Peter J. Weber House: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox historic site |
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| name = Peter J. Weber House |
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| image = Weber house at dawn.jpg |
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| image_size = 240px |
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| caption = The Weber House |
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| coordinates = {{coord|33.9752|-117.3446|type:landmark_region:US-CA|display=inline,title}} |
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| mapframe = yes |
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| mapframe-zoom = 13 |
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| mapframe-width = 240 |
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| mapframe-marker = building |
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| mapframe-caption = Interactive map showing<br>the Weber house's location |
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| location = 1510 University Ave<br>[[Riverside, California]] |
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| area = |
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| built = 1932–1938 |
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| architect = [[Peter J. Weber]] |
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| architecture = Eclectic |
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| governing_body = Old Riverside Foundation |
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| owner = |
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| designation1 = Riverside Landmark |
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| designation1_offname = |
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| designation1_date = 1981 |
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| designation1_number = 52 |
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| designation2 = |
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| website = {{Official site}} |
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}} |
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The '''Peter J. Weber House''' (also known simply as "The Weber House") is a historic house and landmark in [[Riverside, California]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 11, 2023 |title=Landmarks of the City of Riverside |url=https://www.riversideca.gov/historic/pdf/landmarks-WEB.pdf }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Landmarks of the City of Riverside |url=https://www.raincrossgazette.com/content/files/historic/pdf/landmarks-web.pdf}}</ref> The house was designed and built by architect [[Peter J. Weber]] in the 1930s as a family residence and an expression of his creative work. The house is notable for its eclectic Depression-era design inspired by Medieval Spanish brick and half-timbering structures (with additional elements of Moorish and broadly Mediterranean influences) and its reliance on salvaged materials.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 September 2022 |title=5 Can't-Miss Riverside Art and Culture Destinations |url=https://www.pbssocal.org/shows/socal-wanderer/riverside-art-and-culture-guide |access-date=16 March 2024 |website=PBS SoCal |at=(4/5) |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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==Elements of design and construction== |
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{{AFC comment|1=Large number of unsourced claims. See [[WP:CIRCULAR]]. [[User:Mattdaviesfsic|Mattdaviesfsic]] ([[User talk:Mattdaviesfsic|talk]]) 19:26, 11 January 2023 (UTC)}} |
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[[File:Weber House inspiration.jpg|thumb|A Medieval house in Segovia, Spain with brick and half-timbering, photo by Peter J. Weber, spring of 1932.]] |
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Built between 1933 and 1938, the house features an abundance of recycled and reclaimed materials and finishes, ornate hand-carved details, and colorful decorated ceilings. Some ahead-of-their-time systems include a 1935 roof-mounted solar water heater enclosed by repurposed Model T windshields and seismic fittings in the basement to protect against earthquake damage, informed by Weber's early work as a teenager with architects including John Galen Howard and Julia Morgan following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6772173|title= |
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Solar water heaters in California, 1891—1930|osti= |
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6772173}}</ref> While Weber was trained and highly skilled in the Beaux Arts style of architecture, for his personal home much of the design was inspired by what he had seen on his year-long honeymoon travels in Europe and North Africa from 1931 to 1932, in particular Mediterranean Moorish and Spanish architecture. The house was initially designed to be expanded into a three-bedroom home with a lookout tower and adjacent den, but Weber never finished the intended expansion due to increased development in the area and other practical restrictions. Rooms include a three-bay garage with basement, wash house, kitchen, breakfast room, and living room with one bedroom and one bathroom. The house was surrounded by 8.8 acres of citrus, stone fruit, and nut trees and bordered a branch of the Gage Canal at its south end. When mother-in-law Amelia Hartnett came to live with them in 1941 after the death of her husband, the Webers relocated their sleeping quarters to the rooftop deck with a corrugated metal shade for protection and slept there year-round. It remained the family home for Weber, his wife Clara, son Peter N., and Amelia Hartnett for almost 40 years. |
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==Rescue from demolition== |
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{{AFC comment|1=None of the sources used are reliable ([[WP:UGC|user generated]]). Is listed as a [[National Historic Landmark]] or a state registry? Those generally meet the [[WP:NBUILDING|notability guidelines]]. [[User:S0091|S0091]] ([[User talk:S0091|talk]]) 19:48, 4 November 2022 (UTC)}} |
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In 1973, the Webers moved to Leucadia and their home was rented to a series of tenants while they searched for buyers of their property, divided into four parcels. In 1980, Bob Kneisel<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bungalow Heaven Origins |url=https://www.bungalowheaven.org/our-history/origins/ |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=www.bungalowheaven.org |language=en}}</ref> began renting the house and initiated the work of its restoration and archiving its history. Through his efforts along with Riverside’s Cultural Heritage Board, local advocacy group Old Riverside Foundation, and Alan Curl of the Riverside Metropolitan Museum, the house was recognized as Riverside City Landmark #52 in 1981. After the death of Peter J. Weber in 1983, the parcel containing the house was sold to [[Days Inn]] for redevelopment, who initially sought demolition or relocation of the house, but the Cultural Heritage Board determined the house must remain intact at its original location, so the hotel built their parking lot and swimming pool around it. It has since been restored<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fiske |first=Joanne |date=1986-07-01 |title=Saving this historic house is no easy job |pages= |work=The Press-Enterprise |url= |access-date=}}</ref> to much of its original condition and is available for private tours.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=David |date=February 11, 2023 |title=Weber House in Riverside is a folk-art wonder worth hunting for |url=https://www.pressenterprise.com/2023/02/11/weber-house-in-riverside-is-a-folk-art-wonder-worth-hunting-for/ |website=The Press-Enterprise}}</ref> |
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==See Also== |
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*[[List of landmarks in Riverside, California]] |
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{{Draft topics|architecture|north-america}} |
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{{AfC topic|geo}} |
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== |
==External links== |
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{{Commons|Category:Peter J. Weber}} |
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*{{Official site}} |
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*[https://www.avoidingregret.com/2023/01/photo-essay-riversides-historic-weber.html ''Photo Essay: Riverside's Historic Weber House, Hiding In Plain Sight In a Hotel Parking Lot''] |
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*[https://aquarius.riversideca.gov/plnimage/2/edoc/60122/Item%206.pdf ''Proposed Landmark Plaque for the Weber House, City Landmark #52''] (City of Riverside, Interoffice Memo) |
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Designed and built by architect Peter J. Weber in the 1930s as a family residence and conceptual showcase of his creative work, The Peter J. Weber House<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hiltner |first=Nita |date=April 10, 2010 |title=A look back: Depression-era home was built with modern-day features |pages=1-3 |work=The Press-Enterprise |url=https://oldriverside.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/A-Look-Back_-Depression-era-home-was-built-with-modern-day-features-Local-News-PE.com-Southern-California-News-News-for-Inland-Southern-California.pdf |access-date=November 5, 2022}}</ref> (also known simply as "The Weber House") is [https://riversideca.gov City of Riverside] Landmark #52<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 11, 2023 |title=Landmarks of the City of Riverside |url=https://www.riversideca.gov/historic/pdf/landmarks-WEB.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> located at 1510 University Avenue, Riverside CA 92507. The house is notable not just for its architect (Peter J. Weber was the lead draftsman for the architectural firm of [http://evergreen-cemetery.info/people/g-george-stanley-wilson/ G. Stanley Wilson] and later an architect in his own right), but for its eclectic [https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression Depression]-era design and its reliance on salvaged materials. Bricks were reused from a [https://www.pinterest.com/pin/polytechnic-high-school-c-1915--755830749948182050/ local high school that was being demolished], used cardboard boxes provided insulation in the walls, bathroom mosaic tile was created from broken scraps purchased for $5 per barrel from [https://www.gladdingmcbean.com Gladding, McBean], and the exterior woodwork was stained with used crankcase oil. Built between 1932 and 1938, the house features an abundance of recycled and reclaimed materials and finishes, ornate hand-carved details, colorful decorated ceilings painted by a visiting Hungarian refugee in the 1940s, and some ahead-of-their-time systems including a roof-mounted [https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6772173 solar water heater] enclosed by repurposed Model T windshields<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peter J. Weber House: Iconic Riverside Home |url=https://theclio.com/entry/13327 |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=Clio |language=en}}</ref> and seismic fittings in the basement to protect against earthquake damage, informed by Weber's early work with architect [https://pioneeringwomen.bwaf.org/julia-morgan/ Julia Morgan] following the [https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/events/1906calif/18april/ 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire]. Many of the house's design details were inspired by Weber's year-long honeymoon travels in Europe and North Africa, in particular [https://architectureofcities.com/moorish-architecture Moorish architecture] and [https://www.thespruce.com/tudor-revival-architecture-5116832 Tudor Revival architecture]. The house was initially designed to be expanded into a multi-bedroom private getaway for guests, but Weber never finished the intended expansion for a variety of reasons: the birth of his son in 1937, the shift of vacation destinations from Riverside to [https://www.palmsprings.com/history/ Palm Springs], and a lack of financial resources. The house was surrounded by 8.8 acres of citrus, stone fruit, and nut trees inspired by groves Weber had seen at the [https://www.alhambradegranada.org/en/info/generalife/thegeneralife.asp Generalife Gardens] at [https://www.spain.info/en/places-of-interest/alhambra/ Alhambra] in Granada, Spain, and bordered a branch of the [https://thegagecanalcompany.com Gage Canal] at its south end. As commercial development grew around their home in the 1950s, the Weber House served as a family home for Peter, his wife Clara, their son Peter N. Weber, and Clara’s mother Amelia Hartnett until 1972, when the Webers relocated to [https://www.californiabeaches.com/leucadia-ca/ Leucadia]. |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Weber House, Peter J.}} |
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== Saved from Demolition == |
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[[Category:Buildings and structures in Riverside, California]] |
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The Weber House remained under ownership of the Webers for the next eleven years. In the early 1970s, it was briefly occupied by grove workers, but eventually the grove was torn out and the property was divided into four parcels for sale, including a parcel containing the Weber House. Various renters occupied the home for short periods, and it sat vacant briefly until 1979 when the Webers began renting to two graduate students from [https://www.ucr.edu University of California, Riverside], Lisa Conyers<ref>{{Cite news |last=Patterson |first=Tom |date=1980-07-01 |title=Grove's gone, Riverside gawks at architect's curious handiwork |pages=1 |work=The Press-Enterprise |url=https://oldriverside.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Tom-Patterson-1980-scaled.jpg |access-date=2022-11-05}}</ref> and Bob Kneisel<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bungalow Heaven Origins |url=https://www.bungalowheaven.org/our-history/origins/ |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=www.bungalowheaven.org |language=en}}</ref>, who later became a founder of Pasadena's [https://www.bungalowheaven.org Bungalow Heaven] Landmark District. Conyers and Kneisel began the work of restoring and maintaining the house and archiving its history. Through their efforts along with Riverside’s Cultural Heritage Board, local advocacy group Old Riverside Foundation, and Alan Curl of the Riverside Metropolitan Museum, the house was recognized as Riverside City Landmark #52 in 1981. An extensive review was done, and it was determined elegible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, but the nomination was opposed at the time by Weber’s son Peter N. Weber, who worried National Register status would affect his ability to sell the property. After the death of Peter J. Weber in 1983, the parcel containing the house was sold to [https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/days-inn Days Inn] for redevelopment, who initially sought demolition or relocation of the house. Riverside's [https://www.riversideca.gov/cityclerk/boards-commissions/cultural-heritage-board Cultural Heritage Board] and [https://oldriverside.org Old Riverside Foundation], along with local preservation-minded individuals, convinced the new owner to keep the house intact. Peter N. Weber later recanted his support for demolition and came to treasure his boyhood home, documented its history, and gave tours. Old Riverside Foundation has been the occupant and caretaker of the Weber House since 1990. It has since been restored<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fiske |first=Joanne |date=1986-07-01 |title=Saving this historic house is no easy job |pages=1 |work=The Press-Enterprise |url=https://oldriverside.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/PE-1986-7-1-scaled.jpg |access-date=2022-11-04}}</ref> to much of its original condition and is available for tours<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=David |date=February 11, 2023 |title=Weber House in Riverside is a folk-art wonder worth hunting for |url=https://www.pressenterprise.com/2023/02/11/weber-house-in-riverside-is-a-folk-art-wonder-worth-hunting-for/ |url-status=live |website=The Press-Enterprise}}</ref>. The Weber House was included in California's first statewide "Doors Open<ref>{{Cite web |title=Doors Open California – Statewide Behind-the-Scenes Tours |url=https://californiapreservation.org/doca/ |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=California Preservation Foundation |language=en-US}}</ref>" event in 2022. It’s inclusion on the [https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/index.htm National Register of Historic Places] is currently under consideration. |
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[[Category:Landmarks in Riverside, California]] |
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[[Category:Eclectic architecture]] |
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[[Category:Historic house museums in California]] |
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[[Category:Houses in Riverside County, California]] |
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Latest revision as of 15:38, 10 August 2024
| Peter J. Weber House | |
|---|---|
 The Weber House | |
 Interactive map showing the Weber house's location | |
| Location | 1510 University Ave Riverside, California |
| Coordinates | 33°58′31″N 117°20′41″W / 33.9752°N 117.3446°W |
| Built | 1932–1938 |
| Architect | Peter J. Weber |
| Architectural style(s) | Eclectic |
| Governing body | Old Riverside Foundation |
| Website | Official website  |
| Designated | 1981 |
| Reference no. | 52 |
The Peter J. Weber House (also known simply as "The Weber House") is a historic house and landmark in Riverside, California.[1][2] The house was designed and built by architect Peter J. Weber in the 1930s as a family residence and an expression of his creative work. The house is notable for its eclectic Depression-era design inspired by Medieval Spanish brick and half-timbering structures (with additional elements of Moorish and broadly Mediterranean influences) and its reliance on salvaged materials.[3]
Elements of design and construction
[edit]
Built between 1933 and 1938, the house features an abundance of recycled and reclaimed materials and finishes, ornate hand-carved details, and colorful decorated ceilings. Some ahead-of-their-time systems include a 1935 roof-mounted solar water heater enclosed by repurposed Model T windshields and seismic fittings in the basement to protect against earthquake damage, informed by Weber's early work as a teenager with architects including John Galen Howard and Julia Morgan following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire.[4] While Weber was trained and highly skilled in the Beaux Arts style of architecture, for his personal home much of the design was inspired by what he had seen on his year-long honeymoon travels in Europe and North Africa from 1931 to 1932, in particular Mediterranean Moorish and Spanish architecture. The house was initially designed to be expanded into a three-bedroom home with a lookout tower and adjacent den, but Weber never finished the intended expansion due to increased development in the area and other practical restrictions. Rooms include a three-bay garage with basement, wash house, kitchen, breakfast room, and living room with one bedroom and one bathroom. The house was surrounded by 8.8 acres of citrus, stone fruit, and nut trees and bordered a branch of the Gage Canal at its south end. When mother-in-law Amelia Hartnett came to live with them in 1941 after the death of her husband, the Webers relocated their sleeping quarters to the rooftop deck with a corrugated metal shade for protection and slept there year-round. It remained the family home for Weber, his wife Clara, son Peter N., and Amelia Hartnett for almost 40 years.
Rescue from demolition
[edit]In 1973, the Webers moved to Leucadia and their home was rented to a series of tenants while they searched for buyers of their property, divided into four parcels. In 1980, Bob Kneisel[5] began renting the house and initiated the work of its restoration and archiving its history. Through his efforts along with Riverside’s Cultural Heritage Board, local advocacy group Old Riverside Foundation, and Alan Curl of the Riverside Metropolitan Museum, the house was recognized as Riverside City Landmark #52 in 1981. After the death of Peter J. Weber in 1983, the parcel containing the house was sold to Days Inn for redevelopment, who initially sought demolition or relocation of the house, but the Cultural Heritage Board determined the house must remain intact at its original location, so the hotel built their parking lot and swimming pool around it. It has since been restored[6] to much of its original condition and is available for private tours.[7]
See Also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Landmarks of the City of Riverside" (PDF). January 11, 2023.
- ^ "Landmarks of the City of Riverside" (PDF).
- ^ "5 Can't-Miss Riverside Art and Culture Destinations". PBS SoCal. 30 September 2022. (4/5). Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ "Solar water heaters in California, 1891—1930". OSTI 6772173.
- ^ "Bungalow Heaven Origins". www.bungalowheaven.org. Retrieved 2022-11-04.
- ^ Fiske, Joanne (1986-07-01). "Saving this historic house is no easy job". The Press-Enterprise.
- ^ Allen, David (February 11, 2023). "Weber House in Riverside is a folk-art wonder worth hunting for". The Press-Enterprise.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:Peter J. Weber.