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Draft:Sample Sanitarium

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  • Comment: Well done on creating the draft, and it may potentially meet the relevant requirements (including WP:GNG) but presently it is not clear that it does.
    As you may know, Wikipedia's basic requirement for entry is that the subject is notable. Essentially subjects are presumed notable if they have received significant coverage in multiple published secondary sources that are reliable, intellectually independent of each other, and independent of the subject. To properly create such a draft page, please see the articles ‘Your First Article’, ‘Referencing for Beginners’ and ‘Easier Referencing for Beginners’.
    Please note that many of the references would appear to be from sources that are NOT considered reliable for establishing notability.
    The draft does not appear to show that the subject has any notability beyond the average coverage in newspapers for similar buildings or corporations (see WP:ROTM).
    Also, if you have any connection to the subject, including being the subject (see WP:AUTOBIO) or being paid, you have a conflict of interest that you must declare on your Talk page (to see instructions on how to do this please click the link).
    Please familiarise yourself with these pages before amending the draft. If you feel you can meet these requirements, then please make the necessary amendments before resubmitting the page. It would help our volunteer reviewers by identifying, on the draft's talk page, the WP:THREE best sources that establish notability of the subject.
    It would also be helpful if you could please identify with specificity, exactly which criteria you believe the page meets (eg "I think the page now meets WP:N criteria #3, because XXXXX").
    Once you have implemented these suggestions, you may also wish to leave a note for me on my talk page and I would be happy to reassess. Cabrils (talk) 01:05, 5 June 2025 (UTC)
  • Comment: The sources given do not have any relation with the building itself. Sophisticatedevening (talk) 22:18, 16 March 2025 (UTC)

Sample Sanitarium
2025
Location311 N Fulton St, Fresno, CA 93701
Coordinates36°44'51" N latitude and 119°48'2" W longitude
Built1912
ArchitectStarbuck & Swartz
Architectural styleSpanish Revival
Added to NRHP2010

Sample Sanitarium is an abandoned historic building in Fresno, California, built in 1913. Also known as the "Sequoia Hospital" in the 50's or the "Riviera Building". This building at the time had a capacity of 28 beds, and 17 staff.[1]

Created by Dr Thomas Nelson Sample (24 Oct 1877 - 23 Dec 1947)[2] The Sample Sanitarium was originally used as a children's hospital, and medical facility specializing in all types of patient care and recovery. In 1946, seven osteopathic surgeons purchased the former hospital for $100,000. Mr. Sample said the new owners "intended to convert the facility into a non-profit organization offering diagnostic, osteopathic, medical and surgical services."[1]

Later after it was used as an office building until it's closing during the 80s[3]. The building stood vacant for years.[4] Today it is considered a historical landmark and is on the Local Register of Historic Resources.

Cathy Rehart, information/education coordinator for the Fresno City and County Historical Society[5], said she feels special pain watching the Sample Sanitarium deteriorate because she was born there. On her birthday, she sat in front of the worn-out Fulton Street building.[6]

"It's in jeopardy because it has been empty for so long, and I don't know who will want to come along and do something with it," Rehart said. "That's the problem with nearly all buildings on the list - They are vacant and uncared for, reducing their chances of ever attracting new owners."[7]

It was bought by Howard Biddlecome and his wife in 2001 for $154,000.[8]

Sample Sanitarium remained halfway boarded up until 2009.[9][10]

The building was for sale in 2014[11]

2021

[edit]

The building, becoming a concern for the community due to its deteriorating condition and potential safety hazards (with notable fire damage seen on the top) for years.[12]

In 2021, Fresno City Councilman Miguel Arias proposed an ordinance targeting vacant commercial properties like the Sample Sanitarium stating, “As we’ve seen the increase of fires and we’ve responded with an increase in resources for permanent firefighters, we’ve also identified the fact that many property owners have had a past exemption on meeting their legal obligations to maintain their properties,” Arias said. “They’ve become one more opportunity for fires in our city.”[12]

Miguel arias has also said, “I’m going to ask my colleagues to remove the incentive from vacant property owners to keep their properties as blight and hold them to the same standard as we do for any other private property owner in the city,”[12]

The proposal aimed to hold property owners accountable for maintaining their buildings to prevent blight and reduce fire hazards. The ordinance required owners to repair facades, roofs, fire suppression systems, maintain landscaping, and address trash within 72 hours of a report.[13] The neighborhood has made several complaints. The owner cleans the property up, but it has become a nuisance for the neighbors because of vandalism and eyesore.[14]

As if 2025, The sample Sanitarium was likely rebought by the same owners as it's owned by Encon Development and is a private property.[15] It is uncertain whether it will be renovated.

The building today has occasional repairs and is frequently broken into and has become a target for illegal trash dumping[16] and fires.[14]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Mar 31, 1971, page 23 - The Fresno Bee at Fresno Bee". Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Information about Dr. Thomas Nelson Sample is on his "Find A Grave"". Find a Grave.
  3. ^ "Mentioned 2:44".
  4. ^ "Local Register of Historic Resources (Fresno, California): Sample Sanitarium". historicfresno.org.
  5. ^ "This information can be found while strolling through her obituary". Legacy.com.
  6. ^ "Nov 30, 1992, page 4 - The Fresno Bee at Fresno Bee". Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Fresno Bee Article (November 30th, 1992)".
  8. ^ "Mentioned 2:25".
  9. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  10. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  11. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  12. ^ a b c "Miguel Arias comment on issues like abandoned buildings poses fire threats".
  13. ^ "2021 Article with the building visible". 25 May 2021.
  14. ^ a b "New proposal would help Fresno's vacant commercial buildings". ABC30 Fresno. May 25, 2021.
  15. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  16. ^ "Mentioned 2:46".