The Phelps Building

The Phelps Building. Erected 1910 – Dismantled 1967 (Built by W.J. Ochs). October 8, 1910, Coalinga Daily Oil Record: , “Phelps Building Asset to Coalinga , Excellent View of Coalinga’s Wonderful Field Can Be Obtained From Roof of Sky Scraper” , "One of the recent additions to the city of Coalinga and what gives the busy oil town a metropolis like appearance is the three-story brick structure that occupies the corner of Fifth and C streets in the heart of the city. Mr. Phelps who became prominent to the oil world through his connection with the renowned Silver Tip Well, in which he was a stockholder and took active part in its drilling. In the erection of the Phelps building, a departure from the main business portion of the city was made by owner Mr. I. Zed Phelps, a prominent operator both of Coalinga and other fields. In the third story of this magnificent building erected at a cost of approximately $50,000, is housed the Growlers Club, composed of most of the leading oil operators in the field and businessmen of the city. The second story has been put in first class shape for an ideal dancing pavilion and may also be converted to a social hall. In the ground floor, the independent Meat Co. has installed a meat market, the fixtures and appliances of which are not excelled in any shop of its size in the state. The corner room will soon be fitted up to be occupied by a large cash mercantile establishment.”