volume 3 number 1 - old town san diegovolume 3 number 1. 1 old town chamber dining, fun and history...

VOLUME 3 NUMBER 1

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Old Town Chamber

Dining, Fun and History

The Founding of California

Tequila Museum

The Flavors of Old Town

The Whaley House

A Wealth of History

Fiesta Spirited Entrance

Map of Old Town

Today in Old Town

Mormon Battalion

Living History of Old Town

Old Town Almost Destroyed

Shoot Out at the Plaza

Old Town Tours

Entertainment & Events

Old Town Fiesta

Ghostly Legends

Historic Sites

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istoric Old Town is nestled in San Diego, just steps from 150 restaurants, shops, and historical sites. Old Town is the Heart of San Diego, just a short walk from the San Diego Trolley Transit Center and a short drive to most San Diego destinations.

OLD TOWN SAN DIEGO GUIDE

Produced by Visual Media GroupPublisher Robert BarrosProduced in co-operation with The Old Town San Diego Chamber ofCommerce

Editorial Contributors:Save Our Heritage Organization, (SOHO)Alana CoonsDean GlassCalifornia State ParksDelaware North Companies Inc.Geoff MogilnerNicole NoreDavid ThorntonNathan MuellerKara MurteyKjersti Roosevelt

Annual Distribution: 125,000, Certified Delivery Old Town San Diego Chamber of CommerceMember of Convention And Visitors BureauPrinted Semi-annually, Summer and Winter

Advertising: (619) 656-4721

Office: Old Town San Diego GuideVisual Media Group3967 Harney StreetSan Diego, CA 92110(619) 656-4721

© Copyright 2005, Visual Media Group, all rightsreserved. May not be reproduced in any form without theexpressed written consent of the Visual Media Group.

H C O N T E N T S

Scarcely more than one mile in length and one-half mile in width, Old Town

encompasses within its boundaries most of the important aspects of San Diego’s

early history. Its appeal to the tourist lies chiefly in the glimpses afforded into the

yesteryear, when the Spanish dons held sway in the sleepy little village nestling into

the foothills. Its first civilian resident was Captain Francisco M. Ruiz, in the first

years of the nineteenth century. In 1846, its population numbered 250, and in 1850

it was incorporated as a city, its government activities centering around the Plaza

Viejo. In 1868, a rival subdivision sprang up farther south, at the present site of

Downtown San Diego. In 1872, the business district of Old San Diego burned, thus

ending the fight for supremacy.

The history of Old Town is a fascinating story that begins with it being the birth-

place of California. In keeping with this history, California State Parks owns and

operates a number of original and reconstructed buildings as part of Old Town State

Historic Park. In addition to the Whaley House, San Diego County Parks owns and

operates Heritage Park, a village of Victorian structures that show many styles of

San Diego’s Victorian heritage, along with the oldest synagogue in San Diego. The

City of San Diego owns and operates the Presidio Park, El Campo Santo Cemetery

and the Adobe Chapel.

OLD TOWNSAN DIEGO

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BLACK HAWK LIVERY & BLACKSMITHwas owned and operated by J. B. Hinton inthe 1860s. The present building is a recon-struction.

BRICK COURTHOUSE was originally builtin 1848, and was the first brick building inSan Diego. It was built by the MormonBattalion, and functioned as courthouse until1869. It has been reconstructed.

GEORGE JOHNSON HOUSE is a recon-structed pre-fabricated house, originally builtin 1870.

TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL was San Diego’sfirst synagogue, it was constructed by theCongregation Beth Israel in 1889.

SHERMAN-GILBERT HOUSE is a Stick-East lake building, that was built in 1887 byJohn Sherman, cousin of General WilliamTecumseh Sherman.

SENLIS COTTAGE is a modest Queen Annecottage, built without gas, electricity, water, orsewer, in 1896 for Eugene Senlis, an employ-ee of San Diego pioneer horticulturist KateSessions.

CASA DE MACHADO is an excellent example of adobe construction, was built byCorporal Jose Manuel Machado for hisdaughter, Maria Antonio Machado de Silvas.It was from this house in 1846 that Senora deSilvas ran to cut away the Mexican flag, andin it that she hid the banner.

SAN DIEGO UNION NEWSPAPER is arestoration of a building believed to be con-structed in 1850 on land owned by MiguelPedrorena, one of the authors of theConstitution of California.

Historic Sites & Museums

Old Town San Diego is considered the"Birthplace" of California. San Diegobecame the first permanent Spanish settle-ment in California in 1769. FatherJunipero Serra came to establish thevery first mission in a chain of 21 mis-sions that were to be the cornerstone ofCalifornia’s colonization. Father Serra’smission and Presidio were built on ahillside overlooking what is currentlyknown as Old Town San Diego. At thebase of the hill in 1820’s, a smallMexican community of adobe buildingswas formed and by 1835 had attainedthe status of El Pueblo de San Diego. In1846, a U.S. Navy Lieutenant and aMarine Lieutenant, raised the Americanflag in the Old Town San Diego Plaza.

In 1968, the State of CaliforniaDepartment of Parks and Recreationestablished Old Town State HistoricPark to preserve the rich heritage thatcharacterized San Diego during the

1821 to 1872 period. The park includesa main plaza, exhibits, museums andliving history demonstrations. Historicbuildings include La Casa de Estudillo,La Casa de Bandini, La Casa deAltamirno Pedrorena and the MasonStreet School, San Diego’s first oneroom schoolhouse. Just up the hill fromOld Town San Diego Historic StatePark, you’ll find Heritage Park whereseveral of San Diego’s most notableVictorian homes have been relocatedand authentically restored to their origi-nal splendor. Just a short walk downSan Diego Avenue is the WhaleyHouse, believed to be a haunted house,the Old Adobe Chapel on Conde Street,the first Church in Old Town SanDiego, and El Campo Santo on SanDiego Avenue, an 1850 CatholicCemetery. Visit the original and recon-structed buildings and furnishings thatillustrate San Diego in the 1800’s . . .where California Began!

HISTORIC OLD TOWN SAN DIEGO TRAIL

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C A L I F O R N I A

THE SERRA MUSEUM is just up the hill from Old Town, the museum showcases artifactssuch as housewares, furniture, tools and a cannon from the Native American, Spanish,Mexican, and American periods through 1929. OPEN DAILY, from 10:00a.m. - 4:30p.m.

Throughout the Guide you will see many sites with the green bar, Historic Old Town Trail, this signifiesthe historic site as part of the “Green Line” tour taken by the Old Town Forth Grade Program.

COLORADO HOUSE was originally ahotel, now houses the Wells Fargo Museum.The building is a reconstruction of the 1860original.

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CASA DE PEDRORENA was the residence of DonMiguel de Pedrorena, who made his home in SanDiego in the 1850’s. A member of an old Madridfamily, he was educated both in that city and atOxford. Allied in sympathy with the Americans during the Mexican War, he became captain in ourArmy. It was he who saved the famous old Spanishgun “El Jupiter” (now standing on Fort Stockton,Presidio Park) by burying it in the yard of his house.

CASA DE LOPEZ was originally built about 1835.Known as the Francisco Lopez place, this adobewas the home of one of the older Spanish families.Casa de Lopez has been reconstructed in front of itsoriginal location at the edge of the freeway, and cur-rently houses the Rockin'’ Baja Lobster restaurant.

BURTON HOUSE is a Colonial Revival house thatwas built in 1893 by Henry Guild Burton, a retiredArmy physician.

U. S. HOUSE is a reconstruction of an original 1850frame house, which was, over the years, a store,boarding house, and restaurant.

McCONAUGHY HOUSE is an Italianate house constructed in 1887, was originally owned by JohnMcConaughy, who founded the first scheduled passenger and freight service in San Diego County.His four-horse passenger stages and six-horse wag-ons operated between San Diego and Julian.

ROBINSON-ROSE HOUSE is a reconstruction ofa two-story adobe building originally erected in1853. Within its walls the first meetings of LodgeNo. 35, Free and Accepted Masons, were held. Forseveral years after 1853, the San Diego Herald, SanDiego’s earliest newspaper, was printed in the sec-ond story. The reconstructed building now housesthe Park Information Center.


SAN DIEGO HOUSE was home to Freeman andLight, the first African/Americans to settle in OldTown. The reconstructed building was originallybuilt in 1838.

RACINE & LARAMIE is Old Town’s tobacco store,operating in a reconstructed 1868 building.


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Tequila Museum

At the Southern entrance to Old Town, overlook-ing San Diego Avenue from the second floor, is ElAgave Restaurant and Tequileria. As you enterfrom a curved staircase with mexican tile and cac-tus plants you begin to sense a little of the OldWorld. A short walkway past wonderful, balconyseating and you arrive at the dark but invitingdoorway.

You won’t find tacos or burritos or even chips andsalsa here. What you will find is rich culinarycuisine, cooked with the ingredients of CentralMexico in a technique from the time of theAztecs.

You will also find tequila, an array of tequila youwon’t find anywhere else. On display throughoutthe restaurant on shelving along every wall andoverhead beneath the ceiling beams are 1,700 bot-tles of tequila, some over 100 years old. Thereare many rare bottles of tequila in unique vesselsmade of ceramic, clay and of course glass in everyshape and size.

For those who can not just look, but feel the needto sample, El Agave offers 500 different types oftequila to choose from. Prices range from $5.75 to$175.00 per shot, and includes their very ownTequila El Agave Artesanal.

So if you like margarita’s/ tequila you should takethe time to visit and sample some old world cook-ing and aged tequila.

Types of tequila

Blanco or plata (white or silver): the most com-mon type. It's considered 'unaged' under 60 days old, and may be bottled fresh from distillation.Sometimes this is a harsh, young (joven) drink,but it can also be tastier and more robust thanhighly refined varieties, if it's marked "100 percent agave”.

Reposado means rested. This is aged from twomonths to up to a year in oak casks or barrels.This is where the better tequilas start and thetastes become richer and more complex. Thelonger the aging, the darker the color and themore the wood affects the flavor.

Añejo (aged, or vintage): aged in government-sealed barrels of no more than 350 liters, fora minimum of a year. Many of the añejos becomequite dark and the influence of the wood is morepronounced than in the reposado variety.

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The most deliciousway to experience an areas culture is through its food!

and his followers came to the new world insearch of fortune, they found a wealth of culi-nary specialties such as chocolate, peanuts,vanilla, beans, squash, avocados, coconuts, cornand tomatoes. In turn the Spanish brought tothe Americas products such as pork, beef, lamb,citrus fruits, garlic, cheese, milk, wheat, vinegarand wine, add these to the native American andearly pioneers traditional foods and you havesome of the richest food combinations in thecountry.

During Mexico’s colonial period 1521 to 1821is when much of today's Mexican fare wasinvented, such favorites as chile’s rellenos andguacamole and it was actually nuns who pio-neered such now-traditional Mexican fare asbuñuelos! In the mid Victorian period Mexicowas ruled by the former Austrian archdukeFerdinand Maximilian from1864 to 1867 andthough his reign was brief and tragic, Frenchcooking left a permanent mark on manyMexican-restaurant dishes.

What to wash it all down with? Wine or Tequilaof course!

From its beginnings in the blue agave fields ofJalisco, to its consumption in small cantinas andtrendy restaurants, tequila is the quintessentiallyMexican drink.

Tequila, like its cousin, mezcal, is made fromthe agave plant. Contrary to popular belief, theagave is not a member of the cactus family, butrather comprises its own distinct botanical fami-ly, agavaceae, related to the lily.

What makes good tequila? For some it is theearthy, vegetable taste and aroma of the agave.For others it is the sharp bite of the blanco orreposados. Still others prefer the smooth, bodyof the añejos. The best advice is to try severalbrands and several types to find the taste youlike. And don’t miss the tequila museum at ElAgave, on San Diego Avenue. (on page 13)

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rich in diversity so you can also find earlyCalifornia fare along with Italian, Japanese,Creole, Peruvian, and some really greatseafood. There is something for everyappetite and budget and every doorwayleads to a delectable discovery.

Just a tidbit or two about the food traditionsof an area can give an added dimension to

the dining experience so here are a fewbasic historic food facts about California’scuisine.

California’s history is inextricably inter-twined with Mexico and Spain. TheConquest of Mexico in 1521 gave rise toone of the richest culinary revolutions inhistory. When the Spanish explorer Cortez

by Alana Coons

The flavors ofOld Town

Old Town sidewalks overflow with peoplewho come to revisit history, to shop and tosavor some of the best and greatest varietyof food that San Diego has to offer.

While regional and Mexican specialties arenot to be missed and present many cookingstyles, visitors to Old Town have a widechoice of cuisines. The area has a history

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flavors

Bringing the flavors ofOld Townhome with

you.

(from page 11) Once you’ve enjoyed the flavors of OldTown you can venture out to indulge in aunique shopping experience and pick upsome of the regional food products to takehome with you and prepare the very mealsyou enjoyed while on vacation.

You can purchase specialty salsas andcookbooks at Rudolf Schillers at Plaza delPosada, Bazaar Del Mundo and the OldTown Marketplace. Looking for authenticMexican Hot sauce and the best selectionof historical cookbooks in town? Those canbe found at the SOHO Museum Shop at theWhaley house.

Spend your vacation in the heart of SanDiego at a one of the may quality hotels inOld Town. Take the time to explore themany historic sites and shop in a variety ofstores that can only be found in Old Town.They all offer different types of unique anddelicious items just waiting for you to dis-cover! Enjoy the richness of History art andculture that is truly the Flavor of Old TownSan Diego.

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March 31, 1871, County Clerk Chalmers Scottgathered a group of New Towners, rode out tothe Whaley House in express wagons, andforcibly removed the records. AlthoughWhaley wrote a series of letters to the Board ofSupervisors noting that their lease had notexpired and demanding rent and repairs to thebuilding, his demands were ultimately ignored.

On January 5, 1882, sisters Violet and AnnaAmelia had a double wedding, Anna Ameliamarrying her first cousin, John T. Whaley, andViolet wedding George T. Bertolacci. Violet’smarriage ended sadly, and she divorcedBertolacci in 1883. Succumbing to depression,she took her own life on August 18, 1885.Later that year, the family moved to NewTown, where Thomas built a lovely single-story frame home for them at 933 State Street.Hoping to capitalize on the San Diego boom,he opened a real estate office at 5th and G inthe First National Bank Building with variouspartners including Ephraim Morse. He retiredin 1888 after a long career of entrepreneurialendeavors, and passed away at the State Streethome on December 14, 1890 at the age of 67.

The Whaley Home in Old Town was rentedout for many years and eventually fell intodisrepair until late 1909 when Whaley’s oldestson Francis returned to the old brick houseand undertook the restoration of the building.Rehabilitated at the same time as the establish-ment of the Los Angeles & San Diego BeachRailway down San Diego Avenue, which coin-cided with the great turn of the century touristmovement, Francis utilized the family home asa residence and a tourist attraction where heposted signs outside promoting its historicityand entertained visitors with his guitar.

On February 24, 1913, Anna died in the house,followed by Francis on November 19, 1914.Lillian continued residency in her family home,writing her memoirs, and passed away in 1953.

In 1956, the house was up for sale and plansto demolish it to make way for a gas stationwere curtailed by June and Jim Reading who,with a concerned group of citizens, convincedthe County of San Diego to buy and restorethe house. The Whaley House opened itsdoors to the public as a historic house museumin May of 1960 and since November of 2000has been operated for the county by Save OurHeritage Organization (SOHO). SOHO is inthe process of returning the house to its nine-teenth century appearance.

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homas Whaley came to Californiaduring the Gold Rush. He leftNew York City, the place of his

birth, on January 1, 1849, on the shipSutton and arrived 204 days later in SanFrancisco. He set up a store with busi-ness partner George Wardle where hesold hardware and woodwork from hisfamily’s New York business, Whaley &Pye. They offered mining equipment andutensils on consignment. This youngentrepreneur, born on October 5, 1823,came from a Scots-Irish family, whichimmigrated to Plymouth, Massachusettsin 1722. His grandfather, AlexanderWhaley, a gunsmith, participated in theBoston Tea Party and the RevolutionaryWar where he provided flintlock musketsto soldiers and the use of his house onLong Island to General GeorgeWashington. Thomas’ father, Thomas A.Whaley, carried on the family gunsmithbusiness, and served in the New YorkMilitia during the War of 1812. He mar-ried Rachel Pye, whose father, William,

THE WHALEY HOUSE

By Alana Coons and Dean Glass

manufactured locks in Brooklyn.

Whaley’s business acumen, acquired inpart from his education at theWashington Institute, proved beneficialin San Francisco. He was so successfulthat he was able to establish his ownstore on Montgomery Street, erect atwo-story residence near the bay, andrent out Wardle’s edifice. After an arson-set fire destroyed his buildings in May1851, he relocated to Old Town SanDiego upon the advice of LewisFranklin, a fellow merchant. Whaley setup various businesses and amassedenough money to return to New York tomarry his sweetheart, Anna EloiseDeLaunay, the daughter of French-bornparents, on May 14, 1853.

Upon the couple’s return to San Diego,Whaley entered various general storebusiness partnerships, most of whichlasted less than a year. He purchased alot at the corner of San Diego Avenue

and Harney Street in September 1855,and in May of the following year, built asingle-story granary with bricks manu-factured in his own brickyard nearby. InSeptember 1856, Whaley commencedconstruction of an adjacent two-storyGreek Revival style brick buildingwhich he had designed. Upon comple-tion in 1857, the building was acclaimedas the “finest new brick block inSouthern California” by the San DiegoHerald, and cost $10,000, an impressivesum in the 1850’s.

By 1858, Thomas and Anna Whaley hadproduced three children: Francis Hinton,Thomas Jr. (who died at 18 months),and Anna Amelia. In August 1858, onceagain arson-set fire destroyed Whaley’sbusiness. Rebuilding in a time of eco-nomic downturn was problematic, soWhaley moved his family to SanFrancisco, where he worked as a U.S.Army Commissary Storekeeper for ashort while. Three more children,George Hays Ringgold (named for abusiness partner), Violet Eloise, andCorinne Lillian, were born. In 1867,Thomas Whaley took charge of threegovernment transports with stores atSitka, Alaska Territory, before theAmerican takeover on October 18.

After a major earthquake in May 1868,the Whaley Family returned to theirhome in San Diego. There Whaley part-nered with Philip Crosthwaite to openthe Whaley and Crosthwaite GeneralStore. San Diego pioneer Crosthwaitewas the Deputy County Clerk and laterSan Diego’s Chief of Police. In 1868,Thomas rented the upstairs southwesternportion of the house to a Mr. ThomasTanner, who transformed the livingquarters into San Diego’s first commer-cial theater. Just three months after theTanner Troupe’s October 1868 opening,Mr. Tanner died suddenly and the troupedisbanded. Later in 1869, the County ofSan Diego rented the theater space andthe former granary for use as meetingrooms for the Board of Supervisors andone of San Diego’s earliest courthouses,respectively. After the establishment ofNew Town San Diego by Alonzo Hortonin 1868, the seat of government movedthere. Residents of Old Town resistedthe change, even refusing to hand over the court records. On the evening of

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Photos from (L-R) The Whaley study, the master bedroom, the store in the entry of the whaley house.

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Casa de Aguirre

La Casa de Aguirrewas built circa 1853as the family home ofwealthy San Diego merchant Don JoseAntonio Aguirre. In1869, Aguirre’s fami-ly donated the home

and the land to the Catholic Church. FatherAntonio Ubach used the building as his rectory until 1885 when he founded “St.Anthony’s Industrial School for Indians” onthe site. The original adobe structure fell intodisrepair and was demolished in 1914. Todayyou can visit the historically reconstructedCasa de Aguirre and learn more about thisfascinating site in the free museum.

The Old Town Convent

Constructed in 1908, the convent buildingoriginally stood in downtown San Diego. In1940, the Catholic Church moved the struc-ture to its present site in Old Town. Duringits storied history, the building has served atvarious times as a seminary, convent, USO,military housing and a nursery. Restored toits 1940’s appearance in 2002, the buildingnow is a State historical site and featuresshopping, antiques, and historical displayscommemorating the history of the Old TownConvent building.

The Casa de Aguirre c. 1891 home of St. Anthony’sSchool for Indians.

AWealth of History

Restored to its 1940’s appearance in 2002

AFiesta-SpiritedEntrance to Old TownBy Nathan Mueller

Diane Powers’ has combined her color-drenchedshopping arcade with her beautiful CasaGuadalajara Mexican Restaurant to welcome visi-tors and locals alike. Fronted with the lush green-ery and tiled fountains that San Diegans have cometo identify with Old Town, Diane creates a sunnyand welcoming entry into the Old Town com-munity.

Formerly across the street in Old Town San DiegoState Park, the new Bazaar del Mundo Shops pres-ent a visual feast rich in authentic Mexican hand-painted tile, wrought iron, richly decorated walls,tiled staircases and vendor carts overflowing withhandcrafted Mexican flowers.

Strolling through the Shops, visitors are greetedwith long-time favorites: a deluge of unique arti-sans’ specialty and internationally - inspired treas-ures for the home, fashion, arts and crafts and col-lectibles. Next door to the Shops, on the first floorof The Art Collector building is Design Center Incspecializing in an array of Southwest furniture,décor and unusual gifts and collectibles.

Many of the boutique shops and vendor carts arerecognizable by Bazaar devotees: the Gallery;Laurel Burch Gallerita; Ariana; Artes de Mexico;Guatemala Shop; Libros; the popular Kitchen andDining shop and more.

An intimate patio courtyard provides a charmingplace for relaxation and small gatherings, amid thevibrant ambience, splashing fountains and colorfulmerchandise spilling into the lush terrace. Even theShops’ tiled restrooms, lovingly adorned in special-ty Mexican tiling, will inspire home decorators.

Next door to the Shops, Casa Guadalajara com-pletes the enclave, and continues serving SanDiegans’ beloved delectable and award-winningMexican cuisine. The restaurant has incorporatedinto its menu many of the most popular dishesfrom Casa de Pico, which recently re-located toGrossmont Center in La Mesa, and Casa deBandini, which has closed for the time being.

Diane Powers’ Bazaar del Mundo remains one ofSan Diego’s favorite destinations for food, folkloreand fun. For more information, please visitwww.bazaardelmundo.com or call 619.296.3131.

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This uniquely Californian town offers visitors achance to step back in time to the nineteenth cen-tury. This cultural and historic area is a virtualmecca for shopping and fine dining; museum,gallery, or theater going; or even hunting forghosts at “America’s Most Haunted” house. OldTown has something for the entire family withinits one by one-and-a-half mile boundaries.

Within Old Town there are three Park Agencies:State, City and County, all of which have historicsites operated as museums. Located at the north-ern end of Old Town, Old Town San Diego StateHistoric Park is the most visited park in the statesystem and all of its museums are free to the pub-lic. The state park spans the decades fromCalifornio rule to the Mexican Period and finallyto the American Period. Experience the days ofthe dons at the 1825 Casa de Estudillo, one of thefinest adobe haciendas in the state; view a rareoriginal stagecoach at the Wells Fargo Museum;see a scale model of nineteenth century Old Townat the reconstructed Robinson-Rose House, one-time Lodge of the Freemasons and home of SanDiego’s first newspaper The San Diego Herald;the Black Hawk Livery & Blacksmith; the SanDiego Union newspaper building; and the firstpublic schoolhouse in San Diego, the MasonStreet School.

There are over 15 historic sites in all, some ofwhich, are now home to interesting retail shops.In the park you will find merchandise unique toSan Diego and Old Town. From Cousin’s Candywhere you can watch them pull taffy to Toby’sCandle Shop where you can make your own can-dles, the park is not to be missed. The JohnsonHouse specializing in millinary, AlvaradoProvisions with it’s unique gourmet foods;Captain Fitch’s Mercantile carries a nice selectionof books and historic reproductions making thepark a great place to visit and shop.You will wantto visit all the stores in the park to make sure thatyou don’t miss something memorable like thevintage reproduction at Racine & Laramie com-plete with the familiar “cigar store Indian” togreet you from the porch.

Also located within the state park, Plaza delPasado is a fun, historic atmosphere where youcan journey through San Diego’s past from1821—1872. Enjoy traditional Mexican cuisineprepared by expert chefs at a variety of greatrestaurants. It includes 11

Today inOld Town

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ALTAMIRANO HOUSE belonged to Jose A.Altamirano, son-in-law of Don Miguel dePedrorena. Here the San Diego Union issued its firstnumber issue, October 10, 1868, and remained thereuntil June 30, 1870, when the office was moved tothe new subdivision, Downtown San Diego. TheAltamirano House now houses the San Diego UnionMuseum.

COBBLESTONE JAIL was built in 1850. It is nowin ruins, behind the Jail House Motel.

THE COURTYARD by Marriott sits on the historicsite of the first Hotel in Old Town. The hotel's loca-tion stood on a lot near the residence of GeorgePendleton, offering a commanding view of the Bayand surrounding country."…a massive frame buildingerected by Don Juan Bandini in 1850, in flush times.The prospect for customers soon vanished. It costBandini an inordinate amount of money to build –according to Judge Benjamin Hayes, $25,000.

CASA DE CARRILLO is the oldest house in theCity of San Diego. It was built by Don FranciscoM. Ruiz and occupied about 1820 by the family ofDon Joaquin Carrillo. Ruiz planted the famous pearorchard, the first private planting of fruit trees inSouthern California.Now restored, this house is theclubhouse of the Presidio Hill 18-hole golf course.

DERBY-PENDLETON HOUSE was shipped aroundthe Horn as a prefab house to William Heath Davis’sNew Town in 1850, and moved to Old Town around1851, after the collapse of New Town. It was pur-chased by Don Juan Bandini for his daughterDolores, wife of Captain Charles Johnson. It wasacquired in 1855 by Captain George A. Pendleton,first county clerk and recorder, for his office. From1853 to 1854 Lieutenant George H. Derby, one ofAmericas foremost humorists, boarded here, writingmany of the sketches appearing in the San DiegoHerald.


McCOY HOUSE was originally built in 1869, andwas home to California’s 8th sheriff. It has beenreconstructed and is now a museum.


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Boosters of Old Town San Diego StateHistoric Park (BOOT) is a non-profit organi-zation dedicated to supporting the interpreta-tion of Living History in the Old Town SanDiego State Park.

BOOT sponsors fund raising events in thePark including: Old Fashioned Fourth of July,and Holiday in the Park in December.

Other BOOT events include docent led toursfor adults and school children which areavailable upon request. Learn about OldTown as you tour the streets with volunteersdressed in period attire. www.boot.ot.com.All BOOT events are interpretive of the StatePark Historic years of 1821-1872.

Interpretive History

The new Bazaar del Mundo Shops present avisual feast rich in authentic Mexican hand-painted tile, wrought iron, richly decoratedwalls, tiled staircases and vendor carts over-flowing with handcrafted Mexican flowers.discover authentic and eclectic folk art, fash-ion, and home décor in vibrant colors andnatural textures at Bazaar Del Mundo Shops.

There are plenty of great restaurants to choosefrom, including, the New Orleans CreoleCafé, fine Louisiana-style dining, located inthe Whaley House gardens; Zócalo Grilloffers a relaxing, contemporary casual atmos-phere; Berta’s Latin American cuisine pro-vides a tasty alternative to the many Mexicanrestaurants in the area; El Agave Tequileriaserves Mexican nouvelle cuisine and houses aTequila Museum; Jack & Giulio’s ItalianRestaurant is the place for homemade pastas,veal, poultry, beef, and seafood specialties;Café Pacifica, for seafood, pasta, lamb chops,and steak; El Fandango fine Mexican restau-rant for the romantic adventurous gourmet;Rockin'’ Baja Lobster, for big buckets of lob-ster, king crab, shrimp, and carne asada;Acapulco Mexican Restaurant y Cantina; anddelicious Mexican Food at the Café Coyote,surrounded by fabulous shops. After dinner,the Living Room Coffee House, Korky’s IceCream & Coffee, Cold Stone Creamery, andChurchill Cigar Lounge are open for business.

For visitors looking for historic sites, authen-tic cuisine, fine dining and unique shopping,Old Town is the place to find it!

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teenth century residents including theIndian leader Antonio Garra and thenotorious boat thief Yankee JimRobinson; and you won’t want to missthe Sheriff’s Museum. All of these

TodayContinued from 27

retail stores and an education centerwhich hosts fun-filled games, activitiesand special events.

There are many more historic museumsat the center of Old Town: the WhaleyHouse Museum Complex is a county-owned park consisting of five historicbuildings, the most famous of which isthe Whaley House, believed by many tobe the most haunted house in Americain addition to housing the former coun-ty courthouse and San Diego’s firstcommercial theater; the Old AdobeChapel, San Diego’s former parochialchurch and setting for the famous wed-ding of “Ramona,” is now a city-ownedmuseum; the Church of the ImmaculateConception was formally dedicated in1919; El Campo Santo Cemetery is thefinal resting place of nearly 500 nine-

museums can be found along San DiegoAvenue, Old Town’s main thoroughfare. Justup the hill from San Diego Avenue are theSerra Museum and Presidio Site, theMormon Battalion Visitors Center, andHeritage Park, a 7.8 acre county park whereseven Victorian homes have been relocatedto save them from demolition and now houseshops and bed and breakfasts.

If you are looking for unique gifts or sou-venirs, a wide variety of shops are ready totempt you. One of the best is the SOHOMuseum Shop and Information Center housedin an 1870s mansard that is one of the lastsuch buildings in San Diego. You can’t missthis colorful Victorian with its red and whitestriped shingle roof. The Museum Shop offershistoric reproductions, gifts, souvenirs, andbooks from early California to the mid twenti-eth century. The Old Town Surf Shop is inanother rare building type, the false store front,one of only four of these remaining in SanDiego, and the shop is just the place for thelatest surfing clothes and gear; the Indian ArtsCenter, Covered Wagon, and Four WindsTrading are great places for Indian jewelry andart; the Old Town Market Place is where youcan catch the Old Town Trolley Tours whichwill take you on any number of San Diegotours. Art galleries abound, with Lowery’s HotGlass, where you can watch while artisans cre-ate a piece for you to take home; Gallery OldTown and Chuck Jones Studio Gallery.Galleria Claudia behind Aladdin’s Treasures acollection of authentic African art.

Robinson Rose House is the state park visitor center and park headquarters.

31

L I V I N G H I S T O R Y

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park pays tribute to the cultural influences that make California special.Restored and reconstructed buildings in Old Town San Diego are now museums, shops and restaurants

that capture the energy of Old Town between 1821 and 1872.

The central plaza is lined with buildings—some dating back to the 1820s—that offer a glimpse of the lifestylesof both ordinary residents and the most wealthy and influential.

OLD TOWN SAN DIEGO

Make your visit memorable by

entering into the spirit of Old Town

San Diego. Enjoy its history, muse-

ums, period demonstrations, enter-

tainment, programs and activities.

Guided walks reveal Old Town’s

story, and living history interpreters

give faces and voices to the people

who shaped it. Visit some of the

oldest buildings and historic sites

in California. Today’s plaza remains

the heart of Old Town. Discover the

lives of those who came before to

better understand how California

came to be.

Diegueño Indians drawn by artistwith the 1849 U.S. BoundaryCommission expedition.

Old Town San Diego, 1846

Native Americans

The Kumeyaay lived near the San

Diego River for thousands of years

before the mission and presidio were

built. Today a sandy native landscape

marks the former borders of the river

that supplied the native people with

many of life’s necessities. At first the

Kumeyaay were friendly with the set-

tlers, but this changed when their tradi-

tions and beliefs came into conflict.

Diseases introduced by the settlers

decimated entire villages, and the

native culture nearly disappeared.

30

The MormonBattalion

The soldiers of theMormon Battalionwere the firstAmerican Militarysent to San Diego,after the war, to pro-tect its borders. TheBattalion madeAmerica’s longestmarch in history, a2,000 mile hike onfoot across theUnited States. Theircontribution to the history of Californiashould not be forgot-ten.

While on post on thehill overlooking Old

Town, they were instrumental in helping tonot only protect but to help build San Diego.Most notably they built the first brick kilnand the first brick building, the San DiegoCourt House. Many of the soldiers, once dis-charged from the military, made their homesin San Diego, and some of their descendantsstill live in Old Town today. Find out more,by visiting the Mormon Battalion MemorialVisitors’ Center located on Juan Street.

Tradition of MexicanCuisine in Old Town

Old Town has many great Mexican restaurantsto choose from with tremendously differentmenus. La Pinata offers a host of flavorfulMexican favorites. Zocolo with Latino NuevoCuisine, Freds Mexican Cafe has a moresouthwestern flavor mexican cuisine whileRockin'’ Baja has the largest variety ofMexican style seafood that is unbeatable.

La Pinata is the oldest restaurant in Old Town.The Building was built in the mid 1800’s andstill stands today as delightful Mexican restau-rant with a charming setting. The majority ofthe local San Diegans, prefer the large roman-tic out door patio with attractive setting withplants and for those cooler evenings, a largefireplace.

33

1821

HERITAGE PARK is a 7.8-acre county parkwhere sit seven restored and relocated Victorianhomes, saved from the wrecking ball for theircontribution to San Diego’s Victorian architectur-al and historical value by SOHO and San DiegoCounty Parks.


cowhides and tallow for manufactured

goods and luxury items from the United

States, Europe and China.

The Mexican Period

Mexico gained independence from Spain

in 1821, but it was 1822 before a new

military command arrived in San Diego.

At this time the small settlement

consisted of the nearby presidio housing

a military garrison, the mission six miles

inland with its labor force of Kumeyaay

Indians, and the port, where ships

stopped to trade for supplies.

Spanish soldiers began building

residences below Presidio Hill in the

early 1820s. Sun-dried adobe brick was

the traditional building material, since

wood was scarce. Soon five houses

LIVING HISTORY

32

1769LIVING HISTORY cont. from pg. 31

The Spanish Period

In 1769 Spanish colonization of Alta

California began in San Diego with

construction of the royal Presidio and the

first in a chain of 21 California

missions.

Directed by the padres, mission Indians

cultivated crops, manufactured blankets

and clothing, provided construction labor,

and raised livestock. Although Spain

severely restricted trade, the padres

exchanged otter skins,

SAN DIEGO SHERIFF’S MUSEUMA project of the Honorary Deputy Sheriff’sAssociation, located 100 feet from where the firstcobblestone jail stood.


Rudolph lived, and had a store, in Old

Town’s Brick Court House. Their sec-

ond son, Samuel was born here in

1870; and Maurice, the third son in

1872.

The Old Town fire of 1872 which

destroyed most of the buildings in Old

Town, started in Mrs. Schiller’s kitchen

in the Brick Court House. Rudolph lost

his stock valued at $3000 in the fire.

Schiller tried to rebuild his business in

Old Town, he moved his store and

home to the Witfield drug store build-

ing on the East side of the Plaza. The

photographic studio was not damaged

by the fire because it had been located

two blocks south on the southeast cor-

ner of Twiggs and Congress Streets.

Rudolph reportedly tried to establish a

book bindery in Old Town, but the fire

concluded the transition of San Diego’s

economy from Old Town to New

Town. Following the business, Rudolph

eventually moved to New Town in

October 1873. He then gave up the

photography business and worked only

as a bookbinder.

Schiller’s 1869 image of early San

Diego, in an undisturbed landscape, the

extrodinary portrait of that frontier

town. And it was from Europe to this

frontier outpost that Rudolph brought

his family and committed their future.

35

permanently captured San Diego. The

war between Mexico and the United

States ended in 1848 with the signing

of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo,

establishing a new boundary between

the two countries.

1846

LIVING HISTORY from pg 34

and festivities of San Diego. The open

plaza hosted fiestas, bullfights, games of

chance, and amusements that offered the

opportunity for wagering.

The American Period

San Diego’s Mexican era ended abruptly

in 1846, when the United States declared

war on Mexico. Initially there was little

resistance to American occupation, but

the situation eventually turned San Diego

families against one another. Some

remained loyal to Mexico, while others

supported the United States. The town

was occupied and regained several

times—one major battle took place in

nearby San Pasqual Valley. In 1846 U.S.

Navy Commodore Robert F. Stockton

Rudolph Schiller established the first

photo studio in San Diego. He was

born in 1839 in the Posen province of

Prussia. In 1868 he immigrated to the

United States with his wife Henrietta

Rosenfield Schiller and Jacob, his 16

year old brother. After taking his fam-

ily by boat to the Isthmus of Panama,

making the overland trip he re-

embarked on a ship arriving at San

Diego in September 1868. Rudolph

settled in Old Town which was the

home of other Prussian Jewish fami-

lies and within 3 months he had out-

fitted and opened his photographic

studio. His photograph of Old Town

was taken in January 1869 and is the

most famous. It is second oldest

known photo of San Diego except for

one taken in 1867 by J. Henfield.

The camera’s location was half way

up the Juan Street hill looking west

over Mission Bay. The east end of

Point Loma is located on the left edge

of the Panorama; and, Crown Point is

located on the right edge. At that time

the San Diego River flowed into San

Diego Bay on the left. In 1862 San

Diego River had a great flood; and,

the town was shaken by a Richter 6.2

earthquake. The river channel bowed

to the West forming an “S” curve.

Surface rupture of the ground from

echelon faults are visible in the fore-

ground and background.

This 1869 Panorama photograph of the San DiegoRiver at Old Town is a colorized interpretation ofthe mid-third of Schiller’s photograph. The originalnegative was probably 4” x 5” and exposed forabout 15 seconds. Wet plates were held by the cor-ners, and the original print has trimmed corners.

Schiller’s photo preserves an Old Town, almost destroyed.

By Geoffrey Mogilner

34

MASON STREET SCHOOL was built in 1865,it is reputed to be the first public schoolhouse inSan Diego County.

Making corn flour, Alexander F. Harmer, (circa 1895)

Orig

inal

in t

he M

useu

m o

f N

atur

al H

isto

ry o

f Lo

s A

ngel

es C

ount

y


belonging to the Carrillo (and later

Fitch), Ruiz, Ybañes, Serrano and Marron

families became the nucleus of the com-

munity. By 1825 the adobes formed a

rough but orderly street pattern around an

open plaza. Two of the finest structures,

begun in 1827 and still standing,

belonged to José Antonio Estudillo and

his brother-in-law, Juan Bandini.

Americans and other foreigners often

enjoyed the customs (continued on pg. 35)

LIVING HISTORY cont. from pg. 33

37

CASA DE ESTUDILLO was constructed about1825, and was the home of Don Jose Antonio deEstudillo, Spanish aristocrat. It became a sanctuaryfor women and children during armed conflicts inci-dent to the American occupation in 1846.Incorrectly identified as “Ramona’s Marriage Place”for many years, the adobe structure is considered oneof Old Town’s outstanding showplaces.

CASA DE BANDINI/COSMOPOLITANHOTEL was originally a one-story adobe, the homeof Don Juan A. Bandini, outstanding Spanish gentle-man and American patriot. Reputed to have beenbuilt early in the 19th century, this adobe was theheadquarters of Commodore Robert F. Stockton in1846. The building was purchased around 1869 byAlfred Seeley, who added a second story and openedit as the Cosmopolitan Hotel.

The Cosmopolitan Hotel, as it appeared inthe early 1870’s.


The Cosmopolitan Hotel today.

36

San Diego was incorporated as a

city, and new American law was

codified. By 1856, with the decline

of the military presence and the

Gold Rush land boom, the town

turned into a small, insular com-

munity. In the U.S. census of 1860,

only seven individuals identified

themselves as merchants. Fire was

a constant threat, and in the 1860s

one misfortune after another

struck. The storms of 1861-62

brought high tides and flooding. In

May 1862 a severe earthquake was

followed by a smallpox epidemic.

Several years of drought devastat-

ed the ranchos and the cattle indus-

try in Southern California. In 1867

San Franciscan Alonzo Horton

arrived in San Diego to begin

building nearby New Town. In

1868 the San Diego Union began

publication in what is now Old

Town. The 1869 discovery of gold

in Julian created a need for sup-

plies, services and housing—a

boon to San Diego’s economy.

From 1868 to 1874, Albert Seeley

operated a stagecoach line

between San Diego and Los

Angeles. However, it was only a

matter of time before New Town

began to eclipse the old settle-

ment. Government offices moved

to the new community, taking

along much of Old Town’s eco-

nomic base. Hope for Old Town’s

revitalization died in the spring of

1872, when fire destroyed seven

buildings, including the old court-

house.

In 1907 sugar magnate John D.

Spreckels purchased the remains

of Casa de Estudillo and began the

first efforts to revive Old Town.

Public fascination with Helen

Hunt Jackson’s romantic novel,

Ramona, led to restoration of the

building advertised as “Ramona’s

Marriage Place.” In 1908 more

restoration began. These buildings

helped renew interest in San

Diego’s Spanish and Mexican

roots. Auto touring brought more

visitors, and in the 1930s several

buildings were built to enhance its

appearance as a “Spanish Village.”

In 1968 Old Town San Diego

became a State Historic Park, and

the process of rediscovering and

preserving the historic town began

anew.

LIVING HISTORY

CASA MACHADO Y STEWART was original-ly built in 1836 by Corporal Jose ManuelMachado. After his death the house was occupiedby his daughter Rosa, who married John S.Stewart, a shipmate on the Alert of Richard HenryDana, Jr. It has been reconstructed and featuresan extensive period vegetable garden.


James Marshall’s gold discovery at

Coloma in January 1848 lured adventur-

ers from around the world. San Diego

became an important stopover for miners

en route to the gold fields, and immi-

grants crowded into available housing.

Adobes were remodeled, and new struc-

tures were built. In 1851 prefabricated

wood-frame buildings, brought by ship

around the Horn, were assembled in San

Diego. Following the Mexican War,

California experienced a major political

transformation—a new Constitution

written in 1849 and statehood in 1850.

from pg 35

39

PLAZA DEL PASADO at the Old Town StatePark site is an extensive, $12 million renovationproject by Delaware North Companies Parks andResorts and will take twelve to eighteen months tocomplete. In addition to the renovation of the historic buildings at the site, the landscaping willalso be returned to its period look.


CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTIONwas begun in 1868 by Father Antonio D. Ubach, butowning to the boom that set in for the New SanDiego, was not completed and dedicated until July 6,1919. In 1925 it was formally transferred to theOrder of Saint Francis, of which Father JuniperoSerra, the Founder of Mission San Diego de Alcalain Presidio Park in 1769, was a member.


Shoot out at the Plaza

Colonel Cave Johnson Couts, a veteran of the Mexican War and prominent San Diegan,had several clashes with the law. One day, Couts dismissed his rancho foreman, JuanMendoza, a reputed bad man in Sonora. Mendoza let it be known that he was going to killCouts on sight the next time he saw him. Mendoza was always armed with a knife andsix-shooter while he hung out in Old Town saloons, sending challenges to Couts. Coutsstayed from Old Town for several months. Finally, one day they met in the Plaza and, inthe tradition of the Old West they walked toward each other and stood face to face.Pulling a shotgun from under his shawl, Couts yelled, “Hey, Mendoza, I came to seeyou...,” and blew Mendoza away. Couts was acquitted at least twice of murder and in thiscase, Couts got off on a technicality - the Judge had failed to post a letter of bond.

38

THE PLAZA VIEJO was set aside for publicuse when the Spaniards planned the town. Formany years it was the site of bull and bear baitingcontests and other typical Spanish-Mexican activi-ties. It was there that, under the command ofCaptain John C. Freemont the American flag wasraised in the afternoon of July 29, 1846

THE OLD ADOBE CHAPEL was reconstruct-ed in the 1930’s after the original structure wasrazed. The original, started in 1850 and dedicat-ed on November 21, 1858, was to remain in usemore than fifty years. Father Antonio D. Ubach,said to have been the “Father Gaspara” of HelenHunt Jackson’s famous novel Ramona, officiatedhere after 1868. The Adobe Chapel was the settingfor the fictional wedding of Ramona andAllesandro in Jackson’s novel. Here, in the smallsacristy, may be seen the tomb of Don JoseAntonio Aguirre.


EL CAMPO SANTO CEMETERY was usedbetween 1850 and 1880. Here lie many of themost famous early San Diegan's. Now smallerthan its original size, some graves lie beneath SanDiego Avenue and Linwood Street.

41

EVERY FRIDAY:

Fiesta Fridays Every Friday afternoon from 4:00 - 7:00 pmit's A FIESTA! Great entertainment, prizegiveaways

EVERY SATURDAY:

Market on Harney StreetOld Town Saturday Market - San Diego'slargest weekly artisan fair is held everySaturday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm in the heart ofOld Town on Harney Street. Hand-madeitems like pottery, jewelry, clothing, photog-raphy, blown glass and more! The event isfree. Live Music. Call (858) 272-7054 formore info.

MARCH:

March 10Old Town Bike RallyHosted by the Old Town MarketFun, Food and History to benefit the chil-dren of Saint Vincent De PaulFor information call 619 278-0955 x-227

APRIL:

Ladies Day in Old Town San Diego

MAY:

Old Town Fiesta Cinco de MayoCelebrate San Diego's oldest and largestCinco de Mayo Celebration. This two daystreet fair is filled with live music, streetvendors and plenty of food to choose from.Take the Trolley and join the fun.

JUNE:

June 8Flavors of Old TownHosted by the Old Town Chamber of Commerce, the Old Town Market andOld Town Trolley Tours- 15 Restaurants displaying their culinary expertise.For more information call 619 278-0955 x-227

Zócalo Grill's 22nd Annual Old Town Golf Tournamentat the Presidio Hills Golf Course, 619-298-9840

June 16thOld Town San Diego Fiesta, Fandango, and FoodStep back in time and experience Old Town in the 1850s. Music, dancing, adobedemonstrations, cooking demonstrations, blacksmith demonstrations, woodwork-ing demonstrations, crafts, and an afternoon Fashion Show to highlight stylesof the 19th Century. Food specials in the restaurants within the Historic Park.

JULY:

July 4th:Historic 4th of July Experience Independence Day in true 1800s style! Staff in period attire will beconducting children’s games, doing demonstrations, activities, contests andmore! Try your skills at pie eating contests, three legged races, bucket races,and egg toss. Come early to participate in the parade and stay late to relax inthe plaza while enjoying patriotic music and activities. This is an inexpensivefamily friendly, fundraising event to support the educational programs in thepark. Activity Hours 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM

EVENTSE N T E R T A I N M E N T

2007 Fiesta Cinco de Mayo entertainment

40

Old Town San Diego Art Festival

Enjoy museum quality art and sculp-ture as you stroll through Old Townwith all of it’s history and charm. TheOld Town San Diego Art Festival fea-tures over 150 contemporary artists,fine craft, fashion and home décor arti-sans. This event brings together theessence of Southern California; beauti-ful San Diego weather, the Flavors ofOld Town international foods, a winetasting pavilion and continuous liveentertainment. The festival runs alongSan Diego Avenue from Conde Streetinto the Old Town San Diego StateHistoric Park.

The estimated 30,000 who attended theinagural event last year in 2006enjoyed all the activities. Local SanDiegan’s and tourists who had not beenin Old Town for years returned toenjoy the event, and buy art.

The 2007 show will be another greatevent featuring well known national,international and some of southernCalifornia's premier and emergingartists. Old Town is home to two of theartists whose works will be on display.Robert Barros, the featured, poster artistand Photographer Hassan Atapour bothhave their studios located in Old Townand will be displaying their work in

2007. Fine art paintings, high end jewel-ry, glass, sculpture and photography willonce again fill the streets of Old Townand the Historic park.

The Old Town San Diego Art Festivalis partially supported by funding fromthe City of San Diego EconomicDevelopment and Tourism SupportProgram and the County of San DiegoCommunity Enhancement Program.

Mark your calendars for September 22-23, 2007. If you have a question, com-ment, or want additional information,go to: OldTownSanDiegoGuide.com

TOUR HISTORICOLD TOWN There are several types of tours to choosefrom. With a town as rich in culture as OldTown you could easily take more then one ofthese tours and gain multiple perspectives.

Boosters of Old TownThis non-profit organization leads toursthrough Old Town State Park only. Dedicatedvolunteers in period costume guide you on awalking tour of prominent Old Town land-marks that old and young alike will enjoy. Forreservations (619) 469-3174.

City SightseeingOpen top double decker bus. Tickets are goodfor two days. Hop on and hop off at variouslocations. Tours leave every half hour fromOld Town. For reservations (619) 296-2400

Haunted San DiegoSuspensfully paced haunted tales, rich SanDiego history and spooky fun. Guaranteed to raiseyour spirits. For reservations 1.877.6.HAUNTED

Heritage Tours of San DiegoThe Tales & Trails of Historic Old Town SanDiego, costumed guides tour the whole of OldTown from El Campo Santo Cemetery to theState Park. This is a great tour for families. For reservations 619-491-0110.

Old Town Trolley ToursVarious tours will take you by trolley busthroughout San Diego. Perfect for the visitorwho wants to take a load off their feet andenjoy the sites of San Diego by trolley.Conductors combine colorful anecdotes,humorous stories and historical informationinto a fast moving two-hour narrative that isboth entertaining and educational.For reservations 619-298-8687

Old Town State Park ToursPark aides lead these informative and friendlytours. No reservations necessary; just show upat the Old Town visitor’s center at theRobinson Rose building on the plaza. Toursare free. This is a service provided by the Stateof California. For reservations 619-220-5422

Save Our Heritage OrganizationHistoric San Diego Tours are especially suitedfor the visitor who is traveling to experiencethe places, artifacts and activities that authenti-cally represent the stories and people of thepast. SOHO, a non-profit, is the region’s pre-mier historic preservation organization and hasbeen running tours throughout San DiegoCounty since 1969. 619-297-9327

In 1983, Diane Powers of Old Town’s Bazaardel Mundo created the Old Town Fiesta Cincode Mayo, an event designed to commemoratethe 1862 Battle of Puebla, during which out-numbered Mexican forces defeated the FrenchArmy, setting the stage for Mexico’s eventualtriumph over French imperialism. Since thattime the event has evolved into our region’slargest celebration of Hispanic culture. Morethan 200,000 people celebrate the Fiesta inOld Town each year.

The Fiesta benefits the Historic Old TownCommunity Foundation. The Foundationsupports educational programs including theOld Town Cultural & Historical Program(known as the Old Town Fourth GradeProgram). The Program allows fourth gradersthe opportunity to take a journey back in timeinto San Diego’s rich and varied history.

As many as 12,000 students visit Historic OldTown each year. Both students and teachersvisit some of the oldest buildings in Californiaas they learn about California and San DiegoHistory.

The Old Town Program provides studentswith a positive, integrated learning experiencein a unique environment that enhances stu-dents' awareness and appreciation of cultural,ethnic and individual contributions and differ-ences.

The celebration is held in May on the week-end closest to the 5 th of May. For more infor-mation visit http://www.oldtownsandiego.org

Old Town Fiesta Cinco de Mayo

4342

EVENTSE N T E R T A I N M E N T

AUGUST

August 31 & September 1 Celebrating the West on the Move;150th Anniversary of the arrival of the Overland Mail

Special Friday evening fundraising event (Limited ReservedSeating), including music, entertainment, and food inspiredby historic recipes. Saturday will begin with a parade downSan Diego Ave followed by an historic reenactment of thearrival of the Overland Mail. Grand re-opening of the SeeleyMuseum and exhibits. Live animals, wagon rides, living his-tory activities, and historic wagon displays will celebrate lifein San Diego during the 1800s.

SEPTEMBER:

September 16thFiesta de San Diego/ Mexican Independence DayOld Town San Diego’s cultural history comes alive with acelebration of Mexico’s independence from Spain in 1821.Musical guests and dancers will showcase the cultural influ-ences as Alta California transitioned from Spain’s control toMexican independence. Music, dancing, food, and otherentertainment. (Free events)

September 22 & 23Old Town San Diego Art FestivalOver 150 national and international artists travel to San Diego’sfor a two day ArtFestival with live entertainment and the bestdining that Old Town has to offer. www.oldtownartfestival.com

September 29thPublic Lands Day Learn how Public Lands were created as California developedinto the 31st state in the Union. The Bureau of Land Management(BLM) and California State Parks will create a land office of the1850s and to share information with park visitors aboutCalifornia acquisition, preservation, natural resources, andantique survey equipment. (Free event)

OCTOBER:

October 25thFood, Wine, Beer, Tasting Hosted by the Old Town MarketTo benefit Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. For more information call 619 278-0955 x-227

October 31Halloween Scary NightThe most haunted house in the nation, the Whaley House is openall night.

NOVEMBER:

November 8-11Maritime and MilitaryExperience a military dragoon encampment of the 1820s, partici-pate in activities that celebrate maritime culture, and see how theUnited States military has evolved. All Military Veterans will behonored. Living history activities throughout the park. (Freeevent)

DECEMBER:

December 6Festival of LightsCelebrate the heritage of the Jewish settlers during the holidayseason. Their traditions, food, and music are part of the diverseheritage of Old Town.

December 7 & 8Holidays in Old Town San DiegoThe annual Candlelight tours return Old Town! Tour Old Townand learn how the residents prepared for the holiday season in the1800s. Holiday singers and entertainment perform throughout theevening while State Park concessions provide complimentaryrefreshments. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see Old Townall decked out for the Holidays

December13 St Vincent Holiday BenefitHosted by the Old Town Market31 Children are chosen by St Vincent to participate in this partyand sightseeing tour. Gifts are donated for the children. For moreinformation call 619 278-0955 x-227

OLD TOWNGHOSTLY LEGENDSby Dean Glass

There are some human beings who are dimly aware of their own deaths, yet have chosen to stay on in what used tobe their homes, to be close to surroundings they once held dear… --HANS HOLZER

44

According to the Travel Channel’sAmerica’s Most Haunted, the WhaleyHouse is the number one most hauntedhouse in the United States. Thealleged hauntings of the Whaley House

have been reported on numerous other tel-evision programs and been written up incountless publications and books since thehouse first opened as a museum in 1960.Although we cannot state positively that

the Whaley House is really haunted, thevoluminous documentation of paranormaloccurances at the site makes a compellingcase. But, if there are ghosts at theWhaley House, who are they and why arethey here?

The earliest documented ghost at theWhaley House is “Yankee Jim”. James(aka Santiago) Robinson was convicted ofattempted grand larceny in San Diego in1852, and hanged on a gallows off the backof a wagon on the site where the housenow stands. Although Thomas Whaleyhad been a spectator at the execution, hedid not let it disuade him from buying theproperty a few years later and building ahome for his family there. According tothe San Diego Union, “soon after the cou-ple and their children moved in, heavyfootsteps were heard moving about thehouse. Whaley described them as sound-ing as though they were made by the bootsof a large man. Finally he came to theconclusion that these unexplained footfallswere made by Yankee Jim Robinson.”

Many visitors to the house have reportedencountering Thomas Whaley himself.The late June Reading, former curator ofthe museum, said, “We had a little girl per-haps 5 or 6 years old who waved to a manshe said was standing in the parlor… Wecouldn’t see him. But often children’ssensitivity is greater than an adult’s.”However, many adults have reported seeingthe apparition of Mr. Whaley, usually onthe upper landing. One said he was “cladin frock coat and pantaloons, the faceturned away from her, so she could notmake it out. Suddenly it faded away.”

The Whaley House stands, silentlywatching over San Diego Avenue, as it hasdone for a century and a half. Every dayvisitors come from around the world totour the historic museum. It contains somuch history within its walls, that even thenon-believer will enjoy the tour. Forbelievers and skeptics alike, the housedraws them back time and again, in searchof those elusive ghosts. As Regis Philbinonce said, “You know a lot of people pooh-pooh it because they can’t see it. Butthere was something going on in thathouse.

volume 3 number 1 - old town san diegovolume 3 number 1. 1 old town chamber dining, fun and history...

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