Fresno Republican Printery Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1919-1920 at 2130 Kern Street, this Fresno building was designed as the job printing annex of the Fresno Morning Republican newspaper. Architects Edward Glass and Charles Butner created a large print shop lit by six banks of north-facing skylights, fronted by a symmetrical plastered-brick office block with a red tile canopy, diamond-shaped tiles and engraved lettering naming the building and its craft. Inside, the offices keep their oak paneling, counters, floors and a staircase to a mezzanine. The printing business operated for decades, and the building still held antique presses, foundry and engravers' type cases, and a wood type collection dating to 1876. The nomination values it as a rare, nearly unaltered work of the Glass and Butner firm, blending classical detail with California revival forms, and as a link to the Republican newspaper. Plans called for restoration as a restaurant, offices and gallery.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a rare, almost unaltered example of the firm's early work, designed by Charles Butner and Edward Glass, and a sophisticated interpretation of California's Mediterranean-influenced revival styles of 1915-1930. It is also the direct heir to the Fresno Morning Republican, which it describes as a major force in early California publishing, and it retains antique printing equipment and type dating to 1876.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79000474, listed January 2, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2130 Kern St., Fresno |
|---|---|
| County | Fresno County |
| Listed | January 2, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000474 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1919-1920 |
| Architect / builder | Glass and Butner, Architects |
| Architectural style | Mezzo-mediterranean styles of California's eclectic revival era (1915-1930), with classical details |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as virtually unaltered and in good condition, with a plan to restore it as a historical restaurant, offices and a gallery; a 1963 structural improvement to the roof trusses is noted. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 36.73375, -119.78728 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79000474.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q85762138
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.