White of Archaeological Associates in February, 2010. During that time,
the crew measured the dimensions of each elevation (in feet and inches). They also recorded the
building's interior as well as the outside courtyard. Measurements were transferred onto large-scale
field drawings. These drawings were then used as the base reference for the finished drawings
included here. Detailed notes were taken regarding the adobe's methods of construction,
fenestration, and interior design elements. All drawings were transferred to pen -and -ink by Trevor
Freeman, Archaeological Associates' draftsman and custom graphics technician, and finalized for
production.
II. SITE PLAN
The site plan of the West Adobe was drawn as the building and associated features appeared
in 2010. With the exception of the office addition on the east, the footprint of the house remains the
same as it was originally built in 1932. The residence is accompanied by a detached garage which
is believed to have been constructed in the 1940s. Over the years, the garage was converted into a
game room and most recently served as an art studio. An oval -shaped swimming pool lies a short
distance to the east of the house. It was constructed in 1976. Today, the West Adobe stands within
a small, surviving remnant portion of the original date grove (Deglet Noor).
III. BUILDING DRAWINGS
Withthe exception of an exposed kitchen waterpipe and some missing plaster on the exterior
kitchen walls, the exterior of the adobe was largely intact when the building drawings were compiled
in 2010. Over the years, several modifications had already taken place, most notably the
aforementioned office addition attached to the east elevation of the adobe in the early 1970s. Other
Page 3 of 9
(Wekt Adobe, City of La Quinta)
visual alterations have included a change in roofing material (red tile to crushed limestone) and the
plastering of the post -and -lintels and entire exterior.
IV. PHOTOGRAPHS
The archival photographs of the various elevations, interior views, and architectural details
of the house were photographed on January 30, 2010 by professional photographer Taylor Sherrill
of Sherrill & Associates, Inc., Cathedral City. Large format (4 x 5" negative) and medium format
(2 1/4 x 2 1/4" negative) cameras were employed. These included a Sinar P3 with a 54H back and
a Hasselblad with 40mm and 50mm lenses, respectively. Black & White film was used for both
formats.
SITE PLAN
WEST ADOBE
81891 Avenue 58
City of La Quinta
Riverside County
California
Page 4 of 9
(West Adobe, City of La Quinta)
Note: The site plan for the West Adobe was derived from the Tentative Tract Map 33848
produced by Warner Engineering in 2005. The images were transferred by draftsman Trevor
Freeman to a scale drawing on mylar using pen -and -ink. It was then digitally reproduced by
the project photographer Taylor Sherrill in his studio in Cathedral City, Riverside County.
Archival prints include both 8 1/2 x 11" and 11 x 17".
West Adobe Site Plan (in 8 1/2 x 11" and 11 x 17")
The site plan of the 4.84 acre parcel shows the property entrance on the south side of Avenue
58 largely obscured by tall hedges of oleander. A straight dirt drive leads to the residential complex
(81891 Avenue 58) which is set back approximately 220 feet from the paved road. Structures
illustrated include the main house, detached garage, swimming pool and well situated within the
remnant date grove.
INDEX TO DRAWINGS
WEST ADOBE
81891 Avenue 58
City of La Quinta
Riverside County
California
Page 5 of 9
(West Adobe, City of La Quinta)
Note: All drawings were generated by hand using measurements taken in the field. Draftsman
Trevor Freeman then took the scale field drawings and transferred them to mylar employing
pen and ink. Labels were also added at this time. The mylar drawings were then digitally
reproduced by the project photographer Taylor Sherrill in his studio in Cathedral City,
Riverside County. Archival drawings were produced in 8 1/2 x 11" and 11 x 17". With the
exception of Drawing #8, both sizes of drawings are included below.
Drawins #1 (8 1/2 x I I" and 11 x 17" )
Courtyard site plan at West Adobe.
Drawing #2 (,8 1/2 xl1" and 11 x 17")
North elevation of the West Adobe.
Drawing #3 (8 1/2 xI V and 11 x 17")
South elevation of the West Adobe.
Drawing #4 (8 1/2 x I I" and 11 x 17")
East elevation of the West Adobe.
Drawing #5 (8 1/2 x I I" and 11 x 17")
West elevation of the West Adobe.
Drawing #6 (8 1/2 x I I" and 11 x 17")
Office addition attached to east elevation of West Adobe.
Drawing #7 (8 1/2 x 11" and l 1 x 17" )
Interior floor plan of West Adobe.
Drawing #8 (8 1/2 x 1 l")
Profile of window construction at West Adobe.
INDEX TO PHOTOGRAPHS
WEST ADOBE
81891 Avenue 58
City of La Quinta
Riverside County
California
Page 6 of 9
(West Adobe, City of La Quinta)
Note: All photographs were taken by professional photographer Taylor Sherrill. Black &
white photographs #1 through #5 include 8 x 10" enlargements from the large format
negatives (4 x 5"). These prints comprise various elevation views of the adobe residence. The
remaining black & white photographs (#6 through #17) include 8 x 10"enlargements from the
medium format negatives (2 1/4 x 2 1/4"). These photographs include interior views and
architectural details of the adobe.
B&W Photogrgph #1 (4 x 5" negative)
Oblique southwesterly view of north elevation of West Adobe.
B&W Photogrgph #2 (4 x 5" negative)
Southerly view of north elevation of West Adobe.
B&W Photogr=h #3 (4 x 5" negative)
Easterly view of west elevation of West Adobe.
B&W Photogr=h #4 (4 x 5" negative)
Northerly view of south elevation of West Adobe.
B&W Photograph #5 (4 x 5" negative)
Westerly view of east elevation of West Adobe.
INDEX TO PHOTOGRAPHS (Continued)
WEST ADOBE
81891 Avenue 58
City of La Quinta
Riverside County
California
Page 7 of 9
(West Adobe, City of La Quinta)
B&W Photograph #6 (2 1/4 x 2 1/4" negative)
Looking west through covered porch on north elevation of West Adobe.
B&W PhotogrWh #7 (2 1/4 x 2 1/4" negative)
Southeasterly view across courtyard at covered porch on north elevation of West Adobe.
B&W Photograph #8 (2 1/4 x 2 1/4" negative)
Southwesterly view through courtyard at covered porch on north elevation of West Adobe.
B&W Photograph #9 (2 1/4 x 2 1/4" negative)
Looking east through covered porch on north elevation of West Adobe.
B&W Photogrrah #10 (2 1/4 x 2 1/4" negative)
Close-up of inverted splayed timber lintels over openings on north elevation of West Adobe.
B&W Photogr=h #11 (2 1/4 x 2 1/4" negative)
Westerly view through kitchen area of West Adobe.
B&W Photogruph #12 (2 1/4 x 2 1/4" negative)
Close-up of east wall of living room at West Adobe. Entrance to kitchen at left, dining room to
right.
B&W Photograph #13 (2 1/4 x 2 1/4" negative)
ive)
Southeasterly view of bedroom behind kitchen at West Adobe.
INDEX TO PHOTOGRAPHS (Continued)
WEST ADOBE
81891 Avenue 58
City of La Quinta
Riverside County
California
Page 8 of 9
(West Adobe, City of La Quinta)
B&W Photograph #14 (2 1/4 x 2 1/4" negative)
Cobblestone fireplace located on west wall of living room at West Adobe. Entrance to den on left,
entrance to west wing (guest quarters) on right.
B&W Photograph #15 (2 1/4 x 2 1/4" ne atg ive)
Back half of cobblestone fireplace located on east wall of den at West Adobe.
B&W Photog_rgph #16 (2 1/4 x 2 1/4" negative)
Southerly view through hallway of west wing at West Adobe.
B&W PhotogrrUh #17 (2 1/4 x 2 1/4" negative)
Close-up of exterior kitchen wall (north elevation) of West Adobe showing method of construction.
Page 9 of 9
( West Adobe, City of La Quinta)
CITED
Nolte Associates, Inc.
2008 Alternate Tentative Tract Map No. 33848 and Conceptual Grading and Drainage
Plan (Revised). IN: Draft Environmental Impact Report (SCH# 2007021060) for
Tentative Tract Map 33848 prepared by Terra Nova Planning & Research, Inc. Palm
Springs.
Terra Nova Planning & Research, Inc
2008 Draft Environmental Impact Report (SCH# 2607021060) for Tentative Tract Map
33848 prepared by Terra Nova Planning & Research, Inc. Palm Springs.
Warner Engineering
2005 Tentative Tract Map No. 33848. Palm Desert.
White, Robert S., Laura S. White, M.A. and David M. Van Horn, Ph.D.
2007 Supplemental Historic Research for the West Adobe (TT 33848), Located at 81891
58' Avenue, City of La Quinta, Riverside County. Appendix "E" IN: Draft
Environmental Impact Report (SCH# 2007021060) for Tentative Tract Map 33848
prepared by Terra Nova Planning & Research, Inc. Palm Springs.
Avenue 58 To Monroe St. 513 Ft.
pDatePalm*s
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Date
Property Boundary
80 Feet
SITE PLAN
81891 Avenue 58
La Quinta, CA 92253
Nest Adobe
La Quinta
Courtyard
LA
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Succulents Plastered Adobe Curb
4TreeDC C1�r
Succulents
Concrete
15 Feet
Succulents
Al A
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Porch Concrete
A = 9 % x 9 Y: Square Quarry Tile E = 11 %: x 11 %: Square Quarry Tile
B = 11 x 11 Square Quarry Tile a Vertical Brick Border
C = Double Brick Parfait — Horizontal Brick Border
D = 10'/2 x 10 %, Square Quarry Tile
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