El Dorado Ranch Explained

El Dorado Ranch
Location:225 West Union Ave
Fullerton, California
Coordinates:39.731°N -121.8463°W
Completion Date:Built 1919
Remodeled 1953

El Dorado Ranch, previously known as the Chapman House, is the official residence of the President of California State University, Fullerton, located in Fullerton, California.[1]

History

The current home was first built in 1919, originally a two-story house in a Spanish Colonial Revival style.[2] The estate was purchased in 1931 by Stanley Chapman, son of Charles Chapman, the first Mayor of Fullerton and an important entrepreneur in the development of the Valencia orange industry in Orange County.[2]

In the 1950s, the house was extensively remodeled and enlarged, including the addition of the one-story wings that flack the original two-story Spanish structure.[2]

The Chapman family donated the 4.5-acre property to California State University, Fullerton in 1989, with the stipulation that it be used as a residence for the university president.[1]

The estate underwent major renovations in 2012.[1] [3] [4]

Notes and References

  1. http://calstate.fullerton.edu/inside/2012sp/el-dorado-history.asp California State University, Fullerton - History of El Dorado Ranch
  2. https://fullertonheritage.org/2023surveypdfs/05.02C.StanleyChapmanHouse.pdf Fullerton Heritage - Stanely Chapman House
  3. https://www.kqed.org/news/66577/csu-spends-2m-on-presidential-home-renovations-over-10-years KQED - CSU Spends $2M on Presidential Home Renovations Over 10 Years
  4. https://www.ocregister.com/2012/06/08/cal-state-fullerton-presidents-house-repairs-badly-needed/ OC Register - Cal State Fullerton President's House, Repairs Badly Needed