A look inside some of Glendale’s oldest abodes and buildings
Glendale has no shortage of historic buildings, and it’s behind their walls that much of the city’s history can be told. Here are three historic structures that are all more than 100 years old.
The V.E. Messinger home was built in 1895 on the corner of 59th Avenue and Palmaire. The original structure was only 30 feet by 42 feet, but additional square feet were added in 1920 and again in 1936. The original owner, Victor E. Messinger, moved to Glendale in 1895 and managed the H.W. Ryder Lumber Company. He also served as the city’s postmaster for 14 years and the city’s first town clerk. But his greatest contribution to Glendale was establishing a local library while donating 400 of his own books to get it started.
The Jones McNair house was built in 1897 near the corner of 59th Avenue and Myrtle by local carpenter and builder J.B. Doner. This wood-frame cottage retains its original architectural integrity and is representative of the residential building style and construction methods that were common in Glendale at the time. McNair moved to Glendale in 1894 and operated the local butcher shop and meat market.
The Humphrey Davidson building, located at5819 W.Glendale Avenue is a one-story brick commercial building that was constructed in 1895. The original building was 25 feet by 60 feet, and in its early years, it was a merchandise store, drug store and eventually a pharmacy. It’s the oldest remaining brick commercial building in Glendale, and it still has its original pressed-tin ceiling. The Humphrey Davidson structure was one of the first commercial properties to locate around the city park, which eventually changed the business focus of Downtown Glendale from the west side of 59th Avenue to its present location.
