A Well-Connected Small Space

National Shirt Shop
1909 

945 Fifth Avenue
Architectural Style: Late Victorian/Edwardian Commercial
Architect: Unknown

This relatively small piece of property is not aesthetically much to look at now, but it comes quite well-connected. As with most downtown lots, it originally belonged to City founder, Alonzo Horton. Horton sold it to Theodore White of Tucson, Arizona, who kept the property, with no improvements, for seven years before selling it to E.J. Buel.  Mr. Buel was a local businessman and a member of the San Diego Water Company, where he was Secretary and, ultimately, became President.

The next owners of Lot C, as it was known, were two influential individuals – Oliver S. Witherby and John G. Capron. Mr. Witherby was one of the founders of the Middletown area of early San Diego, and was also very active in real estate, banking and railroads. He, additionally, served as an assemblyman and was the first judge of the Southern District, and also worked in the Custom Service for the Port of San Diego. Judge Witherby was also known for his exuberant recreational habits. It was said that when drunk he would “go to town” wearing nothing but his underwear! At other times, he was seen relaxing in front of his home clad only in red flannels.

The co-owner of the property, Mr. Capron, was active in early utility companies, banks and transportation, and was director of the Commercial Bank of San Diego, as well as president of the City water company. He, additionally ran a stagecoach line between Tucson, Arizona and Los Angeles.

In 1881, Witherby and Capron divided their lot, and sold the north half to Charles F. Noell. Mr. Noell was an insurance agent for Mutual Life of New York, and he had two very well known and well connected partners in San Diego – Ephraim W. Morse and Thomas Whaley. Five years after he purchased the property, Mr. Noell sold Lot C to his partner, E.W. Morse.

Mr. Morse, one of the original “forty-niners” came to California in search of gold. He found very little gold, and traveled to San Diego for health reasons. He was an elected associate judge, a member of the first Board of Supervisors, a director of the Consolidated Bank and one of the founders of the Bank of San Diego. Most importantly, he became best friends with Alonzo Horton, and served as best man at Horton’s wedding to Lydia Knapp ( Horton.)        

Mr. Whaley, originally from New York, was associated with many businesses in early San Diego, including a mercantile endeavor. He also built what he described as “ the first red brick house’ south of San Francisco. The Whaley House was used as a courthouse and as a theater.

The north half of Lot C stood empty until 1887, when E, W. Morse contracted with F. Gautereau to build a one-story, 25’ x 95”, frame interior and brick veneered structure on the property.

Three years later, Mr. Morse secured his first tenant – Lion Clothiers. This was the first commercial activity on this humble property. Lion’s remained there until 1893, when they moved into the newly opened Cole Block on Fifth and G St. During the first year of Lion’s tenancy, Mr. Whaley transferred his interest in the property to Mr. Morse, thus making Mr. Morse, the sole owner. He placed the property in his wife’s name, Mary Morse, who sold it to Daniel Schuyler after the Lion Clothier’s had vacated the premises. Mr. Schuyler’s first tenant was M.A. Lesen, who ran a dry goods business in the little building.  In 1899, Mr. Schuyler sold the north half of the lot to Louis Fritz. Also, by 1899, Mr. Lesen’s dry goods had been replaced by Emily Van Buskirk’s “New York Millinery.” She remained until 1904, sharing the building with Prof. George E. Williams and his hair salon. After Ms. Van Buskirk left the premises, Prof. Williams remained until 1908. All this activity took place in the original 1888 building!

However, by 1909 change was on the horizon! Louis B. Fritz leased the north half of the property to G. W. Fishburn, president of the Marine National Bank, who promptly took out permits to replace the original building with a new reinforced concrete , much more luxurious, one-story  structure. This new endeavor was to cost $13,000. The Marine Bank spared no expenses for the interior, and contracted with the Pickel Marble and Granite Company for $5,000 to design and build the bank’s interior, which would, additionally,  have three skylights. This is the building remaining on the property to this day.

When the structure was completed, the Marine Bank moved in, and remained through 1915. It became a bank which issued its own notes or money. During its tenure, it issued $113, 400 in paper money. The era of banks issuing notes in the United States lasted from 1863 to 1935. During this time, banks issued National Bank Notes, which were a type of paper money. The U.S. government retired National Bank Notes in the 1930s and replaced them with Federal Reserve Notes. However, the Marine National Bank was liquidated long before that, as it was absorbed by the American National Bank of San Diego on March 13, 1916.

After the Marine Bank vacated the building, a retail store, Ralph C. Goldman’s “Specialty Shoe Company” conducted business on the premises until 1920. He was followed by the San Diego Toggery, which was listed in 1930 as a chain clothing store for men, women and children. In 1944, the toggery had become the Union Boot Shop, and by 1947, it had become the National Shirt Shop. The was a bit of a misnomer, as the store sold other clothing besides shirts. They remained well into the 1970s.

Sadly, this wonderfully utilitarian building has lost it’s charm as a clothing emporium, and is now a check cashing and payday loans store. It is sterile, and has no inviting decorative touches. However, to its credit, it is still occupied and serving the public. It will be interesting to see what its next incarnation will be.