Fire at endangered National Treasure Historic Wintersburg

 

ABOVE: On the morning of February 25 just before 9 a.m., fire destroyed the 1910 Wintersburg Japanese Mission's manse (parsonage), one of six historic structures noted as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places in the City of Huntington Beach General Plan. Historic Wintersburg was designated a National Treasure in 2015  and one of America's 11 Most Endangered in 2014 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It was named one of Orange County's Most Endangered Historic Places by Preserve Orange County in 2017. It is considered a historic and cultural resource by the State of California. (Photo courtesy of Patricia Singer, president of the Ocean View School District board of trustees) © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Shortly before 9 am, Friday, February 25, there was notification of a fire at endangered National Treasure Historic Wintersburg, located at Warner Avenue and Nichols Lane in Huntington Beach. Community preservationists have worked since 2012 to save and preserve this property, which holds over a century of Japanese American history. 

The 112-year-old manse (parsonage) of the Wintersburg Japanese Mission has been lost. Within a few hours, Republic Services brought in a bulldozer, demolishing and potentially removing evidence needed for an arson investigation and archaeological artifacts. We await further confirmation and information regarding the circumstances of the fire and demolition.

RIGHT: The manse (parsonage) of the Wintersburg Japanese Mission to the left of the Mission building, after both were finished with construction in 1910. The first to live in the manse in 1910 was Reverend Joseph K. Inazawa and his wife, the former Miss Kate Alice Goodman, whose marriage was illegal in California and made international headlines. Read their story: The marriage that made headlines. (Photo courtesy of Wintersburg Church) © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Historic Wintersburg and its six structures were named one of America’s Most Endangered Historic Places in 2014 and designated a National Treasure in 2015. Preserve Orange County named Historic Wintersburg one of Orange County’s Most Endangered Historic Places in 2017. 

In recent years beginning in early 2016, Historic Wintersburg was targeted with anti-Asian hate, social media harassment and threats for which police reports were filed.

With local and national partners, the Historic Wintersburg community preservation group has engaged since 2012 Rainbow Disposal and in 2014 new owner Republic Services in discussions to purchase the property for historic preservation purposes. Republic Services has publicly stated to the media they would work with the community effort on the sale for historic preservation purposes but have disengaged the past two years.

ABOVE: Tadashi Kowta in front of the manse in 2013. He lived in the manse as a child when his father, Reverend Sohei Kowta, was clergy for the Wintersburg Japanese Mission. Tadashi Kowta recalled his father being interrogated by the FBI after the attack by Japan at Pearl Harbor in 1941 and their life during WWII incarceration at Poston. He remembered children with the Ocean View elementary school coming to say goodbye to his family. "The whole school seemed to have come to say, 'good bye' to us." Read his story: Reverend Sohei Kowta, The Sunday Before.(Photo, M. Urashima, 2013) © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Over the past decade, the community preservationists have contacted Rainbow/Republic repeatedly to provide more security and regular maintenance of the property. The community has provided thousands of dollars’ worth of tree trimming and brush removal, to remove vegetation that put not just the six historic structures at risk, but also the adjacent homes, and the Ocean View School District's Oak View preschool and elementary school at risk.

As recently as two weeks ago, Republic Services and City of Huntington Beach leaders were contacted in writing with photo documentation about vandalism at the property. They did not respond.

ABOVE: Within a few hours, Republic Services drove a bulldozer across the street and began demolishing the remains of the manse, potentially damaging evidence for an arson investigation as well as archaeological artifacts. (Photo image from video courtesy of Oscar Rodriguez, February 25, 2022) © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The Historic Wintersburg Preservation group, and partners Preserve Orange County and Heritage Museum of Orange County call upon Republic Services and our community leaders in Huntington Beach, Orange County and California leadership, and national preservation organizations to take action to save and preserve this rare and significant National Treasure historic place. We are calling for an arson investigation on today’s fire.

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