HISTORICAL NOMINATION OF THE Jack G. and Eugenia Robb,....; Americo Pete and Stephna Rotta House 4958 MARLBOROUGH DRIVE"' KENSINGTON
ife Kills Rival Love Triangle
Ronald V. May, RPA Legacy 106, Inc. P.O. Box 15967 Legacy San Diego, CA 92175 www.legacy 1 06 .com 1061NC. (619) 269-3924 Historical Nomination of the Jack G. and Eugenia Robb I Americo Pete and Stephna Rotta House Americo Pete RoUa, Builder 4958 Marlborough Drive-- Kensington Manor Unit 1 --San Diego
Prepared for
Christopher Martinez and Nova Bella DeLovely
by
Ronald V. May, RPA President and Principal Investigator Dale Ballou May Vice President and Principal Researcher
Legacy 106, Inc. P.O. Box 15967 San Diego, CA 92175 (619) 269-3924 Fax/Phone www.legacy106.com
December 18, 2004
Researched and accepted by Research Committee, Historical Resources Board, City of San Diego on , 2004
© 2004 Legacy 106, Inc. List of Attachments
1. DPR Form 523A
2. DPR Form 523B
3. U.S.G.S. La Mesa Quad Map, 7.5"
4. Deeds.
2 State of California - The Resources Aaencv Primary# DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# PRIMARY RECORD Trinomial NRHP Status Code Other Listinqs Review Code Reviewer Date
Page 1 of 1 *Resource Name or#: Jack G. and Eugenia Robb I Americo Pete and Stephna Rotta House APN #440-373-1900, 4958 Marlborough Drive, San Diego, CA 92116 P1 . Other Identifier: Robb I Rotta House * P2. Location: Not for Publication ~ Unrestricted *a. County San Diego and (P2c, P2e, and P2b or P2d. Attach a Location Map as necessary.) *b. USGS 7.5' Quad La Mesa 7.5' Quad Date 1997 Maptech, Inc. T ; R y. of Y. of Sec ; M.D. B.M. c. Address: 4958 Marlborough Drive City: San Diego Zip: 92116 d. UTM: Zone: 11 ; 490103 mEl 3625380 mN (G.P.S.) e. Other Locational Data: (e.g., parcel#, directions to resource, elevation, etc., as appropriate) Elevation: 370' The property is located on U.S.G.S. La Mesa Quadrangle. It is identified as Tax Assessor's APN #440-373-1900. It is located on Lot 8, in Block 7 of Kensington Manor Unit No. 1, in the City of San Diego, County of San Diego, State of California, according to Map thereof No. 1848, filed in the Office of the County Recorder of San Diego County, August 13, 1925. *P3a. Description: (Describe resource and its major elements. Include design, materials, condition, alterations, size, setting, and boundaries) The Robb I Rotta House is a one-story 1930 house located at the intersection of Marlborough and Lymer Drives in the community of Kensington Manor Unit 1. The house exhibits a colonnade of three mission style arches along the front fa~de and a distinctive flat topped cathedral front window. This distinctive shape is echoed as a theme throughout the house in the fireplace niche, room entries, and doorways and is found on Americo Pete and Stephna Rotta's own house at 5036 Marlborough. The Rotta-built house exhibits low-pitched, front and side gabled roofs with shed porch facades that fronted flat pueblo style roofs over most of the house. Rotta favored Mission style colonnades of arches along the front porch or along interior patios. He applied roughened stucco surfaces to emulate primitive buildings associated with the old Mexican Southwest. The house retains the original character defining features of a Spanish Eclectic house. *P3b. Resource Attributes: (List attributes and codes) (HP2)-Single family property *P4. Resources Present: ~ Building D Structure D Object D Site D District D Element of District D Other (Isolates, etc.) P5b. Description of Photo: (View, date, accession #) Street view of Robb I Rotta House looking northwest towards the front of the house. Front of house faces east. October 31 , 2004 Photo by Ronald V. May, RPA.
*P6. Date Constructed/Age and Sources: ~Historic D Prehistoric D Both 1930 Residential Building Record Water Permit
P7. Owner and Address: Christopher Martinez and Nova Bella DeLovely 4958 Marlborough Drive =---- San Diego, CA 92116 -- --
*P8. Recorded by: (Name, affiliation, and address) Ronald V. May, RPA Legacy 106, Inc., P.O . Box 15967, San Diego, CA 92175 *P9. Date Recorded: *P10.Survey Type: (Describe) Walked around house. *P11 . Report Citation: (Cite survey report and other sources, or enter unone.") Ronald V. May, RPA, and Dale Ballou May, "Historical Nomination of the Jack G. and Eugenia Robb I Americo Pete and Stephna Rotta House: Americo Pete Rotta, Builder, 4958 Marlborough Drive- Kensington Manor Unit 1 -San Diego" Prepared by Legacy 106, Inc., 2004. *Attachments: D NONE D Location Map ~ Sketch Map D Continuation Sheet ~ Building, Structure, and Object Record D Archaeological Record D District Record D Linear Feature Record D Milling Station Record D Rock Art Record D Artifact Record D Photograph Record D Other (List): State of California - The Resources AQencv Primary# DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# BUILDING. STRUCTURE. AND OBJECT RECORD
Page 1 of 6 *NRHP Status Code 3S *Resource Name or# (Assigned by recorder) Jack G. and Eugenia Robb I Americo Pete and Stephna Rotta House APN #440-373-1900, 4958 Marlborough Drive, San Diego, CA 92116 B1. Historic Name: Robb I Rotta House B2. Common Name: Same 83. Original Use: Single family residence 84. Present Use: Single family residence *85. ArchitecbJral Style: Spanish Eclectic, Hacienda style 86. Construction History: (Construction date, alterations, and date of alterations) The Robb I Rotta House is a one-story, Spanish Eclectic house that was built in 1930 and is located at the intersection of Marlborough and Lymer Drives in the community of Kensington Manor Unit 1. Analysis of the Tax Assessor's Residential Building Record for 4958 Marlborough substantiates the 1930 house construction date. There are no subsequent building permits listed on the "construction record." The house is 1, 620 square feet with 171 square feet of covered porch, 324 square feet of garage, and 550 square feet of concrete deck. The Tax Assessor rated the house as standard construction on a concrete foundation, stucco on wood frame, double-hung and casement windows with screens, flat and gabled roof, three bedroom, and hardwood floors throughout. The living room has exposed wood beams and the dining room has a sculpted cove ceiling. Of significance to this document is the lack of permits for modifications to the house.
*87. Moved?~ No D Unknown Date: N/A Original Location: N/A
*88. Related Features: detached garage
B9a. Architect: unspecified b. Builder: Americo Pete Rotta
*810. Significance: Theme: Residential Architecture Area: Kensington Period of Significance: 1930-1954 Property Type: single-family dwelling Applicable Criteria: c (Discuss importance in terms of historical or architectural context as defined by theme, period, and geographic scope. Also address integrity.) The house is significant as an example of 1930 Spanish architecture, which exhibits a colonnade of three mission style arches along the front far,:ade and a distinctive flat topped cathedral front window. It is also significant as the first known speculation house designed and built by America Pete Rotta and his wife, Stephna. The distinctive "Rotta window" shape is echoed as a theme throughout the house in the fireplace niche, room entries, and doorways. The house is in a style that met the strict architectural review standards for good design and construction that were mandatory for residences in the expensive estate community. As such, it embodies the characteristics of Kensington Manor Unit 1' s approved version of the Spanish Eclectic, hacienda subtype architectural style as required by the Kensington Park Land Company. The house exhibits a low pitched roof wi1h a short eave overhanging the wall and slightly ornamented rafter tails, four porch arches, stucco walls, and a Spanish fired red clay tile roof. This house is cross-gabled with a low valley centered over the arched entrance. Behind the Spanish tile is a low stucco parapet masking a flat, tarred roof. A stucco chimney is attached to the south side. The windows are wood, double-hung and painted a rusty red. Small wire crawlspace vents are located low on the roughened stucco walls. Not visible from the street is a shed porch patio with Spanish fired clay roof tiles that overlooks a small landscaped backyard. (See Continuation Sheet.)
B11 . Additional Resource Attributes: (List attributes and codes) (HP2)-Single family property
*812. References: (See Continuation Pages)
B13. Remarks:
*814. Evaluator: Ronald V. May, RPA
(This space reserved for official comments.) State of California ·The Resources Aaencv Primary# DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# CONTINUATION SHEET Page 2 of 6 *Resource Name or# (Assigned by recorder) Jack G. and Eugen1a Robb I America Pete & Stephna Rotta House APN #440-373-1900, 4958 Marlborough Drive, San Diego, CA 92116
*Recorded by Ronald V. May, RPA *Date 12/18/04 IZI Continuation D Update
*810. Significance: (continued) (Discuss importance in terms of historical or arcMectural context as defined by theme. period, and geographic scope. Also address integrity.)
At the rear of the driveway and recessed behind the house is a detached garage with a modern reddish-brown door. Rotta designed a geometric arch for his cathedral front window, which is visible from Marlborough and the sidewalk out front. This design is repeated on the fireplace surround, and room entries. He sculpted rusticated stucco around the fireplace to appear like carved stone blocks. For the hearth in front of the firebox, he installed a subtie pattern of bisque yellow and red tiles that appear very much like Batchelder products. He also sculpted vauKed ceilings in the living room, embedded open beam ceilings, and installed interior French Doors to separate the breakfast nook from the dining area. The paneled dark wood door leading into the hallway was left natural with a clear coating, rather than painting. The original ornate cast metal mailbox door also accents the interior decoration. Of particular interest is the Medieval front door, which exhibits simulated wrought iron studs, a hammered lock and handle, and small clear peephole. As an added touch, crystal doorknobs are found throughout the house. The house fits in well with the one-story Spanish Eclectic houses to the north and south. The southern house exhibits a wider anched entrance. a recessed cathedral window and nearly identical Spanish fired red clay tile roof. The house to the north is a Severin-built house that exhibits her signature rustic stucco walls and hacienda patio. The entire block maintained its 1930s cultural landscape, with sidewalk lawn strips lined with palm trees, small deciduous trees, original street lamps, scored sidewalks, and eclectic walkways painted red, gray, scored in various ways, and terra cotta tile.
America Pete "AP" Rotta and his wife Stephna builtthis house in 1930 at the beginning of the Great Depression. The Rotta's role in the Kensington community and San Diego in general brings new information to our greater understanding of !he activities of the resident builders who created Kensington's distinct character. While it is believed that Americo Pete was the carpenter and contractor for the houses, Stephna clearly had a major role as a business partner and by combining their various skills they bum the house at 4958 Marlborough. The significance of this is fascinating, because everything changed by 1930. The stock market crash and subsequent Great Depression devastated the economy and individual lives on the most personal level. And so, the discovery of the Rotta family as Kensington builders is significant because it adds to the greater understanding of what is already known about the development of the community and why Kensington has the distinct look that still largely defines its character today. When they moved to San Diego, he accepted a position as a purchasing agent in food services at the Hotel Del Coronado and in 1926 they moved to 4164 El Cajon Boulevard (Virginia Rotta 2004; Directory 1926). He moonlighted in real estate and opened an office at 3820 El Cajon Boulevard, from which Stephna worked (Directory 1926-1928). They remained in those jobs and locations until 1928, when they built their home at 5036 Marlborough in Kensington (Directory 1929). The property Chain of Title shows that the Rottas bought the vacant lot for the house from the Frank and Elsie Kahrs.
Less is known of Slephna's career, but San Diego City Directory listings and family oral history about their work experience suggests that while AP worked for the Hotel del Coronado, Stephna operated their real estate office at 3820 El Cajon Boulevard. Stephna worked right along with AP, and both listed themselves as building contractors independently in the directories. Another insight into her activities can be seen on the 1930 U.S. Census, where her name appears as an enumerator, or recorder of the data. It is not known how she got this important job, but the census sheets, recorded her own handwriting, remain today as testimony to her door to door trek as one of San Diego's dedicsted group of census takers. Based on this, it is probable she was involved in other community activities in her career that did not surface in this research project and are now invisible to her descendants.
In 1931, the newly bui~ house at 4958 Marlborough was vacant, as evidenced by the Householder's address listing in 1931 San Diego City Directory. That year, Jack G. and Eugenia E Robb rented !he house from the Rottas and then arranged a mortgage from them for $1,500, which the Union Trust Company secured at 7%. The deed was recorded on May 6, 1931. They were the first owners of the house. Jack Robb held distinction as the Superintendent of the City Recreation Department, or Playground and Recreation Department, as it was known during his tenure. He supervised the men's and boy's recreation division and saw to it that the parks and playgrounds had the necessary recreational equipment. Robb died tragically in a car accident in 1944.
Car salesman Jay D. Barr and his wife Anna Belle rented 4958 Marlborough from 1936 to 1938. Based on information from the 1930 U.S. Census and other genealogical data. it can be surmised that Anna Belle Barr was probably Eugenia Robb's sister. based on the fact that her maiden name was Hayworth, and it is known that Eugenia Robb's mother's name was Ida A. Hayworth of San Diego. The 1933 Directory shows Jay worked as a car salesman for CA Gray in National City before moving to Kensington. When the Robb's sold the house in 1943, the Barr's moved to 3419 Xenophon in Point Lorna. Jay died in San Diego on January 9, 1961. State of California -The Resources A!lencv Primary# DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# CONTINUATION SHEET Page 3 of 6 •Resource Name or# (Assigned by recorder) Jack G. and Eugenia Robb I America Pete & Stephna Rotta House APN #440-373-1900, 4958 Marlborough Drive, San Diego, CA 92116
•Recorded by Ronald V. May, RPA *Date 12/18/04 ~ Continuation D Update
*810. Significance: (continued) (Discuss importance in terms of historical or architectural context as defined by theme, period, and geographic scope. Also address integrity.)
The Robbs returned to 4958 Marlborough in 1938 and sold the house to Henry and Margarette Pozner in 1943. Scandal rocked San Diego when the San Diego Union newspaper and national wire services flashed headlines with the sensational news that "Christmas Tree King" Henry Arthur Pozner's wife had murdered his "gorgeous" mistress. Pozner hired attorney Irvin Kahn, whose brother also operated a wholesale produce business near Pozner's operation, and his partner David A. Block to defend his wife. Kahn worked the newspapers with the defense that it was an accidental killing, asserting Mrs. Pozner's claim that she "just wanted to whang" Simmons over the head, but the gun went off. Henry mortgaged 4958 Marlborough to Kahn for $5,450 to pay for her defense. Kahn was successful in his defense, and the jury believed that it was an act of passion after the paternity suit. They voted to acquit Margarette on June 21, 1950 and Pozner paid off the loan to Kahn, thus releasing his claim on the house.
*812. References (continued)
Baumann, Thomas H. 1997 Kensington- Talmadge 1910- 1997. Second Edition. San Diego: Ellipsys International Publications
Brandes, Ray 1981 San Diego An Illustrated History. Los Angeles: Knapp Communications Corporation, Inc.
Brown, Curtis M., Waller Robilard, Donald A. Wilson 1981 Evidence and Procedures for Boundary Location. New York: John Wiley & Sons
California Office of Historic Preservation 1996 The California Register of Historic Resources: Regulations for Nomination of Historic Properties. State of California, The Resources Agency, Department of Parks and Recreation
Ching, Francis D.K. 1995 A Visual Dictionary of Architecture. New York: John Wiley & Sons
Kirker, Harold 1986 California's Architectural Frontier: Style and Tradition in The Nineteenth Century. Salt lake City, Utah: Peregrine Books
McAlester, Virginia and Lee McAlester 1979 A Field Guide to American Homes. New York: Little, Brown and Company
National Park Service 1985 Historic American Building Survey Guidelines for Preparing Written and Historical Descriptive Data. Division of National Register Programs, Western Regional Office, San Francisco, California
Nolen, John 1908 San Diego A Comprehensive Plan for Its Improvement. Boston: Geo. H. Ellis Co. Printers
Nolen, John, Hale G. Walker, Justin R. Hartzog 1926 City Plan for San Diego, California Park Commission- E.N. Jones, Wm. Templeton Johnston, Geo. W. Marston, John G. Morley State of California -The Resources A!lencv Primary# DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# CONTINUATION SHEET Page 4 of 6 *Resource Name or# (Assigned by recorder) Jack G. and Eugenia Robb I America Pete & Stephna Rotta House APN #440-373-1900, 4958 Marlborough Drive, San Diego, CA 92116
*Recorded by Ronald V. May, RPA *Date 12118/04 t8l Continuation D Update
*812. References (continued)
Starr, Raymond 1986 San Diego A Pictorial History. Norfolk, Virginia: The Donning Company
Starr, Kevin 1990 Material Dreams: Southern California Through the 1920s. New York: Oxford University Press. The Thomas Guide 2002
Winter, Robert 1985 Architecture in Los Angeles: A Complete Guide. Salt Lake City, Utah: Peregrine Books
San Diego Historjcal Society
Biographical Files I Obituaries Manuscript Files Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps City Directories, 1920-1965 Photographic Archives: 79:741-1395, T almadge/Kensing!on Aerial Photograph, 9/26/28; 13433, Kensington Aerial Photograph, April 1929; 79:741-1610, Talmadge Park Aerial Photograph, 9-27 -1929; 79:7 41-371, Kensington Aerial, Hoover High Upper Right Aerial Photograph, 10/9/37; 79:741-1397, Talmadge/Kensington- Mission Valley Aerial Photograph, 9/26/1928
Newspapers
San Diego Union San Diego Sun
Goypmment Archives and Records
U.S. Census, 1920 and 1930
California Death Index
Social Security Death Index
Luco, Juan M. et al versus Commercial Bank of San Diego, Superior Court, November 12, 1883
Map 1245, Kensington Park, Being a Sub Division of Lot 25 Mission of San Diego, San Diego County, California, April 8, 1910
Map 1633, Map of Resubdivision of Blocks 4 & 11, Kensington Park, San Diego County, Cal, January 22, 1914
Map 1248, Kensington Manor Unit No.1, Being aRe-Subdivision, Sheets 1 & 2, August13, 1925 State of California - The Resources A!lencv Primary# DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# CONTINUATION SHEET Page 5 of 6 *Resource Name or# (Assigned by recorder) Jack G. and Eugenia Robb I Americo Pete & Stephna Rotta House APN #440-373-1900, 4958 Marlborough Drive, San Diego, CA 92116
*Recorded by Ronald V. May, RPA *Date 12118/04 1:8:1 Continuation 0 Update
"612. References (continued)
Arnold, T.J. and W.J. Hunsaker 1881 Complaint for Partition, Rancho Mission San Diego, In The Supertor Court, County of San Diego, State of California, Juan M. Luco et al versus Commercial Bank of California
Colton, Oscar 1963 "A History of San Diego Real Estate Subdivisions in 'The Good Old Days'." San Diego Historical Society, Research Archives
Historical Inventory of Important Architects, Structures, and People in San Diego
Romero, Kathleen 2001 California Preservation Foundation, Mills Act Workshop, May 17-19,2001, Office of the Tax Assessor, County of San Diego
Presentations
Briesch, Ken 2004 "Looking At Cultural Landscapes, An Overview," in "Cultural Landscapes Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment," California Preservation Foundation Workshop Series in cooperation with the California Office of Historic Preservation, February 28,2004
Articles of lncnrp Articles of Incorporation, Southern California Really Corporation Academic Theses Hennessey, Gregg R. 1977 City Planning, Progressivism, and the Development of San Diego, 1908-1926. Master's Thesis, San Diego State University, Department of History Co••ot¥ of San Diego Recorder's Office, Book of Deeds, Contractors and Miscellaneous Records, Microfilms Tax Assessor's Office, Residential Building Record Map Records Operating Department Cjt:y of San Diego Application Order for Water Service Map Search United States Geodetic Survey, La Mesa Quad Map 7.5' State of California - The Resources Aaencv Primary# DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# CONTINUATION SHEET Page 6 of 6 *Resource Name or# (Assigned by recorder) Jack G. and Eugenia Robb I America Pete & Stephna Rolla House APN #440-373-1900, 4958 Marlborough Drive, San Diego, CA 92116 *Recorded by Ronald V. May, RPA *Date 12/18/04 lSI Continuation D Update *812. References (continued) Historical Site Reports Historical Site Board Report, 4182 Rochester Road, San Diego, California 92116, September2001, Rowena Musico, Designated San Diego Historical Landmark No. 504, 2001 Historical Nomination of the Yngvar and Bertha Laws/Wayne and Corinne McAllister House, 4357 Ridgeway, San Diego, California 92116,2002, Kathleen Flanigan, Designated San Diego Historical Landmark No. 519 2002 Historical Nomination of the Cora M. and Cora Lee Wells House, 4990 Canterbury Drive, Kensington, San Diego, California 92116, Priscilla Berge, 2003, Designated San Diego Historical Landmark No. 619, 2003 Historical Nomination ofthe Charles "Dick" Bowman House, 5309 Marlborough Drive, Kensington, San Diego, California 92116, Legacy 106, Inc., 2003, Designated San Diego Historical Landmark No. 597, 2003 Historical Nomination oflhe Cosgrave/Ratner House, 5310 Canterbury Drive, Kensington, San Diego, California 92116, Legacy 106, Inc., 2003, Designated San Diego Historical Landmark No. 588, 2003 Historical Nomination ofthe Forbes/Harden House, 5318 Canterbury Drive, San Diego, California 92116,2003, Designated San Diego Historical Landmarl< No. 569, 2003 Historical Nomination of the Elmo G. and Angeline Crabtree House, 4210 Norfolk Terrace, Kensington, San Diego, California 92116, Legacy 106, Inc., 2003, Designated San Diego Historical Landmark No. 610, 2003 Historical Nomination of the Walter M. and Loretta B. Casey House, 4830 Hart Drive, Talmadge Park, San Diego, California 92116, Legacy 106, Inc., 2004, Designated San Diego Historical Landmark No. 668,2004 Historical Nomination of the A.L. and Cleveland Dennstedt House, 4372 Ridgeway, Kensington, San Diego, California 92116, Legacy 106, Inc., 2004, Designated San Diego Historical Landmark No. 664,2004 Historical Nomination of the Commander Wilbur V. and Martha E. Shown/Louise Severin House, 4394 North Talmadge Drive, Talmadge Park, San Diego, California 92116, Legacy 106, Inc.• 2004 Name: LA MESA Location Coordinates: 11 490103 E. 3625380 N Date: 12/16/2004 Caption: 4958 Marlborough Drive Robb I Rotta House Scale: 1 inch equals 1000 feet Inc. Historical Nomination of the Jack G. and Eugenia Robb I Americo Pete and Stephna Rotta House 4958 Marlborough Drive- Kensington Introduction fJ his nomination concerns a one-story 1930 Spanish Eclectic house located at the intersection of Marlborough and Lymer Drives in the community ofKensiogton Manor Unit 1. The house is significant for its architecture, which exhibits a colonnade of three mission style arches along the front fas:ade and a distioctive flat topped cathedral front wiodow. This distioctive shape is echoed as a theme throughout the house in the fireplace niche, room entries, and doorways. The house is in a style that met the strict architectural review standards for good design and construction that were mandatory for residences in the expensive estate community. America Pete "AP" Rotta and his wife Stephna built this house in 1930 at the beginning of the Great Depression. This is the first house designed and built by AP Rotta that has come before the Historical Resources Board for review. Oral testimony from Dan Rotta, their son, reveals that the couple worked ~s a team, with Stephna goiog to the library to research empty Jots listed fur sale in the newspapers and the couple then deciding which lots to buy. AP, or "Mack" as he was more typically known, would then build the house. They did well io the construction busioess and eventually moved to Escondido where they continued to build io the Park Hill area and at Green Ranch by Lake Hodges. There, they built seven homes on a 22- acre ranch in Escondido, at least three houses at Park Hill io Escondido, as well as homes on Sunset in Escondido in 1935 or 1936. Later, they bought Jots and built houses on Chestnut Street in Escondido until World War II terminated custom house building in 1942. After World War II they continued to build Spanish Eclectic style houses io North County at least into the 1950s. The Rotta' s role in the Kensington community and San Diego in general briogs new ioformation to our greater understanding of the activities of the resident builders who created Kensington's distinct character. It also raises interesting questions about economic survival, in light of the devastating impact of the stock market crash at the end of 1929 and subsequent Great Depression. Other builders, such as Master Builder Louise Severin and her husband Hilmer, built many Kensington I Talmadge Park homes io the 1930s, and their role is becoming better understood as more area houses are studied. The Rotta' s role, however, has only recently emerged and it provides a new opportunity to learn more about the builders of Kensington. America Pete and Stephna Rotta 3 This relationship between the developers, designers, financiers, and builders is interesting and relevant in the Kensington community because of the strict and mandatory restrictions that were imposed by the subdivision's creators. Their stated aim was to protect the investment value ofthe properties and ensure the long-term exclusive character of the community in a time when land transactions were still paid for in gold coin. And it worked. Today, owners of Kensington homes still pride themselves on the exclusive character of their community for the very same reasons envisioned by the subdivision's creators. However, the stories of the early Kensington builders and residents of these homes have by and large faded into obscurity. Homeowners and researchers interested in the area now want to know more about the people who came into the community. Who were they? Where did they work? What attracted them to this new development at the end of the trolley line far to the east of downtown San Diego? Where did they get their money to afford the area? Did relatives live nearby? Who were the builders, moneylenders, and designers? The significance of this is fascinating, because everything changed by 1930. The stock market crash and subsequent Great Depression devastated the economy and individual lives on the most personal level. fu a dramatic shock wave that overtook the nation, one era in San Diego's development ended and another began. And so, the discovery of the Rotta family as Kensington builders is significant because it adds to the greater understanding of what is already known about the development of the community and why Kensington has the distinct look that still largely defines its character today. As part of this house study, family members were contacted to learn more about the Rottas. Their nephew, Gerald Rotta and his wife Virginia, were delighted to share what information they could. They live in Escondido, California, and generously provided the family pictures included in this report. As can be seen by the photograph to the left of AP holding his son in front of their own residence at 5036 Marlborough, just one block north of the house central to this report, it shared similar features as 4958 Marlborough. It originally had the same distinctive flat topped cathedral window design and unornamented arch colonnade. The photograph was included in this report to illustrate that point, although the house today has suffered significant integrity loss and is not a good remaining example of the Rotta' s work. Regrettably, the family did not have any photographs of the 4958 Marlborough Drive residence. The first owners of the house, Jack and Eugenia Robb, lived there from 1931 through 1936. Jack Robb held distinction as the Superintendent of the City Recreation Department, or Playground and Recreation Department, as it was known during his tenure. He supervised the men's and boy's recreation division and saw to it thatthe parks and playgrounds had the necessary recreational equipment. Although A.P. and Stephna Rotta and Jack and Eugenia Robb are interesting and important to the history of the house, what is known about them at this point is not sufficient to elevate them as significant historical figures. For this reason, this nomination finds the Robb/Rotta House at 4958 Marlborough significant for Historical Designation and inclusion iu the City of San Diego's Historic Resources Register under Criterion c, Architecture, because it retains the original character defining features and is an excellent example of a Rotta-built, architecturally reviewed, Spanish Eclectic house. Analysis against the ten-point Secretary of the futerior's rehabilitation standards analysis in this report shows this house is a deserving candidate for landmarking. 4 The Jack G. and Eugenia Robb I Americo Pete and Stephna Rotta House (Robb!Rotta House) is recommended for Historic Designation by the City of San Diego because: Criterion c. Architecture. Embodies distinctive characteristics ofa style, type, period, or method ofconstruction or is a valuable example ofthe use ofindigenous material or craftsmanship. The House is significant under HRB Criterion "c" because it is embodies the distinctive characteristics of Spanish Eclectic craftsmanship of builders Americo P. and Stephna Rotta. The Robb/Rotta House embodies the distinctive characteristics of Kensington Manor Unit 1's approved version of the Spanish Eclectic, hacienda subtype architectural style while under the control of architectural review standards that were required by the Kensington Park Land Company. Patterned after the California missions and one-story 19th century Mexican California haciendas found in pueblos like Old San Diego, San Juan Capistrano, and Los Angeles, this architectural style characterized the subdivision. The houses were reminiscent of romanticized Mexican residences, such as the Estudillo House (Ramona's Marriage Place) in Old San Diego, that were characterized by whitewashed, rustic adobe walls topped by Spanish style, fired red-clay roof tiles. In Kensington, builders such as the Rotta' s captured that look with their own unique architecturally approved interpretive Spanish Eclectic style. Services still are held in some of the beautiful missions of the Spanish fathers. Three of these missions, including the first, are in San Diego County. This photo shows typical Romanesque colonnades of arches that might have inspired the Rottas in their house architecture. From Every day in San Diego California, an undated promotional brochure published by The San Diego-California Club sometime in the 1920s. Legacy 106, Inc. collection. 5 Site Identification 4958 Marlborough, San Diego, California 92116 The property is located on U.S.G.S. La Mesa Quadrangle. It is identified as Tax Assessor's APN 440-373-1900. Legal description: Lot 8, in Block 7 of Kensington Manor Unit No. 1, in the City of San Diego, County of San Diego, State of California, according to Map thereof No. 1848, filed in the Office ofthe County Recorder of San Diego County, August 13, 1925. The Thomas Guide Map 1249 (top left) SANGIS REDI Map, Sandag (top right) 1927 Erickson Photograph showing the general area where the Rotta house would be built in 1930. Photograph in private collection of Priscilla Berge. 6 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map showing neighborhood and location of 4958 Marlborough Drive. SDSU Library Microfilm. 7 5 9AS£ MAP DRAWN 3/17/76 DO 218-1737 218 - 172 5 ~-=--.-'1 -~(· . f------r 5 -- Subdivision Map showing neighborhood and location of 4958 Marlborough Drive. 8 Kensington Manor and Kensington Heights Aerial view of the northern sec lion of Kensington Manor and Kensrngton Hetghts - 192 7 Photograph from page 19 of Kensington - Talmadge, 1910-1997 by Dr. Thomas H. Baumann, D.D.S. showing location of Rotta House lot. SANGIS REDI Map, Sandag 9 Kensington 1 0/9/37. San Diego Historical Society Research Archives Aerial Photograph #79:741-371 . 10 Aerial photograph of Marlborough Drive in Kensington Manor Unit No. 1. Arrow points to house location. San Diego Historical Society Research Archives Photographic Collection, #79:744-1395, Talmadge/Kensington, 9/26/28. A mghly Restricted, Complctt!IJ• Improved Rc.$JdcntlDI Park Offered-for Inspection Sunday Early promotional subdivision map of Kensington Manor printed in the San Diego Union, July 3, 1925. Notice that some of the old street names such as Jefferson are present. A large part of Kensington Manor's appeal to homebuyers was that the Improvements were in place. Water, gas, electricity and a sewer system were included, as were sidewalks, paved streets with curbs. Ornamental street lights were an added enhancement. ..,. ... ____ _ ~ ..... h.+-- '* :-;:-:...._._.. _,:-;:. __ _ ~-"-:' ,..,....=.::::a.no..r•{).t.u~Brn•-- .. O• -...... --- SlOEW,\l.U IMPROYEMENT5 . c~ - ._ ..... ,T.D S1'1lF:r.r-.--n~tNAMrNTAL IJTRUT UC.n"'--J'UA.S'Tf..O ,MXJSCS SEV.'U, ~:-CAS-WA'l'1l1 AND £l.lC'D.JctTV 11 Property History - 4958 Marlborough Chain of Title, Building Permit, U.S. Census, Directory Information Lot 8, in Block 7 of Kensington Manor Unit No.1 The following is the properly history, including chain of title, and other historical document cross-references: Date Remarks 9/23/1925 Western American Realty Co. (Grantor) to Kensington Park land Co. (Grantee), lots 1-22; Book 1100, Page 464. Reconveyance of Trust Deed No. 79736 8/13/1925 Building Restrictions, lots 1-22, Press Copy #564 Page 73 1920 Directory. Kahrs, Frank (Elsie W) waiter, h 533, 24'" 1926 Directory. Kahrs, Frank (Elsie) elk r 4376 30th 5/1/1926 Kensington Park land Co. (Grantor) to Kahrs, Frank and Elsie (Grantee), lot 8, Joint Tenants 1926 Directory. Kahrs, Frank waiter Cafe Cabrillo r 4376 3dh; (Cafe Cabrillo, 935 6'") 1927 Directory. Kahrs, Frank (Elsie W) elk h 4757 Kensington dr; Kahrs Frank waiter Cabrillo Cafe r 4376 30th 1928 Directory. Kahrs, Frank (Elsie W) caterer Cabrillo Cafe h 4757 Kensington av; Kahrs, Alf J elk r 4757 Kensington dr 1929 Directory. Kahrs, Frank (Elsie W) elk h 4376 30th 7/9/1930 Kahrs. Frank and Elsie (Grantor) to Rotta, AP and Stephna (Grantee) lot 8; Book 1785, Page 400, Joint Tenants 7/9/1930 Rotta. AP and Stephna to Mead-Haskell Co., lot 8, Book 601, Page 378, Mortgage $4,000 @ 7% 1930 Directory. No house in Householders listing; goes from 4936, 4952, 4970 (Severin HT}, 4976, 4980. 1930 Census: 5036 Marlborough. Rotta. A.P.; head; owns home: $8,500; age 33; married married at age 27; born in Kansas; father born in Italy; Mother born in Italy; occupation: Agent, Hotel; currently working; Served in WW I Stephna C. Rotta: wife; age 29; first married at age 23; born in New York; Father born in Germany; Mother born in New York; occupation: none; Robert T. Thomas; nephew to AP; age 6; born in Missouri; Father born in Missouri; Mother bam in Missouri 5/6/1931 Rotta, AP and Stephna (Grantor) to Robb. Eugenia E, lot 8, Book 1901, Page 19 1931 Directory. Vacant 5/6/1931 Robb, Eugenia E to Union Trust Co. of San Diego, lot 8, Book 1899, Page 64, Trust Deed $1,500 at 7% (Rotta) 12 1932 Directory. Householders: 4958 Marlborough; Robb J G; (renter) Alphabetical Section: Robb, Jack G (Eugenia E) dir City Playground Recreation Dept h 4958 Marlborough dr 1933 Directory. Householders: 4958 Marlborough; Vacant 1934 Directory. Householders: 4958 Marlborough; Robb J G; (renter) Alphabetical Section: Robb, Jack G (Eugenia E) dir City Playground & Recreation Depth 4958 Marlborough dr 1123/1934 Mead-Haskell to Rotta. AP and Stephna, Lot 8, Book 270, Page 72, Release Mortgage 601/378 1/23/1934 Union Trust Co. of San Diego (Grantor) to Persons Entitled (Grantee), Lot 8, Book 259, Page 405, Reconveyance Trust Deed 1899/64 1/23/1934 Robb. Eugenia E (Grantor) to Fidelity Mutual Corp (Grantee), Lot 8, Book 270, Page 72, Trust Deed# 400, (Mead-Haskell Co) 112311934 Robb, Eugenia E (Grantor) to Fidelity Mutual Corp (Grantee), Lot 8, Book 270, Page 73, Trust Deed# 781.10, (Rotta. AP and Stephna) 1935 no directory 91411936 Kensington Manor One and Two and Kensington Point become a part of the City of San Diego- by one vote. 1213011936 Fidelity Mutual Corp, Reconveyance Trust Deed 270/72, Lot 8, File No. 84709 12130/1936 Fidelitv Mutual Corp, Reconveyance Trust Deed 270173, Lot 8, File No. 84710 12/30/1936 Robb. Eugenia E. and Jack G. to Corporation of America, Lot 8, Book 606, Page 140, Trust Deed $3800 int 5%; Released 4/6/1943 1936 Directory: Householders: 4958 Marlborough; Barr J D; (renter) Alphabetical Section: Barr, Jay D (Anna B) slsmn C A Gray h 4958 Marlborough dr; Barr, Ruth M sten r 4958 Marlborough dr; C A Gray, Distributor Dodge Brothers Motor Cars and Trucks, and Plymouth Motor Cars, 501 W Broadway 1937 Directory: Householders: 4958 Marlborough; Barr J D; (renter); Alphabetical Section: Barr Jay D (Anna B) slsmn C A Gray h 4958 Marlborough av 1938 Directory: Householders: 4958 Marlborough; Barr J G (sic) (o); (owner) Alphabetical Section: Barr, Jay D (Anna B) slsmn C A Gray h 3419 Xenophon *Note discrepancy between Householders and Alphabetical sections of directory what show Barr as the owner in the Householders but living on Xenophon in the Alphabetical section. 1939 Directory: Householders: 4958 Marlborough; Robb J G (o); (owner) Alphabetical Section: Robb, Jack G (Eugenia E) supvr City Playground Depth 4958 Marlborough dr; 1940 Directory: Householders: 4958 Marlborough; Robb J G (o) Alphabetical Section: Robb, Jack G (Eugenia E) supvr City Play Grounds h 4958 Marlborough dr 13 1941 Directory: Householders: 4958 Marlborough; Robb J G (o) Alphabetical Section: Robb, Jack G (Eugenia E) dept dir CP&RD (City Playground and Recreation Department)h 4958 Marlborough dr 1942 Directory: vacant; (note: 4970 Marlborough is also vacant) 1943 no directory 4/6/1943 Robb. Eugenia E (Grantor) to Pozner. Henrv A and Margarette S (Grantee), Lot 8, File No. 519090; Joint Tenants 4/6/1943 Pozner to Corporation of America, Lot 8, File No. 11488, Book 11488, Page 90; Trust Deed $5,200 (Bank of America), Released 4/6/1943 File No. 519092, Reconveyance of Trust Deed 606/140 1944-45 Directory: Householders: 4958 Marlborough Pozner, H A (o) Alphabetical Section: Pozner, Henry A (Margarette E) prod 517/s/and av h 4958 Marlborough dr 10/15/1946 File No. 5110828, Reconveyance of Trust Deed 1488/90 10/15/1946 Pozner to Corporation of America, Lot 8, File No. 5110829, Trust Deed $6,000 (BofA; NTSA) 1946 no directory 1947-48 Directory: Householders: 4958 Marlborough; Pozner, H A (o) Alphabetical Section: Pozner, Henry A (Margarette) who/ prod, 517 Island av h 4958 Marlborough dr 1949 no directory 1950 Directory: Householders: 4958 Marlborough Pozner, H A (o); Alphabetical Section: Pozner, Henry A (Marguerite (sic) who/ produce, 517 Island av h 4958 Marlborough dr 5/4/1950 Pozner to Wadsworth, Elizabeth M. et al, Lot 8, Book 3608, Page 358, Trust Deed $5,450 (Kahn, Irvin) Released 511711950 Pozner to San Diego Trust & Title Co, Lot 8, Book 3623, Page 358, Trust Deed $5,000 (Oberhoff, Emma) 1950 Directory: Alphabetical Section: Oberhoff, Emma (wid Otto) h 142 Ivy 5/17/1950 Pozner (Grantor) to Wadsworth, Elizabeth M, Lot 8, Book 3623, Page 421, Trust Deed $5,450 int. 5% (Block et al), Released 1950 Directory: Alphabetical Section: Wadsworth Eliz M Mrs ofc sec Kahn & Block r 3384 N Mountain View dr; Wadsworth Lester J (Eiiz M) h 3384 N Mountain View dr; Kahn & Block Orvin J. Kahn. David A Block/ Attorneys-at-Law, 920 Bank of America Bldg, 625 Broadway, Tel Main 0194 4/1211950 Margarette Pozner accused of fatally shooting Verna Simmons, 31 year old divorcee & Henry Pozner's mistress. Acquitted in San Diego June 21, 1950. Jury verdict, Not Guilty. Her attorney was Irvin Kahn. Land transactions with Kahn probably are involved with financing their lawyer fees. 5122/1950 Reconveyance of 2258/37, Lot 8, Book 3629, Page 342 14 5/2211950 Reconveyance of 3608/314, Lot 8, Book 3629, Page 343 11/8/1950 Kahn. Irvin J and Block, David A (Grantor) to Oberhoff. Emma, Lot 8, Book 3853, Page 153, Assignment of Trust Deed 3623/421 11/24/1950 Pozner to So. Title & Trust Co - TR, Lots 7 & 8, Book 3874, Page 327, Substitution of Trustee 3623/421 1951 no directory 1/31/1951 Notice of Default, Lot 8, Book 3957, Page 33, 3623/421, Released 5/8/1951 Cancellation of Notice of Default, Lot 8, Book 4089, Page 443, 3623/312 1952 Directory: Householders: 4958 Marlborough Pozner, H A (o) Alphabetical Section: Pozner, Henry A (Marguerite) who/ prod, 5191sland, h 4958 Marlborough dr 1953-54 Directory: Householders: 4958 Marlborough Pozner, Harry (sic) A. (o) Alphabetical Section: Pozner Henry A (Margarette) who/ prod, 519/sland av h 4958 Marlborough dr 1955 Directory: Householders: 4958 Marlborough Pozner, Harry (sic) A. (o) Alphabetical Section: Pozner Henry A (Margarette S) 519 Island av who/ prod h 4958 Marlborough dr 715/1955 Reconveyance, Lot 8, Book Book 5702, Page 602, 3623/358 7/5/1955 Reconveyance, Lot 8, Book 5703, Page 1, 36231358 7/5/1955 Pozner to Cont. Aux. Co., Lot 8, Book 5703, Page 2, Trust Deed $8,000 (Bank of America) NTLTR & Savings 1956 Directory: Householders: 4958 Marlborough Pozner, Henry A. (o) Alphabetical Section: Pozner Heny (sic) A (Margarette S; Ideal Melon Co) who/ prod 519 Island av h 4958 Marlborough dr; Ideal Melon Co (Ray A Anderson Henry A Pozner) 523 Island av 1957 Directory: Householders: 4958 Marlborough Pozner, Henry A. (o) Alphabetical Section: Pozner Henry A (Marg S) who/ produce, 519 Island av h 4598 (sic) Marlborough dr 1958 Directory: Householders: 4958 Marlborough Pozner, Henry A. (o) Alphabetical Section: Pozner Henry A (Margarette) Wholesale Produce, San Diego's Christmas Tree King, Wholesale & Retail, Wreaths, Garlands & Holly, 519/s/and av h 4958 Marlborough dr 10/28/1958 Reconveyance, Lot 8, 570312, File No. 178840 10128/1958 Pozner to Union Title Insurance, Lot 8, File No. 1178841, Trust Deed $10,000 (Prudential Life Insurance Co), Rec 1959 Directory: Householders: 4958 Marlborough Pozner, Henry A. (o) Alphabetical Section: Pozner Henry A (Margt S) who/ produce, 519-23/sland av h 4958 Marlborough dr; Pozner Robt L USN r 4958 Marlborough dr 11/5/1959 Pozner to Title Insurance and Trust, Lot 8, Trust Deed to secure payment 15 Kensington Manor Unit 1- Historical Overview City's Architecture Has Strong Appeal San Diego the city of smiling landscapes, clear, blue skies, perpetual sunshine, purple mountains, valleys strewn with golden flowers, plateaus covered with living verdure, sapphire seas, where the air is filled with the song of the hummingbird and the meadow lark and the fragrance of beautiful flowers is developing a style of architecture distinctly her own. In their architecture can be seen the touch of Spain of Italy of France, and other Mediterranean countries, but added to this is the touch of the exquisite beautify of southern California, the garden spot of the world. The mother influence of the San Diego architecture is the Spanish colonial or mission style, an architecture rich in romance associated with the early history of the land simple in design yet still possessing charming qualities. (San Diego Union January 1, 1930) Kensington Manor Unit 1 was once part of the Rancho Mission San Diego, which over time became entangled in a land speculation tug of war that left the original occupants, Kumeyaay native peoples, forever displaced. Spanish explorers arrived on California's shores in 1769 initiating a period of occupation that left reminders in San Diego's architecture, culture, language, and history. One of the most familiar architectural reminders in San Diego today is the Mission San Diego de Alcala, located in Mission Valley along the San Diego River. When the United States invaded Mexico in the Mexican War of 1846, it ended the Mexican regime and changed San Diego's legacy of land ownership. The United States Army Topographic Survey subdivided the former Mexican lands into a grid divided by township, range, and section blocks that restructured private land ownership. After 1868, Rancho Mission San Diego changed hands several times and former Mexican citizens sued for recognition of Mexican land grants. The Superior Court awarded an enormous region to the City of San Diego as "pueblo lands" in 1870 and partitioned other lands as well. Court Retirees Charles J. Fox, O.H. Borden, and M.C. Woodson (a member of the former Topographic Survey) recorded with J.M. Dodge of the County Recorder on January 1, 1886 to partition the lands east of the Pueblo of San Diego, north ofNational Ranch, and southwest of Cajon Ranch to be the "Partition of Rancho Mission San Diego, San Diego County, California" The former mission lands became sixty-one lots covering 59,875 acres. The City of San Diego sold those lots to private landowners. 16 Kensington falls within Lots 25 and 47 of the former Rancho, which runs south of Interstate 8 for several miles to Monroe Avenue, a bit west oflnterstate 15 to 39th Street, and then east several miles. The first recorded subdivision map of the area was the Kensington Park Map Number 1245, recorded on AprilS, 1910. Two sisters, Abbie Hall Hitchcock and Mary E. Gleason acquired Lot 25 of Rancho Mission San . \ Diego as a result of the Juan Luco court case as part of their inheritance from lands owned by their deceased father, E.B. Hall. The two sisters created the first Kensington Park subdivision map. MAP 1245 o• KENSING PARK i:I~ONG A $~B·I:llV 1toN OF l-o-r <5 M•~51""J aC SA~ Ooo;G;Q SAN Do! ~kale: linr:h4EOf«~- ) Rancho Mission San Diego (above) 1ruo ·-l MAP1633 "-~ '~-~"'""'""-~ ~'-"'~ The contributions of these two sisters is not generally covered in histories of the Kensington area for several reasons. Most particularly because common lore and a local Kensington book attribute the development of Kensington to realtor and banker G. Aubrey Davidson who with his co-investors recorded Map 1848 on August 13, 1925. While the role of the Hall sisters in Kensington's early history is now receiving greater attention, it is an example that things are not always what they seem, and often as not are more complicated than one would believe. 17 The next map that affected the area, Map 1633, was filed on January 14, 1914 by the Kensington Park Land Company for Kensington Park, a resubdivision ofBlocks 4 and 11 of Hitchcock and Gleason's Map 1245. At that time the streets were named Jefferson Avenue, Oxford Avenue, and Plymouth Avenue; now Canterbury Drive, Lymer Drive, and Norfolk Place. Marlborough Drive and Kensington Drive remained the same. G. Aubrey Davidson's Map 1848 finalized the J249 IW' resubdivision history into the area's present G configuration. While today most folks think of Kensington as encompassing the entire mesa top east of Highway 163 up to Fairmount Canyon, the area in actuality developed in a series of small subdivisions with distinct histories: Kensington Park; Kensington Park Annex; Kensington Park Extension; Kensington Point; Kensington Manor Units 1, 2, and 3; Kensington Heights Units 1, 2, and 3; Kensington Villa; Kensington Villa Annex, and Talmadge Park Units 1, 2, and 3. Interstate 15 did not exist until much later, and when it was finished its presence forever isolated the Kensington mesas into an exclusive enclave, divided from its neighbors to the west. The Thomas Guide Richfield Street Guide, undated, but prepared before Highway 163 was built through the Kensington community. Legacy 106, Inc. collection. 18 G. Aubrey Davidson and Associates. Some time between 1910 and 1912, Hitchcock and Gleason sold Blocks 11 and 4 to Davidson and J.C. Thompson of the Kensington Park Land Company. They hired Civil Engineer C.D. Trounce to redesign those blocks as Map 1633 and realigned lots fronting on Oxford Avenue (Canterbury Drive) and Plymouth Avenue (Norfolk Terrace) to set up for future subdivision. Blocks 4 and 11 Kensington Park recorded on March 30, 1914 and they set up a boundary adjustment for the northern 237lots. The streets were realigned to take advantage of the mesa's ridge tops creating a relaxed estate feeling to the area and automobile friendly streets. The last Map was recorded by a partnership between the Kensington Park Land Company, Western American Realty Company, and Union Title Insurance Company, which re-subdivided the north 1/3 of Map 1245, Lots 1-9, Block 12 (excluding Lots 15-23), Block 13 (excluding Lots 7-15); Map 1633, Block 4, Block 11 (excluding Lots 16, 17, 21-25); Plymouth Avenue, Crescent Road, Oxford Avenue, Cambridge Street, Scoria Place, the northerly 1010 feet of Terrace Drive, the north 680 feet of Marlborough Drive, northerly 946 feet of Edgeware Road, north 1102 feet of County Road, alleys in Blocks 2-12 all vacated as of July 20, 192. Map 1848 changed the street west-east cross streets on Kensington, Marlborough and Edgeware to Sussex Drive, Canterbury Drive, Westminster Terrace, Norfolk Terrace, Lymer Drive, and Rochester Road. Western American Realty Co., the Kensington Park Land Co., and Mead-Haskell The Kensington Park Land Company and Western American Realty Company operated a lot sales program for Kensington Manor, and pre-qualified builders through the Mead-Haskell Company. All building or architectural plans for lot developers had to go through the "Architectural Review Board" and receive the Kensington Park Land Company's approval before construction. All plans passed through Master Architect Richard Requa's review to ensure good design in the Spanish or Mexican architectural style. From 1925 through 1930, Kensington Manor built out gradually, and by 1929 Kensington Heights to the north of Rochester Road was filling out as well. The 1929 San Diego City Directory gives a glimpse into San Diego, "The Air Capital of the West" on the eve of the Great Depression. Locals estimated the rr.rlilm".,.• 'Wm""s.--r-;1'7m"""Tm~----, • Norfolk ter Intersects populatiOn at 155,153 with 92 percent native Rochester rd Intersects s 5002 Vacant born. There were 39,714 phones in service, . 5007 Johnson Leonard (o) ;;o11 f'lark R C (o) 40 libraries, and 10 banks. The city's principal ~m ~~ft~n~ P 19 Americo Pete and Stephna Rotta R otta Apierico p (Ste phna) carp h 5036 Marl- Americo Pete "AP" and Stephna Rotta b orough dr worked as a building contractor team in San Diego Directory 1931 Kensington from 1929 through 1939, Note misspelling of 'Americo' managing to stay busy through the hard times of the Great Depression. They continued as contractors and ranchers in Escondido from 1939 until AP died in 1979. Stephna lived another six years and died in 1985. The Great Depression changed everyone's lives in the 1930s and the Rotta family was no exception. Working together, AP and Stephna selected vacant lots, designed houses, bought materials, hired skilled workers, and supervised construction of Spanish Eclectic style houses. While it is believed that Americo Pete was the carpenter and contractor for the houses, Stephna clearly had a major role as a business partner and by combining their various skills they built the house at 4958 Marlborough. Americo Pete Rotta was born in Kansas on November 13, 1894 to Italian immigrant parents and died in San Diego on April 5, 1979 (Virginia Rotta 2004). Having come from Bergamo, Italy, a town located east of Milan at the foot of the Alps, his parents named their first born son Americo in honor of their new homeland. He and his brother, Joe Rotta, married sisters in 1926 (Virginia Rotta 2004). Stephna C. Rotta was born in New York on June 16, 1897 and died in San Diego on January 26, 1985 (California Death Index). Her mother's maiden name was Stortz. Brother Joe Rotta and his wife (Stephna Rotta's sister) in front of AP and Stephna's house at 5036 Marlborough, a block north from the Robb/Rotta House. Photo courtesy Gerald and Virginia Rotta. 20 A veteran of World War I, AP served in the United States Army Corps of Engineers and built bridges and roads across Europe (Virginia Rotta 2004; Don Rotta 2004). Don Rotta recalled he had a tattoo of the Army Corps castle insignia on his arm and fondly recalled feats of daring-do during his service years. That experience provided him with skills as a carpenter and a jack of all trades. After mustering out of the Armed Forces, AP found work as a cook at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. It was there he and Stephna married in 1926. When they moved to San Diego, he accepted a position as a purchasing agent in food services at the Hotel Del Coronado and in 1926 they moved to 4164 El Cajon Boulevard (Virginia Rotta 2004; Directory 1926). He moonlighted in real estate and opened an office at 3820 El Cajon Boulevard, from which Stephna worked (Directory 1926-1928). They remained in those jobs and locations until 1928, when they built their home at 5036 Marlborough in Kensington (Directory 1929). The 1929 Directory lists their address and the Davis-Baker Realty together, so it is unclear if there was a working relationship between the Rottas and the Davis-Baker Realty group, but presumably it would have been possible. By this time he was no longer working at the Hotel Del Coronado and they had built their home at 5036 Marlborough Drive. Their nephew's wife, Virginia Rotta, reported that Stephna researched prospective lots for development and then they bought the land. The deed records show that they not only took out mortgages to build their properties, but extended mortgages as well to collect the interest as income. In fact, the first owners of the house, Jack and Eugenia Robb, took out their mortgage from the Rottas. In July, 1930, the Rottas took out a $4,000.00 mortgage from the Mead-Haskell Company at 7% to fund construction of the house at 4958 Marlborough. AP's evolution from a purchasing agent at the Hotel del Coronado in 1926 to home builder in 1930 leaves plenty of room for speculation as to the mechanism of his career transition. Interviews with the Rotta's son and nephew indicate that he had carpentry skills and was a jack of all trades, but they knew little beyond that. Research into fellow builder Louise Mary Severin, who built numerous homes in the same area at that time suggests a relationship between the two couples and may help explain how they got into the real estate construction business. Severin-built homes in Kensington Manor and Kensington Point. 21 First, the 1930 Directory shows that Louise and Hilmer Severin lived at 4970 Marlborough Drive, the house immediately next door to the north of the Robb/Rotta House. Second, documentary evidence in the form of a Deed found in the Recorder's Office shows that in March, 1929, the Rottas sold a Kensington lot in Block 11 to Louise Severin, confirming that there was a financial relationship between the two families (Deed Book 1593 Page 266). Third, and perhaps only coincidentally, Louise Henkensmeier married Hilmer Severin, and her sister married Hilmer's brother, in other words, the two Henkensmeier sisters married the two Severin brothers. This was also the case with AP and Stephna, asAP Rotta's brother Joe married Stephna's sister. It is possible that this family relationship formed common ground between the Rottas and the Severins. At present, there is not sufficient information about the Rotta's and their involvement in the building industry to speculate much further. The property Chain of Title shows that the Rottas bought the vacant lot for the Robb/Rotta House from the Frank and Elsie Kahrs. Located just a few blocks south of their home at 5036 Marlborough, it was a good location to build a speculation house. It is not known how they found the lot, perhaps the Kahrs wanted to list it through her real estate business on El Cajon Boulevard, or Stephna may have seen it during one of her library newspaper searches. Then again, the Kahrs may have been friends, as they lived nearby at 4154 Rochester Road. Or perhaps they knew Frank from the Cafe Cabrillo, San Diego's "Finest Cafe at Popular Prices, Good Food; Good Cooking; Good Surroundings." It was located downtown on 6th and Frank worked there as a waiter. Frank Kahrs was born in Germany around 1876, immigrated to America in 1899, and naturalized in 1906. His wife, Elsie Wagner Kahrs, was born in "other country" on November 17, 1878 and died in San Diego on December 24, 1943. They married and had a son, Alfred J., who was a teenager when they lived in Kensington. Frank and Elsie bought Lot 8 from the Kensington Park Land Company on May 1, 1926 and sold it to the Rottas on July 9, 1930. Less is known ofStephna's career, but San Diego City Directory listings and family oral history about their work experience suggests that while AP worked for the Hotel del Coronado, Stephna operated their real estate office at 3820 El Cajon Boulevard. Stephna worked right A &an 1IIitgn :llnman·s Abutrtis- on av Rowan Mnry E Mrs I Rotstein Max asst supt Am ~at! Life ton It is not known how she got this important job, but Ins Co r3142 G Rowan Paul (Sar!lh} ! ~tta A P hStcphn!l) rcnl e•t 3820 El Rowe Amanda L (wid the census sheets, recorded her own handwriting, Cajon av 4164 same l{owe Annette Mrs h3 Rotta Mack r4164 El Cajon nv Rowe Burton L (Eulol remain today as testimony to her door to door trek Rottman Lillian H sten S D & A Rv Co r Ka~ih,'1al City r Chuh1 Vista · as one of San Diego's dedicated group of census ' Rowe a• L\Iinniel takers. Based on this, it is probable she was involved in other community activities in her career that did not surface in this research project and are now invisible to her descendants. Unfortunately, her obituary was not found in the San Diego Union and her family never realized how much of a professional career she had outside homemaking (Virginia Rotta 2004; Donald Rotta 2004). It is hoped that future research will reveal more about this interesting couple. 22 r 'l Example of 1930 U.S. Census sheet showing Stephna Rotta as the Enumerator, or census-recorder. Although they did not have children of their own, AP and Stephna adopted a boy, Donald, in 1936. (Virginia Rotta 2004). The Rotta's continued with real estate and building in the area through 1938, when they sold their 5036 Marlborough Drive Kensington home and moved north to Escondido. In an interview for this study, he recalled his early childhood in the 5036 Marlborough house, but has greater memories of living in Escondido (Donald Rotta 2004). AP then worked for the City of Escondido as a building inspector and then moonlighted as a builder in that area. The families of AP and Joe Rotta maintained close bonds and Joe's son, Jerry Rotta, spent many vacations living with his aunt, uncle, and cousin. After Donald Rotta left Escondido for college and a career in Arizona, Jerry and his wife, Virginia Rotta, moved to live in a house near AP and Stephna in Escondido. Both Jerry and Don fondly recalled the strong family bonds that cemented the family together all through those years. The Rotta's operated a small livestock ranch with horses, cattle, and chickens and grew orchards of avocados and lemons. They got by living a relatively simply life with lessons of thrift learned during the Great Depression. With these values, they put Don through college and he eventually left the family to work in Arizona. AP died in 1979 and was buried in a nearby cemetery. 23 Jack G. and Eugenia Robb 1- Hon th Bnd n (C'm: 1~ic;· ·~·~~~·_; 1 r. 'JH.:,:~s Ha mlltun In 1931, the newly built house at 4958 .. "\VaitPr rHna JGI Cajon av Hololil~td!" .Anna, M l\Irfl r4377 :\4th Marlborough was vacant, as evJ"denced " "!<1dith heart nursp Cn Hosp b h H h ld ' ddr j" · · ;n " Fnl!H'-efl ).I te-hr Jt-ffcrl'oll f1ch hlH~S Sill a\· B y t e ouse 0 er sa ess lStlng lll '· .Ja!'l-;; G (I•~ugenla E) 1lir ('ltv Plnyg;romHl Hecreation Dept h.tn;;~ :\Ial'!lloroug-h fir 1931 San Diego City Directory That '' Hultt n 1F:dith Cl-) t·estr !l~HJ.'J Park hlv Jack G. Robb was born in Canada on March 3, 1906 and he died in a car wreck on July 30, 1944. Eugenia Ellen Robb was born March 1, 1905 in Illinois and died August 20, 1994 in San Diego. Since 1925, Jack had served as the Director of Playgrounds and Recreation Department, City of San Diego, Playgrounds Commission with an office in the Administration Building in Balboa Park. He worked for Assistant Superintendent Bernard C. Nichols, who also had an oftice in the park. In those early days before he married Eugenia he lived at 4160 Swift Avenue along with John and Harmah Swanson. Jack married Eugenia in 1931 and they moved to 739 Sutter. Shortly thereafter, they rented the recently completed house built by the Rottas at 4958 Marlborough in Kensington. In 1934, Robb promoted to Director, City Playground and Recreation Department, which perhaps provided the extra funds to allow them to pay off their mortgage to the Rotta's and own their house outright. By 1940, he rose to Assistant Superintendent and officiated at the groundbreaking of the Stockton Elementary School Jack Robb's obiruary. San Diego Union, August 1, 1944 playground, which was named after San Diego pioneer physician Dr. Thomas C. Stockton (San Diego Union June 25, 1940). Through the Great Depression, Robb supervised activities on numerous community ball fields, tracks, dance pavilions and greens with federal WPA money. 24 However, Eugenia's mother, Ida A. Hayworth, became ill in 1936 and she and Jack had to move-in with her at 3952 Ingalls in Mission Hills. Ida Hayworth was born on March 17, 1877 in Iowa and died in San Diego on May 27, 1942. She first appeared in the San Diego directories in 1928 at the Ingalls address. Although not listed at that address in 1932, H. C. Marckwardt was listed as owner and Ida returned to the address in the 1933 directory as a widow. Jack G. Robb is listed with her in 1936, but is gone by 1939. During that period, the STOCKTON SCHOOL - Robbs rented 4958 R. F. and Thomas c .. Marlborough to car salesman Jay D. Barr, who was Stockton Scheel --- Commemorating :nane s of t1t.-o famous San Die go probably Jack Robb's Cousins - brother-in-law, married to CommoCore Hobert Field Stockton Eugenia's sister Anna Belle. Doctor Thomas C. Stockton The Robbs returned to 4958 Marlborough in 193 8. As noted earlier, Robb died tragically in a car accident in 1944. His obituary appeared in the San Diego Union on August 1 and 2, 1944 (see below and previous page). No obituary was found for Eugenia Robb. ROBB--Ja Courtesy San Diego Historical Society 25 Jay D. and Anna Belle Barr (renters) Car salesman Jay D. Barr and his wife Anna Belle rented 4958 Marlborough from 1936 to 1938. Based on information from the 1930 U.S. Census and other genealogical data, it can be surmised that Anna Belle Barr was probably Eugenia Robb's sister, based on the fact that her maiden name was Hayworth. These sources indicate that Anna Belle Hayworth Barr, was born in Iowa, as was their daughter, Ruth, who was age 17 at the time of the 1930 Census. Anna Belle's birth date was October 28, 1886 and she died in San Diego on March 11 , 1978. Jay was also born in Iowa to Canadian parents on October 11 , 1883. The Robb ·" AUTOMOBILE family expanded on May 19, 1932 with Ida Lee Robb, who presumably was named after Anna Belle's mother, Ida A. Hayworth. Ida Lee lived in San Diego until passing C. A. GRAY DIST RIBUT OR away on February 11, 1985 (California Death Index). DODGE AUTOMOBILES Jay had lived and worked in National City before moving DODGE TRUCKS to Kensington. The 1933 Directory shows he worked as a and car salesman for CA Gray in National City. Daughter PLYMOUTH MOTOR CARS Ruth, now twenty years of age, worked as a stenographer Complete Service Facilities for Hopkins & Jaeger. The family lived at 16 Dahlia 501 W . Broadway Phone. Fra nklin 3101 Drive in National City. In 1936, Jay accepted a position at CA Gray's sales lot at 501 W. Broadway, which brought 1936 San Diego City Directory the family to rent in Kensington that year. When the Robb's sold the house in 1943, the Barr's moved to 3419 Xenophon in Point Lorna. Jay died in San Diego on January 9, 1961. Henry Arthur Pozner and Margarette S. Pozner (owners) The Christmas Tree King Scandal P ozner H enry A (Margarette) whol pr od Island a v h1958 )'larlbor ou gh dr San Diego Directory 1943 l'ozaro .\la rya nne studt r~ 5 3:! ~ Ka nsas " Wm ( Eliz ) dir Am ft ~d r.rnss h45 32~ KaO:., P OZ NER HENR Y A ( Margarette), Whol"-'t P roduce, San Diego' s Christmas Tree !(itt, Wh olesa le & Retail. Wreaths. Garlaada·l& Holly, 5 19 Island av. Tel BElmont 3· h4956 Ma rlborough dr , Te l ATwater -' 4- 1450 1 "" " ll o~t J, uS X r~ V5S .Ha rlborough ur .' u , Puzmal' :\orbert (fluth .\!) managing methodi dept wkr Roh r Aircraft h6948 Fulton ,. , San Diego Directory 1958 26 Scandal rocked San Diego when the San Diego Union newspaper and national wire services flashed headlines with the sensational news that "Christmas Tree King" Henry Arthur Pozner's wife had murdered his "gorgeous" mistress. (The Coshocton Tribune Aprill3, 1950). Everyone in San Diego knew the Christmas Tree King because they bought their trees and wreaths at his wholesale produce warehouse at 519 Island Avenue. The shooting capped a seven-year affair between Pozner and his 31-year old mistress, Vema Simmons. A wealthy and powerful businessman, Pozner was born October 18, 1903 in Illinois and died May 25, 1983. His sprawling brick produce warehouse complex included Ideal Melon at 520 Island and just about every neighborhood market in San Diego bought fruit, vegetables, and Christmas trees from his outlet. Pozner' s first wife was Evelyn H. Pozner whom he married in 1925. That relationship lasted until at least 1939 and he got custody of his son from the union. Evelyn had worked as a stenographer in his wholesale produce market and in those early days they lived at 4309 Maryland Avenue. The "Pozner Love Triangle" had been a part of Margarette and Wi fe Kills Riva I Henry's marriage for most of their time together, despite the birth In love Triangle of their own child and Margarette's acceptance of his son by his sAN niF:GO.~-=cuP) first wife. His long irregular working hours kept him away from his attractive wife and two children and he was able to juggle an "office wife" on the side for seven years. The whole mess became public when Simmons filed a highly publicized paternity suit against Henry Pozner. While the Superior Court struck down Simmons' case, it was humiliating for the entire faruily. When it was over, Henry avowed his love for Margarette and the couple affirmed their desire to keep the marriage together. Henry promised not to see Simmons again. Believing that this was the case, Margarette was shocked one day to receive a telephone call from Simmons' jealous boyfriend that Henry had just driven off with Simmons in his car. In a jealous rage, Mrs. Pozner rushed out the door with a grm in her pocket, flagged down a car at random on A! dine Drive, and got dropped off just outside a bar, which was owned by Simmons sister's and attached to their house. She went inside the bar to wait, had just order a beer, when Henry drove up and dropped Simmons off outside front door ofthe bar. At this, Mrs. Pozner bolted out the door to confront Simmons. Almost immediately, she swung her hand up towards Simmons' temple, suddenly shooting her through the head, killing her. Amazingly, Henry had heard the shot and driven back to the scene. He then grabbed the gun from his wife and emptied the clip and put both the grm and clip in his pocket. He then remained to console his wife while the police arrived to take over. Mrs. Pozner was immediately arrested and murder charges were filed by the district attorney. To his credit, Henry stuck by his wife throughout the entire ordeal. Pozner hired attorney Irvin Kahn, whose brother also operated a wholesale produce business near Pozner' s operation, and his partner David A. Block to defend his wife. Kahn worked the newspapers with the defense that it was an accidental killing, asserting Mrs. Pozner's claim that she 'just wanted to whang" Simmons over the head, but the gun went off. Henry mortgaged 4958 Marlborough to Kahn for $5,450 to pay for her defense. For some reason, the loan named a secretary in Irvin Kahn's office as Trust Deed holder. 27 Kahn was successful in his defense, and the jury believed that it was an act of passion after the paternity suit. They voted to acquit Margarette on June 21, 1950 and Pozner paid off the loan to Kahn, thus releasing his claim on the house (San Diego Union June 21, 1950). Amazingly, their marriage survived and they remained at 4958 Marlborough for many years. She died in March of 1996. (left) San Diego Union, April13, 1950 Other Womdn' Slain, 1f~ (top righV San Diego Union, April14, 1950 (bottom left and right) San Diego Union f Business Man Seited June 21, 1950 Companion of Prdduce ! Dealer Shot Near i 28 Elizabeth M Wadsworth and Emma Oberhoff The chain of title shows Elizabeth M. Wadsworth received 4958 Marlborough in Kensington from Henry Poznerthrough a $5,450 Trust Deed on May 4 and 17, 1950. The 1950 Directory shows she actually lived at 3384 North Mountain View Drive in Normal Heights and worked as a secretary for Kahn and Block, attorneys at law, in the Bank of America Building, Suite 920, at 625 Broadway. Apparently, this transfer of title simply served as collateral for legal fees to defend Margarette Pozner in court and no one really expected the Pozner family to lose their home. Henry Pozner also obtained a $5,000 Trust Deed from Emma Oberhoff and secured it with the San Diego Trust & Title Company, which helped pay off the collateral to Wadsworth. From May through November, 1950, Pozner and Kahn recorded a series of trust deed reconveyances that also included Emma Oberdorf and the Bank of America. The final transactions cleared the title in 1959, when Pozner paid off the debt. Irvin J. Kahn and David A. Block The hero in the Christmas Tree King Scandal was Irvin Kahn, who in more recent years would be better known for real estate development in Mira Mesa, Penasquitos and Horton Plaza. He was able to convince a jury that Margarette Pozner did not mean to shoot Vema Simmons in the head. (San Diego Union June 21, 1950). Born in St. Louis, Missouri in January 13, 1916, Kahn died September 10, 1973. Irvin and his faruily moved to San Diego in 1922 and he went to work for his parents, Abe and Fannie Kershman Kahn, in the produce business. They were Russian immigrants who instilled a sense of hard work in their children. Brothers Irvin, Henry and Julius Kahn achieved San Diego fame as real estate developers in Clairemonl, University City, Rancho Penasquitos, and Mira Mesa. Brother Henry Kahn made his success in the produce business at 345 Market Street, which might explain how Pozner thought to hire Irvin in 1950. Irvin Kahn donated Penasquitos Canyon to the City and County of San Diego for a public park. Yale operated restaurants, billiard parlors, nightclubs and liquor stores. Both men financed the Circle Arts Theater and were influential leaders and philanthropists with United Way and the United Jewish Fund. While living in Talmadge, Yale became a fulcrum around which all the major popular nightclub entertainment in San Diego spun. The San Diego Union stated "Yale Kahn, a man whose knack for business earned him a spot in San Diego history'' (San Diego Union November 8, 1959). Constantly in the news media spotlight during the 1950s, the Kahn brothers brought nationally and internationally famous performing acts to his restaurants and nightclubs and rubbed shoulders with politicians and business people throughout the region. At Yale's Top's Nightclub (Pacific Highway/China Camp), he brought Nat King Cole, Shelley Winters, Nelson Eddy, Van Johnson, Don Ameche, Susan Hayward, Dan Rowan and Dick Martin (Rowan and Martin Laugh-in). In 1956, Yale Kahn opened the Midway Chuck Wagon and Gaslarnp RooD,l on Midway and drew enormous crowds to see such famous entertainers as Louis Prima, Billy Daniels, Shelly Berman, Mort Saul, and Dr. Dean (hypnotist). At the same time, he owned the Barbary Coast, a dance and dinner entertainment center on Pacific Highway, Texas Liquor Houses and the Roaring 20's Nightclub on Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon. He added a nightclub in the Clairemont Bowl and Bradley's (restaurant and nightclub) in the mid 1950s to make entertainment available to families. 29 Brother Irvin brought powerful and influential business partners to Yale's clubs, which further added to their fame as stories in the news abounded. Brothers Irvin and Julius drew political and business leaders to his nightclubs and restaurants, as well as a steady stream of newspaper articles before, during, and after the famous Christmas Tree King Scandal rocked the newspapers. Cultural Landscape Research on the architectural history of the Robb/Rotta House at 4958 Marlborough Drive began with study of the cultural landscape after the Kensington Manor subdivision map was recorded in 1925. Investigation into the people who built-out the Marlborough neighborhood between 1925 and 1930 was conducted because it was relevant to provide insight into the cultural landscape and reasons for the existing architectural styles. This is important to understand the area, as these blocks were an emerging neighborhood, as is readily evident by the aerial photographs taken in the late 1920s and included in this report and Householders section of the San Diego City Directory which shows how the blocks developed as each house was built. Street names changed to accommodate the new development, house address numbers changed as lots sprouted homes, and gradually the area began to fill in. The first houses to appear in the emerging cultural landscape were located at Marlborough and Plymouth (Rochester rd) in 1926. One house was listed as vacant between Oxford and Plymouth. Carpenter Leonard and Henga Johnson were the first occupants of 5001 Marlborough, which Master Builder Louise Severin constructed (Notice of Completion). Shortly thereafter, Dr. Elmer E. and Elizabeth Lymer moved into 4860 Marlborough, which is across the street from Lymer Drive. His next- door neighbor at 4870 San Dieoo Historical Societv Marlborough was Severin and her husband, Hilmer. The coincidence of Dr. Lymer living next door to a major Kensington builder and directly across from Lymer Drive begs the question of possible involvement in the development of the neighborhood. Dr. Lymer retired from Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, where he served as auditor in philosophy and education, and his resources were sufficient to invest in real estate development. 30 CITY DIRECTORY 1927 1928 to emphasize, mcrease Collier has now become Notice between Lymer dr and business. Jefferson av, Oxford Rochester rd there are two changed to Canterbury dr residents and two vacant houses. and Plymouth av became . \d.nnua" Lymer dr. 17 •11 \ at'.u.t AND HOUSEHOLDERS' GUIDE (.19281 IIi.!:"' '\,' t ~j,._ \r1 li'\ . .. .Ji~t:l Jhrtlt·\ J ,J 14:f7 Jtv,u i, t ti1:.! .\1••rttlllh .I!H 17' 1.{ \ttlltJ:!Ul tlu'Cb GUIDE (1927) ~:I 1 I ,,,,lf I \\ II ., jf.J 1\:t• t\ 1} ( J j I 1-:''>1 1'··~-n ( It l";':oti Bil lilti.C~ I) :\1 r;.~.t, l\tl111l,..,. II \I -1 ~7:: \ ' a t'IUll Jetferoon ;tv hUH J t•trf•ll .I uo 1l\IHI T t •rl't• ll A·' I p •• ,,:~ \to.-!ll\c;.-r 1·: K .\Jn11 4 ~ u :1 W n lk•·•· 1·: I< :>.trs : ~~~ ·~~ :;_(~~~ · '1/ K " r' I II tlkr·r J I• 4'HiJ Yn··nnl 1- By the time the Rotta's built their home at 5036 Marlborough, Louise Mary and Hilmer Severin were operating their general contracting building firm out of 4970 Marlborough and the architectural character for one-story Spanish Eclectic, hacienda style houses had been set for the neighborhood. Rotta only lived one block from carpenter Leonard Johnson and Stephna Rotta found the lot adjacent to the Severin house to be an investment into their future. Although Severin might have influenced Rotta, he created his own architecturally defming features. Rotta often designed and built Roman or mission style arched colonnades on the front porch and his own house at the time had that feature inside his front courtyard. The yardscape outside the house includes a particularly interesting driveway. Rotta scored the driveway in an artistic meandering pattern that is only found on about ten percent of the houses in the neighborhood. This may have been on the walkway too, but a subsequent owner covered the walk and porch with terracotta tile. The lawn characterizes the front yard, as do two mature palm trees on the City of San Diego owned sidewalk lawn strip, and younger palm trees in the front garden. Viewed down the street, the height of the Concrete scoring of driveway. building, Spanish Eclectic architectural style, and landscaping harmonize with the rest of the neighborhood. The entire Marlborough portion of Kensington exhibits about 75-years of mature trees and shrubs that characterize the cultural landscape. Many of the original palms and evergreens are still growing in the yards. These include Italian cypress, juniper, Washington palm, Canary Island palms, Queen and King palms. Box bush hedges and poinsettia are also relic landscaping of the past. What makes this neighborhood significant for cultural landscape is the intact nature of this landscape. Contemporary view. Photo by Ronald V. May 32 Contemporary photograph of street view surrounding 4958 Marlborough Drive. Photograph by Ronald V. May 33 Contemporary photograph of street view of 4958 Marlborough Drive. Photograph by Ronald V. May 34 Architectural Identification As noted earlier in this report, the architectural style is classified as Spanish Eclectic (McAlester and McAlester 1990: 417-418). It exhibits a low pitched roof with a short eave overhanging the wall and slightly ornamented rafter tails, four porch arches, stucco walls and a Spanish fired red clay tile roof. This house is cross-gabled with a low valley centered over the arched entrance. Contemporary view. Photo by Ronald V. May The Rotta-built house exhibits low-pitched, front and side gabled roofs with shed porch facades that fronted flat pueblo style roofs over most of the house. The front elevations exhibit a with a variety of cathedral and square bay windows, double-hung sash windows, French door openings onto garden patios, rustic high relief stucco walls, sculpted tapered chimneys with indented panels at the base, flying wing gates and niches accented by colorful and well maintained lawns and gardens. Rotta favored Mission style colonnades of arches along the front porch or along interior patios. He applied roughened stucco surfaces to emulate primitive buildings Romantically associated with the old Mexican Southwest. Behind the Spanish tile is a low stucco parapet masking a flat, tarred roof. A stucco chimney is attached to the south side. The windows are wood, double-hung and painted a rusty red. Small wire crawlspace vents are located low on the roughened stucco walls. Not visible from the street is a shed porch patio with Spanish fired clay roof tiles that overlooks a small landscaped backyard. At the rear of the driveway and recessed behind the house is a detached garage with a modem reddish-brown door. The house at 4958 Marlborough fits in well with the one-story Spanish Eclectic houses to the north and south. The southern house exhibits a wider arched entrance, a recessed cathedral window and nearly identical Spanish fired red clay tile roof. The house to the north is a Severin-built house that exhibits her signature rustic stucco walls and hacienda patio. The entire block maintained its 1930s cultural landscape, with sidewalk lawn strips lined with palm trees, small Contemporary view. Photo by Ronald V. May deciduous trees, original street lamps, scored sidewalks, and eclectic walkways painted red, gray, scored in various ways, and terra cotta tile. 35 In comparison with the Severin house on the north side, both exhibit a distinctive gable fmish with Spanish fired red clay tiles that wrap around a narrow fascia board. The low pitch of the gables is almost identical. Both houses exhibit French doors that open light to the rooms, double-hung wood windows, but the livingroom windows differ dramatically. Severin preferred rectangular windows, while Rotta ordered specially cut windows with a geometric flat top arch that is repeated in the fireplace and room entries throughout the house. The porch arches he built on his home at 5036 Marlborough were repeated at 4958 Marlborough. Previous analysis of the Elmo G. and Angeline Crabtree House at 4210 Norfolk Terrace in Kensington Point revealed ten Spanish Eclectic houses in Kensington that exhibited asymmetrical fronts with a Mission-style colonnade of Roman arches on the porch (May and May 2003:33). Examples of these include 4952 Marlborough, 4817 Biona, 4837 Edgeware, 4113 Hempsted Circle, 5047 Hastings, and 4730 Biona. This architectural feature is relatively rare in Kensington. Legacy 106, Inc. connected Rotta to . - 4958 Marlborough by the Operating Department, City of San Diego, OPERATING DEPARTMENT, CITY OJ:;'\.S.AN 36 Contemporary photograph of street view of 4958 Marlborough Drive. Photograph by Ronald V. May 37 Contemporary photograph of street view of 4958 Marlborough Drive, north side of the house. Photograph by Ronald V. May 38 Contemporary photograph of street view of north side of 4958 Marlborough Drive looking down the driveway towards the garage. Notice how the garage height matches the Severin built house to the right (north). Photograph by Ronald V. May 39 Although the interior of the Robb I Rotta House is not being considered for designation, photographs are provided here to illustrate the use of the flat topped arch motif, rusticated fireplace treatment, and door and mailbox detail. Contemporary photos by Ronald V. May. 40 Interior contemporary views showing use of the flat topped arch design element on the front cathedral window and doorways. The wooden door separates the dining room from the main hallway. A recessed niche accents the hallway. Photographs by Ronald V. May. 41 Residential Building Record I - I "'' "'' .,. I'm" I ,... • ~ I - . ;..~ ~ --- 42 Analysis of the Tax Assessor's Residential Building Record for 4958 Marlborough substantiates the 1930 house construction date. There are no subsequent building permits listed on the "construction record." This report describes the house as 1,620 square feet with 171 square feet of covered porch, 324 square feet of garage, and 550 square feet of concrete deck. The Tax Assessor rated the house as standard construction on a concrete foundation, stucco on wood frame, double-hung and casement windows with screens, flat and gabled roof, three bedroom, and hardwood floors throughout. The livingroom has exposed wood beams and the dining room has a sculpted cove ceiling. Of significance to this document is the lack of permits for modifications to the house. The following is an analysis of how the house meets the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Preservation Projects (39 C.F.R. 67) and ten rehabilitation standards: 1. Use of the property as originally intended. The house has been in continual use as a residence since 1930. The current owner contemplates no change in this land use. 2. The character will be retained. The current owners plan to retain the house with all its historical character. Since purchase, the owners have removed inappropriate security doors, repainted the landscaping, and restored the original surface of the livingroom fireplace surround. 3. Preservation ofthe integrity of the structures and setting. Analysis of the condition of the house reveals 98% integrity. The only visual changes have been replacement in-kind of the Spanish fired red clay tile roof, which is the same as found on both neighboring houses. The Spanish tile does not exhibit cement mortar between the tiles, as would be expected, but the style of tile closely matches the older tiles found throughout Kensington. The garage door is not original, but is a rusty-red that blends in well. The walkway and porch have been covered in a terracotta tile that was not original, but is similar to that found on other historic landmarks in Kensington and is believed to date about thirty years ago. The palm tree and lawn landscaping is consistent with the character of the neighborhood. 4. Architectural status in its own right. There have been no significant architectural modifications to the house, based on the Tax Assessor's Residential Building Record. Changes to the rear of the house are not visible from Marlborough ot the sidewalk. 5. Rhythm and height. The house was built in 1930 and is consistent with the rhythm and height of surrounding houses in Kensington Manor Unit Number 1. The houses across the street, north, and south are all one-story Spanish Eclectic style of the same height. 6. Repair rather than replacement of deteriorated features. The current owners are repairing the existing building fabric, rather than replacing the material. They recently hired a plaster specialist to remove a concrete fireplace surround and restore the original rusticated and sculpted surround. They have taken pains to patch and paint the original plaster, retain the doors and hardware, and maintain the rustic exterior stucco. 43 7. Integrity. The house retains approximately 98% integrity. Only the terracotta tile walkway and porch and detached garage door appear to be integrity issues. The Spanish fired red clay tile replacement roof meets the Secretary of the Interior's in-kind replacement rule and is not considered an integrity loss issue. 8. Archaeology. Keeping in mind the historical background of known prehistoric Kumeyaay land use of the upland mesas in Kensington, Ronald V. May, RPA (Registered Professional Archaeologist), walked around the front yard to look for archaeology. This included casual observation of the garden dirt. No archaeology was observed around the front lawns and shrubbery. No physical change is proposed by this nomination that would affect the soil or disturb any buried features under the house or landscaping, should they exist. 9. New Additions. There have been no new additions to the house, except the rear Spanish fired red clay tile shed roof over patio that is not visible from Marlborough or the sidewalk. 10. Non-conforming additions. There are no non-conforming additions to the house. Naming the House Houses are typically named for their first owners who commissioned the construction and/or lived in the house, especially if they are historically important people. The name should also include historically important architects or builders. Americo Pete and Stephna Rotta built this house and it remained vacant for a while and was later bought by Jack and Eugenia Robb. Based on this policy of the City Historic Resources Board, the recommended name is thus the Jack G. and Eugenia Robb I Americo Pete and Stephna Rotta House. Conclusion Based on all the reasons stated above, the owners of the Robb I Rotta House request that their home be accepted as a City of San Diego, Historic Landmark under Criterion c for its Spanish Eclectic Architecture. If this is approved, they also request a Mills Act contract. 44 References Consnlted Books Baumann, Thomas H. 1997 Kensington- Talmadge 1910-1997. Second Edition. San Diego: Ellipsys International Publications Brandes, Ray 1981 San Diego An Rlustrated History. Los Angeles: Knapp Communications Corporation, Inc. Brown, Curtis M., Walter Robilard, Donald A. Wilson 1981 Evidence and Procedures for Boundary Location. New York: John Wiley & Sons California Office of Historic Preservation 1996 The California Register ofHistoric Resources: Regulations for Nomination of Historic Properties. State of California, The Resources Agency, Department of Parks and Recreation Ching, Francis D.K. 1995 A Visual Dictionary ofArchitecture. New York: John Wiley & Sons Kirker, Harold 1986 California's Architectural Frontier: Style and Tradition in The Nineteenth Century. Salt Lake City, Utah: Peregrine Books McAlester, Virginia and Lee McAlester 1979 A Field Guide to American Homes. New York: Little, Brown and Company National Park Service 1985 Historic American Building Survey Guidelines for Preparing Written and Historical Descriptive Data. Division ofNational Register Programs, Western Regional Office, San Francisco, California Nolen, John 1908 San Diego A Comprehensive Plan for Its Improvement. Boston: Geo. H. Ellis Co. Printers Nolen, John, Hale G. Walker, Justin R. Hartzog 1926 City Plan for San Diego, California Park Commission- E.N. Jones, Wm. Templeton Jolmston, Geo. W. Marston, John G. Morley Starr, Raymond 1986 San Diego A Pictorial History. Norfolk, Virginia: The Donning Company Starr, Kevin 1990 Material Dreams: Southern California Through the 1920s. New York: Oxford University Press. 45 The Thomas Guide 2002 Winter, Robert 1985 Architecture in Los Angeles: A Complete Guide. Salt Lake City, Utah: Peregrine Books San Diego Historical Society Biographical Files I Obituaries Manuscript Files Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps City Directories, 1920-1965 Photographic Archives: 79:741-1395, Talrnadge!Kensington Aerial Photograph, 9/26/28; 13433, Kensington Aerial Photograph, Apri11929; 79:741-1610, Talmadge Park Aerial Photograph, 9-27-1929; 79:741-371, Kensington Aerial, Hoover High Upper Right Aerial Photograph, 10/9/37; 79:741-1397, Talmadge/Kensington- Mission Valley Aerial Photograph, 9/26/1928 Newspapers San Diego Union San Diego Sun Government Archives and Records U.S. Census, 1920 and 1930 California Death Index Social Security Death Index Luco, Juan M. et al versus Commercial Bank of San Diego, Superior Court, November 12, 1883 Map 1245, Kensington Park, Being a Sub Division of Lot 25 Mission of San Diego, San Diego County, California, AprilS, 1910 Map 1633, Map ofResubdivision of Blocks 4 & 11, Kensington Park, San Diego County, Cal, January 22, 1914 Map 1248, Kensington Manor Unit No. 1, Being aRe-Subdivision, Sheets 1 & 2, August 13, 1925 46 Manuscripts Arnold, T.J. and W.J. Hunsaker 1881 Complaint for Partition, Rancho Mission San Diego, In The Superior Court, County of San Diego, State of California, Juan M. Luco et a! versus Commercial Bank of California Cotton, Oscar 1963 "A History of San Diego Real Estate Subdivisions in 'The Good Old Days'." San Diego Historical Society, Research Archives Historical Inventory of Important Architects, Structures, and People in San Diego Romero, Kathleen 2001 California Preservation Foundation, Mills Act Workshop, May 17-19, 2001, Office of the Tax Assessor, County of San Diego Presentations Briesch, Ken 2004 "Looking At Cultural Landscapes, An Overview," in "Cultural Landscapes Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment," California Preservation Foundation Workshop Series in cooperation with the California Office of Historic Preservation, February 28, 2004 Articles of' Incorporation Articles of Incorporation, Southern California Realty Corporation Academic Theses Hennessey, Gregg R. 1977 City Planning, Progressivism, and the Development of San Diego, 1908-1926. Master's Thesis, San Diego State University, Department of History County of San Diego Recorder's Office, Book of Deeds, Contractors and Miscellaneous Records, Microfilms Tax Assessor's Office, Residential Building Record Map Records Operating Department, City of San Diego Application Order for Water Service Map Search United States Geodetic Survey, La Mesa Quad Map 7.5' 47 Historical Site Reports Historical Site Board Report, 4182 Rochester Road, San Diego, California 92116, September 2001, Rowena Musico, Designated San Diego Historical Landmark No. 504, 2001 Historical Nomination of the Yngvar and Bertha Laws/Wayne and Corinne McAllister House, 4357 Ridgeway, San Diego, California 92116, 2002, Kathleen Flanigan, Designated San Diego Historical Landmark No. 519 2002 Historical Nomination of the CoraM. and Cora Lee Wells House, 4990 Canterbury Drive, Kensington, San Diego, California 92116, Priscilla Berge, 2003, Designated San Diego Historical Landmark No. 619, 2003 Historical Nomination of the Charles "Dick" Bowman House, 5309 Marlborough Drive, Kensington, San Diego, California 92116, Legacy 106, Inc., 2003, Designated San Diego Historical Landmark No. 597, 2003 Historical Nomination of the Cosgrave/Ratner House, 531 0 Canterbury Drive, Kensington, San Diego, California 92116, Legacy 106, Inc., 2003, Designated San Diego Historical Landmark No. 588, 2003 Historical Nomination ofthe Forbes/Harden House, 5318 Canterbury Drive, San Diego, California 92116, 2003, Designated San Diego Historical Landmark No. 569, 2003 Historical Nomination of the Elmo G. and Angeline Crabtree House, 4210 Norfolk Terrace, Kensington, San Diego, California 92116, Legacy 106, Inc., 2003, Designated San Diego Historical Landmark No. 610,2003 Historical Nomination of the Walter M. and Loretta B. Casey House, 4830 Hart Drive, Talmadge Park, San Diego, California 92116, Legacy 106, Inc., 2004, Designated San Diego Historical Landmark No. 668, 2004 Historical Nomination of the A.L. and Cleveland Dennstedt House, 4372 Ridgeway, Kensington, San Diego, California 92116, Legacy I 06, Inc., 2004, Designated San Diego Historical Landmark No. 664, 2004 Historical Nomination of the Commander Wilbur V. and Martha E. Shown/Louise Severin House, 4394 North Talmadge Drive, Talmadge Park, San Diego, California 92116, Legacy 106, Inc., 2004 48 !' .l •. j i ~ ! I ~ ~ ' ~ ~ /.: l l I' ~ '~'-: -~ ~ oi ii . ! • ' l' . .; i '~ f '~ 1.;- ' ~- -~; j. i ] • ' ; l' i ~ ~- ! > i ~; ' 0 l g_ ~ •~ !' i ' i 8 • I l " ;~;t~"- .'\! j ~ i ( ··;;>1 \~i g ; 'i 8 ,;" ~!,t;-!~ JS 'l} 1 & ! I • ~·~/ l -·~ • • t ' l ~• ' ' • f "' • ~ ; t ' i ' 3 ' 1 j ! ' - S.tat:~: :or _tl".'Uf..tl:~n::Le-. l.Si> Poilllt:r ot· ~n-. Dtwf:l:Q · · · -tin 1;)11$ .::B_tb.. d;f!,y. a:t ·Ju.l}C,, 1950·;., blii.'pi(i,,me:;.:;..ltj 'lli_~e~ t>-Kt·lliba':J.l. Ho~·'J'.'y· ~ub':U.o .Ul .i.M ·tor :s'ii"J.>i·· \::Oill'lty ti.nd .. sti:t~:f,- J'1ihll ~ •. ·F:efl'r-,ri,.CotintY_ -~'®.'Claro-_· :a:~ s.J>iw:e-ed; .. neri~t¥. iri-'oo;-1 -•..I.L. 1~1 WI 'l'l!ESZ :;:Jiumit>; C!al.t.I'o:rtrli..g. in Consid6l:'at-~l;rn' pt' ']j,m. n~iL~l'.. _, :~llli!' r Cal.i:to:i-nd.a·, bcund.<1d, and. .' Lot ti.Vt !i:i} ln. ~Oak t-o.u:rtSerJ. .j-1!1.:) ·ot:oaGUlsi 'I'Omls-1:-te:,--C~u:nt_y of'·~ ».tego, Q-tate o-1 C~ii"o;o-ni{l, ~eoW'll1ne, tG' w,ap-.tb.lt.t'eof'' Ql\ ot sn:l.-a. .ao-unty. TozBthe:x 1\'i'1;1i --:J.:U ;arr.a ·sine~ ;"_h,e. '"'1;1*"l~crit~~- he:i-..ailifl'.l!l~til' ai th<>l'l::t!.n'tt~ oe-:i:wl,;>in& "'-" .tn ·.anJ·'~:l.sii apff ?t m.'!d.M·:>l:' a;:W: :rm~ai.id_'S:t;s, ;r.<>u_h·; -:1;.P (:iJ; --r.ro;\1 _pl:'61"l. ta.-.i-'l~J:;~I;d.', Wt~!H£SS :li';1 hwlcl th112 l • d.«'J ot: ;nmec, 1.\13e, W:l:tMM- to l'li&;N:c~>u:c3s; J:b:l'<'t'~ ~ ba:J:!;f"a.-u:l.or~ Col}nt:y o.f -l.!Wr E On thi /~1.St· d""-Y 1;1f JuM .. i.n \;.&e ;;H>di' -oue _tho~•-~.mtd-. li.i_M:';LWJ4_~:oo.- ai the.r._~; tk.ty @i:tm·i·s,iounff Deed 2. Deed Book 1785 Page 400. Grant Deed. Frank Kahrs and Elsie Kahrs, husband and wife to A.P. Rotta and Stephna Rota, husband and wife, Lot 8 Block 9, Kensington Manor Unit 1. Recorded July 9, 1930. no ~ ~ 0 " ex ~ t "0._..,sa !'! " .'f § . '" ri- ; ~ '< ~ ~§. §.~ {IQ~ "~- - --~------" - sOt! a =··~ 'Ow i ~ ! : s §· ~ ~ ! :; 1 '< ~ ~o * :: i ~ ~ g i g ~~ Of/0 . ' . ! ~ 1'> ::~e!!:t .. ~ ... ~ ... flO~ ~ ! .. !:: -;; ~ tp o.;p (]) 0 i ' 1 , E "' 0 ~ ~ ...... ,. ::--':>;' t H! I : I' : ! J.'l ~ G -~ li ss ~ .. g ~ ""'00"0 q;: ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ; ~~ ~ ~ e. l ~ g ~ IO'w ~! ~ ~ I -.Joo ~· 0 l ~ ~ ! ~ I=' w ~; d :;<:oo ~ i ~ 1: .... ,. ; g a 1 "I=' -• F. e ~ ~. ~ ~ ~ i t > ' ~ ,. I=' i.e ' F :: g~ ' I=' 0 ~it § § Sl 0.. ~i:if~ \;1~! ~~~il:.~"~.'· .,~"' C::4' " » .a::.-...t~brta .. n~at~ . :s,,;~-l!o-tta:;. .. --(.s-e&l.l S'!'A.TE 01 c.ALI:Ffl'M:t! C.O'ti!i'lY or aAN--D'INJO -f.»n- -·~·.:1.11: .. :tt~e~~.i.~3;1it'.!i-. ·48."1 · tl1i ·:A-Pi'1l-- I9'5i -l'l~t~~~~--.tMD· :.v·~· ,;~Uifh.- a · lfo-'1*.11' PubliC 1n ·anti -fl)'if_;-.:t'jl-~:~ijU:W.:·;Q:tld·.:state 1 :P.wsm1$.UT ~~~oppe:al'84=~.1li~t•itmt.·.J.$1i .nJCP.HRA:.-.fto'l'l'A, known to -me to. ·M·:th-e···:p~S~:·w~'Ci$:,5:.~emite-.J~H·<~bs-o:r1-bed ~o-·.t.h-e::·~~~~-iits-tr'i.cunt 1 .' $Ud e.ot.nowl.:e6-w.;l'i -tQ,,IIl.e: -~h-~-· t~"'=·::~O\iu4· :-tn~;_..-··~-ne- \¢1\ll~· .. t}t;li~- ~d ~~1e;U;la.:·~;~eal. tb:e.-aay ati6 :f~¥'::~*- :tti~· 9-~·fj;eat_e..-urst .TO)l:Q V. l\•• uoia7_ :~bl~~_. i.e _:_~4 ~Ci-- :-~!~ -::o:~tintl' ·attd au ea·. my- ooWaai-on e-Q.ire_e:.·->!U£Utt··a,~34. . . ,-- ·-.·--- Record~ a-t :r!rQ.u.-at or lhl.'i.an 'l'i-tl.e Xi1t.-:txo«itcie oo- ¥.« s 1\il-31--~t: -~-'Q·_t-hio·Ok·.i.M. ;p" .;$1.·.-QO O•I•M3WOPB..-- P'otni'.tr'·'!IE~• a5PJ. Bt' ;r .L.Sq:ui.rct• D'i1PUlY• •••1ft. ~l'il ,in: .~orie_Uttritilni·:o.r- 1i'btl _~'-fJ!l ot~r(•'l'fc~oi1JJI~ lip'lJ!OII~· :no .n&ra_._,_g~ tq ..:-.B·~1111tB1t -.uo-;-:,:!Jllt1.' m~·!l!!' Deed 4. Deed Boo~ 1901 Page 19. Grant Deed by A.P. Rotta and Stephna Rotta (cn:antor) to Eugema E. Robb (Grantee), Lot 8 Block 7 in Kensington Manor Umt 1. Recorded May 6, 1931. Deed 5. Deed Book 1899 Pages 64-65. Deed of Trust between Eugenia E. Robb (Trustor), Union Trust Company of San Diego (Trustee) and A.P. Rotta and Stephna Rotta (Beneficiary) for $1500.00 at 7% for Lot 8 Block 7 of Kensington Manor Unit 1. Recorded May 6, 1931. Deed 5. Deed Book 1899 Pages 66-67. Deed of Trust between Eugenia E. Robb (Trustor), Union Trust Company of San Diego (Trustee) and A.P. Rotta and Stephna Rotta (Beneficiary) for $1500.00 at 7% for Lot 8 Block 7 of Kensington Manor Unit I. Recorded May 6, 1931. ~q,J,i.--h~· _n-~&"l'SS_,..,.~O:.,_:~ .-'(.·'.~~~i..-ic·,;,;.._.--1 .• ll Al< ·.· .. ·.··. J . _,t~-.~-~Ji··:" . : -·_ . \~~€J::-_.:·. l:le.,O.,.~¥ · ";t ;o F~~ £Mi0. "':!5Ei2Z Deed 5. Deed Book 1899 Page 68. Deed of Trust between Eugenia E. Robb (Trustor), Union Trust Company of San Diego (Trustee) and A.P. Rotta and Stephna Rotta (Beneficiary) for $1500.00 at 7% for Lot 8 Block 7 of Kensington Manor Unit 1. Recorded May 6, 1931. Deed 6. Official Records Book 270 Pages 72-73. Release of Mortgage Mead-Haskell Company and A.P. Rotta and Steplma Rotta from July 1, 1930. Recorded January 23, 1934; also Deed of Trust Eugenia E. Robb (Trustor), Fidelity Mutual Corporation (Trustee), and Mead-Haskell Company (Beneficiary), recorded January 23, 1934; also Deed of Trust, Eugenia E. Robb (Trustor), Fidelity Mutual Corporation and A.P. Rotta and Steplma Rotta (Beneficiary) for $78!.00, recorded January 23, 1934. Deed 6. Official Records Book 270 Page 74. Release of Mortgage Mead-Haskell Company and A.P. Rotta and Stephna Rotta from July I, 1930. Recorded January 23, 1934; also Deed of Trust Eugenia E. Robb (Trustor), Fidelity Mutual Corporation (Trustee), and Mead-Haskell Company (Beneficiary), recorded January 23, 1934; also Deed of Trust, Eugenia E. Robb (Trustor), Fidelity Mutual Corporation and A.P. Rotta and Steplma Rotta (Beneficiary) for $781.00, recorded January 23, 1934. Deed 7. Official Records Book 259 Page 405. Full Reconveyance, Union Trust Company of San Diego to Eugenia E. Robb. Recorded January 23, 1934. 9,---.,tl (I) ::;l (1) p "' (1) (I) "' 0.. ,,, ~S"oo .. " " ~ !_ -l-~ ~ ! ~= 1 ~ ~ t! ~ ~-.§ [ (") ..., . ~ -~ I : g ~, ' ' •ii i! _; i r:! ! J~ g •• ~ ~ :'> a"':i1: : i ,. -::: F a fAg ~ ~> ~~s: -: ~ i ;, ~ g. t~ "._,. ~ --~ i:: .. t ~ ~ "' "' r; tl .. .., ~~ I !I g;t· f ,oVl -·0 (1)~ 0-..... ::s (1) . a o ~...,tn 8 8 &: a'AB o..o""(I) "" -· tlo..tn (I) (Zl...., () ~ s s ;S.Q" a" Jg a" ::>o..(I) "' § o"''-' '" ~ ~ - (") () '-0w""O -· ?';' ?' s·. 0 g::>:l ' g:~:-;-E :j i" r tl )! __ ~- ~- ; ,- Deed 8. Official Records Book 606 Page 146. Deed of Trust between Eugenia E. Robb and Jack G. Robb (Trustor), Corporation of America (Trustee), and Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association (Beneficiary) for Lot 8 Block 7 in Kensington Manor, for $3,800.00 at 5%. Recorded December 30, 1936. Deed 9. Official Records Book 1479 Page 275. Grant Deed from Eugenia E. Robb (Grantor) to Henry A. Pozner and Margarette S. Pozner, Lot 8 Block 7 in Kensington Manor Unit 1, Recorded April 6, 1943. ,] -'"'"'' !>1•'< '-'"' "'·"'""--"'' oo·e~\"" -•> ·to]. too•''" o·•>t 0''<' jN ;o;;\,O'ol-<·•l t>;· ~""'·''l'OI • •;:) i• '' ;,ll il.' l . , · ,,/". -, .. ,,. ··.-· "' , JWorF~O~ ot ''O,turcd o: ;: ::;,::;ciit:~:;,":: ·~,1")4~· ,~ '.) J.,Y., .. ., ~ I "''"-\"" >'' """\;lm-<"'' ~-'")/~ :L?niJ ,,. hl. '"'"'' •,Jt~ < ·~·· ,O'.L.l:· • '-''"' ~""'-.;:..:· . ,..,...;.._,.,.. ' ,,;c;."" "' L• ;,v ~-Ll_o.o•.·• .. •.. '""""' .c_f{t tB~O· ""'l :' •c\.,~ "~"-'"-: '"' '•> '!l'L' ' o Jl;: pu~mumto .,,,,!"<,, !• · ol" •ub""•·'.H. , _,., ·:::, ~:;; ·:·- ; '- p-~~~7~ ';">J\IT \' Lc_',-: '-'C .. ;>~·.-.· ''·" ...... , ..,,,, ,.,_,.,.,.,r ,:.-l'-1.·. ,,1;,. • .. o .,- ~··<'- "~>• :n~ n:'"" ~· ;;:·~:. ,.,.,, .. ,._. ·· f;J,._,,·, :o no:-n-, U.!< ~.,.1 c•' :,.,,,,, ;. :• "iLL' ,,,_,,l , " ''·' •,, .., "'-''' '·"·'• ""''' .. -, ~· ,., ph ·• ,., , .. :• · l e. "''~ nov '" run:-- ,-,, '"" '"~'""~' ,..... _ .,,). ,_,,,:, ~" ,, '"''"~ ~;t;.~ "'·•' ''"'·'' ,,. '"'"~ i !C ~C.lo ~··~ ~· "-''-""' _·,.-,-,! ,,,. '''" l•,'c' j"•,r,jo, ")! . _,:- '~· "~"';,,-,.. tc ~" c · ~ . Deed 10. (POOR ORIGINAL) Official Records Book 1488 Pages 90-91. Deed of Trust with Assignment of Rents between Henry A. Pozner and Margarette S. Pozner (Trustor) and Corporation of America (Trustee) and Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association (Beneficiary) for Lot 8 Block 7 in Kensington Manor Unit 1. Recorded April6, 1943. ,- \~- ' , L·.'l ;·:·1·; "''''' .. , ~ ..,,., .. ·,u:,;'io ,.,.,;,,,.,.,,,,, <'l· "'•<•J"'""""~'• I e.·''""·'~~ '~'i, !'••·'/",. oi "·''"'. , ~.~;~on ~""' ,-,·oeo,':,\;. v·.,c;••\oM,,\!o.,, ""',., •,:'~ .,,,. '•ro; t"~ "''""•" :.,, , ,, h'"·"'' I -;,_"_-.. ~"' ,.. ,,v.• ti• ''\.:''' .... , '' •· _, .,, .. .,,,,,1-,~o lf'f:'-"' '• ~'·" ;·,II. OJ'< 1~.>. l;l;o"1~ • ,, ; '••'-1 .,. Cj ;·!)e,:,<~•~ • :)1 .. ·.! ~, .. , _, ' •• _,,!,, -· ~··~•·c.J , .. ,. 7:·:·• . ·"·~ ~ ·:.· ,, ,.,;. L I· _.,, ... """" ,., ~,- ,, I '"er>!.:• .r !:: :I.e nJ>r·-:·· .. r,-; ... "le! ... '~ ""'-' o: , ... ,,,,•, ,,. -c~~. _.,_,..\ .,,."~"" ~~'"·"' "1<1' '" ~-·-··'" rt> '~'-" """""" ~"· '"·& ·-~:-- •.I', oo·;,. .. :,., . :-~o:.>r,,,. •··~·~'> '"' "•"• ,..,_..~:: po, '" ';<•tH, ,,-i,ln.; n~ M '"•,. · ,,,dv· "'''"' ''"""''"• .... " ·""''·'_,. ,.. .,-,,.,. .. ~· .. \--•-<' ...... ,.,, ''·'"'"• ""·' ,...... ~lh ''" '•loJ .)c: ce, • "'' '' ~. ,,.·,. · ''~,(O•J•, ;.,- '•~ "''· ;,.,, !C< -_, :l'lo" ''" l'•o!l''"' ~~- ' ""'·•'')d·"·" .,, ,.... ~ ,.,,_,., , ..,,~- 1\·UlC•.~, • , ""' •.; \" J ' Deed 10. (POOR ORIGINAL) Official Records Book 1488 Pages 92-93. Deed of Trust with Assignment of Rents between Henry A. Pozner and Margarette S. Pozner (Trustor) and Corporation of America (Trustee) and Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association (Beneficiary) for Lot 8 Block 7 in Kensington Manor Unit 1. Recorded April6, 1943. Deed 10. (POOR ORIGINAL) Official Records Book 1488 Pages 94-95. Deed of Trust with Assignment of Rents between Henry A. Pozner and Margarette S. Pozner (Trustor) and Corporation of America (Trustee) and Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association (Beneficiary) for Lot 8 Block 7 in Kensington Manor Unit I. Recorded April6, 1943. Deed 11. Official Records Book 3623 Page 355. Release of Lien from the State of California Department of Employment to Henry A. Pozner. Recorded May 17, 1950. Deed 11. Official Records Book 3623 Page 356-358. Release of Lien from the State of California Department of Employment to Henry A. Pozner. Recorded May 17, 1950. NOW, TUF,fl~.:l!'~,Jo ~'~""·"Of,;..., ID?•1n><~1;" """'·I~~"'"'"' "'· p"~"''"'"'""'" '""'"''"'"''" >ko .,.....;:,;;.,; 'i::~:·~~~;;'. :!r~~;,:;;:~~~;;;,,J;'~":;.~[.";t,~;;':,r:'~,;,,~~.";':~;f~~~',;, :,~rn>l> ''"· h>=• Qimuili "-"""'"""' """'-""""" 10 '=""" 5_ _ • ,; wl:b '"'~""~ '""''"''"' i~~.,ll of W:nm:l ~~~~~;~;l;::::;~~:E~~~f:E.~~ss..;:~ri~~;:?~~~~~~~~r=~~i·~~r- .~~:z:~~~!at.~r1~ ""''""' ""''~'ll,, ""i'""""'~"'--.l'""''""bl'""''""'' '""''""''"'"'"'~"'"""' ){I>,Y_ 1\l )J!_ TWIS D'f;~:J? \W U{!'Sl', ;no Co ;\1;~- .16~i:l ilil}''lf ·"·,·· __ ,.. ., .. , ..: ... ~;-·" ., ;.,,;.. ,,.,,;:.... ;;;,:,~.. :;;~.;,,;.~ ~""-"I BK.f\\'Rli:N HENRY A, P.O?;l-l)l;ll._ o;.;1.<\ fU\R<:'A,~J;'_Tlt. l/.· _f'02;J'I~;R .. 1mr ) ilN o( Th, fimt r:cel, !•ecdH•'!tO< col!O £LI'UJjE!!'~L U.. t/J'..llSii.OR~H ·•J',I_.,,l.N TU\J9T, WI'Cl' J'OW"" Cff "AL>O ':'•>< 'C~•IM"""'"'""' f:!l_,,~ . ' )Hr '•'"" ,\ \•llr\ l"'Jenafbl ""'1<>.1 th" 'l'lHJ:~~rF.r,;, a,h<'l. IRV;[Il J. KAlil! _e_~cl M'i'IP A. :lafJ Di~pD "'"'' "' '-'"H'om"'- *''~''"""" ~· BJ .. OGK Let Jl;lo;ht (B), Bloc. 1\'l'!'h~:~: '!!L l,,,·t1l1."''""t~ ,•r.•' nt th~ ti "~ ''"''ilill~!'till-' flt~<;MI, 1'~>" r.~bJ1> "P~l~tv-•.t, II<> 'l'.J!':Ol) t<.> "R:O to l]J1f!ll J; X.tlm ~-t,•l_OAVlP .!J., !'!).()()'(:OJ:', o>'•}~,-., pt !'"" Di~w·. C -·;]::;;;:tfZ.-"'il'<7,~-,;·------~ -T:7t:f,:.~;:,.. ;;rt.r"'lf".~-w?------ ",.,,;,;, 1 ,.;"'!'·lniH'''"''~·-· Deed 12. Book 3623 Pages 421-422. Deed of Trust between Henry A. Pozner and Margarette S. Pozner (Trustor) and Elizabeth M. Wadsworth (Trustee), and Irvin l Kahn and David A. Block (Beneficiary), Promissory Note for $5450.00 at 5% secured by Lot 8 Block 7 in Kensington Manor Unit 1. This was a Second Deed of Trust. Recorded May 17, 1950. ·i_F':~J--i:i:i~: ~i ; f .l;'"~ ~~z~it: .. ' ' ··.•1.·1ft~~..... ~.·.'. " ..·.··.~·.'.'~~·.·· ti\;g; .. ,. ·'·~l~ -,8:- Deed 12. Book 3623 Pages 423-424. Deed of Trust between Henry A. Pozner and Margarette S. Pozner (Trustor) and Elizabeth M. Wadsworth (Trustee), and Irvin J. Kahn and David A. Block (Beneficiary), Promissory Note for $5450.00 at 5% secured by Lot 8 Block 7 in Kensington Manor Unit 1. This was a Second Deed of Trust. Recorded May 17, 1950. 'he h<·"l .,r Tm•t m•d~: "''" ul~d '""I ddh-e"'l "" O~t.®er .lt'th ------• • • • . HE!{!'{! A, P02NtE a:~d 1/"J.WJlll.l!:T'r!: S, POZ!mlo•:h.UI!!Wid ami :rrih _. - - • •-- • • ~ 1 -- • --- ~- •------• ------.,-- --~ •.•• ------'''T'"'''" ( '"'"''"''"''"' Al"""'"· ~ <:tli~•niu Grrr-•"'li<~t. o> Tfu~lff fnr ),1id !>~nelic>"'f· ~-hiolt Dc..:d ,( 'i'L'"" ""' · . ,,,,J"I '"' OctcbeT 15th • • , I'I 116 ;., tl•c .,!lk<<>f tho C ., , ''' "''"'" II:• T""''' ,,..;, r •.u.! llcc·d "' 'l'rt'>t '" "~"""'')' tlt;•pn·•~i><~ '1·. '"'''"'·,[ i"' '""']""'· ,,.~;" Ji>uph. 4»1l.!! .,. l:t~r.. .I'1Jt.h.&. All'flw;t._~.:o ... <>/,1~ 5':'-'.E ;;i?' C'\),IHlll:>H !<.\\'I; Ill .1.\ll'llll ..·l :0,:.~1'1< 1:..:~1. TklSI' .\.\'ll : ~'oet!Q·eotrp~ sa~o:n:'!l·~PfA:!O ·wv;s ili'OSBI c.:-:A'fi'l ~-· ~>~ +~~ I \J! 1 .J.N'tdNOO !Sfll!! J ittll IDBNi.OOll . dO J.s;TO.b".it\ JY 02(pm:)3N ~~:~, 1! I Y. ,:: d ""!!! Im!Wil?QII t; ;:,:; !ll "' '-4~!' '''llH·: "i! "':~ ',, "~ :4 < ,.. 'I ~ "\ : ,\ ' "~.. --::-4 . ;..;( "'·t",• y'S ~\ \:j.:).,¥:.:.;: \lit::!~·~~.! ~J'.% "'- ' gg§ ··~ r; . 't~ I ~YJ~ ""'""' ~ ~t~ i;,, ~ ' ~~,I !i j ~ I;-) Deed 13. Official Records Book 3629 Pages 342-343. Deed of Reconveyance between Henry A. Pozner and Margarette S. Pozner and Elizabeth J, Wadsworth. Recorded May 22, 1950. .J~n:~., .f,1tr:.rJt4f'.f...... ,_. ______...... ·····------ alL ...... "'r-ight, titl ...... , 1-9 .... X~ .. and aecur11d by a trust deed tothe;S:Otr.i.'HlirRN T:rrLE & TRUS~T' COMPANY, a Corporation, 'l'nl:!!-tee, together with all OO.Uetici.cl inU!r-e·ut tmder !mid trunt il.eOO, uaid M~ and trust deed having bee~:~ executed by.... R(ti\T.:t ...~,,._ .. P..o.~n~.\·.. r..n:'... ;~;:r,;.-:u~m:!::.t.B:-5~- ...... ')" ...... , Md Whieb. aaid trust d~d-'WM ~orded-on the .... .J.lli... da.y of...... i~\.l.!l.-- ...... , ...... 11},$fl .... , ftt·the·ofdee· Of the ~r of San-Dlego · ~'i'AT.-E ... OF :-c_Ai:a_·:FORN_~- -~ CCftJN'l:'Y Ol!' ·SAN ·bj:EQO ~tt- ..... _.. , ...... , 19... .59 .nall:leil. ::-.r.r::...... ~sii:~eriOOd to the withiJ;l to me thll'L...... J.heY... - ____ ...... Jnte~;uted·tbe- $artie-. W:ITl'iiESS my band and O!fieia:l S~al. _...... ,r / ( - .d .. . ·"''· c, ./":-' ~--&~:if~t~~~;;-~;,~;~j'dj;(l;t;.~-- Deed 14. Official Records Book 3853 Page 153. Assignment ofNote and Trust Deed between Emma Oberoff and Henry A. Pozner and Margarette S. Pozner. Recorded November 8, 1950. noix31f74 ri>n 'J!l'i'tn & '1'11.!15'!' COMP.IINI, .9. M':rp<:~r&Uon, s:1< t:!:'lmio;a :l.n ~mid. de0oi o'f t:rru~t in i;h~ ··~'·j.fst;:~>n~~=t'l.,t &<"iit ~""Jl.ce~~ t lilLlZ£ilJ'il'l! M. W.aDSli'Oiln\, th Pn1l1:i..c, in and i'o, s .. ~d Co=t:t el'ld. Statl:l, :personal~ t>l;lJtSM"Sd i-LIZ~ xd~"'-«~(j'anry- A. Po ' l\. W1J)S'Ii'OP.':l'fi, !mc..ro. t £~n?-?vM' £?.-4.-ftL~ lti'tll:SSS my h.md !l'Ild oi':ticiel s-Gi!!l tha dsr ru:td. y(\1'\l' 1l:r. this esrt:itiea:tc EW~A o:n:sJmow· ;: ~ C .. • J. I ) /. ; !J;.'Ilt :>;b1:>Y\l vt'it~<.l!!-o _.(_:·-Y;; c.J,.__v::...._ ?1 · • i'·""'- r;..:vr.--v .. .,_Jct.·A. Xl.io;ai~ l'uCl.i~ in aad i:<>'r l>;d.d Om:mt$' ,o.nrl Sl;,,t.,, p¢1"G l1""'gaz-crllt!i S. ?~~:c!~:t. h :r~~.-·{~iiJrj;~e: ±n~t""""'nt >UlP. <>.t,),;uovlc ~.:~.--····· :w·~·~;; my h~ ..n(,. offi(licl "ual th<~ d!:Q'" l.l:J... t .-t_f '~--·:· - .:-t' -..... _;,;, .. ·· N<:~tll.l'Y P<_ibl:i" in lltlil. to:t" ~rll,{C;uatf-<.Wll S-tn1-1fl ?--q-- Deed 15. Official Records Book 3874 Pages 327, Substitution and Appointment of Trustee in Deed of Trust between Henry A Pozner and Margarette S. Pozner substituting Southern Title & Trust Company in place of Elizabeth M, Wadsworth, Recorded November 24, 1950, ""''31J:}7 ~·o; ~· "'""3957 ,,,, 33 r;:,-,-,-C"'O"'F-C-A:;::.;~--~---- UID!li'lJl'Ui>J. - --~ NO'!'!t.'E O!';DE!'At'l.:r !'>liD WC'!'!OII TO Slru:. I' ' __ Cot>nly c.! So~ Do"~:", p• I 1',!. {il ! U!milll D~ 0!' 'll'ill.lliiT mo 1 ~~{or• ~\•dor.ogn<~ " Nn~•ry '' ''"'"'''''''CC" ,, ... .o:.l1)c ~I'P'-""' 0' l ,.-.,..,?5~ .. --- -b<,.0 ·r-~~·-··--·----~---~····--··-- (Xl>~X'O;tll.'l"ioN ,--··-·--·~-- "-·-·------T "'"" Eu '''"'"" ol>Y otlm on'"" ot "'""'~ wh!oh ml"h' """"""' """ """ ""'>·'"'" »ndm· '"' '"'"' o< ,,ld """"'or'!'"""'"'' o;T.WE OF CALl FORNI.'>. 1 I W:miG.I\S, nll L'lr,b.t, tith ;md i!lt~resl; b> t>t>d ~o $EL10. fiaed of '""·"" au ,~od ,;~;;;;;j..~,;;~·;-;,·;·;,;,f,:,',';,idCo""'""",i ,.,,, Wlil01t1M.~. '" '"'"'~"'"• W1lh '·"" "'~>Ei>lm" OJ ""'" D•ml of "h"i!'!, an :!i'l""' i': ('-..,., ·'[\ ' •' ~ "'ffi0 *"a:;_l!.::: 0 ·-\·" ·, -~g.· ;Jc ),>!::"> Deed 16. Official Records Book 3957 Pages 33-34. Notice ofDefau1t and Election to Sell Under Deed of Trust. Henry A Pozner and Margarette S. Posner as Trustees in favor of Irvin J. Kahn and David A. Block for Lot 8 in Block 7 of Kensington Manor Unit L Recorded January 31, 1951. ..,.,._~_,_~""·--- '"'"""' ~,-;;,;~: ..::.,..;-,--- :·':·-:..:-.=-;. t,--_:,, -~--,;.;·,,!_,,.,:.;.,,.~ ---~=~·"--.-:.c.=· ....__=,, -="=-~-~"-"'"'"'~~-==-,-~--"-~·~· -·~·-~--o ~.J:fp. 'J5?o,..f" !;..4-~;!_i.5 ~-· ~ 1 -r,----· ---· aoo"W8!hr;;443 STA'l"i: OF CALllroRN!A, 1 l-1~~50 m'.ilOl11B!OlLW l!O'.mJ:Il OF DID'AlJtO- ..mD m' ~mug ot 1!0<1 Dh;gc. l ""' lol:IJ:C'~t® IJ'(l till1Sl!l-!AAOP.Illll:l'Y ':0 llZ l!otn· u/IlliGR • Oi'- 'l'm!a!l' ···-··-M.l' .l!Uboorlho~ fu tho witi!in I ·l ill th~ O:r:f1ce of th~ C=nt~ ltoeo-..<~o~ of U:" Ccrullt;r of S~n Di~go, $tal.~ nf Cnlifo;rni t=•t, ,.lticlJ. notl..,., """ r""""d"i Ja> The w--.del"tlil;\"l"'ld_hn ~ dec~~U ~o l'e&cted ~dd nntic~ rru! ha " inohuobd sai.id prO]lerWo !!C'l!, TE:IJ.P.J!ll'OR:;;J, the undBt'd;V>~d do €111 hareey, ;ri~hmlt proJudl.ce, """cil1d 1 "'~g "' jlI ~','-'~ I' -L·,, -\{'I :., ~-• ""-Mel \'!l>ol. .,_,-HMt-nt< oai I Deed 17. Official Records Book 4089 Pages 443-444. Rescission of Notice of Default and of Election to Cause Property to be Sold Under Deed of Trust for Henry A. Pozner and Margarette S. Pozner to Southern Title & Trust Company as Trustee for Lot 8 in Block 7 of Kensington Manor Unit L Recorded May 8, 195L