The El Tejon

Written by Chris Livingston

Among the things I love about Bakersfield are its historical buildings. These buildings reveal the rich personality of Bakersfield. We are fortunate because a number of our buildings still stand. There are many, however, that have been demolished in the name of progress, relegated to the history books, and are in danger of slipping from our memory with each passing day. One such building was the El Tejon Hotel.

Bakersfield was booming in construction with schools, churches, and other types of buildings springing up across the city in the early 1900s. The concept for the hotel began in 1925. The plan was to design a “mission style” hotel that included a spacious lobby as well as elaborate dining and banquet rooms. The vision of the planning committee was to have a building that was “distinctly Californian.” While this was true, the design was also distinctly characteristic of Bakersfield, as area architects such as Charles H. Biggar were designing buildings in the mission style.

The building of the hotel was a community project. Funding for the project came from money raised by the people of Bakersfield through donations and bonds. Those in charge of the planning of the hotel were Bakersfield businessmen who formed the Bakersfield Community Hotel Corporation which was headed by prominent local realtor J.H. Thornber. Members of the board included such notables as George Haberfelde, A.J. Crites, and Joseph Redlick.

The purpose of the hotel body was to oversee the cost and construction. The body would report the progress of construction at their meetings and address such issues as the details of the furnishings for the hotel. On February 3, 1926, for example, it was reported that “the hotel is rapidly nearing completion and will be completed near scheduled time or about March 16 [1926].” They were also tasked with finding someone to operate the hotel and in December 1926, they awarded the lease to Howard J. Scott. Upon completion, the final costs reached over a half million dollars.

The grand opening “house warming” was slated for May 8, 1926. Six-hundred invitations were issued to the hotel stockholders. The public was given the opportunity to tour the new five-story house of luxury as hotel staff showed off the lavish banquet halls, the comfortable and spacious rooms, and the Spanish tile lined hallways. For those attending the “house warming” an elaborate dinner and dance was planned.

The June 6, 1926 Bakersfield Californian reflected upon the significant goal that had been accomplished. The completion and opening of the Hotel El Tejon marked “a goal achieved in the consistent progress of Bakersfield as a city and as a gateway to a great rural empire.” The editorial goes on to reflect that “the new Bakersfield in a sense lies in the future…the growth of the city during the past few years, the unmistakable portents for a steady future growth, amply justify such an investment as El Tejon represents.” Indeed, the El Tejon became the focal point of Bakersfield and in May, 1935 was named one of the “Best in the West” by Western Hotel Reporter.

Being the focal point of Bakersfield made it an ideal location for KERO TV which began broadcasting in September 1953. While the main transmitter was located on Breckenridge Mountain, the station broadcasted such shows as Burleigh Smith’s News, Cousin Herb’s Trading Post, and Rayleen Merman’s Cooking Show to Kern County residents.

Over the years, ownership of the hotel changed hands several times. Financial difficulties put the fate of the El Tejon under the jurisdiction of the courts. In 1967, and in the spirit of “consistent progress,” Bank of America announced acquisition of the hotel and outlined its plans to build a multi-story financial center. The May 9, 1970 Bakersfield Californian noted that bids for the demolition were being taken. By mid-June, 1970 all that remained of the hotel was the west wall and a small portion of the south wall. A building that was once the flagship to Bakersfield’s future was resilient against those who would destroy it, only to succumb to forces of redevelopment.

The last part at the El Tejon was a “dig-in” held at the site where the hotel used to stand. The dig-in was conducted by members of the Kern County Alliance, an auxiliary organization of the Kern County Museum. The group obtained permission to scour the site for historical artifacts. Being located in downtown Bakersfield at 17th and Chester Avenue, the site was first surveyed by Colonel Thomas Baker in 1869 and therefore had the potential to turn up some interesting historical relics.

The Alliance’s forty member group spent two days combing through the lot. Aside from some old bottles turning up the Bakersfield Californian reported on October 12, 1970 that “on the southeast corner…where it is believed a blacksmith shop once stood, diggers found a brass hame, a part of a horse collar, in addition to a horseshoe and old screwdriver.” A Southern Pacific hat badge, circa 1900, was also found.

Thus faded into history the illustrious building once known as the El Tejon. They say that buildings come and go. True, but we cannot forget that the El Tejon solidified a standard that the people of Bakersfield were trying to establish, only to be sacrificed in the name of the same progress that it was built.

All photos provided by Kern County Library

Article appeared in our 27-6 Issue - February 2011