Explore Palm Springs: Chamberlin Building

Site is now a collection of charming downtown antique stores and salons

Nicolette Wenzell History

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY PALM SPRINGS HISTORICAL SOCIETY

How well do you know Palm Springs?

As the city celebrates its 75th anniversary, there is a multitude of ways to learn more about this desert treasure. One of the more intriguing methods is by exploring the city’s history.

Bi-monthly, the Palm Springs Historical Society will share a story whose time and place corresponds with today.

The first entry is the Chamberlin Building, built circa 1945, and located at 463-469 N. Palm Canyon Drive, which today houses Casa de Bellas Artes, a collection of charming antique stores and salons.

Charles and Shophie Chamberlin arrived in Palm Springs in 1923. They came to Palm Springs at Sophie's doctor's orders, hoping the dry climate would cure her pneumonia. The warm, healing Palm Springs did its magic, curing Sophie and the couple made Palm Springs their permanent home. Charles Chamberlin became a respected builder.

In July of 1946, the Chamberlin Building was home to Milton Mack's real estate office as well as realty offices for Charles J. Mathews, Martha James, and Jack M. Rose's insurance office.

Chamberlin's own office was located here as well, at 469 N. Palm Canyon Drive.

Next door, at 475, was Peter B. Sheptenko's real estate office. Sheptenko advertised himself as "The Pioneer Realty Company of Palm Springs," selling locally for decades.

He also specialized in real estate trades. For instance, in the July 1953 Palm Springs Villager Magazine (now Palm Springs Life) he advertizes, "Three bedroom two bath luxuriously furnished in Exclusive Palm Canyon Mesa Tract. Furnace, refrigeration cooling. Only $35,000. Will trade up for Los Angeles home or income."

The Palm Springs Historical is located at 221 S. Palm Canyon Drive. For more information, visit www.pshistoricalsociety.org