HISTORICAL NOMINATION of the Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House 4379 N. Talmadge Dr. - Talmadge Park Neighborhood San Diego, California
Ronald V. May, RPA
Kiley Wallace
Legacy 106, Inc.
P.O. Box 15967
San Diego, CA 92175
(619) 269-3924 www.legacy106.com July 2015 1
HISTORIC HOUSE RESEARCH Ronald V. May, RPA, President and Principal Investigator Kiley Wallace, Vice President and Investigator P.O. Box 15967 • San Diego, CA 92175 Phone (619) 269-3924 • http://www.legacy106.com
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3 State of California – The Resources Agency Primary # ______DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI # ______PRIMARY RECORD Trinomial ______NRHP Status Code 3S Other Listings ______Review Code _____ Reviewer ______Date ______Page 3 of 37 *Resource Name or #: The Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House
P1. Other Identifier: 4379 North Talmadge Dr., San Diego, CA 92116
*P2. Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted *a. County: San Diego and (P2b and P2c or P2d. Attach a Location Map as necessary.) *b. USGS 7.5' Quad: La Mesa Date: 1997 Maptech, Inc.T ; R ; ¼ of ¼ of Sec ; M.D. B.M. c. Address: 4379 North Talmadge Dr. City: San Diego Zip: 92116 d. UTM: Zone: 11 ; mE/ mN (G.P.S.)
e. Other Locational Data: (e.g., parcel #, directions to resource, elevation, etc.) Elevation: 380 feet Legal Description: Lots 102 and 103 of Talmadge Park in the City of San Diego, County of San Diego, according to map 1869 thereof filed in the office of the County Recorder of said San Diego County, December 3, 1925. It is Tax Assessor’s Parcel APN # 465-331-06-00.
*P3a. Description: (Describe resource and its major elements. Include design, materials, condition, alterations, size, setting, and boundaries). This large house is a excellent two-story example of the Spanish Eclectic / Revival style with Monterey style matching upper level porches and influences built in 1926. It is a large 3,312 sq ft. single- family residence designed by recognized Master Architect Louis Gill and built by builder Bertram J. Carteri in the Talmadge Park area of the neighborhood of Kensington, San Diego. The house is on a large prominent corner lot and has an "open book" L-shaped plan with wings stretching out to the north and east. The primary (front) elevation faces North Talmadge Drive. The home features a hipped roof with irregularly laid mission fired clay tiles with detached gabled roof double garage with integrated upper level guest/maid's quarters. (See Continuation Sheet.)
*P3b. Resource Attributes: (List attributes and codes) (HP2) Single family property *P4. Resources Present: Building Structure Object Site District Element of District
P5b. Description of Photo: (View, date, accession #) View of Northeast (front) Elevation. Photo by Dan Soderberg, June 2014. *P6. Date Constructed/Age and Sources: Historic Prehistoric Both A Notice of Completion was not found. San Diego Union article & rendering, January 24, 1926. San Diego Union article and hist. photo March 7, 1926 Water record dated November 1927. Sewer records were not found as is common in the Talmadge neighborhood. Deed from date of construction-February 2, 1926. Historic aerial photos show the house circa 1930, 1940. Residential Building Record estimated date of construction 1925. Original plans by Louis Gill, Dec. 29, 1925. *P7. Owner and Address: Charlotte Holmes 4379 N. Talmadge Dr. San Diego, CA 92116 *P8. Recorded by: (Name, affiliation, and address) Ronald V. May, RPA, and Kiley Wallace, Legacy 106, Inc., P.O. Box 15967, San Diego, CA 92175
*P9. Date Recorded: July 2015 *P10. Survey Type: (Describe) Intensive *P11. Report Citation: (Cite survey report and other sources, or enter "none.") Historical Nomination of the Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House, San Diego, California for the City of San Diego, Historical Resources Board, by Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace, Legacy 106, Inc., July 2015. Legacy 106, Inc. is indebted to Alexandra Wallace, Michelle Graham, and Dan Soderberg for extensive research, and other assistance with the preparation of this report. *Attachments: NONE Location Map Sketch Map Continuation Sheet Building, Structure, and Object Record Archaeological Record District Record Linear Feature Record Milling Station Record Rock Art Record Artifact Record Photograph Record Other (List):
DPR 523A *Required Information 4 State of California The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI#
CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial
Page 4 of 37 *Resource Name or #: The Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House
*Recorded by: Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace *Date: July 2015 Continuation Update
*P3a. Description: (Describe resource and its major elements. Include design, materials, condition, alterations, size, setting, and boundaries) (Continued): (See Attachment D, Photographs)
The subject property at 4379 North Talmadge Drive is a Spanish Eclectic / Revival style home with Monterey influences. The home has a balanced façade and a compound L shaped floor plan. The house has a low pitched Mission red fired tile roof with minimal eave overhang and decorative wooden eave cornice throughout. The home's clay brick roof has irregular double layering of roof tiles. The home features stucco wall surfacing and brown painted wood trim throughout. This is an excellent example of a Spanish Eclectic home designed by Master Architect Lois Gill and built by Builder Bertram J. Carteri. The home displays a recessed front entry door and upper balcony French door with decorative inset reveal. The home also features a simple yet elegant handmade wrought iron balcony, window grilles, railing and matching light fixtures. The home is a grand example of the style and has all the characteristic defining architectural features of the Spanish Eclectic/Revival style, along with Monterey style influences. These including the low pitched red tile roof, eaves with shallow overhangs, stucco surfacing, arched and elaborated doors and focal windows. The home exhibits its Monterey influences with its L-shaped two story plan and its dual upper level partially cantilevered wooden balconies covered by the principle hipped roof of the home. The home is a particularly high styled example and exhibits some interesting features of the style including its varied use of wood window lintels, decorative focal windows, decorative inset doors and windows combined with extensive wrought iron window grilles and other details. The subject resource also features decorative wooden lintels, balcony brackets, carved perforated balcony balusters and other wood detailing. The home features second-story balconies on each upper wing end with decorative wooden beams and railing covered by the main roof of the house. The home has a sandy and very original appearing irregular stucco exterior surfacing seen throughout. Windows and doors are brown painted wood unless otherwise noted. The resource is positioned in an L-shape with north and west extending wings and sits on a mostly flat semicircular corner lot. The home has a 100% intact building footprint with no additions, and has retained excellent architectural integrity.
This Spanish Eclectic, also known as the Spanish Colonial revival style, became popular in 1915 with the creation of the California pavilion and other buildings for the Panama California Exposition in San Diego. At the Exposition, architect Bertram Goodhue built upon earlier Mission Revival styles and added a more varied and accurate representation of original 16th century Spanish buildings. This romantic, sophisticated style borrowed from a broader rich vocabulary of Moorish, Spanish Baroque, Renaissance and Mediterranean architectural traditions with detailing often based on actual prototypes in Spain. The San Diego Exposition, along with Goodhue and other designers, publicized and promoted the style's popularity and it became a craze in California in around 1925.
Northeast (Front) Elevation – The low pitched hipped roof of the main house has hand laid red clay barrel tiles in an irregular pattern in keeping with the rustic Spanish aesthetic and design. The strong roof line is evident in this front elevation with hipped roof seen visible along the upper level. A stucco end chimney tops the tile hipped roof behind the east facing wing. Minimally overhanging eaves are seen below the roofline with the hipped roof above the upper level balconies seen on each wing end. The main front façade is dominated by the extending wings with central second-story iron Juliet balcony and end balconies with substantial decorative wooden beams and picket style railing covered by the principle roof of the house. The large brown painted wooden beams with decorative supporting corbels suggest permanence by their large size. A variety of window elaborations are seen on this elevation with large arching focal windows, wooden lintel topped windows and wrought iron grille covered windows all seen on this front facing elevation. Also all windows display a recessed lower reveal detail below the window sills. Where the two wings connect, the central chamfered entryway and cantilevered upper level wrought iron balcony faces the diagonal walkway. The central single upper level multilight wooden French door has a curvilinear top rail with matching decorative deep reveal. The central French door visible on the front façade is centered directly above the first level front door and links the upper level interior to the
5 State of California The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI#
CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial Page 5 of 37 *Resource Name or #: The Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House
*Recorded by: Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace *Date: July 2015 Continuation Update
*P3a. Description (continued):
small decorative wrought iron balcony. This central upper level French door with deep reveal is flanked on both sides by deep inset multilight windows with matching decorative Spanish revival upper window rail tops. The wrought iron balcony is supported by three open triangular brackets with decorative scroll work placed within. The upper level balcony railing contains vertical bars with three decorative radiating sun designs with central open oculus arms extending out in four directions. This decorative wrought iron balustrade detail matches other wrought iron detailing seen throughout the home.
Directly, below this iron balcony, the inset front door also has a decorative deep reveal displaying the original multipaneled solid wooden front door. The inset panels on the front door and wrought iron elaborations provides contrast with the smooth stucco white wall surfaces. This front door is flanked by ornate wall mounted hanging iron lighting fixtures and small four light windows with decorative wrought iron window grilles. The front doorway is raised three steps above the ground level and concrete walkway and has railings on each side with matching original decorative wrought iron work.
To the left, the extending east wing facing wall contains a double casement window with wooden lintel on its second floor containing two rectangular eight pane windows. To the left, the upper level wooden balcony slightly overlaps the floor beneath with decorative wooden brackets supporting the wooden balcony floor. This balcony has been somewhat enclosed by placing clear glazing above and wooden panels placed behind the original perforated picket balustrade. As seen in current photos (Attachment D.2), the original wood posts, balustrade, stucco surfacing and divided light French door and small window are all intact, original and visible. This see through enclosure does not greatly affect the integrity or view of the home and the balcony continues to read as an open wood balcony as originally designed. Below, on the first floor, at the end of the wing facing directly east, a large original inset focal window grouping consists of an arched fixed window flanked by twelve light wooden windows on each side. A matching three part focal window is also seen on the lower level wall facing north to the front walkway.
Balanced on the north extending wing, below the hipped roof with minimal overhang, two rectangular eight pane divided light windows with decorative wooden window lintels are seen on the upper level. On the upper level, to the right, a wooden upper level balcony sits under the principle roofline of the home placed at the end of the extending wing with square wooden support posts, corbels and perforated picket balustrade exactly matching the other upper level balcony. A hanging lighting fixture extends down from the wooden board ceiling. A ten paneled rectangular French door and eight paneled window connects the balcony to the inside of the home. Below this balcony on the lower level of the wing end is a single window under a wooden lintel to the left and a three window grouping under a common wooden lintel seen on the right. These rectangular wooden windows are all matched with six pane windows.
On the first level, to the left of the entryway, an inset three rectangular window grouping is topped with a decorative brown painted wooden lintel. The three wooden windows each contain divided light wooden casement windows in a eight light configuration. To the right, a single fixed rectangular wooden window is also seen topped by a wooden lintel. This fixed kitchen window has been replaced in the original opening with original wooden lintel and sill.
South (Rear) Elevation – This elevation has one main rear wall plane and is placed approximately 12 feet from the southern property line. The stucco eave wall chimney tops the second story clay tile roof top on the protruding east facing wing of the home. This elevation continues the hipped fired red clay Mission half barrel roof with little overhang matching the other elevations. On the second floor, from left to right, is a double window grouping featuring two six light rectangular wooden casement windows. Next are two smaller single original rectangular window openings. The one to the left contains a small louvered window while the other small window, near the center of the façade, contains its original divided light wooden casement window. Flanking each side of the chimney are more original eight light rectangular
6 State of California The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI#
CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial Page 6 of 37 *Resource Name or #: The Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House
*Recorded by: Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace *Date: July 2015 Continuation Update
*P3a. Description (continued):
wooden windows matching those seen throughout the home. The windows nearest the front, in front of the side chimney displays a painted wooden window lintels matching those seen on the front elevation. These windows are all inset and all have original wooden sills and inset openings. The slightly cantilevered upper level balcony extends revealing this side view of the original wooden support beams, brackets and pierced wooden plank or picket style balustrade.
On the first floor, from left to right, is a small raised patio with a clay tile covered shed roof sheltering a single wooden French door and two matched flanking sidelights. The porch supports are slender hand turned decorative wooden support columns. The rectangular French door is in a ten light configuration while the sidelights each contain five rectangular panes. To the right on the main wall is a three part window opening with three four pane rectangular wooden casement windows. To the right and stepped slightly down on the wall near the chimney is a double grouping of eight pane divided light wooden casement windows as described before, matching the others seen on the house all inset with wooden sills. This raised patio and lower rear patio area appears to have been partially covered with flagstones as was common circa 1950's. The flagstone surfacing on the raised patio may cover an original raised concrete patio. The shed roof over the French door is covered in newer clay roof tiles.
West (Side) Elevation – The west elevation continues the second level hipped red clay Mission half barrel roof, with a small flat roofed single story bump out with balcony connecting above. Just below the second story hipped roofline, to the left, sits the slightly cantilevered second story corner balcony located under the principle roofline of the house. The balcony retains its original oversized wooden beams, brackets and decorative perforated picket balustrade. To the left, this wooden balcony protrudes out to the north and the roof is supported by three large square support columns with the rounded step cornices matching the other balcony. On the upper level to the right of the balcony is a double window grouping of eight pane wooden divided light casement windows with shared wooden sill and decorative wooden window lintel above. To the right is a set of three small window openings. The middle window opening with replacement louvers sits in the original opening with original wooden sill and is flanked by two original four light rectangular wooden windows. Finally, evenly placed to the right are two tall rectangular eight light casement windows matching others seen on home.
On the first level from left to right, below the cantilevered balcony, the bumped out single level reveals a double grouping of two small four light rectangular wooden windows. To the right, a French door with flanking sidelights and small side service facing door provide access to the side yard patio and raised concrete patio area. This raised patio area displays the original scored concrete patio, radiused steps and glazed paneled service door. A circa 1950s-1960s aluminum patio floor covers this side service entry. Fenestration along this elevation consists of a small divided light window followed by a series of three tall inset individual rectangular eight light wooden casement windows.
Comparison of resource to original Louis Gill elevations – Comparison between the home, historic photos and Sanborn maps reveals a few small differences between the home's plan design and its as- built original configuration. A large three section arched window matching another original window is seen on the end of the west wing on the lower level, although it is shown on the design rendering as originally having been designed with a rectangular triple window. The existing window is absolutely original as seen historic photograph of the home in the March 7, 1926 San Diego Union article and photo showing the home under construction with the original distinctive window opening in place.
Also, some windows are shown on the original design plans flanked with wooden shutters, however it is unlikely that these shutters remained to the final design before construction as no shutters are seen on any historic construction photos and the 1940 historical aerial shows windows clearly without shutters. Careful examination of this area reveals no evidence of alteration or repair on the exterior stucco. Also,
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State of California The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial
Page 7 of 37 *Resource Name or #: The Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House
*Recorded by: Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace *Date: July 2015 Continuation Update
*P3a. Description (continued): as shown in historic photos, although the small single story bump out was originally built with a flat roof, the early design plans show a shed roof and screened porch which was never built. Finally on the rear elevation, an original French door with sidelights were first designed as windows as part of the original design.
As seen in historic photos, Despite these small design changes made before construction, Master Architect Louis J. Gill stayed very close to the early design. This is typical of the evolving design of a home during this time period. Also, hand sketched drawings and small alterations and notes are seen on these original plans and elevations showing these were probably working drawings used during the home's design. However, the high quality original plans are extremely detailed and show no other significant design change with front door, wrought iron detailing, window pattern and rhythm, chimney and other fine details and elaborations matching the original plans exactly indicating the design was mostly finalized at this point.
Detached Garage with second level guest house - The detached double garage is positioned just west of the main home and has an upper level guest house / servant's quarters. The separate two level garage guest house structure is topped with a front gabled roof and connects to North Talmadge Drive with a long straight driveway along the western side of the house. As seen in the 1926 San Diego Union article and photo of the home under construction, the circa 1930 historic aerial photo, and the 1934 Sanborn map, the upper level was not a later addition. Further investigation reveals the interior of the structure retains original 1920's area materials and methods of construction confirming the upper level above the garage is original to the home and intact. The north facing elevation faces the street and features a double window grouping with two four pane divided light wooden casement windows on the second level centered above two separate garage openings with solid wooden doors with diamond shaped openings. The split garage door openings are topped with a wooden lintel detail. While the (side) west facing wall which faces the neighboring home is blank, the east facing wall contains a single paneled wooden service door and small four light casement window matching the others seen on the home. The southern (rear) elevation contains a large centered double casement window with small rectangular window placed to the left on the upper level, with a small single rectangular wooden casement window seen on the first level to the left and matches the 1926 historical photo. This detached garage with second level guest house was built along with the home in 1926 during the home's period of significance and has excellent integrity with no additions or major alterations matching the home. It is therefore proposed for inclusion the in the historical designation.
Interior Architectural Features – (proposed for inclusion in designation). The living room, fireplace, foyer and staircase with wrought iron railing and tile work remain in original condition (please see attached photos in section D.2). These original interior elements exhibit architecturally defining features that should be saved as they contribute to the historical significance of this house. Of particular note is the open entry foyer with two story interior stairway with decorative wrought iron railing and hand sculpted wall finish. Adjacent to the staircase, the finely crafted wrought iron stair railing exhibits hand wrought scrollwork that is secured with thin metal straps, rivets, and screws holding the railing. Hand hammering of the metal is evident. Original wrought iron railings, lighting fixtures door and window hardware are visible throughout the home's interior.
Landscaping / Yard Setting – The diagonal front yard is mostly grass with landscaping area with a variety of palms and bushes. The original concrete walkway connects from the sidewalk to the front door. The diagonal scored concrete walkway connect to the raised front entryway and front door and appears very intact and original. This landscape design with open grass lawn and small plants and hedges placed
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State of California The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial
Page 8 of 37 *Resource Name or #: The Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House
*Recorded by: Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace *Date: July 2015 Continuation Update
*P3a. Description (continued):
near the home matches the overall style seen in historical photos and is likely similar to the Spanish Eclectic home's original front yard design.
9 State of California – The Resources Agency Primary # ______DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI # ______
BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD
Page 9 of 37 *Resource Name or #: The Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House
*Recorded by: Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace *Date: July 2015 Continuation Update
B1. Historic Name: Carteri House - 4379 North Talmadge Drive B2. Common Name: 4379 North Talmadge Drive B3. Original Use: Single Family Property B4. Present Use: Single Family Property *B5. Architectural Style: Spanish Revival / Eclectic with Monterey influences *B6. Construction History: (Construction date, alterations, and date of alterations) The home was completed in 1926. The original plans by Master Architect Louis Gill are dated Dec. 29, 1925. A Notice of Completion was not found, however, a January 24, 1926 San Diego Union article shows an architectural rendering of the home which was beginning construction (please see D.1 attachments). Another March 7, 1926 San Diego Union article includes two photos of the home under construction with walls up but lacking some windows. A January 9, 1927 San Diego Union article and aerial photo show the completed home. Another February 6, 1927 San Diego Union article and photo also shows the fully completed home. The water record is dated November 1927. Sewer records were not found as is common in the Talmadge neighborhood. The Residential Building Record estimated date of construction is 1925, however this is incorrect based on historic research. The deed from date of construction is dated February 2, 1926. The home is also shown in historic aerial photos of the area circa 1930 and 1940 (please see D.1 Attachments). Historical photos analysis and site evaluation reveals very few changes that have occurred to the home. The east extending wing roofed upper level balcony has been enclosed with see through glazing, while leaving intact the original wooden support beams and brackets, perforated wooden picket balustrade, Stucco wall surfacing, French entry door and divided light windows. Although not seen in building or construction records, one window on the front on the north wing has been replaced in the original opening and three small windows have been replaced on the rear (two on the west and one on south) elevations while preserving the original window openings, wooden window surrounds and sills. These three windows were replaced with louvered windows circa the 1950's-1960's based on the construction materials and methods. These three small windows are outside of the public view. Historical photos show these small windows originally matched the other wooden divided light windows seen on the home, making future window restoration much easier and less speculative. Sanborn maps, historical photos and site evaluation confirms no additions to the footprint of the home.
*B7. Moved? No Yes Unknown Date: Original Location: *B8. Related Features: B9a. Architect: : Master Architect Louis J. Gill b. Builder: Bertram J. Carteri *B10. Significance: Theme: Residential architecture Area: Talmadge Park (San Diego)
Period of Significance: 1926-1940 Property Type: Single-Family Property Applicable Criteria: B, C and D (Discuss importance in terms of historical or architectural context as defined by theme, period, and geographic scope. Also address integrity.). The home is significant under Criterion “B” for its association with Abelardo Rodriguez, the Governor of Baja and Sonora, Mexico, President of Mexico and important promoter of international trade between the U.S. and Mexico. The Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House at 4379 North Talmadge Dr. is also significant under Criterion “C” as an excellent example of Spanish Revival / Eclectic style architecture with Monterey influences. Finally, the home reflects a notable example of the work of recognized Master Architect Louis J. Gill and qualifies under Criterion D. The period of significance, 1926-1940, encompasses the date of construction of the home and the period Abelardo Rodriguez owned the home. This house has been well maintained N and has exceptional originality and excellent integrity.
B11. Additional Resource Attributes: (List attributes and codes) none
*B12. References: (See Continuation Sheet)
B13. Remarks: None *B14. Evaluator: Ronald V. May, RPA, Kiley Wallace *Date of Evaluation: July 2015
(This space reserved for official comments.)
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State of California The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial
Page 10 of 37 *Resource Name or #: The Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House
*Recorded by: Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace *Date: July 2015 Continuation Update
*B10. Significance - Criterion A:
Criterion A: Exemplifies or reflects special elements of the City’s, a community’s or a neighborhood’s historical, archaeological, cultural, social, economic, political, aesthetic, engineering, landscaping or architectural development.
The Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House at 4379 North Talmadge Dr. was found not to rise to the level of exemplifying special elements of the community's historical, archaeological, cultural, social, economic, political, aesthetic, engineering, landscaping or architectural development. Although the house reflects and contributes to our understanding of Talmadge Park as a hub for Spanish Eclectic design in the late 1920's and 1930's, the home was not the first of this type in the area or a model home. The home was not an early home in the Pueblo Lands or other subdivision development. No information came to light to determine that the resource rose to a level of significance to qualify for designation under Criterion A. The following discussion provides the background for that conclusion.
Introduction. Although the Kensington and Talmadge communities now have a number of individual homes that have been designated as historic for their significance, there remains much to be learned about how these neighborhoods developed, the reasons for the architectural styles that were built, and the lives of the people who lived and worked there. Criterion A evaluations are often complicated because they require the presentation of broad contexts and associations to establish the significance of the special elements of importance. The single most important mechanism to bring new information forward to better understand these communities is the intensive research associated with individual houses nominations. Legacy 106, Inc. and other researchers and homeowners have written additional nominations that now form an important body of primary research about the area.1
Probably the most familiar source of information about the history of the Kensington and Talmadge communities is a book written by Kensington resident and dentist Dr. Thomas H. Baumann, D.D.S. Baumann published Kensington-Talmadge 1910-1985, to mark the 75th anniversary of the community, although in actuality the date commemorated the filing of the first subdivision map on the mesa, Kensington Park. The “Kensington Book” is a favorite of residents in both the Talmadge and Kensington communities, and has been reprinted by his daughter, Darlene Baumann Love.2 Baumann lists each of these subdivisions on page 32 for Kensington and 71 for Talmadge, in the 2nd edition. The distinctions between these tracts have blurred over time, and today planners group the thirteen Kensington subdivisions into “Kensington” and eleven Talmadge tracts into “Talmadge” as part of the Mid Cities Community Plan. The filing of individual maps is important to the history of the house, because Kensington Heights, which developed in three “Units,” is unrelated in development history to nearby Kensington Manor with its two Units, Kensington Point, or the first tract in the area, Kensington Park,
1 Researchers Kathleen Flanigan, Parker Jackson, Beth Montes and Christianne Knoop, Priscilla Berge, Kathleen Crawford, Ruth Alter, Linda Canada, Jaye Furlonger, Scott Moomjian, Esq., Vonn Marie May, and Ione Stiegler, name only few who have studied the Kensington and/or Talmadge areas. In addition, see Anne D. Bullard, “1926, The Formative Year of Kensington Heights,” The Journal of San Diego History, Spring 1995, Volume 41, Number 2; Mary M. Taschner, "Richard Requa: Southern California Architect, 1881-1941, a Master's thesis for the University of San Diego; Larry R. Ford, Metropolitan San Diego: How Geography and Lifestyle Shape a New Urban Environment Metropolitan Portraits), 2004; and Architects Ione Stiegler, AIA with M. Wayne Donaldson, AIA in the Historical Greater Mid-City San Diego Preservation Strategy, 1996 and January 8, 1997. 2 After Baumann’s death, the Kensington-Talmadge Community Association updated the first edition and reprinted it as a second edition in 1997, and named it Kensington-Talmadge 1910-1997. In 2010, Love printed a Centennial Edition of her father’s book, which updated and added new information to the community’s history.
11 State of California The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI#
CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial
Page 11 of 37 *Resource Name or #: The Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House
*Recorded by: Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace *Date: July 2015 Continuation Update
*B10. Significance - Criterion A (continued):
located south of Kensington Heights Unit 1. An observer might look at the Kensington and Talmadge neighborhoods and assume these areas all developed together, as today they appear to be two connected communities.
Early Area History. During the Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and American Periods. The landscape that we see today in this area has changed dramatically over time. The first people who arrived in this area may have come here as early as 20,000 years ago, although that is a subject of ongoing study. Certainly early peoples began to populate the region by 12,000 years ago. During that era, the Laguna Mountains were frozen and expansive savannah lands surrounded shallow lakes east to the Lower Colorado River. One of the most dramatic differences involved the location of the coastal shoreline, which was substantially further to the west than what we know today. In fact, geological evidence suggests that glacial ice drew-down the sea level to approximately 400 feet lower than we know it today. The “coastal” archaeological sites that reflect this period of occupation are now deeply submerged and available only to underwater explorers.
Between 10,000 and 5,000 years ago, glacial melt elevated the sea level and prehistoric people intensified their use of the land. About 1,500 years ago, rainfall lessened and San Diego became the coastal desert of today. Archaeological investigation of San Diego has revealed most prehistoric cultures concentrated their population centers near freshwater drainages, estuaries, bays, and marine resources. Most of the prehistoric sites recorded consist of vegetal roasting ovens, trail breakage, and overnight camps. At least one seasonal habitation camp existed in Switzer Canyon at the time Spanish colonists arrived in San Diego in 1769. Other villages are known to have been in Mission Valley, Rose Canyon, and around San Diego Bay.
Prior to 1769, Native Kumeyaay families and unknown prehistoric people before them lived in this general area on a nomadic basis, following food resources as they became seasonally available. The local Kumeyaay people continued traditional use rights on the land in this area through the Spanish and Mexican periods of California history, although their ability to live in the area and use the resources of the land became increasingly restricted by European dictates and encroachment from non-native grants, pre- emption, and homestead claims upon choice properties.
The first United States surveys passed through this area in the 1850s, but the first subdivisions as we understand it today with the system of Blocks and Lots did not occur until after 1900. Some sources record local Kumeyaay families living in Mission Valley and in various parts of coastal San Diego until about 1910 based on ethnographic interviews (Shipek 1991). After then, the Kumeyaay families who had not been forced to live on U.S. Government controlled reservations had abandoned these ancestrally- owned lands to move east or south to Baja, California where they still had cultural ties and could live with less interference. While today, American society generally does not recognize Native American usage/ownership of the land as part of the legal chain of title, it is, nevertheless, part of the chronological and historical sequence of land usage over time.
Given the many thousands of years of prehistoric occupation, the Spanish colonization era passed through the Mexican Revolution and Mexican War with the United States in a mere heartbeat of time. By the 1870s, European American land surveyors began extending the boundary of the City of San Diego. Real estate speculators bought “Pueblo Land” from the Common Council and City Trustees and then drew maps that created grids of streets and blocks of lots.
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State of California The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial
Page 12 of 37 *Resource Name or #: The Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House
*Recorded by: Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace *Date: July 2015 Continuation Update
*B10. Significance - Criterion A (continued):
Documented pre-subdivision uses in the area include poultry ranches and film studio work of the United States Film Corporation in neighboring Kensington Park area in 1914 (San Diego Union, May 31, 1914, “San Diego Paradise for ‘Movie’ Company, Big Concern with Many Actors Busy in Kensington Park).
Rancho Ex Mission Lots. All of the Kensington and Talmadge acreage originates from former land known as “Rancho Ex Mission Lots,” which have a layer of ownership, leases, and uses invisible today to the present owners, as these transactions which preceded the filing of the subdivision maps never appear on chain-of-title documents. Much of this land came onto the real estate market through the heirs to the Rancho Ex Mission Lots and into hands such as banker George Burnham, Vice President of the Southern Trust and Commerce Bank. “The Map of the First Unit Kensington Heights” states under “A Better Improvement Plan”:
Of the 240 acres which comprises Kensington Heights, 100 acres on the mesa will be developed at the present time into restricted residential property. For many, many years this tract has been held intact by its former owners – the Mason family. It has changed hands but once in forty years.3
The development of the Kensington Mesa in the second decade of the nineteenth century fits into the greater pattern of housing development nationwide, as America got back onto its feet following the devastating worldwide effects of World War I. By 1921-1924, many of the veterans had returned to America and there was both a nationwide shortage of available homes and a slowly reviving economy that brought building materials and new home construction back on track. From this, arose the “Better Homes Movement,” and what followed would be a decade of new construction that transformed communities across America, and in particular, Southern California, as large tracts of land became available and desirable for development. The Kensington Park tract, south of Kensington Heights, fits into this early period of San Diego’s development.
“Movie Girl Subdivision” Marketing Strategy. Additionally, the house may contribute to a better understanding of the Hollywood - Los Angeles real estate investment ties that led to the development of Talmadge Park, San Diego’s “Movie Star Subdivision,” in the initial phase of development between 1925 and 1930. One of San Diego’s most interesting and glamorous subdivisions of the 1920s is without a doubt the Talmadge Park subdivision, which opened with great publicity in 1925. The wealth behind the subdivision was touted as exceeding $75,000,000 (San Diego Sun, February 12, 1927). The tract was promoted as the “Movie Girl Subdivision,” because of its marketing and investment association with Hollywood silent film stars and sisters, Norma, Constance, and Natalie Talmadge.
The key individuals in the Talmadge Park subdivisions were I.C. Freud, a Los Angeles capitalist and president of the Southern California Realty Corporation, who joined with other Hollywood and Los Angeles businessmen and women to finance and develop Talmadge Park under the Lichtys’ guidance. The luminaries were of course sisters Norma Talmadge, Constance Talmadge, and Natalie Talmadge.
3 Readers interested in this early history are directed to Historical Nomination of the Commander Wilbur V. and Martha E. Shown / and Louise Severin House, 4394 North Talmadge Drive and Historical Nomination of the Frank B. and Vinnie A. Thompson House, 5191 Hastings Road, Kensington Heights Unit 2, “George T. Forbes Spec House No. 1,” Historical Landmark Number 755, by Legacy 106, Inc. In particular, additional research into the Mason family (Evalyn and John Mason) of Mission Valley, who owned Rancho Ex Mission Lot 47, and Willard W. Whitney, who owned Lot 23, would be an interesting line of inquiry into this early history, before the present subdivisions were formed.
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Natalie’s husband, Buster Keaton was involved, as was Keaton’s business manager and brother-in-law, Joseph M. Schenck, head of the United Artists Corporation and husband to Norma Talmadge. Schenck produced most of Norma’s early pictures from their converted studio in New York and later when they moved their operations west to Hollywood (Baumann p. 49 and 61). A February 12, 1927 article in the San Diego Sun called Schenk “one of the wealthiest business men in California as well as one of the most powerful figures in the film industry.”
Others included Sid Graumann, Louis B. Mayer, who was Vice-President and General Manger of Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Los Angeles capitalist Joe Toplitzky, Joseph Loeb, a prominent Los Angeles attorney, and Roy C. Lichty, the subdivision manager. In 1933, Schenck, Mayer, and Darryl Zanuck headed the Twentieth Century Company (Baumann p. 50). Unnamed as a partner, but certainly financially involved was San Diego Banker and real estate investor, George Burnham. (San Diego Union, December 20, 1925 “Charity to Get Proceeds from First Lot Sale: Dedication of Subdivision is Set for Jan 3; Norma Talmadge to Plant Tree.”) Later sources would reveal another investor was movie great Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle. (Oakland Tribune, April 30, 1933) Biographies of Buster Keaton reveal these investors were long time friends who formed a business network that revolved around their Hollywood careers. Lou Anger managed both Keaton’s and Arbuckle’s careers, and Schenck was a longtime friend of Arbuckle’s who supported him both financially and emotionally after a false rape accusation devastated his career.
One of the best descriptions of their involvement can be found in Kensington-Talmadge 1910-1997 by Dr. Thomas H. Baumann, D.D.S. (pp. 49-72). Much of the material Baumann used in his book was from research compiled by Kensington resident Robert Sedlock in 1958 for a college paper. Sedlock’s role in understanding this area is generally overlooked because few know of his involvement and Baumann did not attribute Sedlock as his underlying source. Copies of Sedlock’s paper can be found in the San Diego History Center’s Research Archives, however. Much has been written about the Talmadge sister’s greatly publicized opening of the Talmadge Park subdivision, but in truth, very little is known about the details of their investments in San Diego or how they came to be involved with this particular tract. While Baumann’s book and Sedlock’s material are important studies of the area, much more can still be learned about the community. Today, probably the biggest misconception about Kensington / Talmadge is that they are in essence one large community that developed about the same time. The entire community is, in fact, the product of nearly 24 separate subdivisions, thirteen in Kensington and eleven in Talmadge. The Talmadge units were separate from the Kensington units, although in general much of the area built out their initial phases in the 1920s.
The Murrins lived in Los Angeles, as did the Hollywood movie investors who co-invested with subdivision manager Roy Lichty, who had developed his first subdivision with Ole Hansen in Los Angeles. In 1929, Hansen was well known as the founder and developer of San Clemente, California (San Diego Union, May 15, 1929).
In general, however, Legacy 106, Inc. is still learning about the investment relationship between Los Angeles-based real estate people and the Kensington / Talmadge tracts. Recently, we have been corresponding with a colleague in Pasadena who, in researching his own home, has learned that the developers in his area were heavily involved in San Diego. He has even documented “twin” houses in both cities and builders who bought all of their materials in Los Angeles and shipped them to San Diego to build in Kensington. Talmadge Park manager Roy Lichty also had his roots in Los Angeles, and is clearly documented bringing Los Angeles area developers and buyers to San Diego (Personal Communication, Headrick 2007).
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In a May 2, 1926 news article in the San Diego Union, Lichty announced that Los Angeles contractor Paul V. Struble had purchased 100 lots in Talmadge Park in “one of the biggest home-building programs planned in San Diego. . . He has done considerable amount of home building in Los Angeles, particularly in the vicinity of Figuerosa and 102nd streets, and also in Glendale.” Lichty actively recruited buyers from the Long Beach and Los Angeles area, as indicated by this April 18, 1926 San Diego Union article which stated:
Eighteen residents of Long Beach were visitors at Talmadge Park last Wednesday. They were on a two-day sightseeing tour of San Diego, conducted by R.E. Huff, a prominent Long Beach realtor. Huff is conducting three sightseeing tours every Wednesday and Saturday, bringing his parties from Long Beach to San Diego in de luxe motor busses.”
While many believe that the enormous “Wonder House of Stone,” located at the end of Adams Avenue in Talmadge was the Talmadge Sisters’ home, in truth it was not. The building served as a real estate headquarters for lot sales and a model home. Interestingly, Roy Lichty’s daughter, Jean Lichty, would marry Cliff May, who would gain world-wide fame as the “father of the western ranch house” in the 1930s – 1960s. Both Lichty’s own home, and a National Register landmark Cliff May ranch house, are located a short walk to the north up East Talmadge Drive.
Thus, in terms of Community Development a great deal more research needs to be done to better understand the relationship between the Los Angeles area and San Diego as to the architectural, historical, and economic development of the community. However, it is clear that all of the houses built in the Talmadge Park subdivision while Roy Lichty was its manager, demonstrate special elements of the community’s architectural development. The designs had to be approved by him with investment minimum criteria and strict architectural control that required design approval. It is becoming increasingly better documented and understood that many of the builders in Talmadge Park were also building in Los Angeles and/or had strong ties to the Hollywood movie industry.
“City Beautiful” the Nolen Plan and the Proximity to New State College. Talmadge Park also owes its existence to plans for the relocation of the Normal School in University Heights to “the forward edge of the City of San Diego” (San Diego Union, April 18, 1926). M.W. Folsom wrote a letter to the editor comparing Hollywood and Beverly Hills real estate appreciation in relation to creation of college campus sites. The San Diego real estate industry promoted relocation of the Norma School campus and urban utilities east to the city boundaries, just as in the case of Hollywood and Beverly Hills.
Wilson used the Nolen Plan as an argument for this eastern extension, which Talmadge Park developers picked up on in their planning and marketing campaigns of the 1920s-1930s. An April 11, 1926 article in the San Diego Union entitled “’City Beautiful’ Plan Interests Heights Section: Kensington District Residents Pleased to Learn Proposed Main Road Cuts Property,” states that “Study of the Nolen Plan for development of San Diego into real “city beautiful” is attracting the especial attention of residents and property owners of the Kensington Park section.” This community is adjacent to Talmadge Park, and by extension, it is indisputable that Lichty and his partners were aware of the affect Nolen’s plans to extend a great main boulevard and parking system from Mission Valley to the Kensington section to Chollas Valley would have on their property values.
The Sunday edition of the San Diego Union on April 11, 1926 revealed how Talmadge Park designers came up with the curved Talmadge loop road that follows the ridge and canyon contours for easy automotive driving and viewing of Mission Valley to the north and Mahogany Canyon to the east.
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Numerous residents of that locality and others who plan to build have called during the past fortnight at the offices of the city planning commission in Balboa Park for an examination of the maps and plans prepared by Nolen …. To extend the main boulevard parking system from the harbor front up to Mission Valley and thence across the Kensington section to Chollas Valley (Ibid) Lichty also planned to develop a recreational area and artist colony down in Mahogany Canyon (Fairmont Drive) as an added amenity to Talmadge Park Unit 1 (San Diego Union, April 4, 1926).The entire Talmadge Park neighborhood retains its physical integrity and evokes a strong sense of 1920s-1930s history.
1920s and 1930s, Two Distinct Decades of Development. The erection of this house during the Great Depression seems relevant as a special element, The houses built prior to the period of the Great Depression normally stand out from the ones built after 1930, because of the economic stresses that were not present in the 1925-1929 boom period. Few builders in this depression period had the financial means to build, with a few distinct exceptions. The few builders who were able to remain viable during this period had to adapt to the economic restrictions of the time, and provided badly needed jobs and purchasing of materials from local suppliers when very little business was going on. During the depression thousands of buyers defaulted, builders went out of business, lenders assumed title to lots and houses, and builder and Architects, like all businesses, experienced a stressed market. Several houses in Kensington and Talmadge remained vacant and the lenders rented to Navy and Army personnel, who had a dependable income.
These homes also stand out from the houses built after 1935, when home buyer’s style preferences were changing as people started to find the economy rising out of the Great Depression, and new federal policies encouraged economizing, smaller homes, modernization, and materials efficiencies in ways that had a dramatic effect on house styles for the next generation of home buyers.
The Spanish Colonial Theme. Custom homes in Kensington Park were an eclectic mix of Craftsman bungalow, Mission Revival, Spanish Eclectic, and Pueblo styles that some prospective homebuyers found unsettling Robert Sedlock (1958:2-4). The Kensington Land Company responded to make their real estate more luxurious by creating deed restrictions and a Supervisory Architectural Board to enforce Spanish style as the only acceptable architecture. At that same time, Requa had a column in the San Diego Union at the time where he promoted Spanish and Mexican style homes built with the new materials of the day. The Kensington Land Company retained Requa to chair the board in August of 1925. Nine months later on May 24, 1926, George Forbes, Sr. of the Kensington Heights Company induced Requa to extend Supervisory Review Board oversight of house designs in Unit 2. Four months later on September 28, 1926, Forbes added Unit 3 to the review. This later subdivision included twenty- four exclusive rim lots with underground utilities (Sedlock 1958:4). Forbes set the prices for those lots at $1200 to $1500 and completed homes with those lots sold as high as $19,000 (Forbes 1973). When times got tough during the Great Depression, Forbes used his own money to hire Requa to design the homes (AD 1007-063, San Diego History Center Research Archives).
Conclusion: The Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House at 4379 North Talmadge Drive was not determined to qualify for designation under Criterion A. Legacy 106, Inc. did not find evidence to support that the Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House at 4379 North Talmadge Drive qualifies under Criterion A.
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Criterion B: Is identified with persons or events significant in local, state, or national history. A summary of the individuals associated with this property is provided along with a conclusion regarding their significance under Criterion B.
Bertram J. and Ingeborg Carteri Owners and Builder during construction January 1926 to August 1926
In January 1926, Bertram J. Carteri and wife Ingeborg purchased lots 182 and 183 of Talmadge Park from the Union Trust Company of San Diego. Bertram, a builder of both homes and commercial buildings, intended to construct a home on the lots for his wife and himself to reside in. In August 1926, due to financial hardship, the Carteris sold the home to Aida S. Rodriguez, wife of Baja California governor (and future Mexican president) Abelardo Rodriguez. The Rodriguez's owned the home until 1940, however, San Diego city directory searches indicate that they resided there from 1931 to 1933, and in 1936. There is no indication that the Carteris ever occupied the subject home.
Early Life. Bertram Julian Carteri was born in Santa Barbara County on February 16, 1885. His father, Leon Jules Carteri, was originally from France, while mother Matilde was born near Santa Barbara. Bertram came from a large family and census records show that he had at least eleven siblings. Bertram's maternal grandfather, Julian Foxen, was a skipper aboard the schooner Goleta. An Englishman by birth, Julian Foxen arrived in Santa Barbara around 1833 after sailing around Cape Horn aboard Goleta (San Diego Union, April 4, 1926). Goleta, California is named after the ship.
The Carteris Arrive in San Diego. Around 1916, Bertram and wife Ingeborg arrived in the San Diego area. The 1916 San Diego city directory lists the Carteris as residing at 4839 37th St. in Normal Heights, with Bertram employed as a carpenter. According to his World War I draft registration cards from 1918, the couple resided in Lakeside, where they were engaged in farming. It appears that the Carteris time in Lakeside was brief, as the 1920 U.S. Census lists them as residing at 4061 Wabash Ave. near the North Park neighborhood, with Bertram employed as a "real estate dealer."
Local historian Alexander Bevil researched B.J. Carteri extensively and in 1990 interviewed Carteri's son Leon. According to Bevil's historic nomination report for 3285-3287 Adams Ave. (constructed by B.J. Carteri circa 1925), it was around 1920 that Bertram began to purchase and renovate or otherwise improve existing homes in the Normal Heights area.
Carteri and Normal Heights. After the conclusion of World War I, Southern California experienced an expanding real estate market, and San Diego's population was growing rapidly. The need for housing meant that residential development was expanding to areas outside of San Diego's downtown. Bertram speculated that the Normal Heights area would be the next part of San Diego to experience a boom. In 1920, the neighborhood was still rather remote, with only a few homes and even fewer amenities such as doctors, grocery stores, and service stations. However, it had close proximity to trolley lines, was accessible by automobile, and land could still be purchased inexpensively.
Beginning in 1920, Bertram purchased lots in north of Adams Avenue, between 33rd and 34th Streets in Normal Heights, and constructed approximately twenty single-family homes between 1920 and 1924. Only about a dozen are still extant. He then purchased the entire block between Felton St. and 33rd St. and improved these lots as well.
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Carteri Center. In late 1922, Bertram purchased lots on the south side of Adams Avenue, between 33rd and 34th Streets. He proceeded to construct several commercial buildings in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, most of them designed by Louis J. Gill (the nephew of architect Irving J. Gill). The Carteri opened in 1923 and was a two-story movie theater. A San Diego Union article from April 4, 1926 stated:
"All this [development of Carteri Center] has happened because Bertram J. Carteri - who came to San Diego nine years ago with $400 in his jeans - had vision, backbone, and ambition and has invested in four years more than $400,000 in development of the Normal Heights section."
El Sueño Bungalow Court. In 1926, Bertram constructed the El Sueño bungalow court, designed by Louis J. Gill, at 3316 Adams Avenue in Normal Heights. The bungalow court is extant and houses businesses in the front. Behind the commercial portion are several detached bungalows, which were so constructed so that they could eventually be moved and sold as individual dwellings (ibid). Behind the detached bungalows are several attached one-story units, and a large two-story structure stands at the rear. Carteri had originally envisioned that the entirety of El Sueño would eventually become businesses, however, that plan did not come to fruition.
4379 North Talmadge Drive. The January 24, 1926 issue of the San Diego Union features an architectural rendering of the subject resource. The architect of the home is not named in the article, although it is now known that that Bertram hired Louis J. Gill, who he had previously worked with extensively, to design the home. The article states, "Carteri last week finished the roof for a $30,000 home which he is building for himself on the edge of Mahogany Canyon." There is no indication that the Carteris ever occupied the home. Instead, due to financial hardship, the Carteris sold the home in August 1926 to Aida S. Rodriguez, wife of Baja California governor (and future Mexican president) Abelardo Rodriguez. The Rodriguez's owned the home until 1940, however, San Diego city directory searches indicate that they resided there from 1931 to 1933, and in 1936.
Financial Hardship. In order to gain funds for future building projects, Bertram borrowed heavily against his existing properties, and he and Ingeborg were hit hard by the Great Depression. Around 1934, the couple moved to Glendale with their four children. According to the 1940 U.S. Census, Bertram worked as a carpenter in the home building industry. The onset of World War II and the nearby Lockheed airplane factory greatly increased the need for housing in the Los Angeles area.
Around 1941, Bertram and his son Leon began construction on the Santa Rosa Bungalow Court in Glendale. After Leon was drafted into the Army, his father went back to buying and selling existing homes. Eventually the Santa Rosa Bungalow Court was completed, and Bertram resided there with Ingeborg until his death in November 1965.
Although Bertram J. Carteri was a prominent and important individual for his economic and commercial developments around San Diego (especially Normal Heights) his association with the resource is limited, in that although he developed and built the home for himself and his wife Ingeborg, they sold the home before it was completed and the couple never lived in the home. Therefore, his achievements likely have a closer association with his one of his personal homes or commercial properties, more than with the subject resource. Insufficient information was found about Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri to determine they have significant historically associations with 4379 North Talmadge Drive to qualify under Criterion B.
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Abelardo Rodríguez and Aida S. Rodríguez Owners, August 1926 to December 1926 and again January 1927 to January 1940 Residents, 1931 to 1933, 1936
From August 1926 to December 1926, and from January 1927 to 1940, Abelardo Rodríguez and wife Aida Sullivan Rodríguez owned 4379 North Talmadge Drive. Abelardo served as Governor of Northern Baja California from 1923 to 1929, as Mexico's interim president from 1932 to 1934, and as Governor of the Mexican state of Sonora from 1943 to 1949.
San Diego city directory searches indicate that the Rodríguez's occupancy of the subject resource was sporadic, and they sold the home in 1940. Note that the original address of the home was 4415 N. Talmadge Drive:
1928 Vacant 1929 Vacant 1930 Vacant 1931 Rodriguez Abelardo (o) Rodriguez Abelardo (Aida) h4415 N Talmadge dr 1932 Rodriguez Abelardo (o) Rodriguez Abelardo (Aida) h4415 N Talmadge dr 1933 Rodriguez Abelardo (o) Rodriguez Abelardo (Aida) h4415 N Talmadge dr 1934 Vacant 1935 Vacant 1936 Rodriguez A L Rodriguez A L h4415 N Talmadge dr 1937 Vacant 1938 No listing No listing 1939 No listing No listing
Early Life. Abelardo Luján Rodríguez, who went by Abelardo L. Rodríguez, was born in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico in 1889. Born into a poor family of eleven children, Abelardo relocated with his family to the Mexico / Arizona border town of Nogales at a young age. At the insistence of his mother, Abelardo learned English at an American school, and being bilingual would benefit him greatly later in life (Vanderwood 2010: 120).
During his youth, Abelardo held a wide variety of jobs. He was employed in a brother's metal shop, worked as a copper miner, and sold handicrafts. He was also very athletic, and especially enjoyed baseball, boxing, and body building (ibid). Fond of singing, he traveled to Los Angeles to take voice lessons. However, after a few weeks, his voice coach told him that he would never make it as a singer, and he returned home.
He joined the Mexican Revolution around 1913, and by 1916 had attained the rank of Colonel. In 1921 after the revolution ended, Rodríguez was appointed as Military Commander of Northern Baja California. Rodríguez became Governor of Northern Baja California in 1923, and until 1929 served both as Governor and as the region's Military Commander.
Abelardo Marries Aida. Abelardo met Aida Sullivan in 1923 and they were married the following year in what was then the territory of Baja California Sur (San Diego Union, August 28, 1975). Abelardo and Aida eventually had three sons: Abelardo Jr., Juan, and Fernando. Aida was born in Puebla, Mexico in April 1905. Unfortunately, no information about her early life could be found.
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Rodríguez As Governor of Northern Baja California (1923 to 1929). The Rodríguez government encouraged new development and fostered cross border trade with the US. Rodríguez also carried out numerous public works projects in the Northern Baja region, including the building of a theatre and public library in Mexicali. Due to the economic growth, new types of industry sprung up in the region, including flour mills and cottonseed processing plants. An aircraft factory, the Compañía Aérea de Construcción y Transportes, was established in Tijuana in late 1927.
For several decades, the Northern Baja (Distrito Norte) region was too sparsely populated to attract many businesses or investors. During the US prohibition on alcohol, Americans (especially those from southern California) looking to avoid this ban, began coming to Mexico. During this time, Rodríguez's governorship allowed Tijuana's new border and tourism industries to thrive. Governor Rodríguez viewed the great growth in liquor establishments and allied businesses in the Mexican border towns as a way of furthering the area's financial autonomy and the development of its economy. He capitalized on the lucrative opportunities afforded by promoting the development of the vice industry in Tijuana and the Distrito Norte in general in order to create a strong economic base for the region. The Distrito Norte was able fund its own public works and internal administration costs, and reduce its reliance on federal funding from the Mexican government, by taxing the region's liquor businesses. Numerous liquor stores and drinking establishments opened, catering to thirsty Americans looking for a drink in the depths of Prohibition.
Abelardo Rodríguez also had personal reasons for promoting the vice industry in the Distrito Norte. As in the case of his predecessors, he also profited from the industry himself as a major partner of U.S. entrepreneurs involved in these activities.
Association With the Agua Caliente Resort and Racetrack development. Governor Abelardo L. Rodríguez, who served as Governor of Northern Baja California from 1923 to 1929, was involved with the development of at least two casinos in Tijuana: Agua Caliente and the Foreign Club. The Mexican Agua Caliente Company was formed by American businessmen Wirt G. Bowman, Baron Long, and James Crofton on July 4, 1927, with an initial investment of $750,000. Additionally, Bowman donated $250,000 American dollars to the Mexican government to firmly establish control of Tijuana. In return, President Obregón and Governor Rodríguez issued gambling licenses to Bowman and Charlie Withington for Agua Caliente to develop a grand tourist resort.
Governor Rodríguez contributed to the business venture with the provision of land for the site of Agua Caliente. He purchased the land from Alberto Arguello for $35,000. Fernando Rodríguez, Abelardo's brother and a business associate of Baron Long, was given the construction contract.
The key years for the development of Agua Caliente from a hot water mud hole to an exciting European style resort were from 1927 to 1930. Built in stages, horse and dog racing tracks provided funds for the more elaborate gambling casino, night clubs, theaters, hotel, airport and bungalows that would support the wealthy elite tourists traveling through San Diego and up from Mexico City, Cuba, and South America, across the Atlantic from Europe, and from Southeast Asia across the Pacific. The entire Agua Caliente project cost approximately $10 million American dollars and most of the craftsmen came from San Diego, although Governor Rodríguez insisted that local laborers be hired to justify the waivers of anti-gambling laws and issuance of local permits. Mexico City financed La Presa, the dam that has provided drinking water to Tijuana for the past 80+ years. But much of the construction material allegedly went directly into Agua Caliente. For example, receipts show Rodríguez ordered 500 doors, 1000 windows, 500 beds, and five tons of kitchen utensils and crockery. By 1928, Long, Crofton, and Bowman invested another $1,000,000 into the resort. Governor Rodríguez, New York City Mayor Jimmy Walker, San Diego Mayor
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Harry Clark, and dozens of Hollywood luminaries, as well as Long, Crofton, and Bowman were on hand for Agua Caliente's grand opening in June 1928.
Backlash Against the Vice Industries. Numerous citizens of Tijuana, as well as Mexican residents in California, sent letters to President Obregón, declaring that Rodríguez had blatantly ignored the moral reform policy proclaimed after the overthrow of Carranza in 1920, and even claimed that the governor had accepted bribes in exchange for ignoring certain vice activities and had reopened several casinos that had been closed due to irregularities in their operation. The letter writers further asserted that Rodríguez had granted a gambling monopoly to American businessmen Wirt Bowman, Charlie Withington, and their associates.
Governor Rodríguez defended gambling in Tijuana by stating that people in "civilized countries" patronized casinos and racetracks. He said, "In Florida, one of the U.S.'s most prosperous states, an infinite number of these clubs exist, but in Florida one plays roulette and all classes of gambling [not allowed in Tijuana], and no one protests. France lives from tourism. Tijuana lives from tourism. Without it, the town would not exist, nor would workers' organizations, nor an ayuntamiento [city hall]" (Vanderwood 2010:121).
Agua Caliente's Financial Impact on San Diego and Baja California. Historian Paul Vanderwood noted that Bowman, Long, and Crofton invested $50,000 each to Agua Caliente and Governor Rodríguez co-financed through government investments in La Presa and support of the resort. Each retained 100,000 shares worth $500,000 and the value appreciated from $10 a share in 1928 to a high of $60 a share by 1933. Architect Wayne McAllister invested $1,500 and saw it rise to $9,000 in a few years. The estimated financial impact on the San Diego economy between 1929 and 1934 could be as high as $30,000,000.
Demise of Agua Caliente. Election of Mexican President Lazaro Cardenas on December 1, 1934 spelled the end of Agua Caliente. Carrying out Marxist political policies, President Cardenas nationalized and seized all assets of American investors and closed down the gambling casino in Mexico, sparing those at Agua Caliente for a short time. Abelardo Rodríguez warned his co-partners and they removed as much as $3,000,000 in gunny sacks from Tijuana banks, Agua Caliente, and the Jockey Club and drove it north to San Diego (Vanderwood 2010: 304-305). Agua Caliente closed on December 18, 1937. Association with the Foreign Club. In July of 1933, in collaboration with associates Wirt G. Bowman, Juan R. Platt, Carlos Riva Palacio, Ramón Salido, and Salvador Ateca, Rodríguez formed the Compañía de Inversiones y Turismos (Company of Investments and Tourisms) to open a luxurious entertainment center with a gambling hall, cabaret, and restaurant in Tijuana called The Foreign Club. Their initial investment of $1,500,000 pesos was recuperated during the first weeks of operation. Abelardo Rodríguez also belonged to an organization in Mexico called El Grupo Sonorense (The Sonoran Group). It was composed of military and political leaders, predominantly from the Mexican state of Sonora, who shared economic interests from 1920 to 1935. The membership of this group included presidents Álvaro Obregón (1920-1924), Plutarco Elías Calles (1924-1928), and Lázaro Cárdenas (1934- 1940). The rise to power of El Grupo Sonorense correlated with the Agua Prieta rebellion which led to the assassination of President Venustiana Carranza in 1920.
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*B10. Significance - Criterion B (continued):
Rodríguez Becomes Mexico's Interim President (1932 to 1934). Due to a combination of poor health and difficulties with Interior Minister Plutarco Elias Calles, Mexican President Pascual Ortiz Rubio resigned in September 1932. Abelardo L. Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president on September 4, 1932. One of his first acts was to define the Mexican government's attitude toward the U.S. He said, "My policy toward the United States will consist of continuing the relations of friendship which have existed" (Riverside Daily Press, September 5, 1932).
During his time as President, Rodríguez likely spent the majority of his time in Mexico City, the nation's capital. However, from 1931 to 1933, he is listed in the San Diego city directory as residing at the subject resource. He probably used the home as a part time retreat during his term, however, it is not known for certain.
President Rodríguez was responsible for many programs devised to help Mexican workers weather the Great Depression. In August 1933 he urged Mexican manufacturers and farmers to align with his plan to establish a minimum wage (San Diego Union, August 29, 1933). That same month he also raised the pay of federal employees to equal the minimum pay of employees in the private sector. In addition to the salary increases, President Rodríguez stated in a September 1933 press interview that the chief goals of his government were to eradicate illiteracy, develop technical skills of Mexican workers, and encourage sports.
Through the minimum wage law for Mexican workers, he aimed to intensify Mexico's industrial development and make the nation less dependent on international trade. The law took effect on January 1, 1934, and it was set at between one peso and three pesos daily, depending on the type of work and the region of Mexico. In August 1934, President Rodríguez stated that his minimum wage law had benefited 2.5 million agricultural and industrial workers, and increased the public's purchasing power by 1.5 million pesos daily since it took effect, for a projected total increase of 547,000,000 pesos by the end of 1934 (San Diego Evening Tribune, August 23, 1934).
President Rodríguez believed it was necessary to raise the living standards of Mexico's working class without harming the interests of employers, and regarded the minimum wage law as an "economic revolution" which benefited both (ibid). He also enacted laws to protect women and children from exploitation by employers, including limiting minors' work to four hours per day and barring them from working in hazardous industries, such as mining.
Public Opinion of President Rodríguez. Mexico City newspaper and magazine publisher Felix S. Palavicini referred to President Rodríguez as the "Mexican Roosevelt" because the Rodríguez administration closely paralleled that of American President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Palavicini stated in January 1934 that President Rodríguez was making extraordinary efforts to educate the Mexican people, and that the minimum wage law was greatly reducing poverty (San Diego Union, January 8, 1934).
According to Col. Ed Fletcher, San Diego real estate developer and politician, President Rodríguez was one of the strongest presidents in Mexico's history. He stated, "President Rodríguez is developing Mexico in a commercial and cultural way" (San Diego Union, April 21, 1934).
Life After the Presidency. The presidential term of President Rodríguez ended on November 30, 1934, and in an interview three weeks before his term ended, he said, "Thank God I'm about through with politics" (San Diego Union, November 7, 1934). He cited long neglect of personal affairs as the reason he looked forward to returning to private life. He was succeeded by General Lazaro Cardenas.
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Page 22 of 37 *Resource Name or #: Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House
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*B10. Significance - Criterion B (continued):
Upon his return to private life, Abelardo focused on leisure activities, managing his many properties in the U.S. and Mexico, and travel. In August 1935, while they still owned 4379 N. Talmadge Drive, Abelardo and Aida set sail on an around the world cruise. They sold the subject resource in 1940. From 1940 to 1950 alone, Abelardo founded over forty new companies in various industries, including seafood canneries, hotels, cinemas, banks, and wineries (Vanderwood 2010: 328).
In the early 1940's, Abelardo received a concession from the Mexican government to develop the country's fishing industry. He purchased nine trawlers located in Puget Sound, Washington and had twelve more built in his hometown of Guaymas, and created canneries and fish processing plants on Cedros Island in the Sea of Cortez, and at El Sauzal, near his Ensenada villa (ibid). He also established refrigeration businesses in Topolobampo and Guaymas.
Abelardo As Governor of Sonora (1943 to 1948). In 1943, Abelardo was appointed governor of the Mexican state of Sonora. He founded the state university, and his hometown of Guaymas benefited greatly from public works projects. Many of Sonora's citizens were critical of his governorship, saying that other than the public works projects, Governor Rodríguez was not accomplishing much else. He retired as governor in April 1948, citing poor health.
Beginning in 1949, Abelardo and Aida lived on a ranch near Ensenada, Mexico (The Evening Star [Washington, D.C.], February 14, 1967). In 1955, Abelardo sold the majority of his investments, and used the money to modernize his villa.
The Legacy of Abelardo Rodríguez. Abelardo L. Rodríguez died at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla in February 1967. He was buried on a hillside near his Ensenada villa, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. His funeral was attended by over 2,500 people, from high ranking Mexican dignitaries to local Ensenada townspeople (San Diego Union, February 15, 1967). At the time of his death, he was reportedly Mexico's wealthiest individual (Vanderwood 2010:329). In August 1975, Aida S. Rodríguez died in Mexico City and was interred next to Abelardo.
After his death, Rodríguez was praised by many prominent San Diego military, business, and government leaders. C. Arnholt Smith, a San Diego banker and long-time friend of Rodríguez, stated:
"Perhaps the greatest tribute that can be paid to the memory of Gen. Abelardo L. Rodríguez is the friendly relationship of the two Californias, the Californias of Mexico and the California of our United States of America, which he made possible. He continually strived to create a friendly climate for business, industry and human relations with the result that the international border is merely a geographical dividing line between families in a neighborhood of goodwill."
This sentiment was echoed by many other local leaders. Others lauded the contributions Rodríguez made to his fellow Mexicans. Banker Anderson Borthwick said:
"He was a great benefactor of the Mexican people and he was a great pro-America man. To Mexicans he was muy grande caballero. He developed industries that gave employment to thousands of his fellow citizens. He was highly respected by individuals in the United States and by the military."
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Page 23 of 37 *Resource Name or #: Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House
*Recorded by: Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace *Date: July 2015 Continuation Update
*B10. Significance - Criterion B (continued):
Abelardo L. Rodríguez was a prominent and important individual and helped establish important links across the United States / Mexico border connecting both Californias in the U.S. and Baja, Mexico. Rodriguez bought the new home from business associate and friend Bertram J. Carteri in 1926 before it was completed. Abelardo and his wife Aida owned the home and it was their main U.S. residence until the home was sold in 1940. His most productive period and important achievements were during the years from 1926 to 1940 when he owned and lived part time in the home, as seen in the chain of title and directory search documents provided. Rodríguez was influential to the development of international trade between Mexico and the U.S. Abelardo Rodriguez's connection to the U.S. helped to foster an era of increased trade between the two countries which helped fund progressive policies such as the first establishment of a minimum wage in Mexico and development of child labor laws in the country. The home's distinctive Spanish Eclectic design and its location in Talmadge Park, where a large number of Spanish Eclectic designs were built during the period, adds to the home's association with the Mexican Governor and President.
Abelardo Rodríguez was a historically significant individual and has a significant association with the subject resource at 4379 North Talmadge Drive as his main residence in the United States, and thus qualifies for designation under Criterion B.
William C. Allen and Mildred E. Allen Owners, December 1926 to January 1927
William C. Allen and wife Mildred briefly owned 4379 North Talmadge Drive from December 1926 to January 1927. They did not live in the home. They purchased it from Aida S. Rodriguez but sold it back to her the following month.
Little information about the Allens' early life could be located. William Charles Allen and wife Mildred were both native Californians born around 1887. William, originally from San Francisco, was the son of William J. Allen, a railroad engineer, and wife Lulu. By 1900, William, his parents, and siblings lived in Stockton, California.
In 1908, William and Mildred married, and they appear in the 1910 U.S. Census as residing in Los Angeles, where William worked as a jewelry company's bookkeeper. By 1920 the couple resided in El Centro, and William was a manager of a cotton company. They moved back to Los Angeles in the late 1920's and the 1930 U.S. Census shows that William worked as a flour mill manager.
By 1931, the Allen family was back in San Diego. According to a March 16, 1931 San Diego Union article, William was appointed to a one year term as president of Banca del Pacifico, a Mexican banking company. Interestingly, General Abelardo Rodriguez, owner of the subject resource, was chairman of the bank's board of directors. It appears that Allen and Rodriguez first became acquainted in the 1920's when the Globe Grain and Milling Company, of which William was a manager, offered its land and equipment to cotton farmers in Baja California (San Diego Union, May 8, 1932). The project was part of Governor Rodriguez's plan to relieve unemployment in Baja. In May 1932, William and Governor Rodriguez traveled together to New York City to arrange financing for the project (ibid).
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*Recorded by: Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace *Date: July 2015 Continuation Update
*B10. Significance - Criterion B (continued):
In 1933, William and Mildred rented at 1863 Altamira Place in the Mission Hills neighborhood. Further information about the Allens could not be located.
Insufficient information was found about William C. Allen and Mildred E. Allen to determine they were historically significant for their association with 4379 North Talmadge Drive under Criterion B.
Harold Bacon and Lois L. Bacon Owners and Residents, 1940 to 1950
From 1940 to 1950, Harold and Lois Bacon owned and resided at 4379 North Talmadge Drive. The San Diego city directories do not list an occupation for them during that time. However, the 1940 U.S. Census indicates that Harold managed a feed store.
A native of Niles, Michigan, Harold Bacon was born in November 1886. His father Nathaniel was an attorney, and his mother Mary was a housewife. By 1900, Harold, his parents, and four siblings resided in Chicago, and they relocated to San Diego around 1914. In 1920, Harold married Lois L. Marsh, and they eventually had two children: John and Margaret. The Bacons appear in the 1920 U.S. Census as residing in El Cajon where Harold ran a feed store. In the mid-1920’s they moved to Santee, and Harold was the proprietor of the Santee Supply Company. The Bacons lived in Santee until 1940, when they purchased 4379 N. Talmadge Drive. They owned and lived in the subject resource until 1950, and after selling it moved back to El Cajon.
In addition to operating his feed business, Harold was active in many clubs and organizations. He was a charter member and president of the El Cajon Rotary Club, the California Hay, Grain, and Feed Dealers Association, and choir director of St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in El Cajon (San Diego Union, January 29, 1960). He also served as director of the Santee and Grossmont School District Boards. Harold passed away in San Diego in January 1960, at which time he and Lois resided at 1342 Crystal Lane in El Cajon.
Lois L. Marsh Bacon was born in North Dakota in January 1900 and grew up in Fargo. She and her parents moved to El Cajon around 1912, and in 1920 she married Harold. Lois passed away in El Cajon in 1992. Further information about her could not be located.
As an interesting side note, Harold’s older brother John L. Bacon, a structural engineer, served on San Diego’s City Council, and later as San Diego’s mayor from 1921 to 1927. After moving to San Diego around 1910, John served on a committee for the Panama-California Exposition and also worked as a building inspector. He sat on the City Council before serving in Europe with the 602nd Engineers of the Allied Expeditionary Force towards the end of World War I (San Diego Union, March 28, 1919). As mayor, John focused on an issue of concern to many San Diegans: water.
Insufficient information was found about Harold Bacon and Lois L. Bacon to determine they were historically significant for their association with 4379 North Talmadge Drive under Criterion B.
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Page 25 of 37 *Resource Name or #: Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House
*Recorded by: Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace *Date: July 2015 Continuation Update
*B10. Significance - Criterion B (continued):
Charles S. Harmon and Inez E. Harmon Owners and Residents, 1950 to 1958
From 1950 to 1958, Charles S. Harmon and wife Inez owned and resided at the subject resource. Charles was a pharmacist at the Doria Pharmacy, which he was the proprietor of.
In 1891, Charles Staats Harmon was born in Fremont, Nebraska to farmers William and Nellie Harmon. Charles worked as a pharmacist in Musselshell, Montana before serving in the Army during World War I. In June 1922, Charles married Inez Robbins in Miles City, Montana. She was a native Montanan born around 1898.
The Harmons moved to San Diego shortly afterwards and appear in the 1924 San Diego city directory as residing at 442 22nd St. in the Sherman Heights neighborhood. In the late 1920’s they purchased 4109 Utah St., where they lived until about 1941. They lived in several other homes through the 1940’s until purchasing the subject resource in 1950. They continued to own and live at 4379 N. Talmadge Drive until 1958, and then moved to 4630 Biona Drive in Kensington.
In addition to his pharmacist career, Charles was a member of the San Diego Scottish Rite, Al Bahr Shrine, and Silver Gate Masonic Lodge (San Diego Union, May 15, 1968). Charles died in San Diego in May 1968, during which time he and Inez lived at 4960 Rockford Drive near San Diego State University. Further information about Charles and Inez could not be located.
Insufficient information was found about Charles S. Harmon and Inez E. Harmon to determine they were historically significant for their association with 4379 North Talmadge Drive under Criterion B.
Norman H. Blair and Nora H. Blair Owners and Residents, 1958 to 1966
Norman and Nora Blair owned and resided at 4379 North Talmadge Drive from 1958 to 1966. Norman was the owner of Mac's Transfer and Storage, which specialized in moving military personnel and their belongings by land, air, and sea.
Norman Harry Blair was born in Manhattan, New York City on November 20, 1917. In the mid-1930's, Norman lived in Chicago. He appears in the 1940 U.S. Census as residing in Cincinnati, Ohio with his first wife, Joan, and their son Norman Jr. In Cincinnati, Norman worked as a gas station attendant.
In November 1941, a divorced Norman enlisted in the Army at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. He served as an Army paratrooper during World War II and received a Purple Heart after being wounded in Holland. Around 1945, Norman married Nora and they briefly lived in New Orleans before moving to 4136 38th St. in San Diego in 1947.
Upon arriving in San Diego, the Blairs established Mac's Transfer and Storage. From 1958 to 1966, the Blairs owned and resided at 4379 N. Talmadge Dr. After selling the home, the couple moved to the Descanso neighborhood.
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*Recorded by: Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace *Date: July 2015 Continuation Update
*B10. Significance - Criterion B (continued):
In 1963, Norman sold Mac's Transfer and Storage and for 17 years worked for the California Parks and Recreation Department at Cuyamaca State Park. He supervised prison crews and worked with children (San Diego Union-Tribune, April 2, 1995). He was also a ranger for Thousand Trails, a camping organization. Norman was also active with the 101st Airborne Association, Al-Bahr Shrine, Scottish Rite, and Alpine VFW Post 9578 (ibid). Norman died of cancer in San Diego on March 31, 1995. Further information about the Blairs could not be located.
Insufficient information was found about Norman H. Blair and Nora H. Blair to determine they were historically significant for their association with 4379 North Talmadge Drive under Criterion B.
Based on the research found and evidence presented in this report, Legacy 106, Inc. concludes that the Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House at 4379 North Talmadge Drive rises to the level of having associations with significant individual and Mexican Governor and President Abelardo Rodriguez. Rodriguez was greatly influential in increasing trade and tourism between the United States and Mexico. The history of cross border development between the two countries would be vastly different without his influence. The home has significant associations with Abelardo Rodriguez during his most productive and influential period and is the house most associated with him in the United States. Therefore, the resource is proposed for designation under Criterion B.
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*B10. Significance - Criterion C:
Criterion “C” Embodies distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period, or method of construction or is a valuable example of the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship.
The Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House is an excellent example of a Spanish Eclectic / Revival home built by established Master Architect Louis J. Gill, showcasing his Spanish Eclectic style architecture with Monterey influences.
Spanish Revival / Eclectic Style. Many architectural historians attribute the high popularity of the Spanish Eclectic style variations in San Diego with the popularity of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, which was held in San Diego from 1915 through 1916. However, another likely influence for the shift in popularity would be the Bertram Goodhue-designed 1922-1923 Marine Corps Recruit Depot and Naval Training Center. Soon thereafter, technical journals, newspapers, and magazines promoted Spanish style architecture as a revitalization of interest in 18th and 19th century California history. The San Diego Union hired Master Architect Richard Requa to write a weekly column critiquing local architecture and he used this forum to promote the Spanish eclectic or as he deemed it “The Southern California style.” Although the style continued as late as 1948, the Great Depression caused a shift to “patriotic” styles and Spanish style lost favor to Colonial Revival, Cape Cod, and Neo Classical style houses.
Designers of Spanish Eclectic houses often borrowed from Moorish, Byzantine, Gothic, and Renaissance motifs. The fired red clay tiles on this house are Spanish style Mission half barrels. The walls of houses in this style are stuccoed to appear like old adobe buildings in artistic interpretations from Spanish / Mediterranean origins. In general, designers of the period were engaged in a process to define and interpret appropriate architectural styles for our climate. A great deal of literature of the period was devoted to defining an appropriate “Southern California Style” of architecture. The strongest popularity for Spanish style residential architecture hit San Diego about 1925, when the newspapers and popular magazines promoted this as an authentic style harkening back to San Diego’s Spanish roots.
In greater detail, this two-story house has a low-pitched hipped Mission half-barrel roof and exhibits minimal eave projections. On the second floor second level balconies extend out slightly on each extending wing end. At the front entryway an inset arched French door and wrought iron balcony tops the inset front paneled wooden door with large three part arched focal windows seen on the northern and eastern elevations of the extending western wing. Elaborate wrought iron work details around the house further define the Spanish Eclectic style. Spanish/Monterey perforated balustrades, wooden window lintels, upper level balcony support beams and brackets continue the Spanish elaborations seen throughout the home. Wrought iron details are seen throughout the home on railings and interior staircase railings and other details.
The builders selected high quality building materials, hired fine craftsmen, and Master Architect Louis J. Gill successfully blended Monterey, Mediterranean, and classic Spanish details in the creation of this house. This high end design, materials, and expression of craftsmanship exhibited in this house are exceptional even when compared with large Spanish Eclectic style houses in the neighborhood.
The home has the characteristic defining architectural features of the Spanish Eclectic style including the low pitched red tile roof, eaves with shallow overhangs, stucco surfacing, and arched inset window and door openings. The home also utilizes a low-pitched hipped Mission half-barrel roof and exhibits minimal eave projections. The home also exhibits some interesting features in the style including its use of a central entryway with side extending wings creating a balanced, almost symmetrical façade and incorporation of matching upper level wooden Monterey influenced cantilevered balconies.
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*Recorded by: Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace *Date: July 2015 Continuation Update
*B10. Significance - Criterion C (continued):
Fire and Water Resistant Building Materials. Stucco is one of the most significant innovations of San Diego 20th century building construction. Although variations of durable wall coatings date back to Roman times, perfection of the formula for stucco can be directly related to the 1906 earthquake and fire in San Francisco. Architects across the state rushed to develop fire-resistant materials. San Francisco architect Bernard Maybeck experimented with burlap dipped in wet cement stretched on wood frames. San Diego architect Irving Gill experimented with poured-in-place cast concrete. Richard Requa developed interlocking hollow clay tile. Walter Keller designed hollow and flat cement tile. But the most exciting and versatile material proved to be exterior wall stucco, which began appearing on Mission Revival style houses at least as early as 1909.
The architecturally defining features that are supportive of historic landmarking are:
1. The original fired red clay Mission half barrel tile full hipped roof; 2. The Monterey style second story balconies with ornate perforated slats, and beams and corbels; 3. The original true divided light wooden casement windows of various styles; 4. The simple eave wall stucco chimney; 5. The multi-paneled front door with the original brass locking plate and handle; 6. The upstairs wrought iron balcony above the front entry door with decorative wrought iron elaborations; 7. The cast concrete front walkway up to the house; 8. The ornate sculpted deeply inset front door with upper level French door placed directly above; 9. The interior two story entry with original faux stone plaster work and wrought iron stairway; 10. The decorative wrought iron grilles on the small windows flanking the entry door; 11. The exterior raised wall stucco surfacing; 12. The original interior wrought iron staircase railing; 13. The unusual inset windows which are slightly raised in the window opening 14. The decorative wooden window lintels 15. The original divided light wooden casement windows 16. The two large three part focal windows seen on the front elevation; 17. The L-shaped massing with chamfered entryway with small upper front balcony which merges into the house where the two wings converge. 18. The original interior wood doors with hardware doorknobs; 19. The original light fixtures; 20. The California art tiled fireplace surround and hearth; 21. The multi-light rectangular and arched French doors connecting indoor and outdoor spaces; 22. The detached double garage with upper level guest house; 23. The front façade with small forward facing extending wings on each end;
The following are architectural changes that cause integrity loss are:
1. The upper level balcony on the east extending wing has been fully enclosed with see through glazing, while leaving intact the original wooden support beams and brackets, perforated wooden picket balustrade, Stucco wall surfacing, French entry door and divided light window. (This is a minor and easily reversible design change). 2. The double front kitchen window replaced with fixed glass in the original opening with original lintel, seen on the north wing. 3. The rear elevation three small window replacements, placed in the original window openings with original wooden window surrounds and sills (outside of the public view);
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*B10. Significance - Criterion C (continued):
Architectural Integrity Analysis. The following is an analysis of the Integrity of the home's architecture.
Location. Location is the place where the historic property was constructed or the place where the historic event occurred
Based on comparison with the historic and aerial photos (see Attachments section D-1), Sanborn Fire Insurance maps and other research, the house is shown to be in its original location at 4379 N. Talmadge Dr. The House has excellent integrity of Location.
Design. Design is the combination of elements that create the form, plan, space, structure, and style of a property. Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural features or elements from other historic properties, will not be undertaken.
Analysis of historic and aerial photos, building records and examination of the resource at 4379 N. Talmadge Drive reveals all elevations are mostly original and closely match the original design of the house. This is an outstanding example of a Spanish Eclectic home designed by Master Architect Louis J. Gill in 1926.
As seen in the building records and comparisons between the original plans and current photos, the home is in remarkable original condition. This is an excellent example of a large Spanish Eclectic home designed in 1926. The home embodies the distinctive characteristics of the Spanish Eclectic style through the retention of defining features of the style such as the low pitched hipped Spanish clay tile roof and eaves with little overhanging, stucco surfacing, arched focal windows, inset windows and extensive decorative wrought iron detailing. As seen in the building records and comparisons between the residential building records, historic aerial photos, Sanborn maps and current photos, the home is in very untouched and original condition.
The resource is very intact from the date of construction with the only major modification to the home being the enclosure of one second level balcony with clear glazing. Under the principle hipped roof, the upper level balcony on the east extending wing has been enclosed with see through glazing, while leaving intact the original wooden support beams and brackets, perforated wooden picket balustrade, stucco wall surfacing, French entry door and divided light window.
On the front of the north facing wing, a single window opening is shown in the original plans containing a double grouping of four light windows matching the others seen on the home. Although not seen in building records this double window set has been replaced with a fixed single pane but retains its original upper wooden lintel and lower inset reveal. The opening is shown in the March 7, 1926 issue of the San Diego Union with a vertical mullion window separation. The window opening remains intact and the single visible window replacement does not significantly impact the outstanding original integrity of the home. The only other alteration that occurred over time is three small rear windows at the rear of the home that have been replaced in the original window opening with intact wooden sill and surround. These minor and easily reversible modifications to the home do not degrade the original character defining features of the home and do not affect the architectural design to the point that the home no longer conveys its significance or to the point where the resource would no longer be eligible for designation.
The house is an intact and original example of the Spanish Eclectic/Revival style with a significant level of architectural integrity from its 1926 date of construction. The house overall remains in extremely original condition. The Design element of this home is good.
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*B10. Significance - Criterion C (continued):
Setting. Setting is the physical environment of a historic property. The setting is the larger area or environment in which a historic property is located. It may be an urban, suburban, or rural neighborhood or a natural landscape in which buildings have been constructed. The relationship of buildings to each other, setbacks, fence patterns, views, driveways and walkways, and street trees together create the character of a district or neighborhood.
The home's early suburban San Diego setting is intact. The street and side setback of the house matches the historic Talmadge Park neighborhood. The house has excellent integrity of Setting.
Materials. Materials are the physical elements that were combined or deposited during a particular period of time and in a particular pattern or configuration to form a historic property. The Standards state that deteriorated historic features shall be repaired rather than replaced. Where the severity of deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature shall match the old in design, color, texture, and other visual qualities and, where possible, materials. Replacement of missing features shall be substantiated by documentary, physical, or pictorial evidence.
The home features original wooden fixed multi-light casement windows and doors on all elevations. Roof tiles and hand applied stucco finish match the historical photos and appear remarkably original. The front door is original, as is the brass door latch and locking plate. Decorative wooden support beams, posts, lintels, brackets and balustrade are all original and match the historical photos.
The decorative wrought iron railings and window grilles are all intact and original. Original lighting fixtures and tile work are also retained. The cast concrete divided walkway leading up to the house are the original cast concrete. There are no significant changes to the materials within the public view. As noted throughout this analysis, the Materials aspect of Integrity of this home is excellent.
Workmanship. Workmanship is the physical evidence of the crafts of a particular culture or people during any given period in history or prehistory.
The craftsmanship exhibited in this house represents skilled construction techniques. In particular, the skills in sculpting the exterior wall stucco and interior wall plaster is high quality. As noted above, the blacksmithing of the wrought iron balcony supports, window grilles and iron railing is exceptional and shows high quality workmanship. Interior wall plaster creating false stone in the entryway shows particularly excellent workmanship. The wood workmanship in creating the curved and rectangular divided light windows is high quality. Workmanship in laying the tiles in the fireplace are also high quality. The Workmanship aspect of Integrity is excellent.
Feeling. Feeling is a property's expression of the aesthetic or historic sense of a particular period of time.
This 1926 Spanish Revival / Eclectic residence in its present excellent original condition is well preserved and imparts the visitor with a realistic sense and feeling of the late 1920's and early 1930's historical Talmadge Park neighborhood. The home was custom designed by Master Architect Louis J. Gill. It stands out on its large corner lot amongst the historic older neighboring properties in Talmadge. The feeling of a Spanish Eclectic home from the late 1920's pre-Depression age are retained. The Feeling aspect of Integrity is excellent.
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State of California The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial
Page 31 of 37 *Resource Name or #: Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House
*Recorded by: Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace *Date: July 2015 Continuation Update
*B10. Significance - Criterion C (continued):
Association. Association is the direct link between an important historic event or person and a historic property.
The Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House at 4379 North Talmadge Drive is closely associated with the work of Master Architect Louis J. Gill. Additionally, research for this nomination found an important link with Abelardo L. Rodríguez, who owned the home from 1926 to 1940. Rodríguez and his wife also occasionally lived in the home. Abelardo was a prominent and important individual and helped establish important links across the United States / Mexico border connecting both Californias in the U.S. and Baja, Mexico. Rodríguez bought the new home from business associate and friend Bertram J. Carteri in 1926 before it was completed. Abelardo Rodríguez and his wife Aida owned the home and it was their main U.S. residence until selling it in 1940. Rodríguez's most productive period and important achievements were during the years from 1926 to 1940 when he owned and lived part time in the home, as seen in the chain of title and directory search documents provided. Rodríguez was influential to the development of international trade between Mexico and the United States. Abelardo Rodríguez's connection to the U.S. helped to foster an era of increased trade between the two countries which helped fund progressive policies such as the first establishment of a minimum wage in Mexico and development of child labor laws in the country. The home's distinctive Spanish Eclectic design and its location in Talmadge Park, where a large number of Spanish Eclectic designs were built during the period, adds to the home's association with the Mexican Governor and President. The Association aspect of Integrity is excellent.
Conclusion: The Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House meets seven of seven aspects of integrity and can be said to have excellent architectural integrity for historical designation. Legacy 106, Inc. recommends the house for historical designation under Criterion C.
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State of California The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial
Page 32 of 37 *Resource Name or #: Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House
*Recorded by: Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace *Date: July 2015 Continuation Update
Criterion “D” Is representative of a notable work of a master builder, designer, architect, engineer, landscape architect, interior designer, artist or craftsman.
Louis J. Gill - Established Master Architect (1885 - 1969)
Louis John Gill is considered a Master Architect by the City of San Diego's Historical Resources Board. According to local historian Alexander Bevil, Louis Gill designed 4379 N. Talmadge Drive for builder Bertram J. Carteri. Carteri originally intended to occupy the home himself, but due to financial hardship had to sell the home upon its completion. Around 1990, Bevil interviewed Bertram Carteri's son Leon for the historic nomination of 3285-3287 Adams Ave. Around that same time, Bevil published an article in the Adams Avenue Post, citing Louis J. Gill as the architect of 4379 N. Talmadge Drive. Louis Gill and Carteri already had an established relationship of working together on the design and construction of other buildings by the time the subject resource was designed and built.
Early Life. A native of Syracuse, New York, Louis John Gill was born on May 9, 1885. He was the nephew of acclaimed architect Irving J. Gill. In 1911 he graduated from Syracuse University and arrived in San Diego later that year to work as a draftsman at his uncle's architecture practice. Louis was promoted to the position of Chief Draftsman in 1913, and in 1915 Louis and Irving partnered in the firm of “Gill and Gill, Architects.”
Louis briefly returned to Syracuse in 1915 to marry Mildred Elizabeth Stillman. After returning to San Diego, Louis continued to assist his uncle Irving in designing buildings, but also designed some independently. The two dissolved their partnership in 1919.
Louis' Designs for the San Diego Zoo. In 1916, Louis was chosen as architect of the San Diego Zoo by its founder, Dr. Harry M. Wegeforth. Louis designed the facility's buildings, as well as the animal grottos and cages. The zoo's layout and pathways were designed by landscape architect N.E. Slaymaker (San Diego Evening Tribune, December 24, 1921).
Louis Gill and Bertram J. Carteri. In the mid-1920's, Louis designed several commercial buildings, as well as a bungalow court, for builder Bertram J. Carteri. These structures, most of which are extant, were built on Adams Avenue, between 33rd and 34th Streets in Normal Heights. They were part of a planned commercial development known as Carteri Center. Louis also designed 4379 North Talmadge Drive which was also constructed by Carteri.
Association with Professional Organizations. From 1929 to 1950, Louis J. Gill served as a member of the Board of Examiners and Appeals of San Diego’s Department of Building Inspection, and served as that board’s president from 1932 to 1934 and again from 1947 to 1949 (San Diego Union, February 12, 1950). In 1932, Gill was elected president of the San Diego chapter of the American Institute of Architects, which he co-founded (San Diego Union, February 2, 1932). For his skilled designs and leader in the architectural field, Gill was awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree by Syracuse University, his alma mater, in 1938.
Later Years and Retirement. In 1934, Louis and wife Mildred moved to 2236 Fort Stockton Drive in the Mission Hills neighborhood, and lived in the home for 35 years. Gill retired in 1955 after a 44-year career. In July 1969, the couple moved from San Diego to Studio City to be near their three sons. Louis died in Studio City the following month.
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State of California The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial
Page 33 of 37 *Resource Name or #: Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House
*Recorded by: Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace *Date: July 2015 Continuation Update
*B10. Significance - Criterion D (continued):
Known designs by Louis J. Gill:
Mission Hills Congregational Church (4070 Jackdaw Street). Extant. Designed by Gill and built circa 1914.
Arthur Marston House (3575 7th Avenue). Louis collaborated on the design of this home with Irving J. Gill.
La Jolla Woman’s Club. (7791 Draper Avenue). Extant. Louis collaborated on the design with Irving J. Gill, who was commissioned by Ellen Browning Scripps. It was completed in 1914. The La Jolla Woman’s Club was designated as a San Diego historic resource in 1973 (HRB # 79) and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Wegeforth House (210 Maple Street). Designed by Louis J. Gill and built in 1917 for Dr. Harry M. Wegeforth, founder of the San Diego Zoo. The home was historically designated in 1984 (HRB # 156).
Sacred Heart Church of Coronado (655 C Avenue in Coronado). Extant. Designed by Louis in 1920.
Louis Gill Home (244 W. Brookes Avenue) in Hillcrest. Designed by Louis J. Gill and built in 1921 as the personal residence of him and his family. The Gills resided in this home until 1934 when they moved to 2236 Fort Stockton Drive in the Mission Hills neighborhood. 244 W. Brookes Avenue was historically designated in 1998 (HRB # 366).
San Diego Zoo Reptile House and Zoo Entry. In 1922, Gill redesigned the International Harvester exhibit building which remained from the 1915-1916 Panama Exposition to serve as a reptile house and the zoo’s entry.
San Ysidro Congregational Church (173 Hall). Extant. Designed by Gill and built in 1924.
Young Hardware Store (3285-3287 Adams Avenue) in Normal Heights. Built in 1925 by Bertram J. Carteri, builder of the subject resource. It was historically designated in 2001 (HRB # 469).
San Diego Zoo Hospital and Research Laboratory (1354 Old Globe Way). Extant. Funded by Ellen Browning Scripps, it was designed by Gill in 1926 and built by Earl W. Gray. Gill later received an Honor Award from the San Diego Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for this design.
El Sueño Bungalow Court (3316 Adams Avenue in Normal Heights). Extant. Designed by Gill and built by Bertram J. Carteri in 1926. The bungalow court is extant and houses businesses in the front. Behind the commercial portion are several detached bungalows, which were so constructed so that they could eventually be moved and sold as individual dwellings. Behind the detached bungalows are several attached one-story units, and a large two-story structure stands at the rear.
Chinese Mission Building (404 3rd Ave.). Built in 1927, and historically designated in 1987 (HRB # 207- 023).
San Diego Hospital Clinic (701 7th Ave.). Extant, though now called the Arlington Apartment Hotel. The hospital was designed by Louis J. Gill and built in 1927.
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State of California The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial
Page 34 of 37 *Resource Name or #: Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House
*Recorded by: Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace *Date: July 2015 Continuation Update
*B10. Significance - Criterion D (continued):
Scripps Memorial Hospital and Clinic (464-476 Prospect Street). Built in phases between 1924 and 1928 and historically designated in 1988 (HRB # 234).
John W. Mitchell Art Gallery (Coronado). Demolished. Designed by Gill and constructed in 1928, the art gallery was a Spanish style building with an impressive rotunda and radiating galleries, and contained a large auditorium or music room with an custom built organ. Four hand carved columns from an old church in Spain added to the beauty and distinctiveness of the rotunda. It was demolished after the death of John Mitchell's widow.
The Bishop's School (7607 La Jolla Blvd.). Louis J. Gill collaborated with his uncle Irving J. Gill on the design of Gilman Hall on the school's campus in 1916. Irving had previously designed Bentham Hall and Scripps Hall in 1910. Louis Gill also added a recreation room to the south end of Scripps Hall around 1929.
2950A 6th Ave. Built in 1936, it is extant but has been significantly altered.
County Administration Building (1600 Pacific Highway). Louis J. Gill, head architect of the project, collaborated on the design with fellow architects Richard Requa, Samuel Hamill, and William Templeton Johnson. It was completed in 1938 and historically designated in 1986 (HRB # 203).
Comparison between the subject property and other designated resources- The Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis J. Gill House is a high style example of the Spanish Eclectic/ Revival with Monterrey Influences and is one of the few examples of Louis J. Gill residential homes. Louis Gill designed mostly commercial structures, many with builder Bertram Carteri who built the subject resource. The home represents one of the few remaining residential homes built by Louis Gill. The home is in very original and unaltered condition. The home reveals that in 1926 Louis Gill utilized a more varied and elaborate Spanish style. Gill utilized a variety of details including wrought iron window grilles and balcony, cantilevered upper level wooden balconies and three part arched windows. The style is related to the complex designs of Architects Richard Requa and other Southern California Architects who would create and expand the style that was at the time sometimes called "The Southern California Style". The home is an important and notable residential example of Gill's design style.
The Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis J. Gill House at 4379 North Talmadge Drive, constructed in 1926, is a very high level Spanish Eclectic home with some Monterey influences. The home is representative of the notable work of Master Architect Louis J. Gill and is an excellent, important, and significant example of Gill's work during the height of his career, before the economic depression of the 1930's. The house embodies distinctive elements of Louis Gill’s Spanish Revival architectural design, and demonstrates his continued influence on Spanish Eclectic architectural development and influenced the architectural styles of Talmadge through the 1930's.
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State of California The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial
Page 35 of 37 *Resource Name or #: Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House
*Recorded by: Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace *Date: July 2015 Continuation Update
*B10. Significance - Criterion D (continued):
Bertram J. Carteri (Builder)
In January 1926, Bertram J. Carteri and wife Ingeborg purchased lots 182 and 183 of Talmadge Park from the Union Trust Company of San Diego. Bertram, a builder of both homes and commercial buildings, intended to construct a home on the lots for his wife and himself to reside in. In August 1926, due to financial hardship, the Carteris sold the home to Aida S. Rodriguez, wife of Baja California governor (and future Mexican president) Abelardo Rodriguez. The Rodriguez's owned the home until 1940, however, San Diego city directory searches indicate that they resided there from 1931 to 1933, and in 1936. There is no indication that the Carteris ever occupied the home.
Early Life. Bertram Julian Carteri was born in Santa Barbara County on February 16, 1885. His father, Leon Jules Carteri, was originally from France, while mother Matilde was born near Santa Barbara. Bertram came from a large family and census records show that he had at least eleven siblings. Bertram's maternal grandfather, Julian Foxen, was a skipper aboard the schooner Goleta. An Englishman by birth, Julian Foxen arrived in Santa Barbara around 1833 after sailing around Cape Horn aboard Goleta (San Diego Union, April 4, 1926). Goleta, California is named after the ship.
The Carteris Arrive in San Diego. Around 1916, Bertram and wife Ingeborg arrived in the San Diego area. The 1916 San Diego city directory lists the Carteris as residing at 4839 37th St. in Normal Heights, with Bertram employed as a carpenter. According to his World War I draft registration cards from 1918, the couple resided in Lakeside, where they were engaged in farming. It appears that the Carteris time in Lakeside was brief, as the 1920 U.S. Census lists them as residing at 4061 Wabash Ave. near the North Park neighborhood, with Bertram employed as a "real estate dealer."
Local historian Alexander Bevil researched B.J. Carteri extensively and in 1990 interviewed Carteri's son Leon. According to Bevil's historic nomination report for 3285-3287 Adams Ave. (constructed by B.J. Carteri circa 1925), it was around 1920 that Bertram began to purchase and renovate or otherwise improve existing homes in the Normal Heights area.
Carteri and Normal Heights. After the conclusion of World War I, Southern California experienced an expanding real estate market, and San Diego's population was growing rapidly. The need for housing meant that residential development was expanding to areas outside of San Diego's downtown. Bertram speculated that the Normal Heights area would be the next part of San Diego to experience a boom. In 1920, the neighborhood was still rather remote, with only a few homes and even fewer amenities such as doctors, grocery stores, and service stations. However, it had close proximity to trolley lines, was accessible by automobile, and land could still be purchased inexpensively.
Beginning in 1920, Bertram purchased lots in north of Adams Avenue, between 33rd and 34th Streets in Normal Heights, and constructed approximately twenty single-family homes between 1920 and 1924. Only about a dozen are still extant. He then purchased the entire block between Felton St. and 33rd St. and improved these lots as well.
Carteri Center. In late 1922, Bertram purchased lots on the south side of Adams Avenue, between 33rd and 34th Streets. He proceeded to construct several commercial buildings in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, most of them designed by Louis J. Gill (the nephew of architect Irving J. Gill). The Carteri opened in 1923 and was a two-story movie theater. A San Diego Union article from April 4, 1926 stated:
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State of California The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial
Page 36 of 37 *Resource Name or #: Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House
*Recorded by: Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace *Date: July 2015 Continuation Update
*B10. Significance - Criterion D (continued):
"All this [development of Carteri Center] has happened because Bertram J. Carteri - who came to San Diego nine years ago with $400 in his jeans - had vision, backbone, and ambition and has invested in four years more than $400,000 in development of the Normal Heights section."
El Sueño Bungalow Court. In 1926, Bertram constructed the El Sueño bungalow court, designed by Louis J. Gill, at 3316 Adams Avenue in Normal Heights. The bungalow court is extant and houses businesses in the front. Behind the commercial portion are several detached bungalows, which were so constructed so that they could eventually be moved and sold as individual dwellings (ibid). Behind the detached bungalows are several attached one-story units, and a large two-story structure stands at the rear. Carteri had originally envisioned that the entirety of El Sueño would eventually become businesses, however, that plan did not come to fruition.
4379 North Talmadge Drive. The January 24, 1926 issue of the San Diego Union features an architectural rendering of the subject resource. The architect of the home is not named in the article, although it is likely that Bertram hired Louis J. Gill, who he had previously worked with extensively, to design the home. The article states, "Carteri last week finished the roof for a $30,000 home which he is building for himself on the edge of Mahogany Canyon." There is no indication that the Carteris ever occupied the home. Instead, due to financial hardship, the Carteris sold the home in August 1926 to Aida S. Rodriguez, wife of Baja California governor (and future Mexican president) Abelardo Rodriguez. The Rodriguez's owned the home until 1940, however, San Diego city directory searches indicate that they resided there from 1931 to 1933, and in 1936.
Financial Hardship. In order to gain funds for future building projects, Bertram borrowed heavily against his existing properties, and he and Ingeborg were hit hard by the Great Depression. Around 1934, the couple moved to Glendale, California with their four children. According to the 1940 U.S. Census, Bertram worked as a carpenter in the home building industry. The onset of World War II and the nearby Lockheed airplane factory had greatly increased the need for housing in the Los Angeles area.
Around 1941, Bertram and his son Leon began construction on the Santa Rosa Bungalow Court in Glendale. After Leon was drafted into the Army, his father went back to buying and selling existing homes. Eventually the Santa Rosa Bungalow Court was completed, and Bertram resided there with Ingeborg until his death in November 1965.
Although the evidence listed in this report reveals that Bertram J. Carteri was accomplished (based on 4379 North Talmadge Drive), Legacy 106, Inc. does not find there is sufficient evidence at this time to demonstrate that the home further qualifies for designation under Criterion “D” as the work of a master builder. Future historic studies of potentially historical houses will hopefully add more to what is known about Bertram J. Carteri and his status under Criterion D can be re- evaluated at that time.
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State of California The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial
Page 37 of 37 *Resource Name or #: Bertram and Ingeborg Carteri / Abelardo Rodriguez / Louis Gill House
*Recorded by: Ronald V. May, RPA and Kiley Wallace *Date: July 2015 Continuation Update
*B10. Significance - Criterion E:
HRB Criterion E National Register of Historic Places listing or eligibility.
Criterion E does not apply to this property.
HRB Criterion F as a contributing resource to the _____ Historical District.
Criterion F does not apply to this property.
38
39
A.1 Assessor’s Building Record
40
A.1 Assessor’s Building Record
41
A.2 Notice of Completion
A Notice of Completion could not be located for this property.
42
A.3 Water Record Note that the original address of the subject resource was 4415 N. Talmadge Dr. The water record is dated November 1927 and the owner is listed as Aida S. Rodriguez, wife of Abelardo L. Rodriguez. The Rodriguez's purchased the completed home in 1926, and it is not known why the water permit is dated November 1927.
43
A.3 Sewer Record
A sewer record could not be located for this property.
44
A.4 Building / Construction Permits
There are no building / construction permits on file for this property.
45
A.5 Site Plan with Footprint Taken from the Residential Building Record. Interior elements proposed for inclusion in designation.
Interior foyer entryway and stairs Original tiled fireplace
N 46
A.6 County Lot and Block Book Page Lots 182 and 183 of Talmadge Park were first assessed to Bertram J. Carteri (the builder of the subject resource) in 1926.
47
A.7 Previous Survey Forms
A previous survey form could not be located for this property.
48
Attachment B Ownership and Occupant Information
B.1 – Chain of Title B.2 – Directory Search of Occupants B.3 – Deed from the Date of Construction
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B.1 Chain of Title 4379 N. Talmadge Drive Lots 182 and 183 of Talmadge Park APN 465-331-06-00
January 30, 1926 Union Trust Company of San Diego to B.J. Carteri and Ingeborg Carteri, recorded February 2, 1926, Deed Book 1173, Page 99.
August 31, 1926 B.J. Carteri and Ingeborg Carteri to Aida S. Rodriguez, recorded September 12, 1926, Deed Book 1249, Page 254.
December 4, 1926 Aida S. Rodriguez to William C. Allen, recorded December 6, 1926, Deed Book 1244, Page 478.
January 4, 1927 William C. Allen and Mildred E. Allen to Aida S. Rodriguez, recorded January 8, 1927, Deed Book 1308, page 119.
January 13, 1940 Aida S. Rodriguez to Harold Bacon and Lois L. Bacon, recorded January 18, 1940, Official Records Book 993, Page 23.
November 3, 1950 Harold Bacon and Lois L. Bacon to Charles S. Harmon and Inez E. Harmon, recorded December 7, 1950, Deed Book 3889, page 85.
April 17, 1958 Charles S. Harmon and Inez E. Harmon to Norman H. Blair and Nora H. Blair, recorded May 9, 1958, Deed Book 7074, page 259.
February 16, 1966 Norman H. Blair and Nora H. Blair to Charlotte Hazel Wells, recorded March 4, 1966, File # 37364.
May 23, 1985 Charlotte Holmes (an unmarried woman who acquired title as Charlotte Hazel Wells) to Charlotte Holmes (an unmarried woman), recorded June 21, 1985, File # 85-222163.
April 18, 1995 Charlotte Holmes (also known as Charlotte Hazel Wells) to Charlotte Holmes, Trustee, U.D.T. dated April 18, 1995, the Charlotte Holmes Trust, recorded April 21, 1995, Document # 1995- 0169506.
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B.2 Directory Search of Occupants Note that the original address of the subject resource was 4415 N. Talmadge Drive.
1928 Vacant 1929 Vacant 1930 Vacant 1931 Rodriguez Abelardo (o) Rodriguez Abelardo (Aida) h4415 N Talmadge dr 1932 Rodriguez Abelardo (o) Rodriguez Abelardo (Aida) h4415 N Talmadge dr 1933 Rodriguez Abelardo (o) Rodriguez Abelardo (Aida) h4415 N Talmadge dr 1934 Vacant 1935 Vacant 1936 Rodriguez A L Rodriguez A L h4415 N Talmadge dr 1937 Vacant 1938 No listing 1939 No listing 1940 Bacon Harold (o) Bacon Harold (Lois) h4379 N Talmadge dr 1941 Bacon Harold (o) Bacon Harold (Lois L) h4379 N Talmadge dr 1942 Bacon Harold (o) Bacon Harold (Lois L) h4379 N Talmadge dr 1943 Bacon Harold (o) Bacon Harold (Lois L) h4379 N Talmadge dr 1944-1945 Bacon Harold (o) Bacon Harold (Lois L) h4379 N Talmadge dr 1946 Directory not published this year 1947-1948 Bacon Harold (o) Bacon Harold (Lois L) h4379 N Talmadge dr Bacon Margt M sten r4379 N Talmadge dr 1949 Directory not published this year 1950 Bacon Harold (o) Bacon Harold (Lois L) h4379 N Talmadge dr Bacon Margt M typist US Naval Hosp r4379 N Talmadge dr 1951 Directory not published this year 1952 Harmon Chas (o) Harmon Chas (Inez) h4379 N Talmadge dr 1953-1954 Harmon Chas S (o) Harmon Chas S (Inez) pharm Doria Pharmacy h4379 N Talmadge dr 1955 Harmon Chas S (o) Harmon Chas S (Inez E) pharm Doria Pharmacy h4379 N Talmadge dr 1956 Harmon Chas S (o) Harmon Chas S (Inez E) pharm Doria Pharmacy h4379 N Talmadge dr 1957 Harmon Chas S (o) Harmon Chas S (Inez E) h4379 N Talmadge dr 1958 Harmon Chas S (o) Harmon Chas S (Inez E) h4379 N Talmadge dr 1959 Blair Norman H Blair Norman H (Nora H; Mac’s Transfer & Storage) h4379 N Talmadge dr 1960 Blair Norman H Blair Norman H (Nora H; Burnham’s Van Service Mac’s Transfer & Storage) agt Ford Van Lines Inc h4379 N Talmadge dr 1961 Blair Norman H Blair Norman H (Nora H; Mac’s Transfer & Storage) h4379 N Talmadge dr 1962 Blair Norman H Blair Norman H (Nora H; Mac’s Transfer & Storage) h4379 N Talmadge dr 1963-1964 Blair Norman H Blair Norman H (Nora H; Mac’s Transfer & Storage) h4379 N
51
Talmadge dr 1965 Blair Norman Blair Norman H (Nora H; Mac’s Transfer & Storage) h4379 N Talmadge dr 1966 Vacant 1967 Vacant 1968 Vacant 1967-1970 Vacant 1971 No Return 1972 No Return 1973 Holmes Charlotte Holmes Charlotte h4379 N Talmadge dr 1974 Holmes Charlotte Holmes Charlotte h4379 N Talmadge dr
52
B.3 Deed from the Date of Construction Union Trust Company of San Diego to Bertram J. Carteri and Ingeborg Carteri, recorded February 2, 1926. Continued on next page
53
B.3 Deed from the Date of Construction Continued on next page
54
B.3 Deed from the Date of Construction
55
B.3 Deed from the Date of Construction Bertram J. Carteri and Ingeborg Carteri to Aida S. Rodriguez, recorded September 11, 1926.
56
Attachment C Maps
C.1 — City of San Diego 800 Scale Engineering Map C.2 — Current and Historical USGS Maps C.3 — Original Subdivision Map C.4 — Sanborn Maps 1886/1887 1906 1921 1940 1950 1956
57
C.1 City of San Diego 800 Scale Engineering Map
58
C.2 Current USGS Map - 1994
59
C.2 Historic USGS Map - 1967
60
C.3 Original Subdivision Map
61
C.3 Original Subdivision Map
62
C.4 Sanborn Map – 1886/1887
None for this area
63
C.4 Sanborn Map – 1906
None for this area
64
C.4 Sanborn Map – 1921
None for this area
65
C.4 Sanborn Map – July 1934
Volume 2, Map # 299H
66
C.4 Sanborn Map – 1950
None for this area
67
C.4 Sanborn Map – 1956 Volume 2, Map # 299H
68
Attachment D Photographs
D.1 — Historical Photographs D.2 — Current Photographs
69
D.1 Historical Photograph Design rendering of 4379 N. Talmadge Dr. from January 1926. According to the article, builder Bertram J. Carteri intended to construct the home for himself and his wife Ingeborg. However, due to financial hardship, Carteri sold the home to Aida S. Rodriguez shortly after completion and never occupied the home himself.
70
D.1 Historical Photograph
71
D.1 Historical Photograph
72
D.1 Historical Photograph
73
D.1 Historical Photograph Talmadge Park aerial photo from August 1930. Photo # 89:17794-14 courtesy of the San Diego History Center
74
D.1 Historical Photograph 4379 N. Talmadge Drive circa 1940. Photo # OP-15931 courtesy of the San Diego History Center
75
D.1 Historical Photograph Talmadge Park aerial photo from the early 1950's. Photo # 86:15974-5 courtesy of the San Diego History Center.
76
D.2 Current Photographs - Northwest (front) Elevation
Photo this page by Dan Soderberg, June 2015
77
D.2 Current Photographs - Northeast (front) Elevation All other photos by Kiley Wallace, January 2015
78
D.2 Current Photographs - Northeast (front) Elevation
79
D.2 Current Photographs - Northeast (front) Elevation
80
D.2 Current Photographs - North (side) Elevation
81
D.2 Current Photographs - North (side) Elevation
82
D.2 Current Photographs - North (side) Elevation
83
D.2 Current Photographs - North (side) Elevation
84
D.2 Current Photographs - West (rear) Elevation
85
D.2 Current Photographs - West (rear) Elevation
86
D.2 Current Photographs - West (rear) Elevation
87
D.2 Current Photographs - West (rear) Elevation
88
D.2 Current Photographs - South (rear) Elevation
89
D.2 Current Photographs - South (rear) Elevation
90
D.2 Current Photographs - South (rear) Elevation
91
D.2 Current Photographs - South (rear) Elevation
92
D.2 Current Photographs - East (side) Elevation
93
D.2 Current Photographs - East (side) Elevation
94
D.2 Current Photographs - East (side) Elevation
95
D.2 Current Photographs - Original Detached Garage North (front) Elevation
96
D.2 Current Photographs - Original Detached Garage
East (side) Elevation
97
D.2 Current Photographs - Original Detached Garage South (rear) Elevation
98
D.2 Current Photographs - Original Detached Garage West (side) Elevation
99
D.2 Current Photographs - Interior
Photos this page by Dan Soderberg, June 2014
100
D.2 Current Photographs - Interior
Photos this page by Dan Soderberg, June 2014
101
D.2 Current Photographs - Interior
Photos this page by Dan Soderberg, June 2014
102
D.2 Current Photographs - Interior Photos this page by Dan Soderberg, June 2014
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Attachment E HRB Criteria Supplemental Documentation
E.1 — Criterion A E.2 — Criterion B E.3 — Criterion C E.4 — Criterion D E.5 — Criterion E E.6 — Criterion F
104
E.1 Criterion A – Community History Article in the Adams Avenue Post, circa 1990.
105
E.1 Criterion A – Community History San Diego Evening Tribune November 23, 1925
106
E.1 Criterion A – Community History San Diego Union December 27, 1925
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E.1 Criterion A – Community History The Talmadge sisters at Talmadge Park's opening ceremony, January 3, 1926 Photos this page courtesy of the San Diego History Center
Actor Buster Keaton with the Talmadge sisters at the opening ceremony. He was married to Natalie Talmadge.
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E.1 Criterion A – Community History
San Diego Evening Tribune July 31, 1926
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E.1 Criterion A – Community History 1920's advertisements for Talmadge Park
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E.1 Criterion A – Community History Roy C. Lichty, the business manager of Talmadge Park.
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E.1 Criterion A – Community History
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E.2 Criterion B – Historical Person
Harold Bacon and Lois L. Bacon Owners and Residents, 1940 to 1950
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E.2 Criterion B – Historical Person
Norman H. Blair and Nora H. Blair Owners and Residents, 1958 to 1966
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E.2 Criterion B – Historical Person Abelardo Rodriguez and Aida S. Rodriguez Owners, 1926 to 1940 Residents, 1931 to 1933, 1936
In September 1927, Abelardo Rodriguez, Governor of Northern Baja California, and wife embarked on a month-long journey to the eastern U.S., along with American businessman Wirt G. Bowman and Bowman's family.
Wirt and his two business partners Baron Long and James Crofton founded the Agua Caliente Casino and Racetrack in Tijuana in 1927.
There is speculation that Abelardo Rodriguez was a silent fourth partner in Agua Caliente.
From 1932 to 1934, Rodriguez served as interim president of Mexico, completing the term of President Pascual Ortiz Rubio after Rubio's resignation.
In 1943, Rodriguez became governor of the Mexican state of Sonora. Tijuana's international airport was named after him.
Above: Aida S. Rodriguez and Gen. Abelardo Rodriguez circa 1930. 115
E.2 Criterion B – Historical Person Abelardo Rodriguez and Aida S. Rodriguez Owners, 1926 to 1940 Residents, 1931 to 1933, 1936 Various images of the Agua Caliente hotel, casino, and racetrack circa 1928.
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E.2 Criterion B – Historical Person Abelardo Rodriguez and Aida S. Rodriguez Owners, 1926 to 1940 Residents, 1931 to 1933, 1936 From September 1932 to November 1934 (during the period which he owned the subject resource), Rodriguez served as interim President of Mexico. He completed the term of President Pascual Ortiz Rubio after Rubio's resignation.
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E.2 Criterion B – Historical Person Abelardo Rodriguez and Aida S. Rodriguez Owners, 1926 to 1940 Residents, 1931 to 1933, 1936
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E.2 Criterion B – Historical Person Abelardo Rodriguez and Aida S. Rodriguez Owners, 1926 to 1940 Residents, 1931 to 1933, 1936
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E.2 Criterion B – Historical Person Abelardo Rodriguez and Aida S. Rodriguez Owners, 1926 to 1940 Residents, 1931 to 1933, 1936
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E.2 Criterion B – Historical Person Abelardo Rodriguez and Aida S. Rodriguez Owners, 1926 to 1940 Residents, 1931 to 1933, 1936
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E.3 Criterion C – Architecture Original drawing of 4379 N. Talmadge Dr. by Master Architect Louis J. Gill for Bertram J. Carteri. Courtesy of the Architecture and Design Collection at the Art, Design & Architecture Museum at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
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E.3 Criterion C – Architecture Details from Louis J. Gill architectural drawing.
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E.3 Criterion C – Architecture Details from Louis J. Gill architectural drawing.
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E.4 Criterion D – Master Architect Louis J. Gill (an established Master Architect)
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E.4 Criterion D – Master Architect Louis J. Gill (an established Master Architect)
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E.4 Criterion D – Master Architect Louis J. Gill (an established Master Architect) Article in the Journal of San Diego History, Summer 1984, Volume 30, Number 3 Continued on next page
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E.4 Criterion D – Master Architect Louis J. Gill (an established Master Architect) Continued on next page
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E.4 Criterion D – Master Architect Louis J. Gill (an established Master Architect) Continued on next page
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E.4 Criterion D – Master Architect Louis J. Gill (an established Master Architect) Continued on next page
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E.4 Criterion D – Master Architect Louis J. Gill (an established Master Architect) Continued on next page
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E.4 Criterion D – Master Architect Louis J. Gill (an established Master Architect) Continued from previous page
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E.4 Criterion D – Master Architect Louis J. Gill (an established Master Architect)
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E.4 Criterion D – Master Architect Louis J. Gill (an established Master Architect)
Right: The San Diego Hospital Clinic is now known as the Arlington Apartment Hotel.
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E.4 Criterion D – Master Builder Bertram J. Carteri (not yet considered a Master Builder) In the mid-1920's, Carteri developed a four block area in the Normal Heights neighborhood. "Carteri Center" was comprised mainly of commercial buildings on Adams Avenue, from 33rd St. to 34th St. He hired Louis J. Gill to design most of the buildings.
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E.4 Criterion D – Master Builder Bertram J. Carteri (not yet considered a Master Builder)
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E.4 Criterion D – Master Builder Bertram J. Carteri (not yet considered a Master Builder) Architect Louis Gill's rendering of the El Sueno Bungalow Court, located at 3316 Adams Ave. in Normal Heights. They were built by Bertram J. Carteri in 1926.
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E.4 Criterion D – Master Builder Bertram J. Carteri (not yet considered a Master Builder) Top: The Carteri Theatre in Normal Heights was designed by Louis J. Gill and built by Carteri in 1923. Photo on right courtesy of the San Diego History Center.
Below: 3285-3287 Adams Ave. in Normal Heights was designed by Louis J. Gill and built by Carteri in 1925. It was historically designated in May 2001 as the Young Hardware Store (HRB # 469).
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Attachment F Works Cited
F.1 — Provide a list of works cited (bibliography)
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F.1 Bibliography
Books
Baker, John Milnes 1994 American House Styles - A Concise Guide. New York: W.W. Norton & Company
Baumann, Thomas H. D.D.S. 1997 Kensington-Talmadge 1910-1997. Second Edition. San Diego: Ellipsys International
Beltran, David Jimenez 2004 The Agua Caliente Story: Remembering Mexico's Legendary Racetrack. Lexington, Kentucky: Blood-Horse Publications
Brandes, Ray S. 1991 San Diego Architects 1868-1939. San Diego: University of San Diego
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
Cook, III, S.F., “Jerry” and Tina Skinner 2005 Architectural Details: Spain and the Mediterranean. Reprint of the 1926 publication by Richard S. Requa, A.I.A., J.H. Hansen, The Monolith Portland Cement Company, Los Angeles. Schiffer Publishing
Crawford, Richard W. 2011 The Way We Were in San Diego. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press
Hartmann, Glenn D. 1977 Architectural Description Guide: Developed for Use in Preparing Nominations for State and National Registers of Historic Places. Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission, Olympia, Washington
McAlester, Virginia 2013 Field Guide to American Houses. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
McGrew, Clarence Alan 1922 City of San Diego and San Diego County, the Birthplace of California. Volume I. Chicago: The American Historical Society
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
Newcomb, Rexford 1990 Spanish-Colonial Architecture in the United States. New York: Dover Publications
Requa, Richard S., A.I.A. 1929 Old World Inspiration for American Architecture. Originally published by the Monolith Portland Cement Company. Los Angeles, California.
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F.1 Bibliography - Continued
Smith, G.E. Kidder 1996 Source Book of American Architecture. New York: Princeton Architectural Press
Vanderwood, Paul J. 2010 Satan's Playground: Mobsters and Movie Stars at America’s Greatest Gaming Resort. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press
Walker, Lester 2002 American Homes - An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Domestic Architecture. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
Woods, Douglas, Melba Levick and M. Brian Tichenor 2012 The California Casa. New York: Rizzoli International Publications, Inc.
Government Documents
City of San Diego Historical Resources Board 2009 Historical Resource Research Report Guidelines and Requirements, Land Development Manual, Historical Resources Guidelines, Appendix E, Part 1.1, Adopted by the Historical Resources Board November 30, 2006, Updated January 24, 2008 and February 9, 2009.
Internet
Ancestry.com, www.ancestry.com (US Census Records; California Death Index; Social Security Death Index; genealogical files)
Journal Articles
Kroll, Rev. C. Douglas 1984 Louis John Gill: Famous But Forgotten Architect. The Journal of San Diego History, Summer 1984, Volume 30, Number 3.
Taylor, Lawrence D. 2002 The Wild Frontier Moves South: U.S. Entrepreneurs and the Growth of Tijuana's Vice Industry, 1908-1935. The Journal of San Diego History, Summer 2002, Volume 48, Number 3.
Thesis
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