USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego > City of San Diego and San Diego County : the birthplace of California, Volume I > Part 14
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The reconstruction task was started and carried out with two ideas in mind: that there should be preserved here "a typical early Californian manor house and a local habitation for a heroine of Cali- fornian romance whose memory will last in the hearts of men and women as long as it shall be true that all the world loves a lover." Here again is quoted the gifted Edwin H. Clough, who by marriage had come into an intimate relation with all that is beautifully romantic of Old Town. And he referred, of course, to Helen Hunt Jackson's story of "Ramona," whose little white heroine and whose Indian Alessandro came, in fiction, to be married by Father Gaspara at Old Town. It has been related that Father Gaspara was in real life Father Ubach, beloved San Diego priest, and that the marriage inci- dent was based on fact. However that may be, the fact of history and the fiction of the woman writer, whose chief aim was relief of the Indians of California, have almost hopelessly intertangled until their threads are hard to follow. Yet, as has been said, that after all it is a matter of small consequence to those seeking the beautiful.
The old Estudillo property was bought for Mr. Spreckels' street car company, through Harry L. Titus, from Salvador R. Estudillo, a son of the builder, Don Jose Antonio, in 1905. It is said that the reconstruction work was not viewed by Mr. Spreckels until it was finished and that he actually was kept in ignorance of it by Mr. Clay- ton and his associates unfil it was ready to be viewed. Naturally, he was charmed with it, as have been all who have seen it.
Since the reconstruction, the Estudillo house has been occupied and presided over by Thomas P. Getz, who there welcomes the tour- ists and other visitors and tells them in an entertaining "lecture" the story of Ramona and her Indian suitor. And if he too mingles fact and fiction, he is forgiven, for his purpose is to spread the charm that surrounds all this spot. Incidentally, Mr. Getz has done much in his years of stewardship to build up a community spirit at Old Town-a spirit which has borne fruit in a hundred little ways and helped to keep a pride burning there.
CHAPTER IX
FIFTY YEARS AGO
The new San Diego-the beginning of the proud city which today extends from the waterfront far to the east and clear to the National City line, whose residences tower on Mission Hills, overlooking Old Town, and extend almost to the foothills at the northeast-this new city is just about fifty years old. Alonzo E. Horton had come here in 1867 and had given the impetus which was lacking, and the strength of the new town grew from that time while the older town's influence waned day by day. Old Town, however, kept up hope, it seems, until it lost the county seat in 1871. The manner in which that hap- pened is therefore of some importance. Early in 1869 there was considerable discussion as to the advisability of removing government activities to the new town. Nearly all residents, according to the records of the period, were convinced that new public buildings must be provided, but there was serious difference of opinion as to whether thev should be at Old Town or at the new town, which in the post- office department records was then known as "South San Diego." This question actually would have been settled by the increasing growth of the new town, which in 1869 had attained real importance. In July, 1870, however, the county supervisors ordered the removal of the county records to the new town. The district judge and county judge issued orders which upheld Old Town, County Judge Bush indeed instructing the sheriff to prevent the removal of the records- an order which caused an article of the opera-bouffe style in the Union, then a weekly newspaper. Judge Bush also soon removed the supervisors from office. The dispute was quickly carried to the high courts, which ruled against Judge Bush in the removal of the old board of supervisors.
The lease of the new courthouse is thus related in the records of the Supervisors' meeting of April 3, Supervisors French, Riley and McDonald being present :
"Proposal of A. E. Horton to lease lower floor, and two rooms upstairs, in brick building, corner Sixth and G streets, for Court House and County Clerk's office, at $95 per month, read.
"Ordered, that District Attorney be instructed to draw lease be- tween county and A. E. Horton for said rooms at $95 per month, for one year from April 3, 1871, or lease, option of Board.
"Ordered, that the brick building corner Sixth and G streets,
San Diego, be designated as the Court House of San Diego County.
"Ordered, that the Sheriff and Supervisor French take charge of, and proceed to remove the court room furniture to the new court
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house, and put the latter in proper condition for holding court therein. "Ordered, that the County Clerk proceed at once to move the papers and records of his office to the new rooms provided for hin in the court house building in South San Diego.
"Ordered, that Thomas Whaley be notified by the Clerk that so soon as his building shall be vacated by the county officers, the county will no longer be responsible for the rent of the same after they shall be so vacated."
On March 3, 1871, George A. Pendleton, the county clerk and recorder, who had fought valiantly against removing records to Hor- ton's new town died after a short illness. Chalmers Scott was ap- pointed to fill the place, and one evening soon after his appointment- the date is given by the Union as April 3-he went out with some friends, loaded up the records into wagons and brought them to Horton's brick building at Sixth and G streets which, as related, the supervisors had rented. That ended the hope of Old Town, and the date may be said to mark the end of the old community's importance as compared with the new. Sessions of the probate and district courts were held in the building at Sixth and G soon thereafter, and it was used as a county building until the new courthouse, on the site now used, was completed. A contract for the structure was let after the removal of the records. It was given to William Jorres, who began excavation in May, 1871. The new building was completed in June of the next year and was dedicated with a ball.
One result of the removal of the county offices to the new town was that the telegraph company, which had been installed in the building at Sixth and G streets, was forced to seek new quarters. These were quickly made under the supervision of Col. Stauchon, the agent. and rooms were taken for the operators on the first floor of the Horton House.
San Diego of fifty years ago-that is, in 1871-is pictured with a striking degree of accuracy in the city's only daily newspaper of that time, the San Diego Union, which was started as a daily that year in answer to a demand which was impressive at the time and which kept on growing with the years. Take the advertisements, reflecting the city's commercial and business activities. Among the principal advertisers from the beginning of the newspaper was A. E. Horton. whose promise to support the weekly Union with his patronage had been the controlling reason for its removal the year before from Old Town. The first issue of the newspaper as a daily contained a notice setting forth that Horton was "proprietor of Horton's extension of New Town." with offices in the Express building, Sixth and G streets, and would "sell lots and blocks in 'Horton's extension' to suit those who desire to settle and improve them, upon the most reasonable terms.'
Other advertisements in the same issue were of the following :
Jones & Leach ( formerly Jones & Scott), law office and real estate agency : the firm members were G. A. Jones and A. M. Leach, and their office was at Fifth and F streets.
C. P. Taggart & Co. (C. P. Taggart and J. B. Boyd), real estate brokers.
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T. C. Stockton, M. D., "physician, surgeon and accoucher," Fifth and H streets.
T. S. Moore, notary public and real estate, Fifth street.
S. E. Abels, searcher of records.
C. Wolfsheimer & Co., wholesale and retail dealers, at Fifth and H streets, in cigars, tobacco, stationery, cutlery and other articles.
Julian & Stutsman, dealers in tinware, stoves, pumps, and kitchen 'furniture, Fifth street between H and I.
Shneider, Grierson & Co., news agents and dealers in book and stationery.
Caswell & Sterling, Fifth and I streets, fruits, nuts, confection- ery, corn, barley, vegetables and seeds.
Charles Simms, druggist, Fifth and I streets.
Valentine & Steels, agents for National City lands, "on the bay of San Diego, the proposed terminus of the proposed southern trans- continental railroad."
J. Leslie, dealer in lime, cement, plaster, etc., Fifth and K streets.
Smith & Craigue, Fourth and K streets, dealers in liquors and cigars.
D. Felsenheld, dry goods merchant, who advertised that he was beginning to sell out at cost, "with the intention of closing my busi- ness."
August Kramer, tailor, Fifth and I streets.
Young Bros. (John N. and William M.), undertakers.
Joseph Nash, general merchandise, Fifth street. It was at this store that George W. Marston, who in more recent years has become one of the city's foremost merchants, worked for a time, driving a delivery wagon at first and later being promoted to a clerkship. Nash's store was the first general store in New San Diego.
I. Matthias, general merchandise, F street near the government barracks.
McCormick & Mclellan, "pioneer drygoods dealers," Fifth and H streets.
A. Pauly & Sons, wholesale and retail dealers, commission mer- chants, dealing in drygoods and produce.
McDonald & Co., wholesale and retail groceries and general sup- plies, Fifth and K streets, "opposite bank."
Loewenstein & Co., drygoods, groceries and provisions, Fifth street between H and I.
Hathaway & Foster (A. M. Hathaway and G. S. Foster), doors, windows, blinds, house hardware, paints, etc., Fourth and H streets.
There were three hotels advertising in that issue, the head of the column being taken by the Horton House, described as "new, complete, elegant and commodious." S. W. Churchill, from San Jose, was in charge. Next came the Cosmopolitan Hotel, A. L. Seeley, proprietor, at Old Town; this contained a Los Angeles stage office. Then followed the New San Diego Hotel, S. S. Dunnells, proprietor, near Culverwell's wharf. The Horton House was more fully described in advertisements of the time as as having 100 rooms, all furnished in the best style, "lighted with gas, supplied with fresh soft water, half of them warmed by steam heaters and everyone made wholesome and cheerful by the loveliest of sunshine some part of the
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day." The situation was advertised as "admirably chosen," with "a magnificent view of harbor, ocean, islands, mountains, city and country." The dining room was 40 by 60 feet, "affording a feast of beauty to the eye and more substantial and varied satisfaction to the 'inner man.'"
The steamship advertisements began with that of the Pacific Mail, which announced that beginning with March 17, all its steamers would call at San Diego, "down and up," and that freight and passengers would be carried at "greatly reduced prices." The second steamship advertisement was that of the N. P. T. Company steam- ships, Orizaba and California, leaving for San Francisco every six days. Then came the California Southern Coast (opposition) Steam- ship line, which ran "the new and commodious steamer William Taber."
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The stage line advertisements comprise a fair picture of the methods of travel overland to and from San Diego, at that time when there was no railroad to the port. A U. S. mail line, of which John G. Capron, well known as a San Diego pioneer, was proprietor, gave a tri-weekly service with four-horse coaches between San Diego and Tucson. The time set for the trip was five days, and the fare to Tucson was $90. Capron's office was in the Union building, Fourth and D (now Broadway). Between San Diego and Los Angeles stages ran every day except Sunday, leaving the Horton House at 5 a. m., the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Old Town, at 6 a. m., and arriving at San Juan Capistrano at 7 p. m. There the passengers waited over night, starting again at 4 a. m. and reaching Los Angeles at 1 p. m. The fare was $10. The route lay through Anaheim and Los Nietos. Seeley and Wright were the proprietors. William Tweed's passenger and mail line ran up the mountains three times a week to "Julian and Branson Cities." The fare up was $7, while that on the way back, on the down grade, was $6.
Among other advertisements of about that time were those of Arnold & Choate, real estate dealers, whose name became well estab)- lished in formal city records by the Arnold and Choate Addition, one of the largest in the city: L. W. Kimball of National City, who had an office two doors from the Wells-Fargo express office: Steiner & Klauber, Seventh and I streets, general merchandise; Stewart and Reed ( Wellington Stewart and D. C. Reed, who later became mavor of San Diego), attorneys and real estate dealers; the Bay View Hotel, the Union House at Eighth and K streets.
The only bank advertisement in the first issue was that of the Bank of San Diego, of which "Father" Horton was president and whose directors at that time included J. M. Pierce, E. W. Morse, Bryant Howard, W. H. Cleveland, M. Sherman. A. M. Hathaway, C. Durham and J. Nash.
Other more or less graphic print-pictures of that period are furnished in the news columns of the Union's early issues. One of the earliest editorial appeals made by San Diego's first daily news- paper. for instance, was for better fire protection, the article directing attention to the fact that "San Diego has over 800 buildings" and that fire apparatus was needed. Another editorial topic at the time was the need of uniform street grades and sidewalks, not two of which.
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it was asserted, were of the same width. They were "up and down, narrow and wide," and the wayfarer at night usually took to the middle of the streets to save his shins. No little interest was taken in horse-racing, as several paragraphs of the time indicate, the races being matches arranged by owners of thorough-breds. The stage line to Tucson was meeting with trouble from Apaches, who were frequently on the warpath in Arizona. Sandstorms on the desert also made travel by stage to the east very disagreeable at times. Building operations in 1871 were active, many new dwellings and office structures, most of them of frame construction, being listed in early issues of the daily newspaper. Real estate sales were numerous for the time and size of the city. I take one example as of more than mere passing interest. It was a sale of a twenty-five-foot lot opposite the Horton House, whose site the U. S. Grant hotel now occupies, and it brought $500. A. E. Horton sold it. His sales for one day at about that time amounted to $10,200, a fairly good day's work for a real estate dealer in a new and small town such as San Diego was. Water was then a question of great importance, as no method had been employed to bring the mountain streams down for domestic supply. The Union, for instance, remarked: "The people are bound to have water, and wells go down and windmills go up in every quarter of the town. We notice a fine windmill at the side of Mr. Truman's residence ; another, nearly finished, on Third street, built by Mr. Horton, and a third in course of construction on the premises of Mr. D. W. Briant."
The editor received gifts in those days-not merely the humble potatoes and turnips which are said to have been the subscription fees turned over to many a publisher in those and later days, but some- thing more pleasing by far. One such was a box of delicious oranges from Col. C. J. Couts, who grew them on his famous Guajome ranch, not far from San Luis Rey. The editor thankfully acknowl- edged the gift in print.
Wool shipments through this port were considerable in those days, and much of the wool came from El Cajon and vicinity-then called "the Cajon." An item appearing in the Union early in 1871 reports that W. G. Hill of the Cajon rancho had just brought in and sold to Pauly & Sons 4,000 pounds clipped from 1,100 sheep and sold to Gordon, Stewart & Co., at Culverwell's wharf.
Notices printed in the first Sunday issue of the Union, March 26, 1871, give a good idea of the religious services held in those days at the new town. The Episcopal church, Rev. Dr. Kellogg pastor, met at Trinity hall, on Sixth street, between B and C. The Presby- terian church of which the Rev. J. S. McDonald was pastor, met in Horton's new hall, Sixth and F streets. Rev. Father Ubach, be- loved Catholic priest, was conducting services here then. The Meth- odist Episcopal Church, was at Fourth and D streets, the Rev. M. Tansey officiating. The Rev. B. S. McLafferty conducted services for the Baptist Church.
The Doctor Kellogg just mentioned served here only a few weeks. He came from Cleveland, Ohio. Daniel Cleveland, the well known attorney, was active in the church and in January, 1871, at the request of the vestry, was licensed as lay reader ; he often acted
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as such when no rector was present. The Episcopalians built the first church in New San Diego. Trinity Hall, which was built on the same site, at the northeast corner of Sixth and C streets, was erected late in 1869 or early in 1870. It was at Sixth and C streets only a short time after the notice in the Union to which reference has just been made. Then it was removed to the southeast corner of Fourth and C streets, the new land having been obtained by an exchange with "Father" Horton, who had given the original site. Rev. Sidney Wilbur was responsible for the organization of this church. He remained with it nearly to the end of 1870.
The Presbyterian flock at this time was led by the Rev. J. S. McDonald, who had organized two churches in Northern California and had been chaplain of the senate before he came to San Diego in the spring of 1870. He was an ardent supporter of the temperance movement and was active in the formation here, in the summer of that vear, of the San Diego Temperance Union. He also is said to have preached the first Protestant sermon ever delivered in El Cajon valley, delivering it at the residence of Uri Hill on June 19, 1870. From a historical sketch of the First Presbyterian Church written by Allen H. Wright, city clerk of San Diego, in 1919, when the church was fifty years old, are taken the following extracts :
"The women of the church, in those days, as in these, played a very important part, and in June of that year (1870) it is recorded that an organ, secured from proceeds of a concert held under the auspices of the women, was dedicated at Horton's hall, Mr. Mc- Donald preaching a special sermon on 'Sacred Music.'
"Among the visitors to San Diego in 1870 was J. W. Edwards, of Marquette, Michigan, and when he attended the Presbyterian meetings in a hired hall, even though it had a seating capacity of 400, he became impressed with the idea that the society should have a church building of its own, and offered to pay $500 toward the pro- ject. 'Father' A. E. Horton, the founder of the present city of San Diego, had given a site for a church at Eighth and D (now Broad- way), and soon the plans for building were under way, the members being encouraged by a gift of $300 from Calvary Presbyterian church of San Francisco. The building fund grew rapidly, and where some did not feel able to give in money, they subscribed in labor or ma- terial. The women held sociables and festivals, and finally the re- quired amount was reached to insure a debt-free structure, and on June 18, 1871, it was dedicated, the sermon being preached by the Rev. W. A. Scott, D. D., pastor of St. John's Presbyterian Church of San Francisco, a man widely known as a preacher, traveler and lec- turer. He was assisted by the Rev. John R. Tansey, pastor of the First Methodist Church.
"The building committee, which consisted of the trustees and A. H. Gilbert, with W. B. Burns as chairman, received many words of commendation for their work. and the structure, though very small as compared with church edifices of today, was declared to mark a great advance in the progress of the community. The building, still familiar in memory to many residents of the city, was 42 feet long by 26 feet wide and 20 feet high. It had 28 pews, seating 200
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people in all. The outer walls were in rustic finish, painted a light drab. The six windows had Gothic tops, and the gables of the building were pierced by trefoils. The one five-foot aisle and the pulpit platform were carpeted, largely through the enterprise of the women of the church. For the dedicatory services the other churches gave up their own programs to assist in making the event one worthy of the day."
The Baptist Church was dedicated October 31, 1869. The Rev. B. S. McLafferty who had come from Marysville to take the pulpit, re- mained in San Diego until January, 1873. The Baptists had the first church bell ever used in the New San Diego. That was in the old church building on Seventh street near F, on a lot donated by Horton.
The Methodist Church at Fourth and D streets, was dedicated Feb. 13, 1870. Their land, too, was given by Horton. Their first minister was the Rev. G. W. B. McDonald, who was succeeded by the Rev. D. A. Dryden.
The Union of June 20, 1871, gave a long account of the dedica- tion of the Presbyterian Church, with these interesting introductory remarks :
"San Diego was the portal through which the Christian religion was introduced into Alta California. On the 18th of July, 1769, the Catholic padre, Junipero Serra, laid the foundation of the Old Mis- sion Church of San Diego. Three years ago a new era dawned upon this region. Newcomers poured in, and being of the Los Americanos species, began the erection of school houses and churches. The corner-stone of a new Catholic Church was laid in North San Diego, July 18, 1869, just 100 years from the similar act of Junipero Serra. Later in the same year, to-wit, Oct. 31, 1869, the Baptists dedicated their edifice. Then the Methodists followed at the beginning of the . next year, namely, Feb. 13, 1870. And now the Presbyterian building is dedicated, June 18, 1871. Each year, in short, of the new era in San Diego has been marked by the erection of a church building. The Episcopalians took precedence of other denominations in estab- lishing services, but the hall which they occupy has not, we believe, been dedicated."
A report on public school activities shows that 200 pupils were enrolled on the registers of the three departments, grammar, inter- mediate and primary. The average number of pupils belonging to the school, however, was given as only 170.
In those days there was much gold mining activity in the Julian and Banner districts. Among the mines operated in those sections in 1871 were the "Kentuck," Redman, Owens, Madden and the famous Stonewall. The greatest difficulty reported from the mining sec- tions arose from the lack of good roads in the mountains. Several companies spent large sums to build roads on which to haul quartz to the mills.
Amusements at that time were not by any means plentiful. Lec- tures, theatrical performances and concerts were given occasionally at Horton's Hall, which seated 400 persons and contained a stage 16
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by 32 feet. Downstairs at Horton's Hall there was a roller skating rink, at which "skating assemblies" were welcome. Another rink, Garland's, was built soon after this on Second street between D and E.
The roller skating "craze" was prevalent at the time, and many enjoyable occasions were held at the rinks. This led to the formation of at least one club, the Excelsior Skating Club, whose organization is thus reported in the Union of June 5, 1871 :
"Excelsior Skating Club .- At the assembly hall on Saturday eve- ning last, a skating club was formed with the above name. Over seventy persons were enrolled as charter members. The club will have its first meeting this evening, when business related to the fixing of evenings for skating, etc., will be attended to. A full attendance of all the members is requested. A good time can be expected. The officers of the club are: T. C. Stockton, president; R. D. Case, vice president : C. S. Hamilton, secretary : W. W. Stewart, treasurer."
Baseball games were not uncommon at the time, the business men of the city often indulging in this healthful form of exercise, playing on a field in the neighborhood of what is now Sixth street and Broadway. Other games were played on various other grounds in the city. It must be remembered that those were the olden days of baseball, when masks and gloves were unknown and the finer points of the game had not been developed. But many played it and got much pleasure and profit in health from it. The catcher stood far back from the batter to avoid "foul tips" and resultant injuries to fingers and face, and the rules were much more lenient than in later days. Also, the scores were usually large. This newspaper account of a game on May 27, 1871, between a club from Old Town, which showed up with only seven players, and a team from "New San Diego," as the city then was called, will illustrate the way in which the game was played in those days :
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