The Tevis Block is the final vestige of the Kern County Land Company . The Company was formed in 1890 by James Haggin and his brother-in-law Lloyd Tevis and prospered in developing Kern County , California the areas around the Kern River . The building helped open up the Bakersfield downtown west of H Street and became a landmark upon construction . It was one of only a handful of unreinforced masonry buildings to survive the 1952 Kern County earthquake , and was subsequently strengthened , renovated and restored to a close proximity of its original architecture . It is considered a fine example of Second Renaissance Revival architecture
1952 Kern County earthquake
1952 Kern County earthquake
Tevis Block