You can easily research the history of your Heninger Park home at Santa Ana Library's Historical Room.
The library is located at 26 Civic Center Plaza; the History Room is open 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. Monday
through Saturday with a one hour closure for lunch from 1 P.M. to 2 P.M. The librarians Ann and Cheryl
are friendly and helpful.
Start by looking at the Santa Ana City Directories, which were published from
approximately the 1900's through the 1960's. The streets are listed alphabetically and then by house address.
For example, Birch, Broadway, Chestnut, Cubbon… If you know what year your house was built, you're in luck.
If not, try looking in five-year intervals. For example, if there is no listing for your home in 1915, but
it is listed in 1920, go back year by year to find out exactly when your home was built.
These directories are a wealth of information, a mini-time capsule. You will find out not only who owned your
home, but also their occupation and phone number. I discovered the first owner of our 1913 home was a painter
named Underwood Judd and his phone number was Pac 1040J. In 1920 our home was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Wiseman
and it remained in the Wiseman family until the 1950's.
This is just a sample of the information you too can find about YOUR Heninger Park home. There are also many
other great artifacts in the History Room to check out. It's fun, easy to use and of course, it's free!
Happy Hunting !
Andrée Weger
The Heninger House
The Heninger House at 602 South Birch is a large, impressive Colonial Revival.
The extensive use of brackets along the enclosed eaves of the hipped roof, matching
dormers, and wrap-around porch roof, are important Colonial Revival design elements.
The porch, which is supported by round Tuscan columns, resting on solid clapboard railings,
extends from the front southeast corner to the northwest corner on the side. A cutout
section or railing, featuring carved balusters, accent the corner. The door is Craftsman in
style.
This was the dream house of Martin and Mary Heninger, and was built in 1911-12. Mr. Heninger
was the developer of Heninger Park and did much to set the style and character of the neighborhood.
715 South Broadway
624 South Birch
617 South Birch - Paint Your Heart Out Project 2004
