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