USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego county, California; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 28
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PRESBYTERIAN
The First Presbyterian church was organized June 7, 1869, by Rev. Thomas Fraser, with a membership of thirteen. The first services were conducted in private houses and later in Horton's Hall. The first pastor was Rev. J. S. McDonald, who began his labors with the church in April, 1870. Mr. Horton gave to the society two lots on the southwest corner of Eighth and D streets. on which a house of worship was erected, and dedicated June 18, 1871, by Rev. W. A. Scott, of San Francisco. This building was replaced by a more modern structure in 1888, at a cost of $36,000, located on Eighth and D streets. In January, 1913, ground was broken for a new church building, on Date, between Third and Fourth streets. The corner stone was laid Sunday, March 30th.
In 1872 Rev. McDonald was succeeded by F. L. Nash. From 1875 until 1880 the pulpit was supplied by Revs. James Robertson, John W. Partridge, Lannan, James Woods and Dr. Phelps. In 1880 Rev. Richard V. Dodge began his labors and continued until his death, February 26, 1885. During the next three years the church was served by Revs. H. A. Lounsbury and H. I. Stern. January 1, 1887, Rev. W. B. Noble became pastor. In 1894 Rev. F. Merton Smith was called to the pastorate but he died a few weeks later, and his suc- cessor was Rev. P. E. Kipp, who died in 1900. In 1901 Rev. R. B. Taylor began his labors and continued with the church until November 19, 1904, when
A GROUP OF SAN DIEGO CHURCHES
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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY
he met death by drowning in San Diego bay. He was succeeded by Rev. Harvey S. Jordan. The present incumbent is Rev. Edwin Forrest Hallenbeck. The membership numbers six hundred.
The First United Presbyterian church was organized August 18, 1888, in the Holt House, on H street, near Fifteenth. The first pastor was Rev. Robert G. Wallace, one of the organizers of the church, who began his labors in No- vember, 1887, and remained until October 31, 1897. His successor was Rev. Samuel J. Shaw, D. D. The present incumbent is Rev. M. M. Kilpatrick. The church, located at Twenty-second and H streets, is in a prosperous condition.
The Spanish Presbyterian church, located on Thirteenth street, is presided over by Rev. J. M. Ivanez.
There is also a Presbyterian church at Pacific Beach, with Rev. Clark as pastor.
CONGREGATIONAL
The people of this faith first worshiped with the Presbyterians, but in August, 1886, they established a church of their own faith, at a meeting held in the home of Frank A. Stephens, on Tenth and F streets. The charter mem- bers were Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Stephens, now of Los Angeles, Mr. and Mrs. Archibald Stephens, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Davies, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Mar- ston, Mr. and Mrs. M. T. Gilmore and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Smith. A month later the congregation was formally organized with seventy-eight members and with Rev. J. H. Harwood as pastor. The first service was held in the Y. M. C. A. rooms in Dunham's Hall on Fifth street, on the 10th of October, 1886. This building soon proved inadequate to the needs of the society and steps were taken toward the erection of a house of worship. A lot was leased on the corner of State and F streets and a church building commenced, which was dedicated in February, 1887. The present magnificent church structure, located on the north- west corner of Sixth and A streets, was dedicated July 4, 1897. The property is now worth about $50,000. The membership is nearly five hundred.
The pastors who have served this congregation have been: Revs. J. H. Har- wood, who remained until the end of the year 1887; J. B. Silcox, who remained until August, 1889, when he resigned; E. A. Field, W. C. Merrill, Stephen A. Norton, Clarence T. Brown and the present pastor, Rev. Willard B. Thorp.
The Second Congregational church, known as the Logan Heights church, had its beginning on the second Sunday in November, 1887, when Rev. A. B. White began to preach in the schoolhouse on Twenty-seventh street. Eventually the Land & Town Company donated a building site and the members of the First Congregational church contributed liberally toward the erection of a house of worship, which stood at the corner of Twenty-sixth and Kearney avenue, and was dedicated February 19, 1888. Rev. White was succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. F. B. Perkins, who remained until 1890. He was succeeded by Rev. George A. Hall, who remained until 1895, his successor being Rev. R. T. Earl, who ministered to the needs of the church until 1902. Since that time the pulpit has been served by Revs. J. L. Pearson, Henry M. Lyman and E. E. P. Abbott. The present pastor is Rev. Stephen Emerson. The church is located at Sampson and Kearney avenue.
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Other Congregational churches are the Park Villa, located at Idaho and Landis streets, with Rev. Isaac Cookman as pastor; the Union, located at La Jolla, with Rev. Shelton Bissell as pastor; the Mission Hills Congregational church, at Jackdaw and Getti streets, with Rev. J. Doane as pastor.
CHRISTIAN
The Central Christian church was organized October 27, 1886, with twenty- eight charter members. The first house of worship was a small frame building located at Thirteenth street between F and G. This house of worship was dedicated December 11, 1887, the sermon being delivered by Rev. Mr. Johnson. In 1901 property was purchased at the corner of Ninth and F streets and the church removed to the new site. This building has since been replaced by a beautiful modern structure, costing $25,000. The church now has a large membership and is in a prosperous condition. Rev. R. G. Hand was the first pastor, who remained but a few months, when he was succeeded by A. B. Griffith, who remained less than a year. Rev. John L. Brant then served the church about a year and was succeeded by A. B. Markle, who remained three years. In 1893 B. C. Hagerman assumed pastoral charge, remaining for two years. In 1895 the present pastor, Rev. William E. Crabtree assumed charge of the church.
There is also the University Heights Christian church, located at Cleveland avenue and Richmond street.
LUTHERAN
The First Lutheran church was organized March 18, 1888, with thirty-one members. Services were first held in the Good Templars' Hall on Third street. E. R. Wagner was the first pastor, conducting his first service October 21, 1888. Later services were conducted in the Louis Opera House and still later in the old Methodist church. Eventually a church building was erected, on Second street between Ash and A, and the same was dedicated April 8, 1894, the value of the church property being estimated at $20,000. Rev. Wagner continued as pastor of the church until November 1, 1891, and in February, 1892, Rev. C. W. Maggart became pastor, remaining with the church until October, 1897, when Rev. John E. Hoick became his successor, beginning his labors March 10, 1898. The present pastor is Rev. George H. Sillerman.
The German Evangelical church is located at Grant and Dewey avenues. Rev. C. F. Leimbrock is the present pastor.
CATHOLIC
St. Joseph's Catholic church was organized in the early 'jos, and the first place of worship was Rosario Hall. Eventually a small frame house of wor- ship was erected and the same was dedicated January 31, 1875, by Rev. Francis Mora. This building stood at the corner of Beech and Third streets. In 1894 it gave way to an imposing brick structure. Father Antonio D. Ubach, who had ministered to the Catholics in San Diego from the time of his arrival in 1866, was pastor of this church until the time of his death, March 27, 1907. The present pastor is Rev. Joseph Nunan.
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Other Catholic churches are the Church of our Lady of Angels, located at Twenty-fourth and G streets, with Rev. E. A. Hefferman as pastor ; and Church of the Immaculate Conception, located in North San Diego, with Rev. Joseph C. Mesny as pastor.
MISCELLANEOUS
The First Unitarian church is the outgrowth of a Sunday school which was organized June 22, 1873. Among the early members were M. A. Luce, C. S. Hamilton, A. E. Horton, E. W. Morse, J. H. Simpson, Mr. Hubon, A. Over- baugh and their families. The first church service was held on Easter Sunday of 1874. Rev. Joseph May was the first pastor. In 1877 Rev. David A. Cronyn became the pastor. Eventually steps were made toward the erection of a house of worship, which was located at Tenth and F streets, and dedicated August 26, 1883. An addition was built to the church in 1887. This served the needs of the congregation until it was destroyed by fire, February 17, 1895. The people then worshiped in the old Louis Opera House, after which they leased a lot on Sixth street, between C and D, and built Unity Hall upon it. They have since erected a house of worship on Sixth street, between Beech and Cedar, and Rev. Mrs. Joseph H. Crooker is the pastor.
The Hebrews of San Diego have maintained an organization since 1872, the congregation being organized at that time in the home of Marcos Schiller in Old Town, with eighteen charter members. In 1888 the congregation was reorganized and incorporated as the Congregation Beth Israel, with a member- ship of fifty-five. Services were held in rented halls and in the Unitarian church until 1889, when a synagogue was built at the corner of Beech and Second streets. The first rabbi was Samuel Freuder, whose successor was A. Danziger, who served the congregation until 1886. E. Freud served the people from 1887 to 1888, and Dr. Marx Moses from 1890 to 1894. For some time the church was without a pastor. The present pastor is Rev. Emil Ellington.
The Spiritualist society was incorporated in July, 1885, and for a number of years services were held in Lafayette Hall. In 1903 the society built its own hall at No. 1240 Seventh street. Edith Cobb is the minister.
The Seventh Day Adventist society was organized January 21, 1888, with a membership of ten. Their church is located at Eighteenth and G streets, and William Healey is the present elder of the church.
The Friends have a house of worship at Nineteenth and H streets, with Rev. B. H. Albertson as pastor.
The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints is located at 813 Fifth street, with Arthur S. Hansen as the present elder.
The Church of God is located at 537 Thirteenth street, with Rev. Charles Walker as pastor.
The First Church of Christ, Scientist, is located at Second and Laurel streets, which is a magnificent modern structure.
The New Thought society, at Eighth and C streets, is presided over by Dr. William F. Kelley.
The Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene, at Fourteenth street between D and E, is in charge of Rev. A. M. Bowes as pastor.
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The Reorganized Church of the Latter Day Saints is located at No. 1156 Seventh street.
Scott Memorial Chapel, at Madison and Twenty-ninth streets, is presided over by Rev. William Remington.
The United Brethren in Christ also have a society here and their house of worship is located on Fourth street.
The Church of the New Jerusalem, at Campus and Tyler, is in charge of Dr. M. F. Underwood as pastor.
Swedish Salem church, at 949 Ninth street, is in charge of Rev. F. J. Peterson.
CHAPTER XXVIII
SCHOOLS OF SAN DIEGO
One of the first questions asked by parents contemplating the establishment of a home in a new locality is concerning the educational advantages afforded. In this particular, San Diego can stand the most rigid examination and come out with credit marks which will rank among the highest in the land. This speaks well for the people of the city. The schools are theirs. They have authorized their establishment and through the taxes levied annually they provide for their maintenance and improvement. If the people, the taxpayers of San Diego, were not alive to the value and importance of education, and were not anxious that their children receive the best that is to be had in this respect, it is very unlikely that San Diego would have the excellent school system which it has today. The culture of a community is reflected in its schools and San Diego will not suffer by comparison when the schools of other cities its size in California or other states are called into question.
At the head of the system is the high school, containing sixty-eight rooms, which was built and equipped five years ago at a cost of $225,000. This it is claimed is the best high or secondary school to be found on the Pacific coast. Its. science laboratories are said to be better than those at either Stanford or Berke- ley. This building when it was planned five years ago was thought sufficiently large to accommodate any ordinary increase of students for many years to come, but so rapid has been the gain that the building is now crowded to its doors, and it has been found necessary to use the basement for class rooms. The following enrollment figures for the years given tell the story of the high school's growth :
1907
. 562
1910
900
1908
.648
19II
1074
1909
.769
1912
1217
There is now enrolled in the high school a greater number of students than the total of last year, and Superintendent Duncan Mackinnon gives it as his opinion that the enrollment for the entire year will reach 1,500.
The group of buildings for the technical department of the high school, just north of the present building, and connected with it by corridors, however, relieves not only the congestion but greatly increases the efficiency of the work. These buildings are three in number-the manual arts, fine arts and domestic arts. The fine arts building contains an auditorium, cafeteria and all the rooms for drawing, both mechanical and free hand, and the blue printing rooms. The domestic arts building, essentially for girls, contains a model flat for house-
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keeping, domestic science rooms for cooking and also rooms for clay modeling, applied designs, brass hammering, jewelry work, sewing, dressmaking and mil- linery and a complete course in housekeeping. The graduate will submit a design for her own home with furnishings and color scheme. The manual arts building contains the usual course in machine and wood working shops, forge foundry, electrical work, plumbing and instruction in other crafts.
The high school has three distinct departments-the literary, scientific, com- mercial and technical, with a broadening of the work looking to the addition of two years to the course of study, making the term for graduation six years instead of four. This practically amounts to two years' post-graduate work, equal to two years in any college or university, thus keeping the boys and girls at home and giving them college training at less expense than if they were sent away. The literary course aims to give a broad general culture and also to provide the proper foundation for further study, especially in the preparation for the professions such as law, ministry, teaching and medicine. The general scientific course gives a good foundation in the sciences and the technical scientific course is especially designed as a preparation for engineering courses of all sorts. To this end mathematics is emphasized. The commercial course provides the student with the essentials of business practice, as well as giving an education along broader lines. All the courses are elective and with the exception of mechanical arts and stenography, are designed to prepare for college entrance.
The high-school faculty consists of fifty teachers, equally divided between the sexes, with Arthur Gould as principal.
The elementary schools are twenty in number, with two more-the Brant school at Mission Hills and the Jefferson at Utah and Gunn streets, just com- pleted, in addition. The entire teaching force, including the high school, gram- mar grades, departmental teachers, supervisors and kindergartens, numbers 227. The schools are organized by single sections, departmental work beginning in the seventh and eighth grades. Promotions are made every half year.
In addition to this there are ungraded classes in all the large buildings. This feature of the work is proving an unqualified success. The idea is this: That if for any reason a pupil has lagged behind in any of his classes, he may carry any particular subject into the ungraded class and receive individual attention while continuing his other studies in the regular classes. Frequently it is the case that pupils naturally bright are forward in the studies which they par- ticularly like and backward in those distasteful to them, for the reason that they will devote neither the time nor the energy to them. In such instances they fail of promotion unless there is some way by which they may be stimulated to the work. The grade teacher has not the time to give individual attention to pupils of this class. There are other pupils who may be detained from school for various reasons who find that they are able to keep up with their classes through the aid of the ungraded work. Superintendent Mackinnon finds that this is one of the most successful departments in the entire system.
In keeping with the high school, the elementary schools of San Diego have also shown a phenomenal gain in attendance. The gain per cent for the last seven years according to Superintendent Mackinnon's annual report submitted to the city board of education June 30, 1912, at the end of the school year was
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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY
159. The increase for the year was 23 per cent. The following figures showing the total enrollment of all schools are taken from the report :
TOTAL ENROLLMENT
1905-6
3356
1906-7
4769
1907-8 5407
1908-9 5767
1909-10 . 6567
1910-II
.7221
19II-12
8688
Increase in seven years, 159 per cent.
Average yearly increase, 23 per cent.
San Diego is well provided with schools. In addition to the public-school system and the state normal school there are various private institutions which are well attended and are in a healthy condition. Among these are Our Lady of Angels' Seminary for young women on Third street and the Army and Navy Academy for boys.
HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN SAN DIEGO
The chief executives of the state in early days were in favor of education as a rule, but they received no support whatever from the missionaries and almost none from the other inhabitants. It was, indeed, the deliberate policy of Spain to keep its colonial subjects in ignorance, on the mistaken theory that this would prevent the growth of discontent. After the change to Mexican rule the cause of education received only a lukewarm support from the general government. The missionaries were at all times firmly opposed to popular education, which now seems to us a singular thing when it is recalled that they were men of culture ; but this was entirely consistent with the policy of the church and of Spain at the time.
As early as 1793 Viceroy Gigedo ordered that schools should be established for both the Spanish and Indian children. The wily missionaries professed obedience, but soon found an excuse for noncompliance in a mythical lack of funds. A few persons supposed to be competent to teach were found, and in 1794 or 1795 Manuel de Vargas, a retired sergeant of San Jose, who had opened there the first school in California, came to San Diego and began to teach. How long this school continued we do not know, but probably not very long, and if de Vargas was like the other retired officers who were selected for teachers at the time, his qualifications were very slight. In 1795 a tax was levied for the support of the schools, but they languished and before the close of the century had been abandoned.
During the rule of Governor Sola, from 1814 to 1821, schools were again opened. Settlers and invalided soldiers were employed, who taught reading, writing and religion. Pio Pico, who was one of a class taught at San Gabriel in 1813 by Jose Antonio Carrillo, said that part of his work consisted of cov- ering several quires of paper, from a copy, with the name "Senor Don Felix
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Maria Callejas." Sola was in earnest in his desire to aid the cause of education and spent his own means freely in the effort. He imported two Spanish profes- sors with a view to founding a high school at Monterey, but the learned gentle- man found the conditions so unpromising that they remained only a few weeks. The missionaries were hostile, the people apathetic, and Sola was obliged to abandon the undertaking.
In 1824 Governor Arguello called the attention of the assembly to the sub- ject of education, but nothing was done.
Echeandia was also a friend of education and tried to accomplish something. Before coming to California, he engaged the services of two teachers of primary schools, but when they reached Acapulco they could proceed no farther because the province was unable to pay their passage to Monterey. Shortly after Echean- dia's arrival, the assembly, at the governor's suggestion, requested the govern- ment to send a few masters for primary schools at his own cost ; but this request was refused. Having failed to secure results through civil authorities, Echeandia ordered the commanding officers to compel parents to send their children to the schools which he had established. This had some effect and by the year 1829 there were-on paper-eleven primary schools in the territory, with an enroll- ment of 339 pupils.
A few details of the school which was taught in San Diego at this period have come down to us. It was maintained from August, 1828, to December, 1829, with an enrollment of eighteen pupils. The teacher was Friar Antonio Menendez, and his salary was $18 per month. From the accounts which have come down of this friar's character and attainments, there is slight doubt that he was, if possible, even more unfit for the work than the retired soldiers usually selected, who were often barely able to read and write.
But Echeandia, like his predecessors, found that zeal alone. could not pre- vail against his heavy handicaps. Toward the latter part of his stormy adminis- tration he seems to have abandoned the unequal contest and surrendered the field to the forces of darkness.
In May, 1834, Governor Figueroa reported that there were primary schools at only three places, San Diego not being one of the three. In the following Feb- ruary, the same official advised the alcalde of San Diego that parents need not send their children to school if they found it inconvenient.
Governor Alvarado was a believer in education but his efforts were no more successful than those of his predecessors. In the fourth year of his rule, he declared there was scarcely a school in the whole territory. Micheltorena and Pico both struggled with the problem in vain. On May 1, 1844, the former issued a degree providing for the opening of schools (with a solemn mass) on the first day of the following June; but this order was obeyed in only a few places, and in those few it was found impossible to raise money to pay the teachers.
The dearth of education and of schools was as great when the Americans took possession of the country as it had been in 1800-perhaps greater. Very often the commanding officer of a garrison had to request that a man qualified to act as amanuensis be sent to him from another presidio. The commissioned officers had only the rudiments of an education and the civil authorities were in many cases little better off. Pio Pico once went to Los Angeles at a time he was out of favor with the alcalde of that place. Being told that he would not be re-
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ceived without a passport he forged one, knowing the alcalde was illiterate, and presented it upon his arrival. The alcalde took and pretended to read it, then returned it to Pico and expressed himself as being perfectly satisfied.
Soon after the organization of the city government, steps were taken to establish a public school. The minutes of the council show the following entry under date of November 7, 1850: "The mayor made a verbal communication to the council, stating that a lady was in the place who had the reputation of being a good teacher and who is desirous of opening a school. He recommended that the large room in the Town House be appropriated for a school room." This lady was Miss Dillon. The front room of the Town House was set apart for the purpose, but Miss Dillon thought it unsuitable and declined to teach in it. The city marshal was thereupon instructed to find a suitable room to be rented, and he proceeded to let two rooms in his own house to the council, for which he was to receive $60 per month for the first six months and $40 per month thereafter. Bills amounting to $155.69 for furniture for the school were paid. The teacher's salary was fixed at not exceeding $1,200 per annum, and there is a record of one month's salary being paid, at the end of February, 1851. How long the school continued it is impossible to ascertain, but apparently it was not long, and in the two or three years following it was kept open very irregu- larly, if at all. On July 30, 1853, the Herald said: "A short time since, one of the ward schools in this city which had been closed for a time was reopened." This was the occasion on which, the trustees having distributed a circular giving notice of the opening of the school and inviting all parents to send their chil- dren, Father Juan Holbein forbade the members of his flock to do so. The name of the teacher of this school does not appear.
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