If These Walls Could Talk

 

 

Well, I guess the house would have to have walls, and actually, at this moment, the house I will be sharing with you has lost her interior walls (thanks to Mark Visocky General Contractor and his top-notch demolition team).  So, let’s take a step back in time to when my new/old house did have walls shall we?

It was the summer of 1923 and the little 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom Spanish Colonial Revival was just getting her sewer and water lines connected in preparation for her first occupant. Little did she know she was joining one of San Diego’s most thriving urban communities and that she would eventually become a bit larger (1960 with permits of course) and a respected and acknowledged “elder” (deemed a contributor to a historical community in 2002 and the potential for Mills Act designation post renovation in 2013).

As the years went on she had several owners and the walls collected many interesting stories. I am proud to now be a part of this legacy and as I research the property and her previous owners I will share tidbits of this San Diego history with you.

By the way, here are some good resources for researching the provenance of a property:

• The San Diego History Center in Balboa Park– these folks are experts at helping you navigate the myriad materials they have archived on San Diego’s inhabitants, their professions and the communities they lived and worked in.
• The San Diego County Recorder’s Office– if you know the original owner you can search for the Notice of Completion and all transactions involving your property.
• The San Diego City Water Department– you can determine when the sewer and water lines were hooked up at your address.
• The San Diego Public Library Main Branch (California Room)– like the San Diego History Center, the library is packed with information on San Diegans, their professions and their communities and staff there is very happy to assist.
• Talk to people in the neighborhood to identify possible connectors to property history and photos.
• Hire a historic preservation consultant to conduct the research and compile it for you.

Take a glimpse at these before photos of the property and then watch her unfold each week . . .

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If you are interested in purchasing a historic or “near” historic home, or need help connecting to the proper resources, please contact me, I would love to help you on your adventure.