Old Town Orange in Orange County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Armor Building
Photographed by Tatiana Zavala, September 21, 2024
1. Armor Building Marker
Armor Building
1888
Old Towne Preservation Association
Erected by Old Towne Preservation Association.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1888.
Location. 33° 47.259′ N, 117° 51.224′ W. Marker is in Orange, California, in Orange County. It is in Old Town Orange. It is at the intersection of Chapman Avenue and Plaza Square, on the right when traveling east on Chapman Avenue. Located at Urth Caffe. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 W Chapman Ave, Orange CA 92866, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles and in the Peninsular Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Site of First Building (a few steps
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Old Towne, Orange Historic District. Wikipedia entry:
Links to National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (Submitted on October 13, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Lewis and Persis Ainsworth - Orange, CA. Waymarking website entry:
Lewis Ainsworth... Built the Ainsworth block on the Plaza Square in 1907 and founded the first lumber company in Orange.(Submitted on September 23, 2024, by Tatiana Zavala of Orange County, California.)
...Lewis Ainsworth (1829-1914) and his wife Persis (1837-1933) chose the city of Orange as their home in 1901 after making their fortunes panning gold in California and farming in Kansas.
3. Urth Caffι Orange: Preserving 19th Century Landmark for the 21st Century.
via Online Archive of California, 1886
2. Armor building, Orange, California, 1886
"Urth's Old Towne Orange location started as a real estate office, too, a fact revealed as workers removed stucco covering a huge sign painted on the exterior wall of the oldest part of the building. The large sign advertised "Hemphill & Morse," real estate agents promoting the Orange as a great place to live in 1888.(Submitted on September 23, 2024, by Tatiana Zavala of Orange County, California.)
The original 1888 building expanded in 1907 when a west wing extension was built (and that real estate sign was covered in plaster, hiding it for the next 110 years). A second floor was added at the same time...
Art Nouveau-design cast iron columns from 1888 were discovered at the entrance, and molds have been sculpted to duplicate missing column capitals.
Urth Caffι teamed with the City of Orange and the Old Towne Preservation Association from the outset to restore the historic building...
White plaster had to be peeled away carefully from the building's original red brick walls outside and inside. A mural sign for the Hemphill & Morse real estate offices was revealed inside and became an important design element for the new Urth Caffι."
Photographed by Tatiana Zavala, September 21, 2024
3. Urth Caffe at the Plaza Marker, next to Armor Building Marker
City of Orange National Register of Historic Places Plaza Historic District. Est 1888. Restored by Urth Caffe 2018. Restoration Architect Victor Corona. Lead Designer Jilla Berkman. Restoration Contractor Spectra Company. Old Towne Preservation Association Sandy Quinn, President.
Photographed by Tatiana Zavala, September 21, 2024
4. Urth Caffe/Armor Building Exterior
Historical markers can be seen to the left of the entrance, on the brick wall
Credits. This page was last revised on December 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 23, 2024, by Tatiana Zavala of Orange County, California. This page has been viewed 429 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 23, 2024, by Tatiana Zavala of Orange County, California. 2. submitted on December 15, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3, 4. submitted on September 23, 2024, by Tatiana Zavala of Orange County, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
