🗞️ Riverside News- January 4, 2026

Sunday Gazette: January 4, 2026

Hello Riverside, and Happy Sunday! There's plenty happening around town this week: learn rose pruning techniques at UCR Botanic Gardens' free demonstration this afternoon from 1:00-3:00pm, with chances to win raffle prizes. City business picks up Monday through Wednesday with the Human Resources Board, City Council, and Governmental Processes Committee meetings. The Neighbors of the Wood Streets gather Thursday evening at Eden Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, and the weekend brings even more opportunities to connect with your community.

Check our community calendar for the full lineup of events, and send any tips or happenings to newsroom@raincrossgazette.com.

See you tomorrow!

HISTORY

Riverside's Building Boom: Four Landmarks from 1925

A century ago, the city issued more than $2 million in building permits for the third straight year, transforming downtown with structures that still shape our landscape.

The beginning of a new year is a good time to look back, often to the previous year. In Exploring Riverside's Past, we will look back not one year, but 100 years to 1925. A newspaper article on Jan. 1, 1926, declared "Riverside is Growing." For the third year in a row, the city issued building permits totaling more than $2 million. For 1925, the total was $2,261,227. By today's standards, that does not seem high, as some homes and most commercial buildings easily exceed that amount on a single project. Most of the construction was for new homes, but several significant commercial buildings were erected in 1925. We will examine four of them.

The Security Investment Company was incorporated in Riverside in 1912. When their offices at 667 Eighth St. (today 3667 University) were no longer large enough, they looked to G. Stanley Wilson to design a new home office at the southwest corner of Main and Tenth streets. Designed to complement the 1903 Riverside County Courthouse, across the street from the site, the design has been described as Beaux-Arts. Many believe that the design was drawn by Peter J. Weber, who worked for Wilson. The Cresmer Manufacturing Company of Riverside had the contract to build the edifice.

Actual work began in November 1924 and continued into 1925. The structure was 40 feet wide along Main Street and ran back 158 feet along Tenth. The cost of the building was estimated at $70,000. Reports of the day called it one of the most striking from the standpoint of architecture, convenience and civic appeal.

The opening reception for the new office was held on Saturday, Sept. 12, 1925. Gorgeous floral arrangements and baskets filled the inside as other businesses joined in celebrating the opening of Security Investment Company's new home. The doors opened at 2:30 p.m., and guests came and went until 10 p.m.

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This Week in Riverside

Sunday, January 4

• Arlington Library| Propagation Station: Plant Swap at Arlington Library
• Prayers and Public Information Meeting at Riverside Baha'i Center
• Rose Pruning Demonstration & Plant Pop-up Shop at UCR Botanic Gardens

Monday, January 5

• Assistance League Thrift Shop Accepting Donations at Assistance League Riverside Thrift Shop
• Monday Carillon Recitals at UCR Bell Tower
• Inlandia Writing Workshops at Riverside ($50)
• Glenwood Tavern Wine Tasting at The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
• Human Resources Board at Riverside City Hall

Tuesday, January 6

• City Council at Riverside City Hall
• RCCD Scholarships Workshops at Riverside City College

Wednesday, January 7

• Riverside East Rotary Club at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern
• Stretch & Dance Class at Janet Goeske Senior Center
• Governmental Processes Committee at Riverside City Hall
• Riverside Mission Belles at Victoria Presbyterian Church
• Riverside Open Mic Music Series at Back to the Grind

Thursday, January 8

• Arlington Library| Take and Make Craft at Arlington Library
• Dungeons & Dragons: "Masquerade of Winter" at Nevermore Game Club
• Neighbors of the Wood Streets at Eden Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall
• Cal Baptist Lancers vs. Utah Tech Trailblazers at Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center
• Women's Basketball vs Cal State Bakersfield at SRC Arena

Friday, January 9

• Family Storytime at Ameal Moore Nature Center
• Murder Mystery Co. Dinner Theater Show at The Old Spaghetti Factory at The Old Spaghetti Factory ($69)
• Heroes Del Silencio vs Rock en Español tribute! at The Hideaway Cafe & Lounge
• Cruise Night at Tuxie's Drive In

Saturday, January 10

• Colorful Dash Fun Run - Hosted by Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio & RIVCO Parks at Rancho Jurupa Regional Sports Park
• COLORS Presents: R&B Only (18+) at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
• Cal Baptist Lancers vs. Southern Utah Thunderbirds at Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center
• Men's Basketball vs UC San Diego at SRC Arena
• Mt. Rubidoux Walking Tour at Mt. Rubidoux Trailhead, a short walk from Ryan Bonaminio Park. ($21.20)
• Permaculture Design Training and Certificate at Land Use Learning Center
• 2026 Wine Party Paint & Sip at Canyon Crest Winery
• Painting at the Disco, A comedy paint and sip at Back to the Grind
• Ripperside Cinema Galore Presents: The Bird with the Crystal Plumage at Back to the Grind
• R&B Only- Live! at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
• Sublime Tribute by Don't Push! at The Concert Lounge - Romano's Mission Grove
• The Strokes Tribute at Farmhouse Collective

Save the Date

• January 17: Woodcrest Market Collective at Woodcrest Public Library

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