George Carl Haberfelde, a German immigrant, found success upon arriving in the United States. He purchased and managed a Ford automobile dealership in Bakersfield, which today continues to operate under different ownership. Well-respected within the city, Haberfelde was also elected as the mayor of Bakersfield, a position that he held from 1923 to 1925.During his tenure as mayor, Haberfelde went on a world tour in 1924 with his daughter, Clarisse. They traveled first to Asia and then to Europe. After returning home to California later that year, Haberfelde hired the architect Charles H. Biggar to design a grand new building for office and retail use. At the time that its construction was completed in 1927, the five story Haberfelde Building was one of the tallest buildings in the southern San Joaquin Valley.In 1993, the Haberfelde Building was purchased by Tom Carosella and John Sarad. At that time, the building had thirteen tenants in storefronts on the ground level. They helped to steer the building on a course that could compete with the commercial local malls in Bakersfield. In 2017, the property was again sold, and today it continues to house a combination of popular retail shops and restaurants, with office space on the upper floors.

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In 1924, George Carl Haberfelde hired the local architect Charles H. Biggar to design this five story building for office use and retail space. At the time of its construction, it was one of the tallest buildings in the San Joaquin Valley. Today, it houses several popular restaurants and shops on the street level.

Haberfelde Building

This walk through downtown Bakersfield begins at the Kress Building, the former site of the F. W. Woolworth store, and the former home of the Southern Hotel. The tour includes a variety of historic downtown buildings, museums, and other landmarks in a relatively short loop through the heart of the downtown area.   

Bakersfield California Walking Tour

Built in 1931, the Kress Building was designed by the New York architect, Edward F. Sibbert, in a Modern Art Deco style. It is comprised of three stories of reinforced steel with masonry. The building features strong, clean lines, juxtaposed with elaborate moldings. Kress &amp; Co. stores were known for their innovative architecture. Above the windows and trim, abstract flower blossoms and oranges appear as exterior masonry decorations. These blossoms and oranges are a reference to the citrus industry in California. A curved canopy extends along the building's east and north sides. The company's founder, Samuel H. Kress, viewed each of his store buildings as public works of art. He hired staff architects, such as Edward Sibbert, to design his store buildings, which ranged in style from Art Deco to Gothic Revival. Over the course of Sibbert's career, he designed fifty Kress buildings in major cities across the U.S. Building locations were also carefully planned prior to construction. Kress stores were intentionally situated close to downtown public buildings such as libraries, post offices, and city halls, since these were considered essential aspects of a thriving city. The distinctive architecture helped to define the brand and to differentiate Kress &amp; Co. from its competitors. As a five-and-dime retailer, Kress stores sold mass produced, essential household items and other goods at a discount. Also known simply as "dime stores," Kress &amp; Company stores were in direct competition with another popular dime store chain, the F.W. Woolworth Company. As in many other U.S. cities, this competition was evident in Bakersfield, where the two retailers were located directly across the street from each other. They sold similar products, and both featured luncheonette counters where customers could dine. Over time, each company expanded its prices on items beyond the ten-cent limit in order to keep up with the rate of inflation. Samuel Kress was born in 1863 in Cherryville, Pennsylvania, where his father worked as a supervisor in a coal mine. When he reached adulthood, his first career was in teaching. Next, he opened a stationary store. When his vision for Kress &amp; Co. began to take shape, it took a cue from its competitor, the already popular Woolworth's chain of retail stores. The first large Kress &amp; Co. store was opened in Memphis, Tennessee. Despite, or perhaps because of, the competition with Woolworth's, Kress always admired Frank W. Woolworth. In a highly unusual business decision, when Frank Woolworth died, Samuel Kress closed his own stores for the day as a sign of respect. Although Kress &amp; Co. eventually went out of business in 1980, the historic Kress Building in Bakersfield has been preserved. It remains across the street from the historic Woolworth Building, which has also been preserved.

The Kress Building originally housed a Kress & Co. store. This national chain of discount retailers was known as five-and-dime stores, or simply "dime stores."  Samuel Kress, the founder of Kress & Co., was known to hire talented architects to design unique building for his stores. This helped establish the brand, as Kress buildings became attractive fixtures in many U.S. cities. The Kress department store at this Bakersfield location closed in 1974. However, the historic building was preserved and renovated, reopening ten years later as office space. A historical marker was placed in 2015 by the Kern County Historical Society. The marker appears to the right of the entrance.

Kress Building

Frank W. Woolworth opened his first retail store in the U.S. in 1889 in Utica, NY. After the store failed, he tried again in Lancaster, PA. By 1912, the F.W. Woolworth Company incorporated, and the Woolworth's chain of retail stores took off across America. An early forerunner of today's big box retail stores, Woolworth's gained success after the company pioneered a business model where it offered general items for sale at either 5 or 10 cents. Subsequently, Woolworth's stores became known among the public as "five-and-dime" stores or "five-and-tens." Woolworth's pricing model was based on earlier 5-cent discount stores in America, where customers could purchase mass-produced, general household items for only a nickel. Eventually, the F.W. Woolworth Company's five and ten cent price limit was phased out, due to inflation. By 1935, the company was offering an array of merchandise at various prices. In the 1960s, the F.W. Woolworth Company became known for the Civil Rights era "sit-ins" that began at a Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. On February 1, 1960, four African American young men who were students at a nearby college intentionally sat at the "Whites Only" section of the segregated lunch counter at the Woolworth's in Greensboro. They order coffee, but were refused service. Over the next several days, they were joined in a peaceful protest by hundreds of other students. This led to further boycotts of the Woolworth's in Greensboro, followed by similar protests at segregated establishments throughout the southern U.S. As a result, the sit-ins became a hallmark of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. However, it was not until 1965, following a substantial loss of profits due to ongoing boycotts, that the F.W. Woolworth Company finally agreed to desegregate its lunch counters nationwide. During the next several decades, Woolworth's faced growing competition from the emergence of other retail store chains, such as Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and Target. By 1997, this competition from other retailers, as well as the advent of online shopping, led the F.W. Woolworth Company to close its doors on its retail stores across the country. Woolworth's stores had been a staple in numerous communities throughout the U.S., and many people viewed their closing as the end of an era. In certain locations, Woolworth lunch counters were preserved, or later restored, following the closing of the retail stores. In addition, the exterior facades of some historic Woolworth storefronts have been retained in various locations across the U.S. In Bakersfield, the last remaining Woolworth's store closed in 1994. However, the Woolworth's lunch counter on 19th Street in Bakersfield was reopened the same year as part of the Five and Dime Antique Mall within the Historic Woolworth Building. The Five and Dime Antique Mall contains three floors of antiques and collectibles for shopping, while the luncheonette counter serves traditional diner-style food, including burgers, fries, and milkshakes, amidst 1950s-style decor and ambience. The exterior of the Historic Woolworth Building also features the classic F.W. Woolworth Company signage.

This historical marker notes that F.W. Woolworth retail stores arrived in Bakersfield as early as 1911. The F.W. Woolworth Company launched a successful chain of five-and-dime stores that shaped the commercial landscape in the early 20th century. Better known simply as Woolworth's, the company had storefronts across the U.S., as well as in Britain and Canada. Notably, Woolworth's featured a popular diner-style luncheonette counter inside its retail stores. By 1997, competition from other retailers forced the F.W Woolworth Company to close all of its Woolworth's retail stores. However, an original Woolworth's luncheonette counter is still open to the public at this Bakersfield location, now operating as part of the Five and Dime Antique Mall. Maintaining 1950s-style decor, it is located in the Historic Woolworth Building.

F.W. Woolworth Company Store Historical Marker

The Southern Hotel was established in the previous location of the French Hotel, a modest wooden structure built when Bakersfield was still a frontier town. The Southern Hotel saw its heyday in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Following a huge fire that swept through Bakersfield in 1889, which destroyed the majority of the town in a mere three hours, the Southern Hotel was rebuilt in an ornate Victorian style. Costing $110,000 to construct, the newly built Southern Hotel contained three stories and 84 rooms in total. Each room featured hot and cold running water and gas. It was said to have been built for a city three times the size of Bakersfield. The grand vision for the Southern Hotel coincided with similar efforts by city leaders to reimagine Bakersfield in the wake of the devastating fire of 1889. The goal was a fully redesigned, state-of-the-art, expanding metropolis. As the city approached the turn of the twentieth century, the Southern Hotel, in particular, was intended to be on a par with the most glamorous hotels in San Francisco. Subsequently, as Bakersfield's economy grew in the coming decades, the Southern Hotel drew visitors from all over California. In addition, the hotel issued special brass metal tokens for 25 cents. The tokens listed the hotel proprietor's name, W.F. Rau. They could be used to purchase items in the hotel shop, restaurant, and bar. These tokens are now considered antique collectible items. On May 27, 1889, a large parade marched down Chester Avenue directly in front of the Southern Hotel. Patrons gathered to watch from the street, as well as from the upper-story windows of the hotel, some of which were partially shaded by striped awnings. The parade celebrated the arrival of the Santa Fe / San Joaquin Valley Railroad. After Bakersfield became part of this transportation network, both people and goods were able to travel to and from the city via rail transit. The addition of Bakersfield on this important railroad transportation route helped to contribute to the economic boom in the city and in California during the early 20th century.

This marker notes the location of the historic French Hotel, built in the 1870s when Bakersfield was still a frontier town, and also the historic Southern Hotel which followed it. The French Hotel was lost in the massive fire that destroyed almost the entire city of Bakersfield in 1889. The Southern Hotel was constructed in its place and was a much larger and grander hotel that quickly became a premier destination in the area. After the Southern Hotel closed in 1947, the building was demolished and the current Modern-style office building was constructed. The building features ribbon windows and a streamlined facade with a rounded corner on the exterior. The historical marker appears to the left of the entrance on Chester Avenue.

Southern Hotel Historical Marker (1889-1947)

As noted on the historical marker, the Vest Drug Store and Market has been at the heart of the business community in downtown Bakersfield since its founding. Known today as Vests Market, the store opened in 1938 in a Modern building constructed the same year. Although in the past it has been considered both a drug store and a department store, one of the most popular items for sale was penny candy. The location of the Vests Market building is the oldest continuously operating site of business in Bakersfield. Prior to the construction of the building in 1938, a commercial property known as the Fish Building previously stood at this spot. It was built in 1890, but it was destroyed by fire in 1936. After the fire, a new building was designed in the Modern style in 1938 by the architect Charles H. Biggar. He also designed several other buildings in Bakersfield, including the Bell Tower (the old Baptist Church), the Haberfelde Building, the Bakersfield Californian, and the Fox Theater. Today, the Vests Market operates under new ownership and management. In addition to its expanding inventory, it includes a cafe with a menu that features fresh, local ingredients, a variety of craft beers, and snacks. In 2017, a social media campaign led to a wave of renewed interest in the Vests Market when people heard that the building was in the process of being restored. This entailed both interior and exterior updates, including the restoration of the glass-block Ribbon windows on the facade, as well as the rotating "Vests Market" sign on the exterior corner of the building.

This marker notes the 1938 construction of the Vest Drug Store and Market Building, a business that continues to operate at this same location. The building was constructed to replace an earlier property, the Fish Building (1890), that was destroyed by a fire in 1936. The architect Charles H. Biggar designed the new building in the Public Works Administration Modern style. The structure features Ribbon windows and a rotating sign that reads, "Vests Market," and was restored in 2017. The historical marker at the site was dedicated by the Kern County Historical Society in 2015 and appears on one's right when traveling west on Chester Avenue.

Vest Drug Store and Market Historical Marker

This historical marker was placed in 1970 by the Kern County Historical Society to note the location of the historic Bank of Bakersfield. The building was later home to a Bank of America branch, and for this reason, many locals refer to the building as "the old Bank of America building." The marker appears to the right of the entrance to the building, which is now home to the Stars Theatre Restaurant and the Stars Cafe and Lounge, operated by Bakersfield Music Theatre. The marker will appear on the right when traveling west on Chester Avenue. It is located at the intersection of Chester Avenue and 20th Street. Also visible on the exterior of the building is a small, circular brass marker that identifies the "Bank Deposit Door" from when the Bank of America occupied this space. In addition, directly in front of the historic Bank of Bakersfield building ran the historic Highway 99. This roadway was also known as U.S. Route 99, or the Golden State Highway. It was nicknamed "California's Main Street," because it replaced an earlier, two-lane road that traversed numerous main streets at the heart of many Californian towns and cities. Highway 99 was commissioned in 1926, the same year as the creation of the U.S. Highway System. By 1928, it became a signed route in California. In California, Highway 99 served to transport agricultural goods and migrant farmworkers, particularly through the San Joaquin Valley, as well as tourists and other travelers along the West coast of the United States. Serving as an inland highway rather than a coastal route, it served to connect important economic and geographical regions of California with their varied topography of deserts, cities, farms, fields, hills, and mountains. The historic Highway 99 originally ran all the way from Calexico, CA, at the Mexican border, northwards through California, where it passed through cities such as L.A. and Bakersfield. It continued north through Oregon and Washington towards the Canadian border. Beginning in the 1960s, Highway 99 was gradually decommissioned due to the construction of the new Interstate-5. In California, this historic highway was officially decommissioned in 1965, and by the 1970s, U.S. Route 99 had been decommissioned in its entirety.

This historical marker notes the location of the Bank of Bakersfield which was constructed in 1903 and is currently home to the Stars Theatre Restaurant. In addition to performances by the Bakersfield Music Theater, the building offers a cafe that serves lunch during the week. The historical marker appears to the right of the entrance to the building, near the corner of Chester Avenue and 20th Street. Also of significance, the historic Highway 99 (also known as U.S. Route 99, or the "Golden State Highway") ran directly in front of this building from the late 1920s until it was decommissioned in 1965.

Bank of Bakersfield Building and Historical Marker

This natural history museum offers educational displays related to the natural sciences. It also works to document and preserve the natural history of Kern County. The Museum is the repository of the largest collection of Shark Tooth Hill Miocene Fossils in the world. The museum offers plenty for adults, but proclaims that "the heart and soul of the Museum are the kids."

Buena Vista Museum of Natural History

Dolores Huerta was born in 1930 in Dawson, New Mexico. Her father was a farm worker, miner, and union activist who was elected to the state legislature in 1938. After her parents divorced when she was three years old, Dolores moved with her siblings and her mother to Stockton, California. Her grandfather helped to raise Dolores and her brothers while her mother worked as a waitress and also in a cannery. Her mother was eventually able to purchase and operate a small hotel and restaurant. The town of Stockton where the family lived was a diverse place and their community was comprised of Mexican, Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, and African-American working families. Her mother was committed to civic affairs and community organizing, often showing compassion by allowing low-wage workers to stay at her hotel without payment. After receiving an associate teaching credential during college, Dolores began teaching primary school. However, she noticed that many farm workers' children were coming to school barefoot and hungry. This prompted her to begin community organizing and to seek economic justice for the farm workers in the region. In 1955, Dolores founded the Agricultural Workers Association, as well as the Stockton chapter for the Community Service Organization (CSO). Through a mutual acquaintance affiliated with the CSO, she was introduced to César Chávez, who was also organizing farm workers. Together, they founded the National Farm Workers' Association (NFWA). This was a precursor to the United Farm Workers' Union (UFW), which they subsequently established together a few years later after resigning from the CSO. The United Farm Workers’ Union was the first and largest farm workers' union in the United States. Huerta served as President until 1999. In 1965, Dolores Huerta worked to organize the Delano Grape Strike, which lasted five years and involved over 5,000 workers. During the strike, she was beaten and needed to be hospitalized. Despite the gender bias and ethnic discrimination that she faced, Huerta remained a leader in the UFW movement. She led the contract negotiations that ended the grape strike. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, she continued fighting to improve the lives and working conditions of farm workers through access to healthcare, workers' compensation, and unemployment benefits. In addition, she fought to eliminate the use of pesticides in agriculture, aware that exposure to toxic chemicals was negatively impacting the health of farm workers. During the 1970s and 1980s, Huerta began lobbying for greater legislative representation for farm workers. In 1975, her political efforts also led to the passage of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act, which gave farm workers collective bargaining and union rights. By the 1990s and 2000s, Huerta was working towards greater Latinx political representation, especially advocating for Latina women in political leadership roles. During her work with the United Farm Workers’ Union, Huerta coined the phrase “Sí, se puede!” which means “Yes, we can!” in Spanish. President Barack Obama later used this phrase during his 2008 presidential campaign. Although it has often been misattributed to César Chávez, President Obama acknowledged Dolores Huerta as the origin of the phrase. In her approach to social activism, Huerta has maintained a commitment to non-violence, including non-violent direct action. At several points in her life, she has been the target of attacks by law enforcement during strikes or boycotts which she organized and participated in. In addition, her unwavering commitment to the welfare of others caused complications in another significant aspect of her life: her role as mother to eleven children. In interviews, she has spoken about how her work necessitated certain compromises that affected her children. However, most of her children still chose to follow in her footsteps by becoming teachers and activists. An independent documentary film titled Dolores was produced in 2017. It is a retrospective of Huerta's life. From November 2019 to February 2020, an exhibition titled, Dolores Huerta: Revolution in the Fields / Revolución en los Campos began to travel the country, organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. This bilingual exhibition (English and Spanish) features archival photographs, interviews, and historical context for Huerta's work. In conjunction with the traveling exhibition, there is a free mobile app with further educational content available for download. Huerta has been awarded with nine honorary doctorates. In 1998, she received the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award, and in 2012, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama. As of 2021, the Dolores Huerta Foundation is anticipating the future opening of the Dolores Huerta Peace &amp; Justice Cultural Center in Bakersfield. It will feature art, music, dance, and digital design studios, as well as a self-help federal credit union on the ground level. The cultural center will also include a community organizing training academy, a child development center, and an outdoor amphitheater. In this state-of-the-art space, people will be able to gather to exchange ideas, learn, and participate in the civic, political, and cultural initiatives of the Dolores Huerta Foundation.

The Dolores Huerta Peace & Justice Cultural Center is scheduled to open at this location in 2022. It will serve as the new headquarters for the Dolores Huerta Foundation. Currently, the property houses the Self-Help Federal Credit Union, which is being incorporated into the design plan for the $20 million cultural center. Dolores Huerta is a legendary activist who was at the forefront of the farm workers movement to improve the lives and working conditions of farm laborers in the United States. Along with César Chávez, in 1962 Huerta co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), which became the United Farm Workers Union (UFW). It was the first and largest union for farm workers in the nation. 

Dolores Huerta Peace & Justice Cultural Center (2022)

The
Bakersfield Fire Department can trace its origins to the year 1868. During this time Colonel
Thomas Baker, the founder of Bakersfield, would keep buckets full of water in
case any fires broke out. As the city grew and incidents of fire increased, Bakersfield residents began to realize that a more permanent fire protection agency was needed.&nbsp;In
1874 the Bakersfield Fire Company was organized with only a few firefighters, who helped raise money for the needed equipment.1 The Bakersfield Fire
Department was officially established in May of 1877. The original Station #1 was located at 20th and K streets. The wooden firehouse was destroyed by a fire in 1904 and rebuilt as a two-story brick building. The aging building was replaced in 1939 by a new building, built at the corner of 21st and H streets by the Public Works&nbsp;Administration,&nbsp;at a cost of $120,000.2 The fire station was built on property that was once occupied by Bryant School, which had burned down in 1913.3&nbsp;The architect for the project was Charles Howatt Biggar, who was well-known for designing many important structures in Kern County, including the Bakersfield Californian building and the Haberfelde building in Bakersfield.4 To this day, Bakersfield Fire Station #1 is still operational. Not only does it serve as the headquarters station of the department and house administration offices, it is also a functioning fire station that receives calls and responds to emergencies in the greater downtown area of Bakersfield.&nbsp;Besides its official use, the station is also available to rent for special occasions. Bakersfield Fire Station #1 is a well-known landmark in downtown Bakersfield.

Bakersfield Fire Station #1, located at 2101 H Street, serves as the city's fire department headquarters. It was designed by well-known Bakersfield architect Charles Howatt Biggar and built in 1939 with the New Deal's Public Works Administration funds. Today, Station #1 continues to serve the greater downtown area of Bakersfield. 

Bakersfield Central Fire Station #1

Bakersfield's Fox Theater is a restored art deco movie theater that originally opened on December 25, 1930. The theater was one of very few buildings in the city that withstood Bakersfield's earthquake of 1952. The theater closed in 1977 and fell into disrepair despite several attempts to re-open the historic venue. Threatened with demolition, local activists raised funds to preserve the building which is now used to screen local and foreign films and a home for community activities and the performing arts.

Fox Theater Bakersfield

In the early 1890s, the architect Henry A. Schulze from San Francisco was hired to design an office building in Bakersfield for the Kern County Land Company. Schulze designed this building in the Second Renaissance Revival architectural style. It features a row of arched windows on the first story, cream colored pressed brick on the exterior, with additional architectural details made from gray sandstone and granite. Around the turn of the twentieth century, the Kern County Land Company owned hundreds of thousands of acres of land throughout the county. The construction of this building as a company headquarters in Bakersfield was a sign of optimism about the future of the city, and its role within the development of the region. The building is considered one of the only remaining buildings in the downtown area of Bakersfield to have retained its original architectural integrity. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in Kern County on March 29, 1894.

Constructed in 1894 in the Second Renaissance Revival architectural style, this property was the site of the Bakersfield offices of the Kern County Land Company. It was built four years after the company was founded as a sign of the company's "Faith in the Future" of Bakersfield. However, the Kern County Land Company sold the property in 1959 after outgrowing the space. Today, it is known as the Tevis Block Building. 

Tevis Block (Kern County Land Co. Building)

The Jastro Building was originally built by Henry Jastro in 1917. However, he sold it to Standard Oil Company and it became the site of the company's Bakersfield offices. In 1921, the company then decided to fully relocate its Central Valley offices from Fresno to Bakersfield, which led to an expansion of the building. For a quarter century, the Standard Oil Company was Kern County's largest tax payer. Much of this revenue directly benefitted the school system in Bakersfield. One of the elementary schools in Bakersfield was also named "Standard Elementary School" because of the company's cooperation when the school district was acquiring the site. The Jastro Building is one of the few remaining examples of the Second Renaissance architectural style in Bakersfield. The historic exterior of the building withstood the devastating 1952 earthquakes. In the mid-1960s, the Standard Oil Company vacated the building, and the property changed ownership several times. As a result, subsequent owners have sought to restore the interior of the building to its original appearance. In 1983, the Jastro Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. As noted on the nomination form, only a keen eye can discern the difference between the original 1917 building and the 1921 addition. Both were built by the same architectural team and constructed identically.

The Jastro Building was designed in the Second Renaissance Revival architectural style. Originally built in 1917, it was expanded in 1921, while owned by the Standard Oil Company. The Jastro Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. It features a brick exterior with ornate terra cotta details on the second story balcony above the entrance.

Jastro Building

This historic United States Post Office building was constructed in 1924. It was designed in the Mission style by an unknown architect who was working for the Office of the Supervising Architect. This office was an agency of the U.S. Treasury Department, which oversaw the construction of federal buildings between 1852 and 1939. On April 6, 2018, this historic Post Office in Bakersfield was named after the country music legend, Merle Haggard, who was born and lived in Bakersfield. Although Haggard had a troubled childhood that landed him in San Quentin prison, he ultimately managed to succeed in country music, winning numerous awards and honors for his skills in songwriting and performance. These include a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a Kennedy Center Honor, and his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. To acknowledge Haggard's contributions to the City of Bakersfield, this post office was named after Haggard and commemorated with a public event in 2018. The dedication ceremony was attended by members of Haggard's family, as well as by former bandmates, fans, politicians, and local residents of Bakersfield. There were also several protestors in attendance. The event occurred on what would have been Haggard's 81st birthday, just two years after his death. In Bakersfield, there have also been several other memorials dedicated to the country singer throughout the city over the years. These include Haggard's own star on the Walk of Fame located on the sidewalk in front of the Fox Theater. Also, the Haggard family's boxcar home, which Merle's father had fashioned himself out of a former railroad boxcar, is currently on display at the Kern County Museum in Bakersfield.

Bakersfield was the 21st city in California to receive its own federal post office. This United States Post Office Building was constructed in 1924 in the Mission architectural style. Built using masonry and concrete, it was reinforced with steel. By the time that it was completed, it cost a total of $130,000 to construct. In 2015, a historical marker was placed by the Kern County Historical Society. Notably, in 2018, this post office was named in honor of the late country music legend, Merle Haggard, who lived in Bakersfield.

Merle Haggard Post Office 

The Padre Hotel's grand opening was&nbsp;on April 12, 1928. It was originally constructed as a luxury hotel by renowned architect John M. Cooper, who designed the eight-story, 196 room building. Cooper is known for several historic buildings in Los Angeles as well. The Padre Hotel was built&nbsp;on former judge Benjamin Brundage's former estate, at an estimated cost of $600,000 at Truxtun and K Street in the&nbsp;City of Bakersfield. When it was completed, it was the largest and tallest building in Bakersfield, making the hotel the number one choice for the 1928 tourist season.The hotel was originally called the Hotel Padre, and its name was chosen as a tribute to&nbsp;Padre Francisco Garces, a Franciscan missionary who was the first European to visit the area in 1776. When the hotel was first completed, it featured murals on the walls that portrayed its namesake.The most infamous period for the hotel spanned the years when Milton "Spartacus" Miller owned the hotel, from 1954 until his death in 1999.&nbsp;In 1959 and through the 1960s, Miller butted heads with city officials over violations of state fire codes. Miller refused to install fire sprinklers, and the city closed the third through eighth floors to overnight guests in 1966. In protest, Miller erected a 30-foot tall neon&nbsp;sign emblazoned with the words "Alamo" and "Tombstone" on the roof, as well as a mock missile that was aimed at City Hall for decades. Miller also released a flock of turkeys loose in City Council chambers once, and sent tombstone-shaped cookies to city council members.Miller passed away on June 9, 1999, and after a two-year battle between his new wife and his nephews over ownership of the hotel, it&nbsp;was sold to Pacifica Enterprises, LLC, for $1 million and the hotel was
closed. Pacifica Enterprises attempted to renovate the hotel and convert it into condos, but after construction delays they put the Padre Hotel back on the market in June 2007. The Padre sold to Padre Partners LP for $3.9 million in March 2008. The building was completely renovated and reopened in 2010 as a boutique hotel with 112 rooms.

The Padre Hotel first opened on April 12, 1928. Los Angeles architectural firm John M. Cooper designed the eight-story Spanish Renaissance building. The Padre Hotel gained notoriety after Milton "Spartacus" Miller purchased it in 1954. His numerous disagreements with City Hall over codes and enforcement were manifested in several protest signs that adorned the building over the years. After his death, the fate of the building was uncertain, with it changing hands several times before it was finally renovated and put back into use in 2010 as a 112-room boutique hotel featuring several establishments for dining, drinks, and dancing. 

The Padre Hotel

The Hayden Building was designed in the Second Renaissance Style, featuring a row of rounded arch windows on the second story. The San Fransisco architect, Charles I. Haven, originally designed the building for the Kern County Land Company. After it was constructed, the Hayden Building opened in 1904 as a furniture store called the Hayden Furniture Company. Thereafter, however, it housed a number of different tenants. In 1908, the Ancient United Order of Workmen (AUOW), a working class male fraternal organization, began to use the Hayden Building as a meeting lodge. The building later became home to Mrs. Andrews' Dancing Hall for Children. In 1915, a renovation was undertaken to create the Continental Hotel. Archival photographs from the era show the addition of the second floor, including the row of upper-story arches. Also during the 20th century, the Hayden building became the Valley Office Supply Company. In 1991, the Hayden Building was purchased by Curtis and Peggy Darling. They leased part of the building as office space, while also operating a radio station (KBID) from the second floor. Beginning in 1998, the basement, ground floor, and mezzanine of the Hayden Building became the home of the Spotlight Theater and Cafe. The venue provided a creative space for contemporary theater writers, musical composers, and performers.

The Hayden Building is a two-story property that was constructed in 1904 and has remained almost entirely unchanged since that time. Throughout its history, the Hayden Building has housed numerous businesses and organizations including a furniture store, a dance school, a fraternal organization, a hotel, a supply company, a radio station, and a theater. A historical marker was placed at the site in 2015 by the Kern County Historical Society. 

Hayden Building

Designed and built in 1893, the Hay Building is the oldest building in downtown Bakersfield. It was commissioned in the Victorian style by the Dinkelspiel Brothers from San Francisco. Louis and Emile Dinkelspiel maintained a general merchandise store on the first and second floors. Above this was a Victorian era rooming house on the third story. In 1896, the Haberfelde family purchased the building. They operated a furniture store on the ground level, while also maintaining the rooming house on the third floor. In 1898, the Haberfeldes sold the property to the Hay family. During the 1920s, the building was renovated in the Federalist style. Meanwhile, the third floor rooming house was converted into office space. During the following decades, some of the most prominent doctors, lawyers, and accountants in Bakersfield maintained offices on the third floor of this building. At the same time, the Hay family used the building for their real estate and insurance business. Over the past century, numerous small businesses have also operated out of the Hay Building. These have included the West End Cigar Shop, the Hub, Wingate's Printing &amp; Office Supply, C.D. Oldershaw &amp; Co., and several others. The Hay Building managed to survive the 1898 great fire that destroyed much of Bakersfield, and it also survived the 1952 earthquakes that caused significant damage in the city. However, during the late 1960s and 1970s, many people moved out of downtown Bakersfield in favor of the suburbs, leaving vacant buildings and storefronts in their wake. In 2013, the Hay Building experienced a new chapter when it was converted into the city's first mixed-use building. With people finally returning to downtown Bakersfield for the experience of city living, the Hay Building became the site of the 1612 City Lofts. As a mixed-use building, there are still storefronts and shopping on the ground level, in addition to living space on the upper floors. In 2015, a historical marker was placed on the property by the Kern County Historical Society. It is visible to the right of the entrance.

The Hay Building once housed a "Store of Fashionable Merchandise" that was owned and operated by the Dinkelspiel Brothers, Louis and Emile. In 1894, the Dinkelspiel Brothers commissioned this building to be designed and built in the Victorian architectural style. It remains the oldest building in Bakersfield to have survived the 1952 earthquakes. In the 21st century, the Hay Building was remodeled and rebranded as the 1612 City Lofts, a mixed-use retail and living space.

Hay Building (1612 City Lofts)

This historic building was commissioned by John Bartholome Berges at the turn of the twentieth century. To design the property, Berges commissioned a local Bakersfield architect, Benjamin McDougall, from the well-known architectural firm, the McDougall Brothers of San Fransisco. Originally, this building was constructed as a two-story retail space. The first tenant was a clothing company, the Redlick Brothers of San Francisco, which operated a clothing store in the building from 1901 to 1910. In 1912, the second floor of the property was converted to new use as the Savoy Hotel. The hotel continued to operate on the second floor in this space until 1936, at which time a fire significantly damaged the building. The investor Alfred S. Crites had acquired the property in the late 1920s, and after the 1936 fire, he hired a local contractor, Henry Eissler, to convert the second floor into an office space. It was at this time that the words "Alfred S. Crites" were added to the exterior of the building. The Crites Building has since been home to several other retail businesses, including Curiosity Shop Antiques and The Hearing Center of Bakersfield. In addition, it is now the location of the Bakersfield Art Association, which includes an art center and gallery. The Bakersfield Art Association offers classes, workshops, a framing studio, and art gallery space for local artists. Today, the Crites Building retains it characteristic Moderne architectural style. The words "Alfred S. Crites Building" are still visible on the exterior, on the rounded corner above second story. In 2015, a historical marker was added by the Kern County Historical Society. It appears next to the entrance of the building.

The Crites Building was originally built in 1900 as a retail space. Thereafter, the second floor was converted into the Savoy Hotel from 1912 to 1936. In the late 1920s, Arthur S. Crites acquired the building. The lettering "Arthur S. Crites Building, 1927" can still be seen at the top of the building on the rounded corner. The Crites Building is now home to the Bakersfield Art Association.

Crites Building

Guthrie's Alley Cat is a popular dive bar in downtown Bakersfield. It has a single pool table and serves no food. However, it is flanked by restaurants on either side. Originally, this nightspot was named Oscar's Alley Cat, and it has been in existence since 1940. As its name suggests, it is indeed located in an alley. However, this alley also has an official street name (Wall Street). One of the most well-known aspects of Guthrie's Alley Cat is that it features retro neon signage on the exterior. Although there are several interesting 1940s neon signs throughout Bakersfield, this sign is unique in depicting a blinking cat. In addition, there are murals throughout the interior. Some are colorful, while others have been painted in Black and white. In particular, there is a multi-panel Black and white mural featuring a floor to ceiling reproduction of a drawing created by the famed caricaturist, Al Hirschfeld.  In the twentieth century, Hirschfeld became famous for his caricatures of celebrities. Hollywood film actors, singers, Broadway stars, fashion designers, entertainment executives, and other celebrities were all parodied through his work. The Hirschfeld mural at Guthrie's Alley Cat is one of only six of its kind in the world. The long-time owner of Guthrie's Alley Cat is Ken Reed, who has been the proprietor for over 45 years.

Guthrie's Alley Cat was established in 1940 and is the oldest bar in Bakersfield. The establishment was originally called Oscar's Alley Cat. Located in an alley and between two restaurants, there is a neon sign with a blinking cat out front. Inside, there are murals throughout the interior, including a mural of a famous drawing by the celebrity caricaturist Al Hirschfeld.

Guthrie's Alley Cat (1940)

The Bakersfield Californian building was built to house the descendant of the first newspaper in Kern County, The Daily Courier, which was first published in the town of Havilah (1866). Havilah was originally a mining town, and was the first county seat before local government moved to the city of Bakersfield. The newspaper moved along with it. The newspaper underwent several name changes before Alfred Harrell, then the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, purchased the newspaper in 1897 and renamed it The Bakersfield Californian in the year 1907. Ever since Harrell bought it, the newspaper has been in the hands of the Harrell-Fritts family. Today, it is currently run by Virginia F. "Ginger" Moorhouse, the great-granddaughter of Alfred Harrell. It is one of the primary sources of news and the longest-running newspaper in Kern County. The Bakersfield Californian building was built in 1926, making it a historical architectural landmark. Designed by architect Charles Howatt Biggar, the building is one of Bakersfield's best-known historical buildings. It was built in the Italian Renaissance Revival style, and despite several additions and alterations over the years that reflect the community's and newspaper's growth, it still maintains much of its historic character. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 10, 1983. The Bakersfield Californian building is no longer occupied by The Bakersfield Californian, a daily newspaper that serves not only the city of Bakersfield, but also residents of Kern County and the southern San Joaquin Valley. Newspaper operations relocated to 3700 Pegasus Drive, the facility where the newspaper is printed. As is often the case for historic buildings, the Bakersfield Californian building is said to be haunted, as several employees and locals who have been inside the building claim to have heard strange noises when no one was around. Some people also claim to have seen a dark and mysterious figure that wanders by the front entrance of the building. These claims have generated interest by those who might like a glimpse of the paranormal themselves. Ultimately, the Bakersfield Californian building is a beautiful window to Kern County's past, providing residents with a glimpse of just one example of the rich history of Bakersfield's downtown district.

The Bakersfield Californian building is a historic office building that was designed by architect Charles Howatt Biggar and built in 1926. It was originally built to house the offices of the Bakersfield Californian, a newspaper that is a direct descendant of the first newspaper in the county, the Havilah Courier, which was first established in 1866. The newspaper officially moved out of the building to 3700 Pegasus Drive at the end of 2018.

Bakersfield Californian Building 

On October 18, 1942, a statue in memory of Colonel Thomas Baker&nbsp;was unveiled in front of Bakersfield City Hall.1 This statue became known as&nbsp;the Colonel Thomas Baker Memorial, in honor of his contributions to the founding of the City of Bakersfield. It became State Registered Landmark No. 382 on January 3, 1944. This California Historical Landmark is located in front of Bakersfield City Hall, which was dedicated to his memory.The statue of Colonel Baker is sitting up straight on a rock facing Truxtun Avenue. The sculptor was John Palo-Kangas, an artist born in Finland who was known for his work in the New Deal's Federal Art Project, including the Garces Circle Statue and several other Southern California statues.2&nbsp;Under the statue is a brief description of Baker as well as his motto: "Time will justify a man who means to do right." Also included is a list of the contributors to the memorial's creation: Kern County Historic Society, Bakersfield City Council, El Tejon Parlor No. 239 of the Native Daughters of the Golden West, Bakersfield Parlor No. 42 of the Native Sons of the Golden West, the Kern County Board of Supervisors, Kern County Chamber of Commerce, and other public donations.Thomas Baker, a colonel in the Ohio State Militia, was born on November 5, 1810,
in Zanesville, Ohio. At
the time, Ohio was still part of the state of Virginia. Throughout his
lifespan, he served as a soldier, lawyer, politician, farmer, and civil
engineer. He moved to Illinois in 1830 and shortly moved again to Iowa, where he
served as a politician and lawyer. When gold was discovered in California in 1848, Baker decided to move again, this time to California.When Baker moved to California,
it was not with the intention of seeking gold like others. Instead he wanted to
settle and begin his work as a merchant and a farmer. In 1850, Colonel Thomas
arrived in Benicia, California. From there he moved to Stockton, and once again
moved to Tulare County on 1852. There he made great contributions to the
founding of the city of Visalia with a man named Mr. Vise. Colonel Baker was
elected as a state senator for Tulare and Fresno counties from 1861 to 1862. His greatest work started at Kern Island in 1863, after he claimed swampland along the Kern River consisting of vegetation, wilderness, and animals. In
partnership with Harvey S. Brown he began to drain this territory and build
levees and canals to separate the river waters from the lake waters.3

This fact that this
territory had consistency of a&nbsp;swamp only&nbsp;complicated the building process&nbsp;there; however, after the 1864 drought, the swampy overflow dried out, allowing construction to be possible and the beginning of a new&nbsp;community. The Colonel hired Indians to
work on his field and farm alfalfa, which was there for the horses of travelers
going from San Francisco or Sacramento to Los Angeles who could stop at Baker’s
field and have a meal at his home. People began to settle in this Island and
the community began to grow. Consequently, Baker began the creation of streets
that were to be eighty-two and a half feet wide and avenues approximately one
hundred and fifteen feet wide. Colonel Baker then gave all of his land away,
and kept only 80 acres of land to himself. At the time, more than 600 people
were residing in Kern Island.4&nbsp;In 1869, when the post office was officially
established, is when much thought was given to what this place was going to be
named.5

After suggestions such
as Kern Island by Colonel Thomas Baker himself and Bakersville by a member of
the community, the name Bakersfield was chosen as the official name of the
city. Colonel Baker is the founder and namesake of this city. The&nbsp;name fit quite well since this land was known by travelers, visitors, and
members of the community as Baker’s field. Colonel Thomas Baker
died on November 24, 1872, of pneumonia.&nbsp;His grave is located in what is now known as&nbsp;<a href="http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=18849252" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" title="Link: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=18849252">Historic
Union Cemetery</a>.

On October 18, 1942, a statue of Colonel Thomas Baker was placed in front of Bakersfield City Hall. Made possible through public contributions, the statue serves as a memorial to the city's namesake. Colonel Thomas Baker was a visionary pioneer who founded the city of Bakersfield in California. Established in 1863 on swamp land surrounded by wilderness and trees, Colonel Baker and Harvey Brown built levees and canals to help drain the land and make it usable. It was finally accomplished with the help of the 1864 drought, and the construction of the city began. Baker was known for welcoming travelers to his home and providing food for them and their animals without asking for pay; thus, his farm became known as Baker’s field, and people started settling in the area which in 1869 was officially named Bakersfield. The statue in Baker's honor was registered as a California State Registered Landmark on January 3, 1944.

Colonel Thomas Baker Memorial

The Kern County Courthouse was originally the sole repository of records in Kern County. Over time, however, the number of documents kept on file eventually outgrew the space. To solve this problem, the Kern County Hall of Records was constructed in 1909. Architects Robert Train and Robert Williams designed the building in the Beaux-Arts architectural style with a rotunda and large windows. But this combination of rotunda and large windows made the building very hot as sunlight poured in through the windows and the rotunda trapped the heat. In 1939, the building was redesigned to address this issue. Architect Frank Wyncoop remodeled it in the PWA Moderne style. Meanwhile, the rotunda was removed, as were the statues on the roof. The windows were replaced with smaller versions, and the interior made use of increased electric lighting. The more elaborate exterior design elements were covered over. In 1952, the Kern County Hall of records became one of the only government buildings to withstand the earthquake of that same year. By 1988, the building was again renovated. This time, the renovation was supervised by the Klassen Corporation and the architect Bill Tuculet. Storm doors were added to the building's entrance to protect against natural disasters. In addition, the exterior of the building was re-painted white, creating a uniform look for the Kern County Hall of Records.

The Kern County Hall of Records is the oldest continuously-operated government building in downtown Bakersfield. The building was designed by the Los Angeles architects Robert Train and Robert Williams in the Beaux-Arts architectural style and completed in 1909. The structure was redesigned in the Public Works Administration (PWA) Moderne architectural style in 1939. A historical marker was added by the Kern County Historical Society in 2015.

Kern County Hall of Records

The Kern County Vietnam War Memorial is one of several war memorials in Bakersfield that honors the residents of Kern County who served in the armed forces. It is located directly in front of the Superior Court building in Bakersfield. At the top of the monument is an artistic etching of a bird soaring with wings outstretched. Underneath this are the words: "Wind Beneath My Wings." This is followed by the names of the Kern County residents who died during service in the Vietnam War. The monument also honors all of the Kern County residents who served in Vietnam. The inscription reads as follows: "To The More Than 14,000Men and WomenFrom Kern CountyWho Served In Vietnam…And To Those Who GaveThe Ultimate Sacrifice…You Are Not Forgotten." In addition to the Kern County Vietnam War Memorial on Truxtun Avenue in Bakersfield, there is also a Kern County Korean War Memorial, as well as a 9/11 Memorial, which are located elsewhere in the city. Along with these monuments, there is additionally another monument, the Kern County Veterans Memorial, which was created in 2007 to honor all of the veterans of Kern County who served. This is located on Truxtun Avenue about a block to the east of the Kern County Vietnam War Memorial.

The Kern County Vietnam War Memorial honors the more than 14,000 men and women from Kern County who served in Vietnam. It includes the names of each of the residents from Kern County who lost their lives while in service. The memorial also includes an image of a bird in flight. Below this is an inscription that reads, "Wind Beneath My Wings." There are benches on either side of the memorial where people can sit and reflect.

Kern County Vietnam War Memorial

Ground was broken on the&nbsp;First Baptist Church on Truxtun Avenue in Bakersfield, California, on January 16, 1932.&nbsp;Considered one of the finest structures in the San Joaquin Valley at the time of its construction, it was also one of the main landmarks in Bakersfield. As described by Jasmine Lowe in the&nbsp;Bakersfield Californian, "The Spanish arches in its western portion are associated with the Mission Revival style of architecture, its Romanesque architecture attributes the sanctuary, and the 70-foot bell tower resemble the tower of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Italy, built in the 13th century."&nbsp;The building was so well-built, that when Kern County suffered a massive earthquake in 1952 that destroyed many of the historic structures in the downtown area, this church survived "without so much as a hairline crack."The congregation that built this facility was originally formed in 1889 and held services at George Wear's Opera House at Eye and Wall Streets, the county courthouse, and a building on 22nd and Eye Streets before moving into the iconic Truxtun campus.&nbsp;By 1935, the church counted 750 members. Through heavy fundraising, the congregation was able to pay off the mortgage by 1944. By 1961, the church had about 1,700 members, and by the 1970s it was clear that the facility on Truxtun Avenue was not big enough. The congregation sold the building to the Bell Tower Associates in 1978 and moved to a new building on Olive Drive (now Olive Drive Church).In 1978, Robert A. Miller renovated the building and converted it into office space. Miller and the Bell Tower Associates wanted to keep the authenticity of the building by getting it added into the U.S. Department of Interior's National Register of Historic Places on January 29, 1979. The former church is now an office building and currently houses a restaurant called the Bell Tower Craft Bar and Grill. 


















The importance of this building clearly rests on the structure and the uniqueness that it holds. The building is still in use, and&nbsp;is one of the finest decorative structures in the San Joaquin Valley. It is one of the few remaining with its architectural type in Kern County. This tower is a Bakersfield landmark that is characterized especially by the boldness of its structure and the extraordinary vividness and dramatic power of its Romanesque style.

First Baptist Church of Bakersfield was built in 1931 with reinforced concrete and a brick facade that provides a Romaneque character. The building, designed by architect Charles Howatt Biggar, survived the earthquake of 1952. The structure is now home to offices and known as the Bell Tower. The building is a prominent landmark in Bakersfield, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 


First Baptist Church (also known as The Bell Tower)

George Carl Haberfelde, a German immigrant, found success upon arriving in the United States. He purchased and managed a Ford automobile dealership in Bakersfield, which today continues to operate under different ownership. Well-respected within the city, Haberfelde was also elected as the mayor of Bakersfield, a position that he held from 1923 to 1925. During his tenure as mayor, Haberfelde went on a world tour in 1924 with his daughter, Clarisse. They traveled first to Asia and then to Europe. After returning home to California later that year, Haberfelde hired the architect Charles H. Biggar to design a grand new building for office and retail use. At the time that its construction was completed in 1927, the five story Haberfelde Building was one of the tallest buildings in the southern San Joaquin Valley. In 1993, the Haberfelde Building was purchased by Tom Carosella and John Sarad. At that time, the building had thirteen tenants in storefronts on the ground level. They helped to steer the building on a course that could compete with the commercial local malls in Bakersfield. In 2017, the property was again sold, and today it continues to house a combination of popular retail shops and restaurants, with office space on the upper floors.

Bakersfield California Walking Tour

Haberfelde Building

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information