Cosmopolitan Chronicle 48.Indd

politan Chro Cosmo nicle VOL. II, No. 22 San Diego, Alta California, February 6, 2009 Price: Free whales for their prized fat, bone, period that kerosene lighting Lighting and baleen. Camphene, in turn, was the most common lighting produced from what appeared to be technology used at this time. Gregg Giacopuzzi inexhaustible supplies of corn and Interpreter pine trees in Northern California. Challenge San Diego Coast District Burning fuels which produce a low viscosity, fl ow ready up a wick California State Parks and thus creating a clean white fl ame. Delaware North have the unique History of 19th Century The fi xtures themselves were the challenge to rehabilitate and Lighting fi rst truly adjustable lighting device restore this original 19th century and produced a brilliance from six building into a fully functional ighting technology to eight candles. These new types 21st century hotel and eating changed in many ways of fuels worked for a short time but establishment. As partners in during the 19th century. the rise in cost of whale oil and the this endeavor, we hope to create L Homes and businesses a building that will personify the fact that camphene exploded when were much darker and ambient fi xtures were dropped led to new “look, feel, and ambiance” of a light was utilized to its fullest innovations. period appropriate setting. A key extent. Doors and windows were Kerosene, also called coal oil, element to this setting is lighting. left open and people worked by is an oil distillate consisting of a We look to install period lighting natural light from sun up to sun mixture of hydrocarbons, primarily in the majority of the areas where set. Interior adobe walls were derived from coal, oil shale, or the fi xtures themselves are in a white washed to help create more refi ned petroleum. Kerosene, public view-shed. Most of these refl ection as candles illuminated fi rst developed in the late 1850s selected period reproduction interior spaces. Candles, made became the cheap fuel source by fi xtures are constructed of of cattle fat or tallow, were being the following decade because of an materials used in the 19th century produced in great quantity due to increase in oil production. and are nearly identical in the large cattle herds on the great As a result kerosene lighting appearance. Southern Californio ranchos. fi xtures soon became standard until We have made a conscious Candle lamps and lanterns communities changed over to gas. decision, based on overall safety, were made of tin, pewter; sheet that fi xtures will not use kerosene iron, wrought iron, and/or glass, The Cosmopolitan as a fuel source. The lighting which were hung on a nail or fi xtures will be electric, up to hook. Many of the lanterns were The Cosmopolitan Hotel was modern codes, and in most cases decorated with elaborate piercing constructed in 1869 by Albert the electrical elements will be designs. Seeley. In doing so Seeley hidden, utilizing frosted chimneys It wasn’t until the mid 1840s and converted the one-story adobe, and light bulbs that produce early 1850s change came about in the Bandini family home, into a warm glow or illumination. the form of “burning fuels” like a two-story hotel and stage We hope lighting will be both whale oil or camphene (distilled stop. We, currently have neither functional and one of many visuals turpentine). Whale oil was readily visual documentation nor written elements that will enhance the available in San Diego as whalers accounts of the type of lighting visitor experience. would cruise along the California Seeley installed. We know based coastline killing large pods of on general knowledge of the time www.parks.ca.gov/oldtownsandiego.

Load more