ADELPHIAN CLUB: Downstairs club rooms (totally gutted as of October 2010 - staircase and door/doorway: GONE)
Photos taken February 2006. One recent Saturday evening, while passing
by the Adelphian Club building at Central and Walnut, I noticed
construction equipment outside. I entered the front room and was
horrified to find complete destruction of the interior. The beautiful,
ancient redwood paneling and wide door frames have been torn out and
replaced with sheetrock and smaller doorways. The massive fireplace
mantel has been altered and painted white. Other fixtures and woodwork
are missing, including a small staircase and decorative newel post. I
did not see the upstairs or auditorium, but fear that the built-in
bookcases with leaded-glass doors, the wainscoting with plate rails
and other charming architectural features are endangered or already
gone. The fate of the discarded wood and fixtures is unknown; I hope
it was all saved for a possible future restoration or architectural
salvage, but I am doubtful that anyone who would do such damage to a
lovely old building would care about that. Even if some kind of
renovation was needed, was it really necessary to rip out the wood
paneling and other details?
The Mission-Revival building, designed by W.H. Willcox, was
constructed in 1908 for the Adelphians, a local womens’ club that was
founded in 1897. Designated by the City of Alameda as a historical
monument, the structure has remained in its stunning original
condition for approximately 102 years--until now. I don’t know whose
decision it was to remodel (which, in this case, is a polite word for
'destroy') the interior, but they have absolutely no respect for
architectural beauty or Alameda’s history. SHAME ON THEM.
FUCK YOU, Iglesia La Luz del Mundo!
Comments and faves
arts enthusiast (31 months ago | reply)
NOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, that is sick, sick, sick! Thank gawd you have these photos. It is so wrong.
Herz Au Glas (31 months ago | reply)
There is so much detail in every little detail. Anyone with a hint of a conscience wouldn't have done this.
The Real Devil Doll (31 months ago | reply)
No conscience was involved. Apparently, their God (they are a church, after all) told them architectural beauty, craftsmanship and history are not important, so go ahead and demo it all out.
Herz Au Glas (31 months ago | reply)
Well, like I've always said, "Fuck God -- if He existed."