Chapman Building
Why it's listed
Rising five stories above downtown Fullerton, this commercial office building at Harbor Boulevard and Wilshire Avenue was built in 1922-23 for Charles C. Chapman. Designed by Anaheim architect M. Eugene Durfee in Italian Renaissance Revival style, it has cast iron columns and large plate glass storefronts at street level, and Romanesque arches, blue terra cotta medallions and a corbeled cornice above. At 65 feet tall with over 50,000 square feet, it was the largest building in Orange County when completed, at a cost above $300,000. Chapman, a Chicago transplant who became Fullerton's first mayor and a leader of the Valencia orange industry, built it on a lot he bought in 1905. Local labor was used for excavation to create jobs. The exterior has changed little apart from the entrance marquee and doors, and the building is valued for its architecture, its reflection of 1920s optimism, and its association with Chapman.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its architecture, its economic role, and its link to Charles Clarke Chapman, a prominent Fullerton, Orange County and Southern California figure known as the "Father of the Valencia Orange Industry." It was the largest building in Orange County when built and is a fine example of Renaissance Revival styling with notable terra cotta detailing.
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 83001212, listed September 22, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 110 E. Wilshire Ave., Fullerton |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | September 22, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001212 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1922-23 |
| Architect / builder | M. Eugene Durfee - Architect |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance Revival |
| Areas of significance | Economics, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as vacant for nearly twenty years; condition marked good, altered, original site. Ground floor retail space remains virtually unaltered, while the upper office floors were remodeled in 1954. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 33.87235, -117.92403 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 83001212.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133325302
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.