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Cosmopolitan Chronicle Compilation

Cosmopolitan Chronicle Compilation

Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 1 San Diego, Alta California, February 18, 2008 Price: Free

DISCOVERING THE the adobe--frame building to unexposed roof rafters. Such its use as the Cosmopolitan Hotel, design features certainly existed UNKNOWN: which opened in 1869. in the 19th-century Spanish and The first phase of this project Mexican domestic architecture The Casa de Bandini/ began in April and May of 2007 and California’s missions, but Cosmopolitan Hotel. when Larry Felton, a Senior State are rarely founf in the homes of Parks Archaeologist; Robert 19th-century California’s remote Robinson, the District engineer; frontier. Building the adobe Victor A. WAlsh. and Nini Monovi, an archaeology required a core group of highly San Diego Coast District Historian. project manager, began removing skilled workmen. sample sections of the building’s “The building was very well exterior stucco to analyze its designed,” says Coons. “It has he Casa de Bandini, construction history in terms of important and intricate Spanish- erected between 1827­ materials, features (i.e., doors and Colonial details generally not 1829, is one of the most T windows), and condition. associated with the domestic historicallysignificantbuildingsin With assistance from Bruce architecture of 19th-century California. Used first as a home by Coons of SOHO, the project’s California.” Juan Bandini and his family and historicalconsultant,andSteveVan Samples of historic fabric so later adapted and converted into Wormer,ahistoricalarchaeologist, far uncovered are in surprisingly a hotel, apartment, olive factory, the team is beginning to uncover good condition. This is especially and restaurant. The building a fascinating glimpse into the evident with the exposed sections is a rarity because of its long building’s construction history. In of adobe block on the first story. history, distinctive archetectural 1869, for instance, when Albert “We did not expect to find this,” character, and association with Seeley converted the single-story says Robinson, “because the significant people and events in adobe into a two-story, adobe­ adobe is covered with a stucco the state’s history. wood-framehotel,hisconstruction exterior (applied during the The concessionaire, Delaware crewspatchedthefirst-flooradobe 1930s), which generally prevents North, Parks and Resorts at San with brick and mud, ised iron-cut adobe from breathing or getting Diego LLC is contributing a nails, and thin mill-sawn rewood rid of moisture. Beneath the stucco minimum of $2 million to restore lap siding. exterior we foud to our surprise a and rehabilitate this historic Inspection of the building also lime plaster primer. We think that landmark. In April 2006, the San reveals that is was unusual in the limep laster possible acted as a Diego Coast District of California terms of its level of architectural barrier to wick the moisture away State Parks was awarded a $1.8 sophistication. The original from the adobe.” million matching grant from the first floor adobe had built-in, California Cultural and Hisotircal adobe-layared cornices and Endowment (CCHE) to restore Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 2 San Diego, Alta California, March 4, 2008 Price: Free

DISCOVERING THE A discovery, recently different. The trench on the west uncovered, pertains to side contains fist-size cobbles, the building’s cobblestone four layers deep, with that UNKNOWN: foundation on the Calhoun on the opposite side contains The Casa de Bandini/ Street side. Directly below a pebbles and almost no cobbles. partially exposed door frame The foundation on the west side Cosmopolitan Hotel. between the 2nd and 3rd is the original foundation, while windows, Steve Van Wormer, that on the east side is obviously Victor A. WAlsh. an historical archaeologist, has more recent, probably dating San Diego Coast District Historian. begun to excavate portions back to the god rush in Van of the foundation. Larry Wormer’s opinion. he Casa de Bandini/ Felton, a Senior State Parks What is really interesting Cosmopolitan Hotel is Archaeologist, selected this site and readily apparent is that the T a priceless historical to examine because the exterior original foundation extends out resource. Originally completed adobe wall on the west side of more than a foot and then slopes. in 1829, its history spans 175 the door frame is thicker that This sloped sections served as years. It was the hub of social and the wall of the east side. This a splash guard to deflect water political activities in Old Town suggests that the adobe, as dripping off the roof overhead San Diego during Mexican rule. originally constructed in 1827­ in order to control erosion. This It served as the headquarters of 1829, ended here. indicates that the original one- Commodore Robert F. Stockton The foundations on the west story Bandini adobe did not during U.S. military occupation and east sides are noticeably have a veranda on the Calhoun- in 1846. After the Civil War, Street side or most likely on the it became one of Southern Mason-Street side. California’s most important “What interests me most about hotel-stage stops. the build,” says Van Wormer, Over the many years, in “is its extensive history and spite of many alterations, the how little we really know about grand old building retains a its construction. We have the most distinctive architectural (Mariano Guadalupe) Vallejo character. There are few drawing (ca 1830s) that shows historic buildings remaining in the number of rooms and their the state that rival its scale as uses, but we have nothing that representative of a nineteenth- I know of about the building’s century commercial building construction techniques.” that combined Mexican adobe and American wood-framing construction techniques. Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 3 San Diego, Alta California, March 14, 2008 Price: Free

There were seven rooms, a In May of 1846, he ordered 50 THE CASA & THE DON. zaguán or entrance hall, an inner pieces of glass, all 8x10 inches, and rear patio, outdoor kitchen, to installed paned, wood-framed Victor A. WAlsh. corral, and shed for rigging and windows in the house. San Diego Coast District Historian. harnessing horses. The rooms The following year, he had thick adobe walls, ceilings replanted the rear garden with ld homes, like old of heavy muslin, and deep-set “beautiful flowers.” He also aquaintances, bear windows with shutters. remodeled the patio, lining it O witness to times gone Alfred Robinson, the with potted plants and replacing by. No place prehaps better shipping agent for Bryant and the rough cobblestone with clay reflects this truism that the Sturgis, described the stately brick. The hand-dug well was Casa de Bandini, which was whitewashed adobe in 1829 as replaced with a deep brick- built between 1827 and 1829 in a “mansion,...when completed, lined well, most likely built by old San Diego by Juan Bandini (will) surpass any other in this a Mormon mason. Bandini also (1800-1859). country.” The home was the built a small wooden bathhouse Married to Dolores Estudillo pride of this frontier outpost, a for the comfort and privacy of and, after her death, Refugio symbol of Bandini’s elite status his daughters when they visited. Argüello, the daughters of two and love of fine things. An accomplished musician influential Spanish Californio The casa’s appearance was and dancer, Bandini often hosted families, Bandini carved out an important to the Don for parties on the veranda-enclosed illustrious career as a politician, another very important reason: patio. He hired guitarists and civic leader, and rancher. His his love of family. “Bandini violinists and on one occasion American sons-in-law included loves his family,” says Cynthia in 1849, a contortionist–a young Colonel Cave Couts, a prominent Hernandez, who is translating boy with flexible bones (soltura San Diego rancher, and Abel his lengthy correspondence with de huesos)–to entertain family Stearns, the wealthy Los Angeles son-in-law Stearns. “he really and friends. trader and cattle baron. misses his daughters (arcadia To Bandini, a man driven by According to Mariano and Ysidora_, and wants them an exacting sense of duty, caring Guadalupe Vallejo’s 1829 to visit as often as they can.” for the house meant caring for drawing, the Bandini residence Bandini set about refurbishing the family. It was his testament was originally U-shaped with the home and grounds in the to times gone by. two wings extending along mid-1840s to entice his married present-day Juan and Calhoun daughters to visit him and Streets our form the plaza. Refugio on a more regular basis. Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 4 San Diego, Alta California, March 27, 2008 Price: Free

Riverside, where he harvested ankle...Her partner,...rattled THE CASA & THE DON. timber, including . away with his feet with wonderful The floors in the other rooms dexterity. His arms were thrown Victor A. WAlsh. were either compact earth or clay carelessly behind his back, and San Diego Coast District Historian. time. In her memoir, Arcadia secured, as they crossed, the Bandini Brennan, a great grand points of his serape,... y the 1840s, Juan niece of Juan Bandini, noted an In this same room, Don Bandini’s casa grande interesting household practice she Bandini laid plans in 1831 (large house) on the plaza had heard from her grandaunt to successfully overthrow B Tia. “She told me that ...the floors Governor Manuel Victoria, met had emerged as the hub of San Diego’s social and political life. were fixed by having the ground representatives from the Padres- The home had between 12 and in each well swept, then wet Hijar expedition in 1834, and 14 rooms, a curved clay tile roof, down by buckets of water. When plotted against Governor Juan and a large sala, or front parlor dry, green grasses or soft leafy Bautista Alvarado in 1836-1837. room, where Bandini held lavish branches were put out all over, In 1846, he greeted Commodore parties and political meetings. It evenly laid and the beautiful rugs Robert F. Stockton in his sala, measured 33 feet (Mason Street) were rolled out.” offering his house as Stockton’s by 16 feet (Calhoun Street). The sala was specialtotheDon. military headquarters. “Señor Bandini’s adobe is the It was the first room to be blessed Recently, State Park’s on- finest house in town. The parlor in 1829 by a Catholic padre. It site inspection team uncovered is a fine, large room with a white was where Bandini entertained, the tongue and Douglas pine floor, so worn from dancing gathered with friends, and flooring (albeit in a very thattheknotsproject.Onthewalls plotted Alta California’s political deteriorated condition) that are several fox hunting scenes and destiny. Albert Seeley put down in the a picture of Washington. On the The New England shipping sala in 1869. There’s no evidence clock case–a Yankee clock– is the agent Alfred Robinson left an of the original pine floor, but “it’s American flag,” wrote Major S. evocative account of a fiesta that possible we could find remnants P. Heintzelman of the U.S. Army he witnessed at Bandini’s home of it,” says historical consultant on May 16, 1849. in 1833. In the brightly-lit sala, Bruce Coons. “We are not Exactly where Bandini thronged with people, Robinson finished, and we are learning acquired the knotted pine and a graceful couple perform something new every day about other materials that graced his Mexico’s national dance, el jarabe. this remarkable building.” home is uncertain. It could have The female dancer...cast her come by ship from San Francisco, eyes to the floor whilst her hand from the forest of the Cuyamaca, graceful held the of her or perhaps Bandini’s rancho in , suspending it above the Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 5 San Diego, Alta California, April 11, 2008 Price: Free

THE ART OF HISTORIC The cement stucco dates work crews used cut nails with an back to the 1930 renovation almost . The redwood DETECTION. undertaken by Cave Couts Jr. siding on the 1872-1874 addition It is layered over chicken wire on the eastern extremity of the Victor A. WAlsh. and tar paper, which, in turn, veranda is grooved drop siding, San Diego Coast District Historian. covers the mill sawn redwood not clapboard siding. clapboard installed by Albert Samples of the hotel’s original Seeley as siding in 1869 for his redwood door and window trim nraveling the mysteries hotel. have also been uncovered, along of historic construction with imprints of the original practices, especially U window sills. The sills extend in a building as old as the 179­ further out than the existing sills year old Casa de Bandini, which installed in 1930. underwent major renovations, requires above all else a commitment to the art of detection. “There is nothing like firsthand evidence,” the legendary fictional English detective, Sherlock Holmes, once quipped. The problem is The boards are approximately finding the evidence—in this six inches in height with a case, remnants of historic fabric narrow top or lip, which widens dating back to the building’s toward the base. The base of use as the Cosmopolitan Hotel the adjoining board overlaps or or even earlier when it was the covers about 1 residence of Juan Bandini. 1/2 inches of the other board’s lip. Over the past three weeks, The heavy residue of leadbase State Parks’ on-site inspection suggests that the siding team, headed by archaeologist was originally reddish brown. Larry Felton and engineer Clapboard siding helped to Robert Robinson, began economize on nail usage—in removing sample sections of the this case, the lip and base of the exterior stucco façade on the adjoining boards were held in second story overlooking the place with a single nail. Seeley’s rear courtyard. Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 6 San Diego, Alta California, April 18, 2008 Price: Free

THE ART OF HISTORIC In addition, engineer Robert available at Home Depot and DETECTION (PART 2). Robinson and historical other local outlets. In 2008, it consultant Bruce Coons have generally costs contractors less been able to identify porch money to buy new materials Victor A. WAlsh. beams and purloins from the than to reuse existing ones San Diego Coast District Historian. Cosmopolitan Hotel in several because of code requirements boarded-up sections on the and availability of reproduced he 1930 rehabilitation second story. Robinson and authentic-looking, historical by Couts is critical Coons also discovered the 1869 materials. T to understanding veranda roofline of the hotel The reuse of on-site historic the design, dimensions, and (18 inches below the existing fabric—the “firsthand evidence” materials used in building the roofline) and what appears to be to borrow from Sherlock Cosmopolitan Hotel in 1869. an original veranda post in the Holmes—is the most important Why? Unlike today, Couts’ downstairs kitchen. informational source about a work crews salvaged and reused All of this indicates that the building’s history. Nothing— a wide variety of materials from building contains more historic historic photographs, drawings, Seeley’s hotel, including porch fabric than initially anticipated. written records, or off-site roof decking, beams, purloins, “Our project to rebuild the salvaged materials—can replace and even balcony posts. The hotel,” says Robinson, “thanks it. country then was mired in a to Couts reusing a lot of the Great Depression, and it was material from Seeley’s period is prohibitively costly to replace really a restoration.” existing building materials with Continuing, he further shipped goods. explains: “With the exception of Before stuccoing the second- the roof, we have lots of samples story walls, Couts’ work crews of original fabric, and we know boarded-up the doorframes, where they were located. That’s windows, and other open spaces pretty remarkable—materials of the hotel with roof decking (from 1869) that still exist after from the Seeley veranda . “Couts nearly two lifetimes.” reuse of original materials from What can we conclude from the Seeley period,” says Larry this? Unlike the depression- Felton, “has allowed us to ridden 1930s when Couts identify the original locations renovated the Cosmopolitan Archaeologist Larry Felton measuring and dimensions of the doors and Hotel, today, mass-produced previously hidden opening. windows of the hotel.” building materials are readily Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 7 San Diego, Alta California, April 25, 2008 Price: Free

OF WORDS & NAILS. talking about–I couldn’t picture showed them the that were the tools he was sending, and it used back then. was hard to translate something I Todd asked me about the items cynthiA hernAndez. had no idea what it looked like or and I gave him the translation I Archaeological Project how it was used. Due to my lack had in English, and he showed me Leader/Interpreter. of knowledge in blacksmithing each and gave me the correct (and tools in general) I decided names. It was so wonderful to urrently, one of my to ask somebody that knew about be able to see how history was assignments is translating this matter, so I went to ask Steve coming alive in Todd’s hands, C letters written by Juan Van Wormer, an archaeologist because using the same tools Bandini, dating from 1841 to 1859, who is currently working on the Bandini mentioned in his letter, in connection with the restoration of Cosmopolitan Hotel project, and is Todd made a beautifully decorated the Casa de Bandini/Cosmopolitan a blacksmith. iron nail from scratch! It all made Hotel. Translating historical He was very interested in this sense after watching him using documentsisafunchallengebecause the forge and tools and listening to sometimes you need to learn about him explain the process. Watching things you never thought you would him work made me realize how need to know, in order to translate important blacksmithing was back the documents better. This was the in the 1800s, and that it is a trade case of a very interesting letter I that requires dexterity, knowledge came across that Bandini wrote to and strength. This experience his son-in law Abel Stearns in 1841 helped me realize how important stating he was sending him some the information in that letter is, blacksmithing tools: how valuable the knowledge of the Living History program in Old “I am sending you with the Town is, how we can help each wagon the pieces of the forge other to do a better interpretive that I am enumerating: job, and also appreciate the artistry 1 anvil letter and helped me with the tool that is inside every historical object 2 headers names, but I needed tosee the actual that I, as an archaeologist, find in 9 cold /hot cut tools to better understand them. excavations in Old Town. That was chisels and chisels/punches So he suggested that I talk to the possible thanks to an old letter and 12 dies/taps blacksmiths in Old Town. I went to a little iron nail. 1 or 2 hammers/hardy see Todd Caffo and Beth Holmberg 11 bits” who are part of the Living History Program. I told them about the After a few minutes trying to letter and that I needed help with translate this letter I realized that the tools. They were also very I didn’t know what Bandini was interested in this letter because it Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 8 San Diego, Alta California, May 2, 2008 Price: Free

THE CHALLENGE work crews. a deep trench with the exposed Beneath this layer of stucco, cobblestone footing. “Imagine OF HISTORIC staff made a major discovery. if you can—at this corner A thick lime plaster had been (where Mason and Calhoun PRESERVATION. applied to the adobe wall. “Lime streets meet), the foundation plaster was used,” explains Bill was pedestaled up from the Victor A. WAlsh. Mennell, State street almost four feet to the San Diego Coast District Historian. Park’s general manager of the adobe block.” project, “because stucco will Third, the veranda that estoring the Casa de not stick to adobe.” Albert Seeley constructed in Bandini, a building Chicken wire was attached 1869 also helped protect the R with a long and storied to the block with wire nails adobe walls from water run-off past that underwent major and staples to hold the plaster and rain. rehabilitations,toitsappearance in place. The exposed adobe, The condition of the adobe as the Cosmopolitan Hotel which dates back to at least raises an interesting question. poses some real challenges. the Cosmopolitan Hotel era, According to Larry Felton, the Oftentimes, there is no perfect is in excellent condition. project’s lead archaeologist, decision about how best to Nobody expected this because removing the nails may create preserve, retain, or restore nonporous materials like stucco a “major risk to the long-term historic fabric. trap moisture causing adobe to conservation of the adobe.” Let’s take an example. Over melt and eventually crumble. Under the circumstance, the last year, State Park’s staff There are many plausible retaining the stucco may be and consultants have removed explanations for the adobe’s an acceptable alternative to sections of the exterior stucco surprisingly good condition. removing it. on the first floor. They have First, the lime plaster While this treatment may discovered two layers of stucco. insulated the adobe from the help preserve the historic The most recent layer is made stucco, allowing it to breathe adobe, it compromises the goal of Portland cement. About a and wick away moisture. of restoration because the adobe quarter-inch deep and painted Second, the way the building walls were a highly visible, off-white, it was applied in was originally designed on character-defining feature of the early 1950s when Frank an elevated, level cobblestone the Cosmopolitan. They Cardwell owned the building. footinghelpedminimizeground should be visible for people to Beneath it is another layer of moisture. “The grade drops see. But how to do this without cement stucco finished in a fine, quite a bit as it approaches damaging them, and insure hard, buff color, which was put the plaza,” says archaeologist ongoing maintenance? This on in 1930 by Cave Couts Jr.’s Steve Van Wormer, pointing at may be the real challange. Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 9 San Diego, Alta California, May 9, 2008 Price: Free

there are no artifacts, or any historic photographers, plumbers, THE LANGUAGES indication of human habitation. plasterers, roofers, wood OF RESTORATION. Shear or lateral load: workers, and other trades This is an engineer’s term and professions involved in WilliAm F. mennell. that considers the imparted historic restoration have their San Diego Coast District horizontal force, primarily due own unique sets of terms or Services Manager. to wind and seismic loading, languages. upon a structure. Working out ways to PartsperMillion :Thistermis effectively communicate is itness marks. Down used to define the concentration important for all involved. to sterile. Shear load. of hazardous material (e.g. lead) Sometimes it is done by W Parts per million. in mediums such as floor/wall meetings, reports, drawings, Primary source. Historic fabric. tiles, or painted surfaces. photos, or e-mails. Sometimes it These are some of the terms Primary source: This may be just pointing. used in historic restoration. An term is used by historians, Sometimes a translator is entire dictionary of such terms anthropologists, and other needed. “The profile of a pit is could be created, and we would social scientists. It refers to the side of a hole.” “Shear load still miss a number of them. a document, transcription or is a sideways push.” Sometimes Historic restoration represents other written source left by a it is learning some of the other “multiple languages” because person who lived during the vernaculars. it involves different types of period being studied. In the A reconstruction site can workers and specialists. case of the Cosmopolitan Hotel soundlike asymphonyorchestra For example, witness marks restoration that period would warming up. is a term used by conservators, be the late 19th century when Violins screech, drums beat, carpenters, paint analysts, the hotel operated. horns and woodwinds play masons and others to identify Historic fabric: This apparently oblivious to each marks left on wood or other term is used by historians to other. materials that shows where identify materials, such as scream, scrape, something used to be, but has wood, paint, wallpaper, adobe, hammers pound, boards creak, been removed. Witness marks or furnishings, that date back people yell over the noise. could refer to paint lines, screw to the period of the building’s Both seemingly chaotic or nail holes, and indentations existence–in this case roughly collaborations then somehow left by the removed material. the late 19th century. progress to a magnificent Down to sterile: This is Architects, archaeolgists, unified purpose. an archaeological term that carpenters, electricians, engineers, indicates that the dig has equipmentoperators,landscapers, gone down to the point where Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 10 San Diego, Alta California, May 16, 2008 Price: Free

take care of Stearns’ properties, One particularly funny letter JUAN BANDINI: and for health reasons as well. talks about the way Bandini A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE. Several letters reveal that would worry about his daughter Bandini was always thinking of Arcadia. The Estudillo ladies cynthiA hernAndez. the well-being of his family. He (who were Arcadia’s aunts) were Archaeological Project would send items that Stearns going to pay a visit to Stearns Leader/Interpreter. had requested to Los Angeles and and Arcadia in Los Angeles, but sometimes Bandini would add Bandini wanted to warn Stearns little packets containing presents about these ladies, although uan Bandini’s personal for his daughters. At the end of very honorable and with an letters dating from one letter he told Stearns: “please irreproachableconduct,theywere J 1841 to 1859 to his son- don’t forget to give Ysidorita the very fond of presents. Bandini in-law Abel Stearns found in packet that contains white cotton said they would do anything the Huntington Library are a cloth for her to make some possible to persuade Arcadia to magnificent source of historic and to give Arcadia the little give them things they liked in her information, but they are more ring that accompanies the cloth.” house as presents, and because than that. They let us perceive He would ask to be sent golden Arcadia is very kind she would the every-day life, personality, thimbles, combs and needles for not be able to refuse, so Bandini and feelings of Juan Bandini, an his daughters and wife. In one says to avoid this visit at all cost important figure in the history of letter Bandini asked Stearns: to save Arcadia’s belongings and San Diego. to teach her “economy.” Bandini hadacloserelationship “I am begging you to tell A few other letters tell us that with his daughters and sons Ysidorita to change the Bandini was also worried about and he was a devoted husband. clothes of her brothers, the education of his sons. He Every time he signed his letters sent his son Juanito, to Stearns to mend them so they are he would say: “give all my love to to take his first reading lessons my daughters.” Stearns married not raggedy, to arise early and Bandini thanked Stearns for Bandini’s daughter Arcadia and and clean her room and taking care of the education of Juan sent another daughter, the room of her sister, to his sons. Ysidora, to live with them to keep make the coffee, to sweep her sister company. He would early, and to dust, for this always say to Stearns that he exercise is good for the missed them and that he wished he could go visit them in Los health and is beneficial to Angeles. Apparently he wasn’t the interest and to the good able to go very often because he education as well.” had to manage his properties, Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 11 San Diego, Alta California, May 23, 2008 Price: Free

WHICH WAY IS NORTH? passive solar heating at its best. gives us insight to the ingenuity Opening the window shutters in of the builders but, does not help the daytime allows warm air to us with our dilemma. Which WilliAm F. mennell. move inside. Heat or cold can not side should we call north? If the San Diego Coast District move through the almost three architects call one side north, Services Manager. foot thick walls in one, or even and the archaeologists call the two nights. other side north, confusion will n order to build, or unbuild, And, there is the wind. In certainly ensue. So, to make it one always needs to know “winter”, the wind coming off as clear as possible, in general that they are in the correct I the ocean can be cool. Capturing conversation, we will name the location. Usually, this is that in the jardin (courtyard) sides by the corresponding street done by relying on a point on the would cool down the area most names, or areas adjacent: The called north. This seems used for daytime activities. Mason Street side, the Calhoun to make sense, as the compass Having the yard protected from Street side (or Estudillo side), has been around since the 13th that direction keeps the area the Juan Street side, and Seeley century. Knowing which way as comfortable as possible. By side (the direction of the stable). is north, the other directions closing the zaguán or entrance While this may not be normal follow. Most of the time, this hall doors, wind is reduced to a protocol, everyone will be much method works great. But, what minimum. clearer on location. if the building or site is a square In warmer months, the or rectangle, with one corner building acts in reverse. This pointing north? Which of 2 sides alignment gives the jardin, do you call the north side? morning sun while it is coolest, The Casa de Bandini/ and the most shade in the Cosmopolitan is such a place. afternoon, when it is warmer. By It is not the only one, as many opening the windows and doors buildings in Old Town San Diego of the zaguán, large volumes were built with this alignment. of air are forced through small The reason however is not based openings. Air loses temperature on north, it is based on south. as it increases in velocity. The South is the direction of air not only gets cooler, but also maximum sun exposure in San gets dryer, as the humidity it Diego. To take advantage of this, carries is partly condensed. This you would want 2 long exterior courtyard design, developed in walls to have this exposure. In Mediterranean areas comes to what whitelanders (people who the U.S. via Spain. live where it snows) call winter, Understanding the reasoning sun warming 2 long sides is and history of the alignment Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 12 San Diego, Alta California, May 30, 2008 Price: Free

of the casa are about 3 feet thick. population live in some type of WHAT IS ADOBE? Given the size of Bandini’s home, earthen structure. Rammed earth approximately 1900 square feet, is popular in France. The original WilliAm F. mennell. and the thickness of the walls, at English Tudor style buildings, in San Diego Coast District least 10,000 bricks were needed. the 15th century were a type of Services Manager. After the adobe bricks were earthen structure supported by laid, the walls were covered wooden beams, and called “wattle he word “adobe” has with a thick mud plaster. and daub,” or “cob on posts.” In appeared in a number Traditionally, this was applied Western Africa, adobe is called T of stories published in using small boards, or with bare Butabu. Some Native Americans the Cosmopolitan Chronicle, but hands. Horse or donkey manure stacked layers of mud, letting without really explaining what it was often added to increase them dry before the next layer. is. It can refer to an architectural the “stickiness” of the plaster. Parts of the Great Wall of China style, earthen brick, or a type Plastering was often done in three are made of adobe. of soil. Juan Bandini’s grand , the first and thickest, the It is speculated that the Casa home was an adobe in all three “scratch ,” was often scored, de Bandini, and the Casa de categories. scratching the surface to assist Estudillo, the 2 largest homes The word coming to us via with the second coats ability to of the time in San Diego, were Moorish Spain, it is derived from adhere. The second coat is done made by the same small, skilled, Arabic; attôba, al-tôba, meaning as smooth as possible, often disciplined, and well-organized “the brick.” The bricks are made mixed with additional sand to workforce. The population of of soil and water, usually with reduce cracking. The third very San Diego in the 1820s was far straw or grass added, pushed into thin coat fills the remaining hair­ less than the 1.2 million of today. a wooden form, and then dried in line cracks. A whitewash finish, Still, the number of local San the sun for at least 2 weeks. The made from a powder-like lime Diego people that could build bricks weigh roughly 40 pounds extracted from fired seashells, such a home today may be about each. protected the adobe walls from the same as it was then. Although there are many moisture. types of earthen structures, the Adobe is also a style of adobe buildings in Old Town are architecture, characterized made of such bricks. The dried by thick earthen walls, small bricks were laid on a cobble stone window and door opening foundation, mortared together relative to today, and often a with the same soil material, but flat or slightly sloped thatched no straw is added. Commonly or clay tile roofs. Other types of thought of as clay, “good adobe” earthen structures exist in other soil is actually about 65% sand, parts of the world. It is estimated only about 25% clay. The walls that currently 50% of the world’s Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 13 San Diego, Alta California, June 6, 2008 Price: Free

A NEW ERA: PART 1. a seasoned stage driver and Judging from samples of horseman from Texas, and a new exposed adobe brick on the era began. Seeley converted the first Victor A. WAlsh. old adobe into an imposing two- floor, Seeley’s construction San Diego Coast District Historian. story, L-shaped Greek revival crews had apparently repatched style hotel. The renovation the walls with red brick mixed n November 1, 1859, would cost Seeley $8,000— with adobe mud. Traces of lime a debt-ridden and money from his English-born suggest that they plastered the long-suffering Juan O wife Emily’s recent inheritance. brick with lime plaster. Bandini died at his son-in­ Seeley hired a local The clay tile roof of the law Abel Stearns’ home in contractor, Parson Brothers, to Bandini era was replaced with Los Angeles. As the executor repair the deteriorating adobe a hipped roof. of Bandini’s estate, Stearns and to add a wood-framed It had a wide, level overhang continued to lease out his father­ second story and balconies. covering the upper balcony. in- laws’ Old Town home and to This was a common practice A stairway from the entrance wrestle with his creditors. among American businessmen hallway and an exterior A man of exacting duty, who converted Mexican adobes stairway Bandini had requested in his into commercial operations. The facing the courtyard from the last will and testament that his Exchange Hotel, back of the Mason Street wing creditors be “satisfied” before Franklin House, and Freeman- provided access to the second the estate “be divided among Light House also used adobe story guestrooms. The exterior (his) heirs.” and wood-frame construction. stairway no longer exists, but Over the next decade, the The siding on the second State Parks’ inspection team old mansion, reflecting the story was mill sawn old growth recently uncovered its entrance family and Old Town’s decline, redwood clapboard probably behind the walls at the top of the fell into disrepair. Adobe walls from northern California interior stairway. Apparently were removed, and part of the shipped down the coast. The at the threshold where the two building was converted into a balcony featured turned stairways met, intersecting stable and feed storage complex. wooden columns and was steps about a foot-and-a-half By 1860, it was unoccupied. In enclosed with turned baluster high on both sides connected to May of 1862, an earthquake railings. The doorways had full the guestrooms. cracked the adobe walls in height pilasters and bracketed several rooms, and collapsed cornices over the top. Windows the wing facing Juan Street. were framed by large wooden The damage was not repaired. shutters and were capped with In 1869, Stearns sold the the same style of cornice. family home to Albert L. Seeley, Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 14 San Diego, Alta California, June 13, 2008 Price: Free

A NEW ERA: PART 2. valued at $1,000, 16 horses Contrary to the owner’s and half-breeds at $800, and promotional claim, the hotel harnesses, ropes, and bridles was not really “first-class.” Victor A. WAlsh. at $100 according to the tax It did not have gas lighting San Diego Coast District Historian. assessment rolls. or running water, a billiard Seeley promoted the room, or suites like the Horton he CosmopolitanHotel Cosmopolitan as a “first-class House and other downtown or “Seeley House,” as hotel.” Advertisements in the upscale establishments. But locals called it, opened T San Diego Union stated that the like many frontier institutions, in November 1869. “The new “large and commodious hotel” it provided a multiplicity of hotel,” according to the San featured “large, well ventilated, services, including a post and Diego Union, “is truly an and finely furnished”rooms and telegraph office, a barbershop elegant building. Its broad a well-stocked table and bar operated by a “gentleman of verandas above and below boasting “the choicest wines, color,” and a town social center extending on three sides of the liquors and cigars.” along with providing hotel whole building give the place a The bar sold imported accommodations and stage comfortable southern air.” Havana cigars for 20 and 25 transportation. A stage driver since the cents each, fresh lager beer by The hotel also featured a age of 17, Seeley built the the glass, bottle or gallon, and “spacious sitting room,” which hotel to provide overnight a special, highly popular drink occupied Bandini’s former sala accommodations for passengers called “Uncle Toby” for a nickel. or parlor room. A large room taking his stage to and from Los Ice was always on hand. with a fireplace that still exists Angeles. Prior to converting The rooms were decorated and a tongue-and-groove the Bandini home into a hotel, with colored pattern wallpaper, floor recently his stage line had operated out most likely hung over stretched uncovered by State Parks of the Franklin House across muslin. They were small, staff, it was the scene of raffles, the plaza. without indoor plumbing family reunions, evening The hotel was part of a fixtures or bathrooms, but well dances, Christmas parties, and largescale operation as Seeley suited for Seeley’s passengers, wedding receptions. purchased adjacent lots and many of whom were single or built a large two-story, gable- unattached men. It also catered ended barn, corrals, livery to local visitors traveling by stable, windmill and cistern stage and extended family over the next two years. By members from outlying areas 1873-1874, he owned five with business and personal ties wagons and other vehicles to Old Town. Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 15 San Diego, Alta California, June 20, 2008 Price: Free

employees, who are anxious to his efforts. At that point in his be able to “say the right thing” life, realizing that the Rancho COSMO’S to the people who come to Old Era of California was lost, Town on tours. he must have made an effort VISITORS. From my point of view, the to jot down a few details that most poignant tour was with might in their own way help therese murAnAkA. USD History Chair, Molly the Californios remember who San Diego Coast District McClain. Walking around the they are. As we peered down at Associate State Archaeologist. house one evening with two the original flooring on which history professors, Molly and Vallejo must have walked and Iris Engstrand, we were talking danced, I couldn’t help but be anyhistoricpreservation about the only map known of amazed at the passage of time. visitors have stopped the house, a plan done late in life Many people have asked, what’s M by the Cosmopolitan by Mariano Vallejo. Especially the best thing that I have ever Hotel since the archaeological in the areas that he labeled found. I have to say that it is work began: Seth Mallios, Sala, Cuartos and SaGuan (that when a descendent comes face to Anthropology professor at is ‘living room’, ‘rooms’ and face with the things their families SDSU and his students; Lynne “hallway”) with Molly, we once knew. Christenson, San Diego County reminisced about how she is Some of our most recent guests historian; Sue Wade, Colorado a direct descendent of Vallejo. have been a “gaze” (per San Desert archaeologist; Jackson Vallejo’s daughter, Prudenciana Diego Zoo website) of raccoons Underwood archaeologist Lopez, and her husband Jose that left their footprints all over at RECON; Caltrans Matias Moreno, lived in Old the floor, and a rodent that dug archaeologists Chris White, Town and left one of the most a hole into an archaeology test Deb Domenici, and Karen historically valuable collections square, descendents themselves. Crafts; Southern Service Center of letters about Old Town and It must be at night, when all of the cultural staff Marla Mealey, Jim northern Baja California life, a scientists have packed up, that Newland and Patty McFarland: collection kept at the Huntington these early Californios return, and old friends with the National Library in San Marino. and admire our handiwork. Trust Western Leaders Linda As I thought about Vallejo as Mayro and Bill Doelle. We look an old man drawing his Casa forward to each visit, as everyone de Bandini map from memory, sees something different, or I also thought how much has something unique to say. joy he would have watching Some special ‘VIP’ guests have his “granddaughter” (many been park docents, and park generations removed) admiring Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 16 San Diego, Alta California, June 27, 2008 Price: Free

from my own ashes.” The button findings at the El Fandango THE PHOENIX is common in the northwest and Restaurant, many of these buttons has been found throughout the west were thought to be in distribution on coast region. Its history is somewhat the west coast around the 1830s and BUTTON. ambiguous and at one time thought to 1840sdocumentedforbothdecorative be from the of Napoleon’s and utilitarian uses. nicole turner. Haitian soldiers. It is now believed to One explanation of the dispersal San Diego Coast District be the coat of arms for the only King of buttons along the coast is their use Archaeological Project Leader. of Haiti, Henry Christophe (1767- as trade, possibly to the Indians for 1820). Christophe served under the furs and salmon who in turn traded Toussaint Louverture in the war of with other tribes. The manufacturing n preparing for the restoration of the independence that turned the French locationofthisbuttonisstillsomewhat Casa de Bandini/Cosmopolitan colony of Saint-Dominique into the of a mystery. Possible locations of I Hotel, archaeologists have been free nation of Haiti. In 1811, Henry manufacture include Haiti, the United conductingsub-surfaceinvestigations Christophe pronounced himself States, and England. looking for clues that offer insight king. Christophe reigned until 1820 The phoenix button is not new to into the buildings history and the when, too ill to put down a coup, he Old Town. They have been found lifestyle of its inhabitants. In the committed suicide. duringarchaeologicalinvestigations courtyard a cobble foundation has Thebuttonsarebelievedtobeworn at the McCoy House and the El been exposed–possibly the remnants by the King’s military troops. Each Fandango Restaurant. of the Juan Street wing of the Casa de button has a number on it thought to Bandini that was demolished after a represent regimental unit numbers. flood that had damaged the building. Different numbers have been In addition to structural components, documented, however, there appears the occasional artifact is unearthed to be a large gap in the representation that has a story of its own. One of and it has been speculated that this particular interested is the Phoenix was deliberately done to give the Button found in the courtyard by illusion of a larger military, though; archaeologist Scott Wolf from ASM there is no proof of such. Affiliates, Inc. After the king’s death, the The artifact is a metal button with a bulk surplus buttons were sold phoenix bird wearing a crown rising to merchants and brought to the out of a nest of flames. The phoenix west coast of the United States. In is a mythical bird that dies in flames California, they have been associated and is reborn from the ashes. “Je with the California Spanish Missions Renais de mes cendres” is inscribed and Native Americans. According to on the button translated as “I rose Scott Wolf’s report on archaeological Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 17 San Diego, Alta California, July 4, 2008 Price: Free

town the real San Diego; your between Los Angeles and San AN ENSUING mushroom town of New San Diego and outlying hamlets. Diego soon will peter out. All Advertisements promoting the the people who want to travel hotel never graced the pages of RIVALRY. will have to come to Old Town the Golden Era, a glossy, upscale to take the stage.” pictorial monthly magazine that Victor A. WAlsh. In October 1870, nearly a operated out of San Diego and San Diego Coast District Historian. year after Seeley had opened the San Francisco. Cosmopolitan, Horton unveiled The hotel’s guest register, a his new downtown hotel, which copyofwhichtheDistrictrecently onstruction of the he named The Horton House. purchased from California State Cosmopolitan Hotel The two-story brick building had Library, is reasonably complete C in 1869 symbolized gas lighting and running water, for the years, 1870-1873. It lists an ensuing rivalry between and its “large, commodious, only the check-in date (not the Old Town and New Town San and well lighted” guest rooms exit date), name of the guest, Diego. Founded in 1867, when offered “magnificent views” residence, and sometimes the Alonzo Horton, a shrewd New of the bay. It featured a well- room number. The number of Englander, bought 960 acres stocked dining room and bar new guests averaged between 3 of scrub and cactus along the with “American male waiters,” and 6 on most days. On special bay front, New Town quickly a reading and billiard room, a occasions, such as the coming of eclipsed Old Town as the ladies parlor, bridal chamber, the circus or a family funeral or county’s center of trade and and suites for retired and elderly reunion, the guest listed in the development. Within a year guests. Promoted as “the Hotel register more than doubled. people and businesses, including of Southern California” by the The hotel had thirty many from Old Town, were San Diego Union, it catered to a numbered rooms, which moving into Horton’s Addition clientele of wealthy “travelers suggests that it accommodated as the bay front community was in pursuit of knowledge or local boarders, probably single called. pleasure,” many coming by men, whose names were not When Horton heard about steamboat from San Francisco. listed in the register as well as Seeley’s hotel, he offered to Unlike the Horton House and stage passengers and visitors give him an entire block in his other downtown establishments, listed in the register. Addition provided Seeley would the Cosmopolitan never catered invest his wife’s inheritance in to wealthy tourists from New Town. The cocky stage outside the area. It was a stage master declined, reportedly stop located in a backwater boasting, “Old Town is the area for passengers traveling Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 18 San Diego, Alta California, July 11, 2008 Price: Free

TOOLS & MATERIALS, merchant in Monterey. He did not receive the shipment until sometime NOW & THEN, PART 1. after November 1829—over a year- and-a-half after he placed the order. Cross-cut or Whip Saw. WilliAm F. mennell. Logs were made into at large San Diego Coast District mills usually set up near the timber. Services Manager. The mills were powered by waterwheel or steam, or had saw-pits. Sawpits? A saw pit is just what the term indicates: a n today’s world with Home pit, usually shored with timbers, about Depot, Ace Hardware, and 7 feet or deeper. The pits were dug by pickup trucks, it is easy to forget hand since the first backhoe wasn’t built I until 1953. Sawing was a two-man job. . construction was not always done the way it is now. The “Skilsaw” wasn’t One sawyer operated the saw—up to invented until 1924, and they made only 7 feet long—from above, the other, in six of them that year. The first factory the pit, helped pull the saw down, then assembled pickup, the “Ford Model T helped lift up the saw in the kerf, and up Runabout with Pickup Body,” made its for the next cut. The saw did not have debut the following year. The gasoline set, which is an alternating angle put on powered was not invented the teeth. Set increases the kerf to be until 1926. The spring tape measure wider than the and help prevent pinching. On average, the two-man wasn’t widely used until the 1940s. Broad Ax. So how did they build in the 1800s? team could cut about 200 feet per day. Many of the tools we take for granted So, if you needed 10’ long beams cut flat today were not available when Bandini on all 4 sides, it would take all day to buildhiscasa,orevenbythetimeSeeley cut 5. transformed it into the Cosmopolitan. For smaller quantities, local timber Although adobe was readily available, was felled, and then turned into lumber wood needed for lintels, doors, and using a broadax or adze. Shingles were vigas (roof beams) was not. Timber was hand cut with a froe. The lumber felled by ax or cross-cut (whip) saw. was then transported by horse-drawn Froe. Large orders of lumber were shipped carreta, wagon, or dragged to the down the coast—sometimes by towing buildinglocation. Dependingonitsuse, huge log rafts—or around the horn of it may have been finished on-site using South America. a or . In California, the Orders shipped by boat took first person to be granted permission months, even longer. In 1828, for to harvest timber in the public domain example, Bandini ordered palos colorados was Juan Bandini, in 1839, for use on his Rincon Rancho. or redwood posts from an American Draw . Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 19 San Diego, Alta California, July 18, 2008 Price: Free

TOOLS & MATERIALS, by hand. Up until the mid-1800s, storage containers were primarily NOW & THEN, PART 2. wooden barrels, boxes, tins and to some extent, pottery. Nails were WilliAm F. mennell. usually shipped in kegs. San Diego Coast District Although most nails used Services Manager. Clockwise from top left: End lap, mitred today are wire nails, cut nails half lap, dovetail lap, and cross lap. are actually superior. Cut nails Nails were rare and valuable provide superior holding power arpentry is sometimes in the West throughout much of because of their four edges. A cut called joinery. The the19th century, so they were used nail tears through the wood fibers, C common use today of sparingly, and often reused when western frame construction, found; after a fire or demolition. and “Simpson” ties, is probably Todaynailsarethemostcommon responsible for the decline in fastener used in construction. this alternative trade name. From about 3000 B.C. until 1786 Today, almost all wood joints in A.D., all nails were hand forged by construction are butt or plain blacksmiths. (See chronicle vol. 1 joints, in which the end or side no. 7) With the invention of cut nail of one board is placed or “butts” making machines, which stamped against the other. nails out of flat iron plates, they This wasn’t could be mass produced. Nails always the case. were sold by pennyweight, a term The illustration shows the type of kegs When the Casa originally used to denote the prices used by Tremont–America’s oldest nail de Bandini was of nails per hundred. For example, built, joints on manufacturer–to ship cut nails all over 8d or 21/2 inch nails (d indicating the world for over 150 years. The sturdy roof framing were penny, or pennyweight) originally often notched, and lashed together kegs are constructed from pine staves sold for 8 cents per hundred. Now with steel rims and wire . with leather. Leather was also the d just indicates the size of the sometimes used for hinges. nail. rather than splitting the fibers At the time of the Cosmopolitan Manufactured nails which as wire nails do. This minimizes construction in 1869, full framing usually came from the East Coast, surface splitting of the wood. They methods were common. took a very long time to arrive are made from much harder steel, Full framing involves the use of on the West Coast—the Panama and therefore harder to bend. They joints such as lap; open mortise, Canal wasn’t opened until 1914. are still used in nailing tongue and and closed mortise; also know as They were also expensive to ship groove flooring; just as carpenters , which used because of their weight. So, often did in the Cosmopolitan’s main pins, (dowels) to hold the joint in the West nails were still forged room (Bandini’s sala.) together. Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 20 San Diego, Alta California, July 25, 2008 Price: Free

TOOLS & MATERIALS, of both Bandini, and Seeley, backed steel serrated blade with also commonly used a —a a wooden handle, was introduced NOW & THEN, PART 3. hammer with a wooden head–for in the 1600s. Today’s saws are use with chisels, and driving in almost identical to the ones used WilliAm F. mennell. trunnels (wooden pegs or dowels, to build Bandini’s home, and San Diego Coast District literally meaning “tree nail.”) during the construction of the District Services Manager. Trunnels were used in ship Cosmopolitan. building, and mortise and tenon The square is another very old joints tool of extreme importance. A lthough many tools The is almost as old as military formation described in have been improved or the hammer. Early chisels made a fourth century B.C. Chinese A invented recently, the out of flint dating back 10,000 military manual, is called fundamental tools of the carpenter years have been discovered. As “carpenter’s square formation.” have been used for centuries: hammers are often used jointly The square was used in all areas the hammer, chisel, saw, square, with chisels, it is not surprising of the ancient world, just as it is level, measuring device, drill, and they evolved together, made of the today. As the right angle of the plane. strongest materials available. square gives it its importance, The hammer: Multi-purpose The saw is so important that great care has always been hammerstones have been used both the ancient Greeks and exercised in its use and storage. for millions of years, and there Chinese had a hero accredited The laser level coming into is no doubt the hammer was the with its invention. The its own today was obviously not first tool used by humans. In as we know it today, i.e., a non- available to carpenters in the 19th California, hammerstones for century. But the “spirit level” a making other chipped stone tools, glass tube with a bubble in it, and for pulverizing meat and attached to a very straight piece plants, have been around for at of wood may have been. There are least 12,000 years. many ways to find level. One of Around the fourth century the earliest and simplest is a bowl B.C., wooden handles were filled with water. Another early added to hammers. Handles were method is an A-frame level, which initially tied to the head, and has a weight attached with a string much later a hole was bored into at the apex of the A, and lines up to the head to secure it to the handle. marks on the cross piece. A-frame The hammer has evolved through levels were used from ancient the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and times to the mid 1800s. Both Iron Age to today’s alloys. There Bandini’s and Seeley’s builders are over 250 types of hammers in may have employed them. production today. Carpenters during the time Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 21 San Diego, Alta California, August 1, 2008 Price: Free

TOOLS & MATERIALS, theirowncareer.Apprenticeships but by Mexican standards at the began as early as 8 years old, same time it was 32.99 inches. NOW & THEN, PART 4. Benjamin Franklin, for example While this seems a very small became an apprentice at the age difference, for large areas such WilliAm F. mennell. of 12. as the 100 square varas granted San Diego Coast District One of the most important to Bandini and Estudillo in District Services Manager. tools was a measuring device. 1827, the difference is 1757 For long distances that did not square feet. If the Mexican vara require extreme accuracy like was used on one wall, and the report of theft from a the walls of a building, pacing California vara on the parallel barn storing goods from would suffice. Ordinarily the wall, over 104 feet–the length of A a ship: Royal Herald 30, pace is estimated at two and one the Calhoun Street wing of the May, 1805 “…some carpenter’s half linear feet but in measuring Casa de Bandini–the difference tools and several articles of less distances by stepping, the pace is is about 16 inches. value…” A carpenter’s tools extended to three feet. However, When the Cosmopolitan Hotel were not only the life blood of pacing off a distance correctly was constructed in 1869, the the craftsman, they were vital depends upon every pace being workers used the English, or to the wooden ships of the era, the same, which is extremely standard measurement system. and to communities, for without unlikely. If they aren’t it could Theirmeasurementdeviceswould them ships, homes, barns, and result in two parallel walls not be a yard stick–wooden or ivory wagons could not be built or being the same length, and the sticks having been used since at repaired. Both the tools and the cross wall would be out of square. least the time of the Romans–or craftsman who used them were Many adobes including the Casa a folding rule, which were in use highly valuable and given high de Bandini have walls that are by many carpenters since the status. To inherit an artisan’s not square. Another possibility 18th century. Carpenters also tools was a great honor. for the walls being out of square had measurement markings on Tools in the 19th century were is that the workman used a the iron framing squares they often made by hand. The metal rope to measure the length, and used. components were forged by a stretched it tighter on one of the blacksmith, the wooden parts walls. There is a third possibility. were made by the carpenter The vara. using them. Making these tools The vara was the primary unit was usually a required task for of length during the Mexican carpenter’s apprentices. At the period when Bandini’s home was end of the apprenticeship which built. Unlike the yard, or the could take 5 to 12 years, the meter, the vara varied from place graduated journeyman would to place. In California, it was have the tools needed to begin determined to be 33.372 inches, Folding Rule. Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 22 San Diego, Alta California, August 8, 2008 Price: Free

TOOLS & MATERIALS, shaft revolution speed, and the the size of the hole needed. The top amount of downward pressure that of the brace has a spindle, which can NOW & THEN, PART 5. couldbeapplied.Thesedevelopments be held firm while the crankshaft is are called “bow” or “strap” . turned. WilliAm F. mennell. Bow drills use a headpiece–a piece This is the same type of “cordless San Diego Coast District of wood with a drill” used by the District Services Manager. socket–giving builders of Bandini’s the user the home in 1828. They ability to push were hand-made of tsomepoint,everycarpenter down harder on such a needs to drill holes. The first the shaft. This , the bits being A electric drill was patented in is rotated by forgedbyablacksmith. 1889 in Australia. Hand-held electric a bow–another stick with a strap Wrought iron braces drills–an extremely common item attached and wrapped once around with improved today–were invented by Black and the drill shaft. Depending on the chucks—the part Decker in 1917. The “first cordless sharpness of the bit, or end of the holding the bits—were drill” is attributed to NASA for shaft, they can be used for either available by 1869, the time of the collecting moon rocks. But NASA’s drilling holes, or starting fires. Cosmopolitan construction. They drill was far from being the first The invention were called “The Barber Brace,” so cordless. ofthescrewauger named for William Henry Barber, The first boring device was an bit,whichwasfirst who in 1864 received the patent awl, made from a stick, antler, bone, used with just a for the new chuck design. The new, tusk, or sharp crosspiecehandle, far superior chuck design caught stone, and either added another on quickly, and thousands of the pushed back and advantage. Using new braces were manufactured forth, or spun with these bits, the beginning in 1865. It is likely just hands. They loosened material that the carpenters who built the were in use for in the hole being Cosmopolitan Hotel were fortunate tens of thousands of years before bored clears much easier. Different enough to have them. NASA. Some of these early drills sizes of bits could be fit into the auger had the capacity to have worn bits handle, which is rotated by hand. replaced, which could be made from The next advance in drilling, the sharp rocks, or metal. For hundreds brace, was apparently developed of thousands of years, flint-tipped sometime in the 15th century. The drills were used in making beads brace added a significant attribute, and tools, and it is known they were the ability for the first time in history used to drill teeth at least 8,000 toborewithcontinuousrotation.The years ago. brace holds similar bits as the auger, Later developments increased which can be changed depending on Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 23 San Diego, Alta California, August 15, 2008 Price: Free

TOOLS & MATERIALS, which can be roughly divided by size, tool box. Sharpening a plane is an art andservice,forexample:,trying, similar to sharpening a barber’s . NOW & THEN, PART 6. fore, jack, smooth, block, and . They can have one, two, and in rare Poetry is a very sharp plane WilliAm F. mennell. cases, three irons. Finishing planes, sailing in your hand San Diego Coast District jointer and jack for example, are used along a Sugar Pine board. District Services Manager. toremoveroughsawmarks,andinsure boards fit together correctly. Molding “Who doesn’t feel a thrill at the soft planes are used to make moldings whistle of a sharp plane as it glides and cut joints. American craftsmen along a board and heaps up on the made thousands of molding planes floor a great pile of aromatic curls? and used them to produce millions Surely it is pleasurable enough just of feet of hand-planed moldings and to be an onlooker, but when you joints. In the main sitting room of the are privileged to be the planeman CosmopolitanHotel,Bandini’sformer sala, the flooring himself, there is no sensation quite required about 8,000 linear feet of so enjoyable.” planing, using paired planes. Shaves also come in several nvented by the Romans in categories such as; spoke shaves, the first century, the plane cooper shaves and croze, beading is probably considered the I tools, and scrapers. Finishing Planes. most rewarding tool by carpenters. Likeplanes,eachshavehasaunique The plane is now rarely used, but purpose,thebladeandbodyshapedto before mould-cutting machinery accomplish one primary task. A croze was invented and introduced, most forexampleisusedbycoopers—barrel carpenters in the 19th century had makers—to put a grove at the top and about 30 in their tool cabinet, each bottom of the staves to fit the ends of with a different function. the barrel. A plane in its most basic form can Although all sharp edged tools Molding Planes. be described as a chisel in a frame. needtobesharp,itismostcriticalwith The difference is that while a chisel planes. is guided by hand, the plane blade, or Dull can eventually iron is guided by the frame. Although worry through a piece of wood. A thereare manywaystodividetypes of dull saw can be pushed hard enough planes, they can be separated into two to finish a pathetic cut, but planes main categories: planes, and shaves, Shaves. and shaves simply will not function if which perform three main functions: not sharpened correctly. Carpenters shaping, finishing, and fitting. therefore included sharpening tools, There is a wide variety of planes, such as files, and whetstones in their Croze. Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 24 San Diego, Alta California, August 22, 2008 Price: Free

CASA DE BANDINI: A short time later, the script As the writers and consultants writers and historic consultants move to rough out another scene, THE MOVIE, PART 1. produce the following rough- you take the draft to your set out: makers, costume-creators, prop- WilliAm F. mennell. makers, and casting director. San Diego Coast District Time: Summer, 1828 Naturally, they have a lot of District Services Manager. Location: San Diego in questions. Alta California Casting director: “OK, lots Setting: Largeconstruction of men working. How many are ongratulations! You have sites of Casa de Bandini actuallyworkingonthebuildings, just been hired as the and Casa de Estudillo. laying bricks? How many are C director of an historic era moving bricks and mortar? Any movieaboutthesmallMexicantown Scene I: Indians and presidial idea on a total in this scene? Are of SanDiego in AltaCalifornia. You soldiers are mixing mud in the owners around? Is there a have just assembled your team of pits located between the two foreman pointing at stuff? How writers, historic consultants, set- construction sites. To some pits old are these guys? Is there a makers, costume-creators, prop- they add chopped straw prepared water boy, or girl? Any women makers, casting director, and film by workers nearby. Six laborers working?” crews. are making bricks with wooden Set-maker: “I am no adobe At the first meeting with the forms. One helper for each brick expert, but doesn’t it take water writers and consultants, you maker shovels the mud/straw to make mud? Where are they tell them good and bad news. mix into the forms. They use getting the water? How many The good news is that there forms that make two 12” x 13” x other buildings are there in is no book, so no fights with 3” bricks each. Behind them long town?” authors. The bad news is the rows of adobe bricks dry in the Prop-maker: “How many historical consultants inform sun. Four men are going down bricks are we talking about? I figure they are using some kind us no written documentation the rows turning bricks to dry of a cart or wagon to move the of any kind about the actual the opposite side. In other mud bricks, but how are they moving construction can be found. In pits, workers prepare the mud the mud?” this case, script writers will without straw for mortar, which Costume-creator: “Are these have to rely almost completely is immediately transported to the guys wearing , , on the tools, materials, and walls by still more of the work bare footed? Are they all wearing techniques known from the crew. Dried bricks are also being ? ?” period, and on the recently- moved to the walls. Cow-hide Good questions. With limited discovered archaeological bound wooden scaffolding is being erected against two walls information, you knew this job findings excavated during wasn’t going to be easy. the restoration of the Casa de which are now over 4 feet high, Bandini/Cosmopolitan Hotel. set on cobble footings. Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 25 San Diego, Alta California, August 29, 2008 Price: Free

CASA DE BANDINI: the bottom compartment, and large foreign ship loaded with a worker is pumping a large goods for trade. Mayordomos THE MOVIE, PART 2. bellows to create heat over (foreman) and their workers are 750 degrees. There are several busy counting and inspecting WilliAm F. mennell. barrels nearby to transport the the quality of the hides and San Diego Coast District newly-made lime by mule and tallow supplied by Bandini District Services Manager. carreta to the construction site in and Estudillo to pay for the on the plaza. trade goods they ordered. Don Scene III: Cutting trees to Juan Bandini’s carpenters s the director of an make roof beams and lintels. have selected tools, historic movie about the Setting: The . iron stock for forging nails, A village of San Diego in Scene: Two men are chopping tool and hardware, some 1828, you are trying to fill in down pine trees with broad . New England hardware such as gaps in the script; the building There is a pit saw set up where door knobs, and a New England of both Casa de Bandini, and we can see the top man sawing a wooden door as the finishing Casa de Estudillo, probably the felled tree into squared lumber. touch for the Don’s new home. largest construction project in In the background, a pair of His daughters and their Estudillo Southern California at the time. horses pulls a cart loaded with cousins are being rowed back to The script-writers rough timbers. shore, talking excitedly about draft of Scene I presented more Scene IV: Tanning leather for the silks, jewelry, and new the questions than answers. You cutting straps. coffee and chocolate set they decided to send the staff to a Setting: Tanning shed. have requested, aware that their small town in Baja California Scene: Groups of Indian men wishes depend on the value of to research adobe-making and and singing sailors from the the hides and tallow. construction, which is still done Sandwich Islands are soaking As the historians said, no one there by traditional means. The cowhides in vats of brine, staking really knows exactly how the writers come back with drafts the cured hides on the ground to Casa de Bandini was built. Until for the next four scenes. dry, and cleaning and scraping a time machine is invented, we Scene II: Making lime for the hides. In the background are relying on archaeologists, whitewash. hides are drying. Two women historians, and other Setting: A short bluff are cutting hides into straps. professionals for information overlooking a beach. Scene V: The ships about the methods, materials, Scene: Large piles of discarded Setting: La Playa (The and tools used to construct these sea shells are being thrown into Beach) two magnificent buildings. the top portion of a tall stone Scene: Small boats shuttling kiln. Driftwood is shoved into back and forth from shore to a Cosmopolitan Chronicle. True tales from the annals of history, archaeology, construction, and restoration of the Casa de Bandini & Cosmopolitan Hotel.

VOL. I, No. 26 San Diego, Alta California, September 5, 2008 Price: Free

CASA DE BANDINI: Miraculous Medal. According Catherine Labouré was to the story, in 1830 a French canonized in 1947 and has THE MOVIE, PART 2. farm girl named Catherine become the patroness of Labouré, had three apparitions. architects, miners, elderly sick cynthiA hernAndez. In the first, a child led her to the men and prisoners. Archaeological Project chapel to meet the Virgin Mary. The medallion found at the Leader/Interpreter. In the second, the Virgin Bandini house is not the only appeared before her standing one found in Old Town; another on a globe with snakes at one was discovered at the e archaeologists are her feet and holding another Aguirre house in 2004. The two the luckiest people globe in her hand. The Virgin medallions are similar but have W in the world! We get told Catherine that the globe some interesting differences. directly in touch with the past; represented the world, and then The one found at the Aguirre we do research, and turn other the globe disappeared and rays house has the inscription in people’s trash and lost items into of light shone from the Virgin’s English, Mary is looking to the valuable information. The things hands, rays that symbolized the left, and it has the date 1830 at we come across can be as big as graces the Virgin would grant the bottom. The one found at a house foundation, or as small to those who asked for them and the Casa de Bandini, has the as a , but they often lead to the apparition of the Virgin was inscription in French, her head more questions than answers. framed by the words “O Marie is turned to the right, and has no Thearchaeologycrewworking Concue Sans Peche Priez Pour Nous date at the bottom. at La Casa de Bandini found a Qui avons Recours a Vous.” (“O Does the inscription in small oval-shaped medallion Mary Conceived Without Sin, French, and the lack of date tell with an inscription in French Pray for Us who have Recourse us that the medallion found at in two rows around a woman to Thee.”) the Bandini house is older than who has the palms of her hands In the third apparition, the the one found at the Aguirre site? turned upward. On the other Virgin asked Catherine to have Were the medallions imported or side of the medallion we can a medal made to commemorate made locally? Did it belong to see twelve stars framing a cross what she was shown. The someone in the Bandini family? which rests on a horizontal bar Virgin promised that all those Did a guest of the Cosmopolitan and a letter M. who wore it would receive great Hotel bring it? Looking for clues about the blessings and grace, especially The archeologists at the iconography of the medallion if worn around the neck. The Cosmopolitan Hotel project are we found that the woman is an first medals were delivered to currently working to answer “Immaculate Virgin Mary,” Archbishop Hyacinth de Quelen these and other questions. specifically Our Lady of the on June 30, 1832.

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