Ventura County Landmark No. 26: Ojai Post Office Tower and Portico
Historical Background
During the last three decades of the 19th century, the gradual subdivision of Ojai Valley’s former ranchos into smaller tracts opened the land for settlement, agriculture, and ranching (Post/Hazeltine Associates, 2021). The greatest impetus to development in the Ojai Valley was the founding of the town of Nordhoff in 1874. Named in honor of the writer Charles Nordhoff, who had popularized California through articles and books, including California for Health, Pleasure, and Residence, a Book for Travelers and Settlers. Until the early 20th century, Nordhoff remained a small rural community providing goods and services to Ojai’s farms and ranches, which developed as the area’s ranchos were subdivided and sold off and public lands became available for homesteading and sale. It was not until the early 20th century that Nordhoff, which was renamed Ojai in 1917, began to develop into a resort and educational center, mostly due to the efforts of two men, the educator Sherman D. Thacher who founded Thacher School in 1889 and the industrialist Edward Libbey, who in 1914, spearheaded the rebuilding of Ojai’s main street in the Mediterranean style (Post/Hazeltine Associates, 2021).
This landmark structure, built in 1916 by the architectural firm of Mead and Requa, was a gift to the City of Ojai from Edward D. Libbey. The tower, featured on the city’s official seal, is three stories high with a domed top inlaid with Spanish tile. Inside, wooden stairs lead to the top of the tower where electric chimes have been installed.
Mead & Requa, Architects
Richard S. Requa, American Institute of Architects (AIA), was born March 27, 1881, in Rock Island, Illinois (Jackson, 2005). He and his family moved to San Diego in 1900. His early employment with Hartwell Electric reflected his training in electrical engineering. In 1908, he joined the staff of architect Irving J. Gill as a “superintendent.” In 1911, Requa established his own office, and in 1913, he formed the firm of Mead and Requa with Frank Mead. Both men had a strong interest in the simple elements that make up the architecture of the Southwestern United States and the North African coastal regions (Jackson, 2005). Added to this mix was the influence of the early Spanish architecture of California. Requa was impressed with the similarity of terrain and climate between Southern California and the Andalusia area of Spain. It was during the 1920s that Requa developed a style that was to become his hallmark; he labeled it “Southern California Architecture.” (Jackson, 2005).
Additional Reading
References
Jackson, Parker (March 2005). A Tour of the Works of Noted Architect: Richard S. Requa, AIA. San Diego Historical Society. http://www.sohosandiego.org/tourbooklets/RequaTour.pdf.
Post/Hazeltine Associates (September 3, 2021). Historic Resources Report, 76 Oak Drive, Ojai Valley, Ventura County, California.
Date Designated: June 1975
Location: Southeast corner of Ojai and Signal Streets, Ojai
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