This site is the end result of my project for Geography 672, a graduate seminar in geography at California State University, Northridge.
In this course, taught by Dr. William Bowen, we focused on roads and the buildings which lie along side them. I decided to photograph and describe Central Avenue in Fillmore, California. This is what Fillmore looked like in May 1998. This site will not be updated because it is a snapshot in time.
Fillmore appealed to me with its small town atmosphere and mix of old, renovated, and new buildings. Fillmore is a great representation of an early California town.
The commercial district of the town began on Main Street, across from the train station. It expanded onto Central Avenue in the late 1910s. This site includes photographs and short descriptions of every building on Central Avenue.
Central Avenue, and most of downtown Fillmore, has some unique features that you'll want to be watching for as you virtually stroll downtown.
First, the palm trees. The palm trees are classic symbols of Southern California and are used to line Central Avenue and Central Park at City Hall.
Second, the awnings. Most of the buildings on Central Avenue have awnings. This is exceptional since they are not usually a consistent feature in downtown areas.
Third, the lamps. The city went through considerable expense to install old-looking electric lamps along Central Avenue, giving the street its turn-of-the-century appearance. Additionally, brick crosswalks add to the rustic look at the intersection of Central Avenue and Santa Clara, as well as in front of the theater.
You might want to examine the map of this tour before you begin.
Happy strolling! You'll start by visiting a vacant liquor store on the east side of the street. Continue to click the "North" arrow at the bottom of each page to continue north on the street. When you reach the end of the commercial district, you'll be able to "cross" the street and continue south on the west side of Central.
Click here to begin your virtual tour of Fillmore.