Maubridge Building

Built in 1912, the Maubridge Building is the oldest remaining substantial apartment building in Fresno. At the time it was built, the building, with 24 apartments, was considered one of the city's most prestigious addresses. The rectangular, modified palazzo building was a combination of English and Italian Renaissance Revival styles. The original owners, local physicians J. L Maupin and D. H. Trowbridge, Sr., combined their surnames. The building's Otis elevator, installed in 1911, was the oldest operating elevator west of the Mississippi and was still in operation by the early 1980s. A modern penthouse was added in 1947. The Maubridge Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 for its architectural significance. The building was renovated into office spaces in the 1980s.

The Maubridge Apartments were built in 1911 by Dr. J. L Maupin and Dr. D. H. Trowbridge, Sr., each of whom was a prominent physician in Fresno. The doctors' names were combined to form the name of the building, Maubridge. At the time, the Maubridge Building was considered a high-end and prestigious address. The building was slated to be ready for move-in by August 1st, 1911, but was delayed a few weeks. The building included 24 apartments, as shown on the 1918 Sanborn insurance map, on the south corner of Tulare and N streets.

The brick-walled building on a concrete foundation was four stories tall plus a full basement. It was built in a combination of English and Italian Renaissance Revival styles. Designed by Benjamin G. McDougall, who designed a number of buildings in the area, the main entrance faced Tulare Street. An interesting feature of the building was its Otis elevator, which was installed in 1911 and was the oldest operating elevator west of the Mississippi, when the building was documented for the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. One of the first tenants in the new apartments were auto dealer A. C. Wheelock of Pioneer garage and his wife, Cora E.; and Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Rogers. Newlyweds Charles Rexford and his bride, Lillian St. Clare of Chicago, moved into the apartments "sumptuous bridal suite" in October 1911. A local newspaper predicted in late 1911 that more apartment buildings like the Maubridge would soon be built in Fresno as good investments due to the city's growth and people's desire for living "close-in."

The penthouse was a later addition in 1947 by contractor Trewitt and Shields. When Dr. Trowbridge passed away, shared ownership of the building was inherited by his children, D. H. Trowbridge, Jr. and Elizabeth Trowbridge Kent. By the early 1980s, the building was under renovation and owned by the Maubridge Office Complex Group. The building currently contains office spaces, several of which are leased by attorneys.

Anonymous. "Mrs. A. C. Wheelock is Laid to Rest." Fresno Tribune (Fresno) March 25th, 1912. 8-8.

Anonymous. "Big Influx of Colonists Coming to Valley Soon ....: Maubridge Nearly Complete ." Fresno Evening Herald (Fresno) August 5th, 1911. 12-12.

Anonymous. "Society." Fresno Evening Herald (Fresno) October 3rd, 1911, 3-3.

Anonymous. "Society." Fresno Evening Herald (Fresno) January 7th, 1913. 5-5.

Anonymous. "Building Activity Great During 1911." Fresno Tribune (Fresno) December 30th, 1911. 8-8.

Jones, Inc, Julie C. Manageable Solutions to Complex Family Law Matters, Law Offices of Julie C. Jones. January 1st, 2024. Accessed April 29th, 2024. https://www.juliejoneslaw.com/.

Maubridge Apartments. A Guide to Historic Architecture in Fresno, California. Accessed July 25, 2017. http://historicfresno.org/nrhp/maubridg.htm.

Oakes, James. California Office of Historic Preservation. NRHP nomination of Maubridge Apartments, 2344 Tulare Street, Fresno, CA. National Register of Historic Places. Washington, DC. National Park Service, 1982.