Molrine's Moving Pictures - Ferndale, CA
N 40° 34.624 W 124° 15.780
10T E 393102 N 4492575
This historic building has been home to a number of businesses over the years.
Waymark Code: WM18N53
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 08/27/2023
Views: 0
The historical name for the building at the corner of Main and Washington Streets is the 'S.H. Paine Building'. This building was erected in 1901 and is contributing building No. 49 as part of the Ferndale Main Street Historic District that was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. The nomination form highlights the history of this building and its statement of significance reads:
This large, two-story Victorian building has a commercial storefront facing Main Street with a central, recessed entrance flanked by plate glass windows with transom lites above. Decorative edge boards at the corners of the building simulate pilasters. The same wood molding parallels the transcom lites providing a ribbon decoration.
The second story houses apartments. A corner octagonal bay window projects over the sidewalk and acts as a focal point to this building. The spire roof above this octagonal bay was removed in 1955 (it has since been reconstructed). Numerous single lite sash windows pierce the second story. Ribbons of wood modling visually delineate the first and secind stories and the false front parapet. The parapet has a patterned shingle mansard roof with an elaborate frieze that includes fan decorations, brackets, and square trim. A finial can be found on the back side of the building at the end of the parapet wall.
The side of the building facing Washington Street is pierced with two doors and several windows of various sizes. One Victorian door with transom lite leads to the apartments upstairs and the other door is a modern office entrance.
This large Victorian building was built by contractors Kerri and Branstetter for Sylvanus H. Paine in 1901. It was considered "one of the most substantial and handsome buildings in the county" when it was completed. Paine moved his meat market into one of the ground level stores. The other was occupied by the E.W. Kells and Son drug store. Upstairs, Dr. K.M. Lundborg opened dental parlors and the Will Kerri family resided. Paine insulated the "double floors" upstairs with heavy felt to deaden the sound from below. Paine's meat market included an electric motor for his sausage grinder.
In 1902 Paine sold his meat market business to Messrs. Beck and Rasmussen. Then the E.W. Wells drug store business of Eureka discontinued their Ferndale branch store in 1903. After that time the building's interior was remodeled several times to meet the needs of various tenants. N.R. Hanse opened his Bowling Alley Saloon in 1903 which operated until 1918 when the interior was remodeled for an "auto salesroom" for J.E. Larson and Merton Taubman. From 1920 to 1927 the F. Dahlquist Plumbing and Electrical Business operated from here. In 1927, the interior was "extensively remodeled for garage use". Hanson's Garage was the Ferndale dealer for Chrysler cars and Goodyear tires. In 1937 the upstairs was converted into the Codoni Apartments "equipped with all the newest devices for comfortable living.
Interestingly, the statement of significance doesn't mention Molrine's Moving Pictures business residing in this building. But I did read in the nomination form that a C.W. Molrine had cornered the show business in the 'Cream City' of Ferndale in the early 1900s.