For The Historic Charm

For The Historic Charm Where a passion for history and architecture meet. All pictures taken by me unless stated otherwise.

The First Lemon Ranch House in Pacific Beach was built in Nov. 1892 by R.C. Wilson of Tenn. on what was then know as lot...
07/01/2020

The First Lemon Ranch House in Pacific Beach was built in Nov. 1892 by R.C. Wilson of Tenn. on what was then know as lot 34. The Wilsons’ lived and worked the land until they sold it in Nov. 1895 for $5500 to William Davis who moved in with his wife and sister.
Davis’ sister, Louise, apparently named the property the Ondawa Ranch and it’s believed she actually ran the ranch.
May 1898 the Davis’ sold the ranch to James & Sarah Jowett who made extensive additions to the property but then sold it to Ires Cobb in Dec. 1901. Cobb sold it only a short time later in May 1902 to Walter & Louisa Boycott for $5000.
The Boycotts then sold the home in June 1903 to Abraham & Adelaide Manny for $6000 who changed the ranch’s name to Las Flores.
The Manny’s sold the ranch in Jan. 1907 to Robert Ravenscroft who in Dec. 1907 subdivided the lot into city blocks.
Lot book date from 1908-1911 show the home still in its original location on Law Street but lot books from 1913 show that the home had been moved across and down Law street to it’s current location.
Ravenscroft died in 1916 & in 1923 the family sold the property to Cameron Hutton.
In 1928 the house stood empty but from 1929-1933 it was the home if real estate operator Roscoe Porter & family & in Nov. 1933 it became the Vista Villa Rest Home.
In 1942 the house was still the only home on Law Street but by 1947 new homes lined the street.
Many homes on Law St. have been built, torn down & new ones built again but 128 years later the first Lemon Ranch House still stands today.
@ Pacific Beach

Old Post Office in Deerfield, Mass @ Deerfield, Massachusetts
06/17/2020

Old Post Office in Deerfield, Mass

@ Deerfield, Massachusetts

Sitting on the tip of Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse was built in 1855 and served as a beacon...
06/13/2020

Sitting on the tip of Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse was built in 1855 and served as a beacon in the San Diego bay for 36 years. Originally thought to be in the perfect location at 422 ft. above sea level, it was soon realized that one thing was not taken into consideration. Fog. The light often obscured by fog and low clouds made the it difficult to see so in 1891 the light was put out for the last time and the keeper moved to a new lighthouse that was built closer to the water but the original lighthouse still stands giving us a glimpse into the past. Located on a naval base but run by the National Park Service, it has been restored to is 1880’s appearance and is open daily for tours.
@ Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

Construction on The Stanley Hotel began in 1907 when steam-car inventor Freelan Oscar Stanley decided to turn Estes Park...
06/13/2020

Construction on The Stanley Hotel began in 1907 when steam-car inventor Freelan Oscar Stanley decided to turn Estes Park, CO into a resort town. The 48 room grand Colonial Revival hotel would cater to the upper class, wealthy urbanites as well as “consumptives seeking the healthful climate”. The main hotel and concert hall were completed in 1909 and the Manor in 1910.
Stanley operated the hotel until 1926 when he sold it to a private company for the sole purpose of running it. When the venture failed, Stanley bought the hotel out of foreclosure in 1929 then sold it again in 1930 to fellow automobile and hotel magnate Roe Emery. In 1974 horror novelist Stephen King and wife Tabitha checked into supposedly haunted room 217 for a one night stay and by the next morning had the bones of one of his most famous novels, The Shining, set in mind. Only open during the summer months until 1983, The Stanley Hotel has been expanded to 142 rooms and is now open year round.

This Queen Anne Victorian is just blocks from the beach in seaside town Pacific Beach, CA. The Hinkle House was built in...
06/12/2020

This Queen Anne Victorian is just blocks from the beach in seaside town Pacific Beach, CA. The Hinkle House was built in 1896 by Victor & Carrie Hinkle on their 10 acre lot located on Ingraham between Beryl and Chalcedony. Like most of their neighbors, the Hinkle’s were lemon ranchers until the turn of the century when they transitioned to general farming and beekeeping. Mrs. Carrie Hinkle was an active member and officer of the Pacific Beach Reading Club and in 1914 became the community’s first librarian when the club opened up their library for public use. In January 1921 the home was listed for sale for $3000 boasting “8 rooms, bath, sleeping porch” and “a fine view” but didn’t sell right away. In January of 1922 Victor Hinkle passed away and Mrs. Hinkle sold the home and land in September 1922 to Lawerence Adams. In 1926 Mr. Adams moved The Hinkle House to property he owned on the corner of Ingraham and Law St. where is sits as one of the oldest homes in Pacific Beach today. Adams sold the home and both properties in 1928. The current homeowner, local dentist Dr. Fremont, bought the home in 1995 and takes pride in maintaining his historic home and gardens.

Last photo taken by John Fry 1996

@ Pacific Beach

Freshly mowed. I can only imagine how much history this old barn has seen. Located close to the small town of Rindge, NH...
06/11/2020

Freshly mowed. I can only imagine how much history this old barn has seen. Located close to the small town of Rindge, NH

The Richert House was built 1914 by Joseph J. and Margaret Richert on land they had purchased in 1896. Originally living...
06/11/2020

The Richert House was built 1914 by Joseph J. and Margaret Richert on land they had purchased in 1896. Originally living in a smaller home on the property, the Richerts built the much larger home on the corner of Diamond & Olney after the birth of their 8th child in 1909. It was a showplace of the community with a photo featured in the Union New Years Day 1918. According to a 1900 census, J.J. Richert identified himself as a lemon rancher like most of his Pacific Beach neighbors at the time. Richert also, along with business partner and BIL George Gilbert, purchased or leased over 2400 acres of land in Rose Canyon by 1924 for the purpose of dairy ranching. In April 1903 J.J. was elected to the San Diego city council as delegate to First Ward however resigned in November of 1903 due to family illness. In 1923 daughter Ruth Richert married neighbor and fellow lemon rancher George and Dr. Martha Dunn Coreys son Fred Corey (see Wagner House post). Mr. Richert passed away in January 1936. In 1940 Mrs. Richert sold the land in Rose Canyon and continued to live in their home until she passed away in the home in 1951. The 106 year old home was recently restored to its former glory and is a beloved staple in the constantly changing landscape of the Pacific Beach community.

Last picture by John Fry in 1980

@ Pacific Beach

Old Deerfield Firehouse still in use today. @ Deerfield, Massachusetts
06/11/2020

Old Deerfield Firehouse still in use today.

@ Deerfield, Massachusetts

The Ashley House originally built in 1734, was the home of Reverend Jonathan Ashley. In 1750 he made many changes to the...
06/11/2020

The Ashley House originally built in 1734, was the home of Reverend Jonathan Ashley. In 1750 he made many changes to the home including the ornate doorway, fine paneling and a central staircase. After restorations returned it to its original glory it was opened to the public in 1948 and is still open for tours. @ Deerfield, Massachusetts

The Wagner House, a charming Victorian Revival, was built in 1889 by Harr and Madge Morris Wagner who held one of the fi...
06/11/2020

The Wagner House, a charming Victorian Revival, was built in 1889 by Harr and Madge Morris Wagner who held one of the first deeds in Pacific Beach, recorded May 18, 1888. Harr was editor of literary magazine The Golden Era, founder and professor of the San Diego College of Letters that was located on Garnet Ave. (now the site of Pacific Plaza shopping center) and in 1890 was elected County Superintendent of Schools. Madge was a successful writer of articles, poems and published a novel in December of 1890. She also took over as editor of The Golden Era while her husband held office. The Wagners sold the home in 1894 to Elizabeth Dunn but it was her sister Dr. Martha Dunn Corey and family who resided in the home. A pioneer, Dr. Corey was the region’s first resident physician who practiced in the area for over 20 years. Records show that the deed of the home was transferred to Dr. Corey in 1908 who owned the home until 1922 when she sold it to San Diego and Arizona Railway construction supervisor Ed Ritchie. Mr. Ritchie passed away in 1937 and his wife moved in with her daughter while renting out her home. The home has since had multiple owners but still sits proudly as the first home to be built on Diamond Street and still standing today.

The Shirley Plantation in Hopewell, VA is the oldest active plantation in Virginia and the oldest family-owned business ...
06/11/2020

The Shirley Plantation in Hopewell, VA is the oldest active plantation in Virginia and the oldest family-owned business in North America. The property has been owned by the Hill Carter family since 1638. The “Great House” was completed in 1738 and has since housed 8 generations of the Hill Carter family. The 11th generation still resides in the upper floors of the home today while the first floor is open for tours.

1945 Cape Cod beauty is a local, and one of my personal, favorites in the popular seaside town of Pacific Beach, CA. ...
06/11/2020

1945 Cape Cod beauty is a local, and one of my personal, favorites in the popular seaside town of Pacific Beach, CA.

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