Overview

The New York-born architect Irving J. Gill, who spent time working in Chicago, IL, before relocating to Southern CA, designed this small railroad depot for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company in 1913-1914. Gill pioneered a highly minimal approach to architecture in opposition to the eclectic revivalism of his era. This building had a transitional Mission Revival/Spanish Colonial Revival character, lacking the scalloped parapets of the former and the Churrigueresque detailing of the latter. This station possessed a gently sculpted parapet and a peripteral porch supported by columns and arched openings. With its colonnade running around the depot, it had the bearing of a Greek temple.

Building History

The Southwest Contractor and Manufacturer noted that architect Irving J. Gill (1870-1936) was preparing plans for the Pacific Electric Station at Fontana in 06/1913. (See "Fontana Notice," Southwest Contractor and Manufacturer, 06/14/1913, p 17.) The building was completed in 1914.

PCAD id: 21815