Kroger-Melrose District
Why it's listed
Sixty-seven properties on five streets just south of Lincoln Avenue make up this Anaheim neighborhood, which developed mostly between 1900 and 1915. The tract was subdivided in 1887 on land once held by the Rimpau family, and the first single-family house, a Queen Anne cottage at 115 S. Olive, went up in 1892. The Boyd House of 1898 at 129 S. Olive is the earliest remaining Transitional/Colonial Revival house in the city. The district contains Anaheim's largest concentration of that style, followed by Craftsman Bungalows, with California Bungalows and two Spanish Colonial buildings added as infill in the 1920s. Houses typically have narrow clapboard siding, classical porch columns, bellcast hip roofs and fine woodwork. The streets reflect the modest, practical tastes of a German-influenced community, where even prominent businessmen built unpretentious homes. Fifty-seven buildings contribute to the district. Its position within a redevelopment project area leaves part of it threatened with demolition, while some homes have been restored.
Significance in brief: The district holds the largest concentration of Transitional/Colonial Revival houses in Anaheim, along with Craftsman and California Bungalows. It shows the evolution of the bungalow and represents an early twentieth century middle-class neighborhood important to Anaheim history. It includes the oldest house in the district (1892 Queen Anne cottage) and the earliest remaining Transitional/Colonial Revival house in the city (1898).
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 85001326, listed June 19, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by Lincoln Ave., S. Kroger, W. Broadway and S. Philadelphia, Anaheim |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | June 19, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001326 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architectural style | Transitional/Colonial Revival, Craftsman Bungalow, Queen Anne cottage, California Bungalow |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Mostly occupied private residences in fair to good condition, some altered; 57 contributing and 10 non-contributing properties. Located in a redevelopment area, with houses on Philadelphia and the west side of Olive in immediate danger of demolition. |
| Acreage | 14 |
| Coordinates | 33.83499, -117.90891 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 85001326.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q49512089
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.