Originally called ‘The Corners’ before present-day Walnut Creek due to its location at the consequential intersection of Pacheco and Lafayette Roads, the city thankfully still has plenty of times gone by ‘corners’ to explore. One person in particular hopes others agree.
Walnut Creek native Brad Rovanpera was the city’s first public information officer, serving 24 years until retiring in 2009. He’s a 1976 graduate of San Francisco State University with a journalism degree, however, one of his other passions is history. In fact, he authored two books about local lore: 150 Years in Pictures: An Illustrated History of Walnut Creek, published in 1999, and Walnut Creek: An Illustrated History, published in 2009.
Although Brad and his wife, Debbie, subsequently relocated to Virginia, where he served as an associate guide at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello from 2010-2019, he nonetheless relishes outlining the beauty of Walnut Creek’s historical buildings. Brad agreed to share with Walnut Creek City Lifestyle readers his top 10 local buildings of historic importance, as well as highlights of his research about them.
“My factors for considering which buildings to place on such a list are three-fold: historical architecture, who lived there and how it was used,” explains Brad. “Without our historic buildings, we lose that important perspective of where we once were from and how far we’ve come.”
Now back to the West Coast as a resident of Spokane, Washington, he's still encouraging everyone to keep Walnut Creek’s heritage alive by embracing the city’s past without camouflaging it.
Considering that The Corners was settled in 1849 during the Gold Rush, this feature also honors Walnut Creek’s recent 175th milestone. The city still holds the golden ticket to many people’s happiness.
1. Shadelands Ranch Museum, 2660 Ygnacio Valley Road, built in 1903, is Brad’s top pick. As a stately, Colonial-Revival style house, he says this spot has it all. It was erected by one of the town’s earliest pioneers and remains on its original site, virtually unchanged. It was the home of one of the town’s founders, Hiram Penniman, who became the area’s first real estate agent by selling land parcels to newcomers for $50 and $75 each. In 1970, the house was donated to the city and turned over to the Walnut Creek Historical Society. It was converted into a museum during 1972.
2. Sasa, 1432 N. Main St., built in 1910. Still with its original charm from being a meat market, over time, it was converted into JR Muggs and a series of cafes.
3. St. Paul’s Mission Chapel, 1924 Trinity Ave., built in 1888. Brad says it’s the only ranked landmark that maintained its original architecture and purpose. After opening for worship during 1889, it’s the last surviving 19th century church. It was relocated to its current spot during 1950.
4. Havana, 1516 Bonanza St., built in 1926. It originally served as the Central Fire Station.
5. Adib’s former Persian rug store, 1375 N. Main St., built in 1910 as a hardware store. It was the town’s first building to be supplied with electricity. It went through an architectural makeover in 1947, but is one of the few older buildings still owned by the original family’s descendants.
6. Vic Stewart’s restaurant, 850 S. Broadway, built in 1891. Served as a railroad depot until rail traffic ceased, it’s been a restaurant since.
7. California Closets and other shops, 1376-1388 N. Main St., built in 1913. It housed the First National Bank.
8. Leech House & Medical Clinic, 1525 N. Main St., built in 1872. It was the home of the town’s second doctor, Claude Leech, and his wife, Eva, who became the municipality’s first woman elected to its city council.
9. Brad called a tie between Tellus Coffee (the former Schroder Insurance building), on 1410 N. Main St., which opened in 1928 and served as Walnut Creek’s third post office from 1928 to 1947, and the Borges Ranch House. The Borges Ranch House was established in 1901 by Portuguese rancher Francisco Borges. The Borges house on 1035 Castle Rock Road, during 1981, became Walnut Creek’s first landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was restored by the city in 1990.
10. Model Bakery (formerly La Fogata Mexican Bar & Grill), 1315 N. Main St., built in 1862. Brad says the building is showcased in the oldest known photo taken in Walnut Creek, approximately in 1872.
Fun Modern Day Fact: Walnut Creek has an active Sister Cities International program with two sister cities: Noceto, Italy, and Siófok, Hungary. Local schools have a yearly student exchange with these cities.
Walnut Creek was incorporated on Oct. 21, 1914, becoming Contra Costa County's eighth city.
The 110th anniversary of a bustling, upscale Walnut Creek was celebrated during 2024.