Shaylee, Author at Davis Downtown

A. J. Plant House (1910)
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A. J. Plant House (1910)

A. J. Plant House (1910)

221 1st Street

This one and a half story Colonial Revival house which has a gambrel roof, indicating an influence of Dutch Colonial prototypes, was built by Albert June Plant, an important figure in early Davisville. A businessman and Notary Public, Plant kept minutes for both the first Davisville Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber’s State Farm Promotion Committee. As secretary, he was directly responsible for the Chamber’s 1905 publication, “An Ideal Spot for a University Farm” which gave many reasons for selecting Davisville as the site of the university farm. Plant, son of early Davisville residents Louis and Sarah Plant, started the Plant Grain and Warehouse Company on what is now the corner of 4th & G. Although both he and his wife Mary Ellen died at an early age, their oldest daughter Lois continued to live and look after the two younger children in this house.

Shaylee2025-11-02T15:22:00-08:00July 3rd, 2013|

Davis Subway (1917)
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Davis Subway (1917)

Davis Subway (1917)

Richards Underpass

The Richards Boulevard Underpass is a concrete structure that carries railroad traffic over Richards Boulevard with a simple, industrial character. The load is carried by means of steel I-beams which rest on concrete abutments to support a wood plank floor on which three sets of tracks are laid. It was built in 1917 by the California Highway Commission as part of State Route 6, with the cost being born equally by the State and the SP Railroad Co. Although the materials in the floor and the ties, etc. have been replaced many 4 times, the structure possesses a high degree of integrity, location, materials, workmanship, design, feeling and association. In the context of highway construction in California, it appears to be one of the oldest surviving examples of the use of I-beam construction on a railroad grade separation and the oldest in association with the SP system in California. Most grade separation projects undertaken in the pioneer era of state highway construction have been destroyed by subsequent highway widening projects, a concept repeatedly defeated by Davis voters prior to its designation on the National Register. State Route 6 was replaced by US 40, and signs along the “Historic US Hwy 40” are now up, including the route through Davis. The route was also part of the Lincoln Highway for a time and concrete markers designate that route as well.

Shaylee2025-11-02T15:22:01-08:00July 3rd, 2013|

Schmeiser Home (1911)
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Schmeiser Home (1911)

Schmeiser Home (1911)

334 I Street

This impressive structure has elements from both Colonial Revival and Queen Anne styles. It was built in 1911 by Theodore G. Schmeiser who was born on his parents’ ranch west of Davisville in 1877 and established the Schmeiser Manufacturing Co. next to the railroad tracks in 1905, just blocks from his house. “TG,” as he was known, manufactured farm implements and either invented or improved a number of widely used agricultural mechanisms. In 1910 he organized the town’s first water company and he was a charter member of the Davisville Almond Growers Association. He and his wife were active in
community affairs between 1900-1925 when the manufacturing plant was moved to Fresno and the Schmeisers divorced, she remaining in Davis. An innovative fire protection system was built into the house, consisting of a large cistern in the back yard, a water tank in the attic connected to water hoses on all floors and, at one time, a method for catching rain water on the roof.

Shaylee2025-11-02T15:22:03-08:00July 3rd, 2013|

Williams-Drummond Home (1876)
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Williams-Drummond Home (1876)

Williams-Drummond Home (1876)

320 I Street

This two story, symmetrical house is Italinate in styling and formal in feeling. It is significant not only because of its architectural qualities but also because of its early construction in one of the first extensions of Davisville and because of its association with John C. Drummond, a prominent Davisville farmer. W. S. Williams constructed this home in approximately 1876 on 3 lots he purchased from the Davisville Land Co., the original promoters of the Jerome C. Davis Ranch. Ownership was transferred to Drummond in 1880, who wanted a house in town so his children could attend Davisville schools. He had
come to California in 1849 with his brother Lewis and worked as a blacksmith in Sacramento for 12 years, saving money to buy land. He bought 700 acres SE of Davisville in 1881 and became one of Davisville’s largest land holders, ranking high among Yolo County farmers.

Shaylee2025-11-02T15:22:04-08:00July 3rd, 2013|

Bank of Yolo (1910)
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Bank of Yolo (1910)

Bank of Yolo (1910)

301 G Street

This is an example of an important American architectural genre: the small-town classical revival bank. Although a small building, it establishes a massive scale through careful proportioning. The Davis branch of the Bank of Yolo opened in 1909 in a small wooden building located behind the present structure, which was completed in 1910. The bank served Davis in this building from 1910 to 1933 when it failed. Although it did not open its doors after the Crash, it repaid its depositors in full within a few years. After the Crash, the building housed other banking operations and also City of Davis offices (the flagpole on the roof is a carry-over from those civic days). It is currently occupied by a restaurant, the Noodle Express. It and the adjacent Davis Enterprise building are the northernmost remaining buildings in the historic Davis “main street” streetscape along the West side of what is now G Street. (Others are # 6, # 7 and # 24.)

Shaylee2025-11-02T15:22:06-08:00July 3rd, 2013|