Ontario and San Antonio Heights Waiting Station
Why it's listed
Built in 1907 at the edge of San Antonio Park in Upland, California, this small stone waiting station sheltered passengers at the end of the Ontario and San Antonio Heights streetcar line. The one-story building measures about 20 by 20 feet and is made of irregular river rock set in concrete mortar, with battered corner buttresses, a stone parapet, and arched entrances. Its design echoes the nearby 1895 "Stone Castle" powerhouse, now demolished. William G. Kerckhoff's company extended the line to the park, and the station replaced an earlier wooden shelter. The line was sold to Pacific Electric in 1912, and streetcar service to San Antonio Heights ended in 1924 as automobiles became more common. No other stations, tracks, poles or the powerhouse survive from the line, so this building is the best remaining link to Upland's years as a streetcar suburb. A matching balustrade was added in 2009.
Significance in brief: It is significant at the local level under Criterion A for its link to electric railroading and the suburban development of Upland. It served as the northern terminus of the streetcar line at the entrance to San Antonio Park. The nomination says it is the best surviving property tied to Upland's streetcar suburb era, since the powerhouse, tracks, poles and other stations are gone.
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 12000813, listed September 25, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1251 W. 24th St., Upland |
|---|---|
| County | San Bernardino County |
| Listed | September 25, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000813 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1907-1924 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Romanesque Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | No longer a functioning streetcar depot; located in San Antonio Park, which is still used as a neighborhood park. A balustrade was added during a 2009 rehabilitation. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.15203, -117.67051 (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 12000813.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133445494
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.