Like most properties sold by Alonzo Horton in the late 1860s, the lot on the southwest corner of 5th and F changed hands early and often. the brick building now known as the Spencer-Ogden Building, one of the oldest buildings in the Gaslamp Quarter. It is also the oldest structure to be continually owned by the same family.
San Diego Hardware Building 1910 840-50 5th Avenue Architectural Style – Modern T.W. Coates, Builder The property located on 840-50 5th has had many owners and many uses, but none, with one exception, has stayed very long. Originally, it was sold by Alonzo Horton to Captain Samuel Dunnells in 1868. Captain Dunnells was an early […]
1888 835-837 5th Avenue Architectural Style : Baroque Revival Architects: Clemment and Stannard In 1831, newspaperman Horace Greeley popularized the saying by John Soule, “Go West, young man.” Many enterprising immigrants took these words literally, and made their way to the burgeoning city of San Diego, California. One of the most resourceful of these […]
The Davis-Horton House 1850 410 Island Avenue Architecture: Two-Story Wooden New England Saltbox Mortice and Tenon Construction Through rain and sleet and storms, and even through floods – yes, two of them – the Davis-Horton House, the oldest standing structure in downtown San Diego, has managed to survive. The little yellow house on the […]
All the World’s a Stage….. and More The Pacifica Hotel 551 Fourth Avenue Circa 1910 Architectural Style: Turn-of-the Century Modern Architect Unknown In 1867, Alonzo Horton sold to A.S. Seely, a mail carrier from Los Angeles, a one half interest of the original Pacifica Hotel property site , which included spaces 547-557. Mr. […]
Very Fancy And Not Odd At All I.O.O.F. Building Independent Order of Odd Fellows 526 Market Street 1873-1882 Classical Revival Architects: Payne and Lacey What’s an odd fellow? I guess we have all known a few, but the odd fellows of the 1800s were a national fraternal […]
1904 964 5th Avenue Architectural Style: Romanesque Architect: William Quayle Once again it is summertime in America’s finest city, and many San Diegans clamor to spend time outdoors enjoying the many attractions this fair city […]
San Diego’s First “Zoo” 1878 Three Story Brick Structure 502 Fifth Avenue Architects: Stannard & Layman (1913): Additional Two Stories As the days get warmer and summer approaches many San Diegans begin to seek outdoor entertainment. There are the beaches, Old Town, water parks, and of course, the world-famous San Diego Zoo. The first “zookeeper” […]
Back-esto in Time The Backesto Building 1873 &1887 Architects: Burgett and Osgood Architectural Style: Classical Revival On December 23, 1867, Dr. John Pierre Backesto, bought himself a Christmas present – a large portion of Block 88 belonging to Alonzo Horton. The property was located on Fifth Avenue and H Street. (now Market St.), and […]
The Marin Hotel 1888 552 Fifth Avenue Architectural Style: Victorian Architect: Unknown John Nelson Young arrived in San Diego in 1869 aboard the steamship Orizaba from San Francisco. He immediately started a furniture and undertaking business with his brothers in a small wooden building on “H” Street (now Market St.) near Fifth Avenue known as […]