Ebell Society of Santa Ana Valley
Also known as: Ebell Clubhouse
Why it's listed
Built in 1924, this one-story clubhouse at 625 N. French Street in Santa Ana was constructed for the Ebell Society of Santa Ana Valley, a women's club organized in 1894. Architect Frederick Eley designed it in the Spanish/Mediterranean style, and Samuel Preble built it. It has stucco walls, a red tile roof, ornate entries on the west and east sides, an auditorium, an assembly hall, a kitchen, and a tiled interior courtyard with a colonnade. Changes since construction have been modest: a canvas awning was removed, iron railings were added in 1954-55, and a ramp was added in 1980. The building is notable for its architecture and for its link to the club, which raised funds from 1902 and met in members' homes for decades before building. Eley was described as Orange County's pioneer architect, and this is one of his few surviving public buildings. The Ebell Society still uses the building as its clubhouse.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the clubhouse is one of the best community examples of Spanish/Mediterranean architecture in Santa Ana and one of the last remaining public buildings by local architect Frederick Eley. It also represents the achievement of a women's club that promoted education, the arts and community service, and met in members' homes for 30 years before building it.
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 01000682, listed July 2, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 625 N. French St., Santa Ana |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | July 2, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01000682 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1924-1951 |
| Architect / builder | Eley, Frederick Architect; Preble, Samuel Builder |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Spanish/Mediterranean Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a clubhouse; maintained inside and out with few changes. It is also used for parties, weddings and receptions. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.75075, -117.86442 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 01000682.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133336407
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.