USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego > City of San Diego and San Diego County : the birthplace of California, Volume I > Part 48
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The Progress and Prosperity Club of East San Diego has been an active agent in the upbuilding of the community. Among the civic assets of the community are five churches, five schools and a public library.
CHULA VISTA
Chula Vista was subdivided late in 1888, Col. W. G. Dickinson having outlined the plan, which was to start a suburban town of fruit farms, ranging from about two acres to ten, the owners being required to build homes costing not less han $2,000 each. Among early residents were Col. Dickinson, A. Barber, J. M. Johnson and J. L. Griffin.
Chula Vista, just beyond National City on the county highway toward Tijuana, also having a station on the San Diego & Arizona Railway, is one of the most attractive sections of San Diego County. Near enough, in the days of modern rapid transit by train or autono- bile, or street car, to be called a suburb of the city of San Diego, it is much more than that ; for, although many who work in the city have selected Chula Vista as a place of residence, it is the centre of a great citrus-growing section, about 3,000 acres being devoted to that end and doing much to give San Diego County high rank among the lemon producing districts of the United States. The population of Chula Vista in 1921 was estimated at about 2,000. Its 6,000 acres are irrigated by water from the great Sweetwater Dam, which furnishes a domestic supply to the city. Assessed valuation of the city in 1921 was $1,400.000. For many years the Western Salt Works, under the control of E. S. Babcock, has harvested thousands of tons of commer- cial salt from its plant on the bay. The San Diego Oil Products Corporation after the war took over the great plant of the Hercules Powder Company on the bayshore and made of it a great industry. It contains what is said to be the largest cotton-seed warehouse in the United States.
In 1920 there was started at Chula Vista the San Diego Country Club, supported largely by residents of San Diego. This club ob- tained 600 acres of mesa land just outside the city limits and laid out one of the finest golf courses in the country. The club was organized with a membership limit of 600, and this maximum had practically been reached as this was written. Supporters of the club predict that it will be a strong attraction for residents and visitors.
398 CITY OF SAN DIEGO AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Chula Vista in 1921 had four churches and union high and grammar schools. In the last ten years many fine residences, surrounded by beautiful flowers, trees and shrubbery, have been erected in Chula Vista.
The first church started in Chula Vista was that of the Congre- gationalists, who on November 18, 1890, formed an organization with only eleven members. Of these Mrs. Elizabeth Sharp of Otay and J. T. Judkins are still members of the church. The congregation first worshiped in an old school building whose site is now occupied by the public library. In 1894 the church moved into its own home, then just completed, and in 1896 acquired a parsonage. In 1910 a new church was erected and that has been used since. In the last ten years the congregation has grown from 81 to 221. The Rev. George R. Lockwood is the present pastor.
MADAME SCHUMANN-HEINK
Famous singer on front porch of her home at Grossmont, overlooking the State highway.
The Methodists of Chula Vista first worshiped with the Congre- gationalists and later had services in a tent while building their own church, which was completed ten years ago. At that time the church assumed a debt of $8,000, which was all cleared up two years ago. The church started with twenty-five members and have about 125 now. with 150 attending the Sunday school. The Rev. E. Sedwick was the first pastor : since him there have been the Revs. Luther Rice, Edward Perry, Ernest Cole, A. W. Gray and 1 .. R. Bayard, the present pastor.
The Christian Scientists of Chula Vista began services about four years ago, Mrs. Jessie G. Davies being reader. Wallace G. Cap- well is the present reader. Members of the society have met for serv-
CITY OF SAN DIEGO AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY 399
ices in the Women's Club rooms, but made plans in 1921 for a building of their own.
The Catholics of Chula Vista recently organized a parish to be under the care of the Rev. Father Michael Egan of St. Anthony's, National City. A church building was moved from Palm City and a pastoral residence erected. The church is St. Rose of Lima.
LA MESA
The La Mesa of today had its beginning in the spring of 1906, when C. C. Park and S. C. Grable, forming the organization known as Park, Grable & Co., obtained about 200 acres of land then known as La Mesa Springs and cut it into about 1,000 town lots ; the property had previously been held by a few fruit growers. In 1906, according to estimates made at about that time, La Mesa had only about 100 residents. Three years later it had about 800 and was a thriving little town, full of promise which has been fully realized in more recent years. In 1909 it had a bank, three stores, two hotels, two news- papers and two churches, Methodist Episcopal and Congregational.
Now La Mesa is one of the most attractive and best equipped cities of the county. The churches include the Methodist, Congrga- tional and Baptist, each of which has a fine church building, the Catholics, who recently have organized a new parish, and the Christian Scientists.
Among the fraternal orders represented in La Mesa are the Masonic order, the Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen, Knights and Ladies of Security, the Eastern Star and Royal Neighbors. The oldest of these lodges is that of the Modern Woodmen, with the Knights and Ladies of Security, Mason and Odd Fellows following in the order named.
The Chamber of Commerce of La Mesa has been active in build- ing up the town and promoting its progress. La Mesa for several years has had an active branch of the San Diego Chapter of the American Red Cross. The La Mesa Woman's Club was organized in 1902 and several years ago built at East Third Street and Lemon Avenue a fine clubhouse.
For several years La Mesa has had a volunteer fire department which has given service satisfactory to the residents. It is one of the first of the towns suburban to San Diego to receive gas and electric service, this being supplied by the San Diego Consolidated Electric and Gas Company.
In and about La Mesa are many fruit groves and small ranches, comprising one of the most beautiful groups of that kind in all South- ern California. The citrus fruit growers keep packing houses busy all the time.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was the first church organized in La Mesa. This was about 1895. For seven years the Rev. 11. . 1. MeKinney presided over the congregation. In 1908 the present church edifice was erected, being ready for occupancy on December 9 of that year. The Rev. F. C. Buck was then the pastor. In 1910 the Rev. F. C. Edwards became the leader of this church. He served for five years, and greatly increased the church in membership. The
400 CITY OF SAN DIEGO AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Rev. E. E. Marshall followed Mr. Edwards, and served the church for two years. Mr. E. B. Cole, Mr. A. C. Laizure, and Mr. D. D. Campbell followed as pastors., in the order named, each serving one year.
In 1919 Mr. H. I. Rasmus, Jr., became pastor of the church. The old church structure had for years been inadequate, and in 1921 the cornerstone was laid for a new $30,000 church which is now nearly completed.
The Central Congregational Church of La Mesa had its beginning in the Congregational Church which was started at La Mesa Heights (the original La Mesa) in 1895 and whose church building still stands and is used for Sunday school exercises. Dr. Walter Rittenhouse is the moving spirit of its present activities. When the present La Mesa grew to consequence, largely as a result of the establishment there of the railroad station on the Cuyamaca Railroad, now part of the San Diego & Arizona, many of the old congregation removed to the newer town and for a time worshiped with the Methodists. In 1908 the Congregationalists formed a church of their own and called it the Central Church because it was midway between the La Mesa Heights Church and the Congregational Church at Spring Valley, now dis- continued. The first pastor of the new church was the Rev. John W. Doane, whose death ended his pastorate after about a year. He was succeeded in 1910 by the Rev. C. W. Hill, the present pastor. In the second year of Mr. Hill's pastorate the congregation built a chapel for worship and a Sunday school room on the church property 011 Third Street. The congregation hopes to build a church on the corner lot of that property. The congregation now numbers about 100; the Sunday school has about the same number of members.
The First Baptist Church of La Mesa was organized in June, 1911. The church has a fine home on Lookout Avenue. The first pastor was the Rev. Mr. Simonds, who served as stated supply for about nine months, being succeeded by the Rev. Clarence Minard. The present pastor is the Rev. Roy V. Whealy, who has been in charge for about a year. There are about seventy-five in the congregation and the church is in a flourishing condition.
Another church was added to La Mesa's places of worship on November 14, 1921, when the cornerstone of the Church of Our Lady of Mercy was laid, with impressive ceremonies, the Right Rev. John J. Cantwell, bishop of the Catholic diocese of Monterey and Los Angeles, giving the address: many Catholic clergymen from San Diego County and neighboring sections attended the exercises. The site for the new church is at Normal and Lookout avenues. A parish house and parish hall will be built adjoining the church, of which the pastor is the Rev. Father M. McCormack.
At Grossmont in the last few years there has been built up quite a colony, a number of homes and homesites there being owned by notables. The tract was developed by Col. Ed. Fletcher and W. B. Gross, from whom the big hill took its name. Madame Ernestine Schumann-Heink was one of the first to buy land there, purchasing an orange grove and a homesite on which she built a fine home. Others who have built homes here are John Vance Cheney, poet and librarian : Carrie Jacobs Bond, the song writer and publisher ; Charles W. Clark,
CITY OF SAN DIEGO AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY 401
the noted baritone, and teacher: W. Havrah Hubbard, music critic and lecturer, and Edmund Schneider, the pianist. Lillian Russell is said to be the first woman to reach the summit of Grossmont in an automobile, having made the trip for the wonderful view when in San Diego on a theatrical engagement.
ESCONDIDO
Escondido, the largest interior town of San Diego County and always one of the most prosperous, is at the end of the Escondido branch of the Santa Fe, thirty-five miles north of San Diego but much farther by rail. The "hidden valley," which is blessed with a fertile soil to which has been brought a good water supply, was opened up for settlement in the late '80s. The capitalists who laid out the town, built a fine hotel and also ran a telephone line out from San Diego. The growth of Escondido was rapid almost from the start. By 1895 it had a population of several hundred, seven churches, good stores and substantial buildings, including a hotel. Among early residents whose names have become well known in the county was D. L. Withington, who was state senator from San Diego County.
The present population of Escondido is 2,000. and its assessed valuation is $1,421,000. Although essentially a fruit growing district, producing citrus and deciduous fruits, hay, grain, honey and dairy products are found profitable. Three citrus fruit packing houses and a cannery for deciduous fruit are located there. The Escondido Mutual Water Company's irrigation system keeps 1.500 acres of citrus fruit land supplied with ample water. The city trustees of Escondido are : Alex Stewart, ex-officio mayor, H. W. Beers, Edgar B. Buell, Peter Schnack, John S. Thompson, H. L. Gongwer is city clerk, superintendent of the municipal water plant and assessor : city treas- urer is Arthur B. Jones: street superintendent and marshal. George B. Rice : city health officer, Dr. B. L. Crise.
The assessed valuation of the City of Escondido in 1920 was about $1.400,000. Post office receipts in that year amounted to ap- proximately $12,000. Three citrus packing houses and a vegetable and fruit cannery added to the industry of the community. The val- ley and tributary territory in 1920 produced more than $5.000.000 in leading products as follows :
Hay and grain
$3.000.000
Citrus fruit
500,000
Milk and butter
400,000
Cattle and hogs
160.000
Alfalfa
150.000
Grapes
200,000
Honey
80.000
Fruit and vegetables for canning
100,000
Deciduous fruit not for canning.
40.000
Poultry and eggs
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$5.130,000
Among early citizens of Escondido were Jacob Gruendike. Thomas Metcalf, R. A. Thomas. W. W. Thomas. William Riley. Daniel P.
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500,000
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VIEW OF ESCONDIDO VALLEY One of the most beautiful and productive in all Southern California.
CITY OF SAN DIEGO AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY 403
Hale and J. R. Thomas. Others identified with the development of the Escondido Valley include: A. W. Wohlford, W. H. Baldridge, W. N. Bradbury, W. D. Wooldredge, W. W. Prior, G. V. Thomas, D. L. Withington, Albert Beven, W. L. Ramey, Sig. Steiner, James Stevenson, Don Stevenson, P. A. Graham, Walter Birch, C. E. Stew- art, John C. Dickson, A. H. Beach, Chas. Calloway, W. D. Bailey, Peter Cassou, F. Gundrum, Leo Escher, E. A. Merriam. B. F. Dixon and Maj. G. F. Merriam.
The Escondido irrigation system, with the San Luis Rey River's flood waters as a source of supply, was installed in 1887 under the provisions of the Wright Irrigation Act. Ernest Tabor was construc- tion engineer, with John D. Schuyler as consulting engineer. W. ... Sickler was superintendent in its early days, and I. E. Doty was the contractor. First officers of the Escondido Irrigation District were C. L. Estey, president ; G. M. Culp, secretary : and G. W. Berkley, assessor. Directors were G. D. Cochran, G. M. Culp. E. de Bell. C. I .. Estey and G. V. Thomas. The dam is of rock fill. and the capacity of the reservoir is 3,300 acre-feet. The cost, including many im- provements made since the beginning of the system, is estimated at about $600,000. The system was taken over by the Escondido Mutual Water Company in 1905, when bonds of the old district were bought from the holder, the late H. W. Putnam of San Diego, and were canceled and burned. The system includes a hydro-electric plant, in- stalled in 1914 at a cost of $60.000. The present directors of the water company are M. Conway, president : A. W. Wohlford. W. W. Prior, E. M. Cranston and N. Matzen. J. B. Dixon is superintendent.
Escondido boasts the only daily newspaper of San Diego County outside the city of San Diego.
The Escondido Times, a weekly, was established in 1886, by Maj. A. S. Lindsay and Richard Beavers. The Escondido Advocate, also a weekly, was established in 1891. The two papers were con- solidated under the name of the Times-Advocate. in 1908, and were continued as a weekly under that name until 1912, when the plant was bought by E. E. White and Percy Evans, who started the publi- cation of a daily in connection with the weekly. Both daily and weekly are still running. Evans is the owner, having bought out White's interest in 1914.
The Escondido Advance, a weekly established by Horace MePhee of Santa Ana in 1909, and afterward published by H. P. Rising. went out of business in 1915.
The Escondido Chamber of Commerce, reorganized in Novem- ber, 1910, owns its own building in the business center of town. The first president was Dr. J. V. Larzalere and the first secretary was J. H. Heath. Presidents since then have included Edgar B. Buell. W. L. Ramey, W. E. Alexander. Percy Evans, G. W. Wisdom. Lester 1. Wright, and the present president. Dr. N. M. Matzen. The secre- tary is J. H. Heath, who has held office continuously since 1910 with the exception of a few months in 1917 : the treasurer is HI. B. Turren- tine. Directors are : H. W. Beers, Edgar B. Buell. R. N. Chapman. R. S. Cox, Fred C. Eastman, Percy Evans, Fred D. Hall. N. Matzen. IT. Rolfes, J. Van Ryan, Lester A. Wright. 11. B. Turrentine. D. M.
404 CITY OF SAN DIEGO AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Ting, Alex Stewart, M. V. Wisdom. R. S. Cox is first vice-president, Percy Evans, second vice president.
A feature that has made Escondido noted is the annual Grape Day. Every year since the association was formed in August, 1908, one day, September 9, has been set aside for the Grape Day festival. People from all over the surrounding country come to Escondido in large numbers, are entertained. and are sent home with generous helpings of free grapes grown in the vicinity. The first president of the Grape Day Association was W. L. Ramey. It is operated under the direction of nine directors, chosen each year.
The four banks of Escondido have total deposits of $1,426,526. The First National Bank was organized in May, 1905, with L. J. Wilde as first president, W. H. Hubbard, first cashier, W. A. Sickler, assistant cashier, A. B. Jones, G. F. Merriam and N. F. Hansen on the board of directors. The capital stock then was $25,000, and now is $50,000, with a surplus of $35,000 and deposits of $464,000. The present officers are F. D. Hall, president ; L. R. Tilgham, vice presi- dent ; H. M. Hall, cashier ; E. J. Loveless, F. F. Burdett, Nelson Olds, I. R. Tilghman, H. T. Lyon, F. D. Hall, directors. The bank owns its own two-story building on the corner of Grand Avenue and Lime Street in the center of the business district.
The Escondido National Bank, organized in 1888, is the oldest bank in the town. When J. Gruendike and J. H. Anderson took office as president and cashier, respectively, the capitalization of the institu- tion was $100,000 with $30,000 paid in. It was then known as the Bank of Escondido. In 1906 it was nationalized at a capital of $50,000. The present surplus is $25,000 and the deposits amount to $300,000. Officers are A. W. Wohlford, president : E. G. Logan, vice president : J. J. Rutherford, cashier ; L. M. Arndt, assistant cashier ; A. W. Wohlford, E. G. Logan, W. L. Ramey, Alex Stewart, G. V. Thomas, directors.
The Escondido Savings Bank was organized in March, 1905. with a capitalization of $25,000. The present capital is $35,000, with deposits of $464,000. Officers are A. W. Wohlford, president : E. E. Turrentine, cashier : Alex Stewart, George V. Thomas, J. N. Tur- rentine, E. G. Logan, A. W. Wohlford, E. E. Turrentine, Arthur B. Jones, directors.
The Home Savings Bank, the latest one to be organized, dates its existence from 1909, when W. H. Baldridge and H. J. Hall were its president and cashier, respectively. Its present deposits are $198,526 with a capitalization of $25,000. Officers are L. R. Tilghman, presi- dent ; H. F. Bloom, vice president ; H. M. Hall, secretary-treasurer ; Nelson Olds, H. F. Bloom, L. R. Tilghman, L. B. Hooper, H. M. Hall, directors.
The growth of religious institutions in Escondido has kept pace with the steady growth of the community. There are now nine churches in the town, testifying to the substantial character of its citizens.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Escondido was or- ganized in the year 1886, with a membership of only seven persons. This was the first religious organization in this vicinity, and the rough
CITY OF SAN DIEGO AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY 405
board shanty that formerly stood on Grand Avenue was the first building erected for the purpose of worship. That was followed by the erection of the brick church at the corner of Grand Avenue and Ivy Street which was dedicated August 20, 1887. This building served the congregation as a place of worship for thirty-four years, until on the first day of August, 1921, it was delivered to the Lutheran congregation as a place of worship, having been previously sold to that organization. Henceforth it was known as the Grace Lutheran Church. The Methodists in the fall of 1921 dedicated a fine new edifice at Kalmia and Illinois streets, that will adequately serve the needs of a growing congregation.
The present membership in the Methodist Church is about 250 with a large additional working constituency. All departments of the church are well organized. The Sunday school is large and growing rapidly, the Young People's Society is strong and active, as are also the missionary societies which have made an especially commendable record. The pastors of the church have been: C. M. Ogburn, J. N. Turrentine, Frederick Miller, A. P. Morrison, J. A. Jacobs, John Nicholson, William Pittenger, H. S. Munger, C. H. Lawrence, L. D. Lloyd, George Cocking. J. E. Cope, Alexander Hardie. A. J. Mc- Kenzie and Robert E. Wright.
Preliminary steps toward the organization of a Congregational church were taken in the fall of 1886. On September 25, 1887, the organization was completed and the church was incorporated. Rev. M. A. Starr was the first regular pastor, and a modest church build- ing was erected. It was enlarged to the present size in 1898. A small parsonage was built early in the history of the church which was afterward sold. The parsonage now in use was built in 1911. After Rev. Starr, the folowing pastors served: Lawrence Alvord. C. B. Carlisle, H. M. Voorhees, A. B. White, N. T. Edwards, J. H. Goodell., G. F. Mathes, R. B. Larkin, T. D. McLean, and M. A. Frost. The present pastor is Rev. Louis A. Goddard.
St. Mary's Catholic Church was erected in 1888 on a site donated by the Escondido Land and Town Company-140 feet by 340 feet in block 191. lot 13-and as an inducement to have the church built of brick, the company also donated a portion of the brick to be used in the construction. Jacob Gruendike was president of the Land and Town Company and J. R. Thomas was secretary at that time. Mr. Engstrom (later of Los Angeles) was the contractor who built the church. The committe that had charge of the building of the church. under the chairmanship of P. A. Graham, chose the present site in preference to two other sites offered them by the company. Rev. R. F. Byrne was the priest in charge of the parish.
.Among the principal contributors toward the building of St. Mary's were Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Graham, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Cassou, John Cassou, Mrs. Mary Carroll, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel ()'Connell, Mr. and Mrs. C. Montiel. Mrs. Ready, Mr. James Ready. Maurice Ready. George Hubling. W. Couts. James Ortego and others. The church was dedicated the same year it was erected by the Very Rev. Father Adams, vicar general of the diocese under Rt. Rev. Bishop Mara. bishop of the diocese of Monterey and Los Angeles, who was unable to be present.
406 CITY OF SAN DIEGO AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Rev. R. F. Byrne was the first pastor of St. Mary's. On his transfer to Coronado Beach the Rev. A. D. Ubach of St. Joseph's Church, San Diego, took charge, thus making St. Mary's parish of Escondido an out-mission of St. Joseph's, San Diego. It remained as such for several years, a priest from St. Joseph's saying mass in St. Mary's two Sundays a month.
In 1903, the Rev. E. Lapointe was appointed pastor of St. Mary's, Escondido, by the Rt. Rev. Thomas J. Conaty, bishop of the diocese of Monterey and Los Angeles. On January 1. 1900, a society under the name of "The Men's Catholic Improvement Society," was or- ganized. A committee from that society was appointed to procure a residence for the pastor and through the efforts of the committee a five-room frame house and two lots on Nebraska Street were pur- chased from Mrs. McDonald in 1903. Father Grammen succeeded Father Lapointe as pastor. On his transfer Father Lapointe returned to the charge of St. Mary's and, remaining but a short time, Father Eummelin was appointed. His successor was Rev. P. Stotters, who took charge of the church in 1912 and continued in charge of the parish until 1918, when, owing to failing health, he requested to be relieved and was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. John J. O'Brien.
With the permission of the bishop, Rt. Rev. John J. Cantwell, D. D., Father O'Brien sold the old pastoral residence and the two lots on Nebraska Avenue-two blocks from the church north-and with the proceeds thereof, plus a generous donation from the congre- gation and many outsiders, Catholic and Protestant, succeeded in building a handsome pastoral residence of eight rooms. Thanks to the generosity of the people and the church's good friends of Escon- dido, the church is entirely out of debt.
The First Baptist Church of Escondido was organized in 1891 when meetings were held in a building erected on the corner of Iowa and Curve streets for about eighteen years. In 1910 a central location was obtained by the purchase of two city lots on the corner of Dakota Avenue and Kalmia Street, and a commodious edifice was built at a cost of several thousand dollars. This money was subscribed by the people of the community, no outside aid being necessary. The church has carried on its work in this building ever since, but for some time it has felt the need of increased room. An addition of 30 feet by 40 feet for the Bible school and for young people's work has been built recently. Following are the names of the pastors of the First Escon- dido Baptist Church between 1891 and 1921: J. F. Childs, J. S. Mabie, Reverend Marple, M. B. Shaw, A. H. Mahon, S. K. Dexter, J. M. Rickman, C. G. Cressy, W. F. Binney, E. E. Ford, J. L. Bogue, William Thomas.
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