Winters in Yolo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Cradwick Building

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, February 6, 2011

1. Cradwick Building Marker

Inscription. Between 1889 and 1891, John Cradwick developed this large two-story block, possibly utilizing prior one story structures already present on the three-lot site.

Born in England in 1829, John Cradwick settled in the Winters area in 1875 where he farmed and established a brick-making business. Teaming with local contractor, Alex Ritchie, Cradwick utilized his brick masonry skills to erect this building.

Early businesses occupying the building included the Winters Bakery, the Phoenix General Store, and a saloon. In 1893, Cradwick offered 21 sleeping rooms upstairs. The building later became known as the Acme Hotel.

During the severe Winters' earthquake in 1892, the Cradwick Building sustained major damage. The city's only fatality occurred when bricks from the back of the building fell and killed Jeff Darby.

In 1998, the Cradwick Building was rehabilitated by a local investment group in partnership with the city of Winters, including substantial seismic retrofitting of the structure.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1889.

Location. 38° 31.303′ N, 121° 58.173′ W. Marker is in Winters, California, in Yolo County. Marker is on Main Street west of Railroad

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Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 17 Main Street, Winters CA 95694, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Hotel De Vilbiss (within shouting distance of this marker); Vaca Valley Railroad (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); J. Robert Chapman Memorial Bridge (about 600 feet away); Wolfskill Grant (approx. 1.3 miles away); Halfway House (approx. 7.3 miles away); Village of Silveyville (approx. 7.3 miles away); Sacramento Valley National Cemetery (approx. 9.1 miles away); The Methodist Church of Dixon (approx. 9.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winters.

Regarding Cradwick Building. On April 19th and 21st, 1892, two earthquakes and their associated aftershocks badly shook the Winters-Vacaville area, severely damaging both cities and structures in the outlying areas. For Winters, the latter quake was the more damaging of the two, with much of the business district near ruins. Edward Holden, in his 1898 volume, A Catalogue of Earthquakes on the Pacific Coast, 1769-1897, published extensive accounts of damage to the area. One description (p. 197) of the quake in Winters: ...In the Cradwick building were three women and a man when the shock came. The women escaped by
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, February 6, 2011

2. Cradwick Building and Marker - wide view
The marker is visible here, mounted to the front middle of the building.
the front door just in the nick of time. The man was the poor fellow with the crushed skull sent to Woodland. The building itself is a heap of bricks, unsymmetrically piled in the center of the lot in which it stood. Morrison's Hardware, next door, has the walls standing, and that is all. By a side alley Main Street was reached, and here the havoc wrought could only be compared to the aspect of Paris during the last days of the Commune. The most furious bombardment could have done no more...."

Also see . . . Historic Main Street Walking Tour. A walking tour of the Winter's historic Main Street, with notes and photos for the buildings of interest. (Submitted on February 8, 2011.)

Historic Main St. in Winters image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, February 6, 2011

3. Historic Main St. in Winters

Pictured (left to right) are the Cradwick Building (1889-91), Chulik Market (1875), and Seaman's Opera House (1876). In 1997, Winters' Main Street business district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and on the California Register of Historical Resources.

The entrance to Number 17 Main Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Lane Parker, December 20, 2017

4. The entrance to Number 17 Main Street

This doorway is just a few yards east (to the right) of the Cradwick Building Marker.

The entrance to Number 19 Main Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Lane Parker, December 20, 2017

5. The entrance to Number 19 Main Street

The Cradwick Building Marker is to the left of the doorway.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 31, 2017. It was originally submitted on February 7, 2011, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 895 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 7, 2011, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 2, 3. submitted on February 8, 2011, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 4, 5. submitted on December 29, 2017, by Lane Parker of San Francisco, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.