An Irvine family mansion, re-created for public use, is one for the books

REVIVING a piece of Orange County history, the city of Irvine is replicating the original Irvine family mansion to serve as a new branch of the Orange County Public Library system.

The Katie Wheeler Branch Library, named for the late philanthropist Kathryn Lillard Wheeler, granddaughter of Irvine Co. founder James Irvine II, is being built on the 2.4-acre site where the 19th century mansion was destroyed by fire in 1965. Set for completion in November, the library is part of Irvine Ranch Historic Park, under development.

The exterior of the two-story, approximately 10,000-square-foot, wood-frame structure will reflect the Craftsman elements -- an imposing porte-cochere, exposed rafter tails, shingle siding -- added over the years to the expansion of what was originally a “kind of big farmhouse with clapboard,” said Jim Wilson, owner of Thirtieth Street Architects Inc., which designed the $6-million replication.

“It’s a unique house in that it probably went through at least three or four major remodels,” Wilson said. “We had photos from all the different genres and decided we’d re-create it the way it was last seen before the fire.”

To keep the feel of a family home, a driveway will lead visitors under the porte-cochere to a parking lot tucked away behind the building. Interior modifications are required to enable the building to function as a library -- with space for an exhibition of Irvine Ranch memorabilia -- but the fireplaces, grand stair and other original features will be replicated, Wilson said.

Wheeler, who was born in the Irvine house and raised by her grandfather, died in 2003. The new branch library will honor her service to the James Irvine II Foundation board of directors.

“One of the best parts” of the replication project, Wilson said, was Wheeler’s counsel during its early planning stage. “She’d come in and tell us stories about the house just to help us understand it.

“She also had color photographs, which was amazing, because you usually don’t get color photographs of historic buildings. She helped us put together the right palette,” he said. “It was really a treat.”

-- Lynne Heffley