Americanization School

{{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Americanization School | nrhp_type = | image = Ocean Americanization.jpg | caption = | location = 1210 Division St., Oceanside, California | coordinates = {{coord|33|11|47|N|117|22|19|W|region:US-CA_type:edu|display=inline,title}} | locmapin = USA California San Diego County#USA California#USA | built = 1931 | architect = Gill, Irving J. | architecture = Moderne, Islamic | added = April 08, 1994 | area = less than one acre | refnum = 94000311<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref> }}

The '''Americanization School''' in Oceanside, California, built in 1931,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oceansidehistoricalsociety.org/timeline.htm |title=Oceanside History Timeline |publisher=Oceanside Historical Society |accessdate=11 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121204103/http://oceansidehistoricalsociety.org/timeline.htm |archive-date=21 November 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> was intended as an assimilation school where Spanish-speaking Oceanside residents would be taught English and civics.<ref name=LAT102292/><ref name="rand">{{cite book|title=Irving J. Gill: architect, 1870–1936|last=Rand|first=Marvin|publisher=Gibbs Smith|year=2006|isbn=978-1-58685-446-1}}</ref> Historically, it reflects a time before the rise of multiculturalism where immigrants who arrived in the United States were more actively Americanized in assimilation programs.<ref name=LAT102292/>

The building, now known as the '''Crown Heights Resource Center''', was designed by Irving Gill. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.<ref name="nris"/> The school was one of the last works by Gill, a pioneer of modern architecture and one of nearby San Diego's most celebrated architects.<ref name=LAT102292>Dirk Sutro, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-10-22-vw-662-story.html Oceanside's Treasure-Trove of Gill Buildings], ''Los Angeles Times'', October 22, 1992, accessed November 4, 2010.</ref>

==Building design== thumb|left|Gill designed the south-facing side of the classrooms to bring in natural light. Late in his career, Gill had been taking fewer and smaller projects. Several were in Oceanside, where he continued to try to develop his work. The Americanization school displays hints of Art Deco while also taking in North African–Islamic influences that he picked up from his brief partnership with Frank Mead, another San Diego architect.<ref name=LAT102292/> Gill designed the {{convert|3550|sqft|m2|adj=on}} wood-frame and stucco structure to fit its triangular, wedge-shaped corner site. With a prominent corner, Gill placed an arched entryway with a minimalist Islamic-style dome atop a short, octagonal tower. For class space, Gill planned two wings to run back from the corner, along the length of the lot in a V-shape; however, only one was ever built. To break up a potentially monotonous wall, he stepped the classes into three sections along the edge of the property. To bring in natural light, he placed clerestory windows and French doors to the south-facing side.<ref name=LAT102292/>

==Conversion== thumb|left|Front view By the early 1990s, the structure was not in use, rundown and boarded up. In 1992, the City of Oceanside began a $316,000 restoration, with $50,000 in city money and the rest in donated services.<ref name=LAT102292/> The Crown Heights Resource Center moved into the structure in July 2001 from a nearby house. The resource center was initially opened in 1996 in response to the high crime rate and gang activity in the surrounding neighborhood, and is operated by the Housing and Neighborhood Services Department of the City of Oceanside.<ref>[http://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/Datarelation.aspx?Content=182 Community Resource Centers] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102070721/http://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/Datarelation.aspx?Content=182 |date=January 2, 2011 }}, City of Oceanside, accessed November 4, 2010.</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{commons category|Americanization School (Oceanside, California)}}

Category:Irving Gill buildings Category:School buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in California Category:National Register of Historic Places in San Diego County, California Category:School buildings completed in 1931 Category:Oceanside, California Category:Buildings and structures in San Diego County, California Category:1931 establishments in California Category:Americanization