Historic Homes
The Heritage Place has become a neighborhood treasure through the years. All three homes on the property are designated historic landmarks and represent the rich, colorful history of our La Jolla Community. As members of The La Jolla Historical Society and Save Our Heritage Organisation, the owners of The Heritage Place have enjoyed every aspect of restoring these homes and now sharing them with the rest of the community through vacation renting the homes.
Charities
Every year, the owners of The Heritage Place properties donate a percentage of the revenue from their rentals to local, nationwide and international charities. The charities for 2007 include:
Angelman Syndrome Foundation, Western Area Chapter www.artforangels.org
Angelman Syndrome Foundation, National Organization www.angelman.org
Children's Heart Institute Fund, San Diego CA www.chifund.org
Center for Family Connection, Cambridge, MA www.kinnect.org
San Diego Epilepsy Foundation, San Diego CA www.epilepsysandiego.org
Quaker Bolivia Link, Bolivia www.qbl.org
Centro de Adolescentes de San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico www.sanmiguel-casa.org
Each of the charities above will receive 1% of the total revenue earned from ALL rentals in 2007.
La Jolla History
LA JOLLA: A BRIEF HISTORY
(Taken from The La Jolla Historic Society Web site)
First Inhabitants
Artifacts have been found throughout La Jolla, indicating that Native Americans settled along the shoreline over 3,000 years ago. Archaeologists have found stone utensils and Indian metates. Unfortunately, the remains are small and scattered, leaving historians unclear about the fate of these earliest inhabitants.
So, What's in a Name?
La Jolla’s name is a somewhat controversial subject among town historians. No one knows where the name originated – whether it comes from the Spanish word La Joya (which means “the jewel”) or from the Indian term Woholle (meaning “hole in the mountains”). The name has appeared in all land grant and mission records since 1928 and in scattered documents at least back to 1870 (spelled “La Joya”).
Modern Settlers
The lands of La Jolla became incorporated as part of San Diego in 1850. However, there were no permanent settlers in this section of town until 19 years later when two brothers, Daniel and Samuel Sizer, each bought a plot here. The City of San Diego sold these 80-acre plots for the price of $1.25 per acre. Little did the Sizer brothers know that their plots of land, located between present-day Fay Street and La Jolla Boulevard, would be worth nearly $2 million per acre by 2000.
When Frank Botsford arrived in San Diego in 1886, he wrote in his diary, “Magnificent day at La Jolla!” Like the Sizer brothers, Botsford purchased a plot of land and began developing it. With the help of George Heald, who purchased one-quarter interest of the property, Botsford surveyed and subdivided the land. Although Botsford could not find drinkable water in the area, he was still able to auction pieces of the land. Botsford’s foresightedness earned him the title of “Father of La Jolla.”
The Town Grows
In the 1890s, the railroad extended to La Jolla, enabling additional growth. Around this time, real estate developers began to take an interest in the coastal property of La Jolla, constructing resorts to attract visitors from San Diego and the inland region. La Jolla Park Hotel opened its doors in 1893 and cottage-style homes began to appear along Prospect Street and Girard Avenue.
It was during this time that La Jolla first became an artist colony and when newspaper heiress Ellen Browning Scripps settled here. She was extraordinarily generous with her wealth and her name is on a number of landmarks and institutions here in La Jolla, in San Diego and scattered around Southern California, including the Scripps Institute of Oceanography and Ellen Browning Scripps Park.
Twentieth Century Development
La Jolla has grown dramatically from its 350 residents in 1900. From 1900 to 1920, tourism became the economic base of La Jolla. With the end of the First World War, La Jolla grew to 4,000. During this era, the beach cottage look began to give way to the elegant California Spanish style.
As elsewhere in the nation, the 1929 stock market crash devastated development in La Jolla and only a few houses were built until after World War II. When the War began, 7,700 people called La Jolla home – after the War, many service members came back to settle in La Jolla and large subdivisions began sprouting up on the mountain slopes and old horse trails were paved over. By 1960, there were over 17,000 people living in La Jolla. Today, there are over 40,000 people living here.
La Jolla Today
Remnants of La Jolla’s early settlers are still evident throughout the town, from the names of key institutions to the eclectic form of architecture which has evolved over the decades. La Jolla is host to world-renown research institutions, breathtaking beaches, distinguished art galleries, and top-notch restaurants.
The citizens of La Jolla are some of the most actively engaged in all of San Diego, advocating for or against numerous causes that effect their community. The La Jolla Historical Society is one organization that benefits from their involvement and continues to partner with the community as a resource for learning and gaining a greater appreciation of their heritage.
Links
Below is a list of friends, generous local businesses and related links we hope you will enjoy and support.
Seabreeze Organic Farm ~ Fresh Locally Grown Fruit and Vegetables Delivered right to your front door ~ www.seabreezed.com
Southern California Vacation Rentals ~ Our Property Management Company ~ www.scvr.com
Surfrider Foundation, San Diego Chapter ~ Protectors of our oceans, beaches and coastlines ~ www.surfridersd.org
Hoogendoodle ~ Great Web site Designs ~ www.hoogendoodle.com
