Follow the path of 19th Street in the city of Bakersfield, California, to find the Tevis Block, also known as the Kern County Land Company Building. This two-story, U-shaped structure is constructed of imported fire brick and serves as a fine example of Second Renaissance Revival architecture. The south-facing facade features fanlight windows and terra cotta arches, while the rear of the building includes an enclosed elevator and an iron-railed walkway.
The building was established by James Haggin and his brother-in-law Lloyd Tevis, who formed the Kern County Land Company in 1890. The company prospered in developing areas around the Kern River, and the building helped open up the Bakersfield downtown west of H Street. It became a landmark upon construction and remains the final vestige of the Kern County Land Company.
The Tevis Block is notable for being one of only a handful of unreinforced masonry buildings to survive the 1952 Kern County earthquake. Following the quake, it was strengthened, renovated, and restored to a close proximity of its original architecture. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 29, 1984.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
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