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Ainsley House-National Register - 2005sTaTF OF CAt IFORNIA -THE RESOURCES AGENCY ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION P.O. BOX 942896 SACRAMENTO, CA 94296-0001 (916) 653-6624 Fax: (916) 653-9824 calshpo@ohp.parks.ca.gov October 26, 2005 Mr. Franklin Maggi, Architectural Historian Archives & Architecture: Heritage Resource Partners 1901 S. Bascom Avenue, Suite 1530 Campbell, California 95008 Re: Ainsley, John Colpitts, House No. 3 Dear Mr. Maggi: I am pleased to notify you that on October 3, 2005, the John Colpitts Ainsley House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. As a result of being placed on the National Register of Historic Places, this property has also been listed in the California Register of Historical Resources, pursuant to Section 4851(a)(2) of the Public Resources Code. Placement on the National Register affords a property the honor of inclusion in the nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation and provides a degree of protection from adverse affects resulting from federally funded or licensed projects. Registration provides a number of incentives for preservation of historic properties, including special building codes to facilitate the restoration of historic structures, and certain tax advantages. There are no restrictions placed upon a private property owner with regard to normal use, maintenance, or sale of a property listed in the National Register. However, a project that may cause substantial adverse changes in the significance of a registered property may require compliance with local ordinances or the California Environmental Quality Act. In addition, registered properties damaged due to a natural disaster may be subject to the provisions of Section 5028 of the Public Resources Code regarding demolition or significant alterations, if imminent threat to life safety does not exist. If you have any questions or require further information, please contact Cynthia Howse of the National Register Unit at (916) 653-6624. Sin re y, Milford Wayne Donaldson, FAIA State Historic reservation Officer NR Notification of Listing Santa Clara County Historical Heritage Commission July 22, 2005 Milford Wayne Donaldson, FAIA State Historic Preservation Officer Office of Historic Preservation PO Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 Dear Mr. Donaldson: Regarding: National Register of Historic Places Property: Ainsley, John Colpitts, House Supervisor Liz Kniss, Chair of the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors, has forwarded your letter regarding the nomination of the John Colpitts Ainsley House in Campbell, to the Santa Clara County Historical Heritage Commission for review. Unfortunately, your letter arrived during the July recess and the Commission will not be meeting until after your Commission's meeting in August. However, as Chair of the Historical Heritage Commission, I would like to recommend that the nomination of the John Colpitts Ainsley House to the National Registry be approved. During the late 19~' and 20~' centuries, Campbell was noted as a major area of fruit growing and food production in California and J.C. Ainsley as a major proponent of food canning and importation to Europe. The family's long relationship with England is not only documented in their history, but also illustrated in the in the Ainsley House architecture. From an architectural standpoint, the combination of historical reference to English architecture, the incorporation of many Arts and Crafts features and the inclusion of then modem home technology make it a unique example of California Tudor Revival. It is fortunate that the family gave the house and furnishings to the City of Campbell, so that not only the exterior but also all the period interior features have been preserved and as a public museum, shared with the community. While the structure and its garage have been relocated, the City of Campbell has been careful to relocate them in a similar site and able to re-establish the plantings around the buildings. For Santa Clara Valley, whose history is based largely upon agriculture and related food industries, the Ainsley house is one of the last major landmarks of the families who provided the basis for its growth and development. I hope that you will consider favorably the nomination of the John Colpitts Ainsley House to the National Registry. Yours truly, Leslie Masunaga Chair, Santa Clara Historical Heritage Commission Cc: Dana Peak, Santa Clara Co. Planning Department Gloria Chun Hoo, Campbell Museum & Ainsley House CITY of CAMPBELL Community Development Department July 15, 2005 Milford Wayne Donaldson, FAIA State Historic Preservation Officer Office of Historic Preservation Department of Parks and Recreation P. O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 Re: National Register Nomination ~ Ainsley House Dear Mr. Donaldson, CAMPBELL t f ` The City of Campbell Historic Preservation Board recommends that the State Historical Resources Commission approve the application to list the Ainsley House on the National Register of Historic Places. John Colpitts Ainsley lived in three houses in Campbell in his lifetime. He waited seven years for his third home, now the Ainsley House, to be built as his dream home. As the only example of this quality and type of style house left in Campbell, we strongly recommend that the Ainsley House be added to the National Register. While annexations evidentially resulted in this house being located just outside Campbell's jurisdiction in the City of San Jose, when it was built the area was part of the community of Campbell. When the property was sold, this house was saved from the wrecking ball through the efforts of the citizens and city of Campbell. It was necessary to relocate the house to downtown Campbell. The area chosen has the same orientation and we have tried to replicate the feel of the gardens and grounds. It was placed near Mr. Ainsley's previous homes and the cannery buildings he successfully operated. The fact that the house was moved should not have bearing on this review. In fact, all three houses that belonged to Mr. Ainsley have been moved due to the urbanization and growth in Campbell as the demands of an incorporated city pressed on its early settlers and their homesteads. Mr. Ainsley was a significant businessman in the fledgling town of Campbell and the community recognized the importance of the house and its owner when it was offered to the city by the Ainsley family. 70 North First Street ~ Campbell, California 95008-1 4 3 6 ~ rep 408.866.2140 ~ rax 408.871.5!40 ~ nm 408.866.2790 July 15, 2005 State Historical Resources Commission Ainsley House Nomination Page 2 We appreciate your careful consideration of our application and urge you to vote to approve placing the Ainsley House on the National Register. Sincerely, CITY OF CAMPBELL HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD ~u~ Susan Blake, Chair JoElle Hernandez, Vice Chair a Herz, Boardmember s~~ Mark Sandoval, Boardmember cc: Mayor Jane P. Kennedy & Members of Council Dan Rich, City Manager Sharon Fierro, Community Development Director