Edwards and Plunkett was an American architectural firm active between 1925 and 1940 in Santa Barbara, California. It was founded by William Albert Edwards (1888–1976) and James Joseph Plunkett (1900–1946), who were among the most famous practitioners of the Spanish Colonial Revival style in Santa Barbara. From 1926 to 1928, Henry Ward Howell (1889–1962) was a junior partner, and they operated as Edwards, Plunkett, and Howell. Their works include the Arlington Theatre, the Janssens–Orella–Birk Building, and the original terminal building of the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport.
Edwards was born in May 1888 in Santa Barbara. He attended the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Pennsylvania, graduating with a degree in architecture in 1912, before moving back to Santa Barbara to start his own architecture firm in 1919. His early work included the Red Cross Drug Store at 828 State Street and the Morning Press Building, also on the 800 block. Both buildings were damaged in the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake.[1]
Plunkett, meanwhile, was born in Rome, New York, in 1900, one of 11 children. He moved to California in 1922, where he worked on the Santa Maria Inn with an architect in Santa Maria[2] before marrying and settling in Santa Barbara to work for the Mount Diablo Building Corporation.[3]
Partnership
On the day of the earthquake, Edwards and Plunkett obtained a permit to tour the rubble and received numerous commissions. A third designer, Henry Ward Howell (1889–1962)[4] joined as a junior partner in 1926, before leaving the firm in 1928 to start his own practice. They were very prolific in these early years, and worked almost exclusively in the Spanish Revival style that the city was promoting at the time. Among the buildings they designed were the Medical Arts Building at 1421 Chapala Street, the Woman's Club at 670 Mission Canyon Road, and the Janssens–Orella–Birk Building.[5]
In 1929, construction began on the Fox Arlington Theatre, arguably the firm's most significant work. It received extensive press coverage during and after its completion, in publications including the Los Angeles Times, Southwest Builder and Contractor, Motion Picture Herald, and Architectural Record.[6] The architectural historian David Gebhard identifies its construction as one of three events, along with the completion of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse and the publication of Henry Philip Staat's Californian Architecture in Santa Barbara, that "stand forth as landmarks in [Santa Barbara's] effort to develop an 'appropriate' architecture for itself", a "culmination of the efforts of the Plans and Planning Committee of the County Arts Association to revamp Santa Barbara's image into that of a Spanish Mediterranean village."[7]
Dissolution and aftermath
Edwards and Plunkett worked together steadily until 1940, when Edwards left for a government job up north. Plunkett continued alone, designing the El Presidio building at 802–812 Anacapa Street, which he did not live to see completed, as his final work. He died in May 1946.[8]
Edwards returned to Santa Barbara after the war and formed the firm of Edwards and Wade in 1946, before retiring in 1950. He died in 1976.[9] His son Peter (1924–2018) was also a Santa Barbara architect, founding his own architectural firm, Edwards–Pitman, with John Pitman in 1957.[10]
These works are listed with photographs and brief descriptions in Herb Andree and Noel Young, Santa Barbara Architecture: from Spanish Colonial to Modern, 2nd edition, pp. 116–125, unless otherwise cited. Addresses are in Santa Barbara unless otherwise listed. Buildings whose exteriors have been altered since construction date are indicated as such.
William A. Edwards (before 1925)
Red Cross Drug Store, 828 State Street, 1925 (demolished)
Morning Press Building, 800 block State Street, c. 1925 (demolished)[14]
Andree, Herb, and Noel Young. Santa Barbara Architecture: from Spanish Colonial to Modern. Second edition. With photographs by Wayne McCall and an introduction by David Gebhard. Santa Barbara: Capra Press, 1980.
"City of Santa Barbara Designated Structures of Merit as of June 10, 2021". City of Santa Barbara. 10 June 2021.
"Red Cross Drug Store, 828 State Street, Santa Barbara, California". Photograph. 1926. Community Development and Conservation Collection. SBHC Mss 1. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Redmon, Michael. "Architect Joseph J. Plunkett: Designed Gems from Arlington to the Airport". Santa Barbara Independent. 2 March 2017.
Staats, H. Philip. Californian Architecture in Santa Barbara. 1929. New edition, with an introduction by David Gebhard. Stamford, Connecticut: Architectural Book Publishing Company, 1990.
Notes
^Andree and Young, p. 284. See also "Red Cross Drug Store", photograph.
^Nicole Hernandez, "Structure of Merit Designation Report: 405 Canon Drive, Santa Barbara, California", Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commission, 5 August 2020.
^Nicole Hernandez, "Historic Significance Report: 1806 El Encanto Road, Santa Barbara, California", Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commission, 20 January 2021.
^"City of Santa Barbara Designated Structures of Merit", p. 26.
^Andree and Young, p. 284. Mitchell was a banker and founder of National Air Transport, which along with three other lines became United Airlines. See "John J. Mitchell, Co-Founder of United Airlines, Dies at 87", Los Angeles Times, 9 April 1985. See also this real estate listing: "Palacio del Rio, 3280 Via Rancheros, Santa Ynez, California", CareyKendall.com, accessed 22 June 2021.
Illustrated profile at the City of Santa Barbara website
Historic Preservation, City of Santa Barbara
January 20, 2023
edwards, plunkett, american, architectural, firm, active, between, 1925, 1940, santa, barbara, california, founded, william, albert, edwards, 1888, 1976, james, joseph, plunkett, 1900, 1946, were, among, most, famous, practitioners, spanish, colonial, revival,. Edwards and Plunkett was an American architectural firm active between 1925 and 1940 in Santa Barbara California It was founded by William Albert Edwards 1888 1976 and James Joseph Plunkett 1900 1946 who were among the most famous practitioners of the Spanish Colonial Revival style in Santa Barbara From 1926 to 1928 Henry Ward Howell 1889 1962 was a junior partner and they operated as Edwards Plunkett and Howell Their works include the Arlington Theatre the Janssens Orella Birk Building and the original terminal building of the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport Edwards and PlunkettPractice informationPartnersWilliam Albert Edwards James Joseph Plunkett Henry Ward Howell 1926 to 1928 Founded1925 1925 Dissolved1940 1940 Significant works and honorsBuildingsArlington Theatre Janssens Orella Birk Building Contents 1 History 1 1 Early years 1 2 Partnership 1 3 Dissolution and aftermath 2 Legacy 3 Selected work 3 1 William A Edwards before 1925 3 2 Edwards Plunkett and Howell 1926 1928 3 3 Edwards and Plunkett 1928 1939 3 4 Joseph Plunkett after 1939 4 See also 5 References 6 Notes 7 External linksHistory Edit Janssens Orella Birk Building 1927 Arlington Theatre 1931 photographed in 2010 Early years Edit Edwards was born in May 1888 in Santa Barbara He attended the University of California Berkeley and the University of Pennsylvania graduating with a degree in architecture in 1912 before moving back to Santa Barbara to start his own architecture firm in 1919 His early work included the Red Cross Drug Store at 828 State Street and the Morning Press Building also on the 800 block Both buildings were damaged in the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake 1 Plunkett meanwhile was born in Rome New York in 1900 one of 11 children He moved to California in 1922 where he worked on the Santa Maria Inn with an architect in Santa Maria 2 before marrying and settling in Santa Barbara to work for the Mount Diablo Building Corporation 3 Partnership Edit On the day of the earthquake Edwards and Plunkett obtained a permit to tour the rubble and received numerous commissions A third designer Henry Ward Howell 1889 1962 4 joined as a junior partner in 1926 before leaving the firm in 1928 to start his own practice They were very prolific in these early years and worked almost exclusively in the Spanish Revival style that the city was promoting at the time Among the buildings they designed were the Medical Arts Building at 1421 Chapala Street the Woman s Club at 670 Mission Canyon Road and the Janssens Orella Birk Building 5 In 1929 construction began on the Fox Arlington Theatre arguably the firm s most significant work It received extensive press coverage during and after its completion in publications including the Los Angeles Times Southwest Builder and Contractor Motion Picture Herald and Architectural Record 6 The architectural historian David Gebhard identifies its construction as one of three events along with the completion of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse and the publication of Henry Philip Staat s Californian Architecture in Santa Barbara that stand forth as landmarks in Santa Barbara s effort to develop an appropriate architecture for itself a culmination of the efforts of the Plans and Planning Committee of the County Arts Association to revamp Santa Barbara s image into that of a Spanish Mediterranean village 7 Dissolution and aftermath Edit Edwards and Plunkett worked together steadily until 1940 when Edwards left for a government job up north Plunkett continued alone designing the El Presidio building at 802 812 Anacapa Street which he did not live to see completed as his final work He died in May 1946 8 Edwards returned to Santa Barbara after the war and formed the firm of Edwards and Wade in 1946 before retiring in 1950 He died in 1976 9 His son Peter 1924 2018 was also a Santa Barbara architect founding his own architectural firm Edwards Pitman with John Pitman in 1957 10 Legacy EditMany of the buildings designed by Edwards and Plunkett remain standing The Janssens Orella Birk Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 the Arlington Theatre was listed as a City of Santa Barbara Historic Landmark in 1983 and several of their buildings have been listed as Structures of Merit by the City of Santa Barbara 11 Their drawings are housed in the Architecture and Design Collection at the University of California Santa Barbara 12 In 2020 the celebrities Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom purchased an estate in Montecito designed by Edwards and Plunkett and renovated by Lutah Maria Riggs 13 Selected work EditThese works are listed with photographs and brief descriptions in Herb Andree and Noel Young Santa Barbara Architecture from Spanish Colonial to Modern 2nd edition pp 116 125 unless otherwise cited Addresses are in Santa Barbara unless otherwise listed Buildings whose exteriors have been altered since construction date are indicated as such William A Edwards before 1925 Edit Red Cross Drug Store 828 State Street 1925 demolished Morning Press Building 800 block State Street c 1925 demolished 14 Victoria Hotel 22 E Victoria Street 1925 15 Edwards Plunkett and Howell 1926 1928 Edit Medical Arts Building 1421 Chapala Street 1926 Hunt Mercantile 1025 Chapala Street 1927 16 Santa Barbara Woman s Club 670 Mission Canyon Road 1927 altered Copper Coffee Pot Janssens Orella Birk Building 1029 State Street 1927 altered Commercial Building now Wells Fargo bank 1036 Anacapa Street 1927 altered with Marston and Van Pelt El Centro Building 21 E Canon Perdido Street 1927 17 House 2010 Grand Avenue 1928 18 Rogers House 3626 San Remo Drive 1927 altered House Montecito 1928 House Hope Ranch 1928 altered Post House Montecito 1928 altered Santa Barbara Fire Station 3 415 E Sola Street 1929 altered Fox Arlington Theater 1317 State Street 1929 31 Salsbury Field Building address unknown 19 Johnston Cafeteria 916 State Street demolished 20 Standard Oil Filling Station address unknown 21 Edwards and Plunkett 1928 1939 Edit Santa Barbara Municipal Airport terminal building 1941 John Austin House 405 Canon Drive 1929 22 Cold Spring School 2243 Sycamore Canyon Road Montecito c 1930 altered Apartments 1800 El Encanto Road c 1930 altered House 1806 El Encanto Road 1930 23 House 1630 Grand Avenue 1930 24 McCormick House Montecito 1933 Santa Barbara Municipal Airport Terminal Building Sandspit Road Goleta 1941 altered John J Mitchell Ranch and Residence Rancho Juan y Lolita 3280 Via Rancheros Santa Ynez c 1930s 25 National Guard Armory 700 E Canon Perdido Street c 1930s 26 Clarence Mitchell House address unknown c 1930s 27 A R Demory House Santa Barbara c 1930s 28 E G Linscott House Hope Ranch c 1930s 29 Joseph Plunkett after 1939 Edit El Presidio Building 812 802 Anacapa Street 1945 altered See also EditHistory of Santa Barbara California Spanish Colonial Revival architecture George Washington Smith architect Reginald Davis Johnson Lutah Maria RiggsReferences EditAndree Herb and Noel Young Santa Barbara Architecture from Spanish Colonial to Modern Second edition With photographs by Wayne McCall and an introduction by David Gebhard Santa Barbara Capra Press 1980 City of Santa Barbara Designated Structures of Merit as of June 10 2021 City of Santa Barbara 10 June 2021 Red Cross Drug Store 828 State Street Santa Barbara California Photograph 1926 Community Development and Conservation Collection SBHC Mss 1 Department of Special Research Collections UC Santa Barbara Library University of California Santa Barbara Redmon Michael Architect Joseph J Plunkett Designed Gems from Arlington to the Airport Santa Barbara Independent 2 March 2017 Staats H Philip Californian Architecture in Santa Barbara 1929 New edition with an introduction by David Gebhard Stamford Connecticut Architectural Book Publishing Company 1990 Notes Edit Andree and Young p 284 See also Red Cross Drug Store photograph Andree and Young p 286 Pacific Coast Architecture Database James Joseph Plunkett accessed 16 July 2021 Also see Michael Redmon Joseph J Plunkett Pacific Coast Architecture Database Henry Ward Howell accessed 17 July 2021 Andree and Young p 284 Pacific Coast Architecture Database Edwards and Plunkett Architects accessed 17 July 2021 Staats p ix Andree and Young p 286 Andree and Young p 284 Obituary Peter Edwards Santa Barbara News Press 25 January 2018 Reprinted at Legacy com City of Santa Barbara Designated Structures of Merit as of October 28 2020 2020 Accessed 9 March 2021 Edwards Plunkett amp Howell drawings Architecture and Design Collection Art Design amp Architecture Museum University of California Santa Barbara Chen Joyce Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom Buy Montecito Compound for 14 2 Million Architectural Digest 22 October 2020 Andree and Young p 284 City of Santa Barbara Designated Structures of Merit p 44 City of Santa Barbara Designated Structures of Merit p 16 Nicole Hernandez 21 E Canon Perdido St Structure of Merit Nomination Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commission 19 August 2020 City of Santa Barbara Designated Structures of Merit p 26 Staats p 40 Staats p 47 Staats p 48 Nicole Hernandez Structure of Merit Designation Report 405 Canon Drive Santa Barbara California Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commission 5 August 2020 Nicole Hernandez Historic Significance Report 1806 El Encanto Road Santa Barbara California Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commission 20 January 2021 City of Santa Barbara Designated Structures of Merit p 26 Andree and Young p 284 Mitchell was a banker and founder of National Air Transport which along with three other lines became United Airlines See John J Mitchell Co Founder of United Airlines Dies at 87 Los Angeles Times 9 April 1985 See also this real estate listing Palacio del Rio 3280 Via Rancheros Santa Ynez California CareyKendall com accessed 22 June 2021 Andree and Young p 284 Andree and Young p 284 Andree and Young p 284 Andree and Young p 284 External links EditIllustrated profile at the City of Santa Barbara website Historic Preservation City of Santa Barbara Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edwards and Plunkett amp oldid 1096989518, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
