El Corral Pottery - Carlsbad, CA, USA

El Corral Pottery has been in business at this location for decades.  They specialize in fountains, pottery and dinnerware and always have a selection of Fiestaware on hand.  I remember going here with my parents in the 1950s and it appears pretty much unchanged since then.

Located at 3040 Carlsbad Boulevard.


Update January 25, 2015:  This business has closed.  Empty and boarded up on January 24, 2015.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2014/jan/07/stringers-carlsbad-pottery-store-closing-66-years/#

Camp Fire Girls Building - Oceanside, CA, USA

This cinder block building next to the Brooks Street bridge was once the location of before and after-school programs run by the Camp Fire Girls of America, now called Camp Fire U.S.A.  Although the property was owned by the City of Oceanside, they gave use of the property to Camp Fire Girls of America in 1956 provided the site be used for Camp Fire programs only.  In recent years Camp Fire had operated a child care center there, but with operating costs of up to $100,000 per year and little funding coming in they were no longer able to keep it open.  Camp Fire closed the child care center on July 5, 2012 and the property was to be returned to the City.

Located at 402 Brooks Street in the Crown Heights neighborhood.

O'side Cafe - Oceanside, CA, USA

This Spanish Revival style building, originally a residence, has most recently been the location of the O'side Cafe.  In recent years it has housed a variety of businesses including a Psychic, a handmade paper shop, and several different restaurants.  As the O'side Cafe the exterior was colorfully painted to resemble a sunrise or sunset.
As of this date the mural is gone.  The exterior of the building has been painted a shade of brown and a banner advertises the Grand Opening of a coffee shop.

Located at 624 South Coast Highway.

The Old Julian Garage Building - Julian, CA, USA

Originally the Julian Garage, The Old Julian Garage Building was built in 1917.  It is presently the home of Julian Collectibles & Gifts.

Located in the historic downtown area at 2126 Main Street.

Holroyd Confectionary - Oceanside, CA, USA

Built circa 1922 this house was the residence of John H. and Grace S. (Maberry) Holroyd.  They lived here during the mid-to-late 1920s and Mrs. Holroyd operated a confectionary and later a lunch room at the home.  John H. Holroyd had a background working in refrigeration and was a Chief Engineer with the Union Ice Company.  Prior to their marriage, Grace had been a public school teacher in her home state of Illinois.  They married in the early 1920s and in early 1924 Grace was operating a confectionary at their home in Pacific Beach, California.  They moved to this location in Oceanside where, according to County Directories, Grace was operating a confectionary in 1927 and a lunch room in 1929.

Located at 123 South Horne Street, on the northwest corner of Topeka Street and Horne Street, across the street from Oceanside High School.

Seascape Mural - Oceanside, CA, USA

This seascape mural is located on the north exterior wall of the former Vaughan's Market.  Vaughan's Market was a family-owned market that was in business at this location for over 50 years.

The mural is signed "Painted By Skull 08' 09'."

Located at 308 South Coast Highway (formerly South Hill Street), on the southeast corner of South Coast Highway and Michigan Avenue.  The mural faces Michigan Avenue.

The Champion Building - Temecula, CA, USA

This Mission Revival style building was built in 1928 by Allen Champion.  It is constructed of clay bricks from the area of Alberhill, near Elsinore.  The building has housed a variety of businesses and was the home of The Rite Spot Cafe for many years.  From 1974 until 1980 it was the location of the Temecula Post Office.  The building underwent remodeling in 1980.

"The Champion Building
Built in 1928 By Allen Champion

Businesses located here, at various times, included a barber shop, Daley's Variety Store, restaurants including 'The Rite Spot Cafe,' a bank, and for many years, The Temecula Post Office.  Building since remodeled.

Temecula Valley Historical Society
Plaque 11
Installed 2004"

Located in Old Town Temecula at 28636 Front Street.

The Commercial Hotel - Escondido, CA, USA

Built in 1909 this brick building originally housed The Commercial Hotel in downtown Escondido.  The hotel rooms were located on the second floor.  Occupying most of the ground floor were the hotel lobby and dining room.  The left front portion of the ground floor was occupied by Cassous' Pioneer Meat Market.  The building is currently the site of the Bellisima Day Spa.

Located at 122 East Grand Avenue.

Circuit City - Vista, CA, USA

Circuit City was an electronics retailer with a chain of hundreds of superstores across the United States.  They began closing "under performing" stores in late 2008.  On November 10, 2008 they filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection and actively sought a buyer for the company.  Failing to find a buyer they closed all remaining stores in the first quarter of 2009.
This was the Vista, California superstore in August 2006. 

The building remained empty for several years and the property is presently occupied by a car dealership, Mossy BMW of Vista.

Located at 1715 Hacienda Drive.

Woman's Club Clubhouse - Escondido, CA, USA

The Escondido Woman's Club was organized in the early 1900s.  This was their first permanent clubhouse, completed in March of 1918.

The Escondido Woman's Club is still in existance.  Their present clubhouse is located at 751 North Rose Street.

The original clubhouse is located at 240 South Broadway (formerly Lime Street).

Brother Benno's Kitchen (Original Location) - Oceanside, CA, USA

In 1983 Harold and Kay Kutler started a non-profit foundation to help the poor.  It was called the Brother Benno Foundation after Brother Benno (born Thomas) Garrity, O.S.B., a Benedictine monk at the St. Charles Priory in Oceanside.  Brother Benno had a reputation for helping the poor with food, furniture and in whatever ways he could.  He baked bread in the kitchen at the Priory and gave much of it to area merchants in exchange for goods he could distribute to those in need.  The Kutlers started a soup kitchen near downtown in this house built in 1923.  It was in operation from 1983 to 1991 at which time services were moved to a larger facility in the San Luis Rey Valley, the Brother Benno Center.  It is estimated that 470,887 meals were served at the original Kitchen, with an average of 84 meals a night the first year growing to 210 meals a night in 1991.  The original structure was rehabilitated and on October 21, 2001, the 18th anniversary of its opening, it was dedicated as an honorary historical site. 

Located at 307 Minnesota Avenue.

Rancho Minerva - Vista, CA, USA

Greek immigrant Nicholas Huntalas and his new wife, Bessie (Papsino), settled in Vista in 1916 on a 420-acre ranch where Nick had lived since acquiring it in 1911.  He built a 4-room wooden home for his new family and named the property Rancho Minerva after the Roman goddess of wisdom.  Because water was scarce people in the area dry farmed, but the newly formed Vista Irrigation District made water available in 1923 and the Huntalases became citrus and avocado growers.  After the birth of their children they built a 3400 square foot 2-story Spanish Revival style home which still stands.  Dirt from the excavation of the basement and wine cellar was used to make the adobe bricks for the home's 14-inch thick walls.  Construction began in 1933 and was completed in 1934, and the home was the center of social gatherings for the community for many years.  Eventually the property was acquired by the Vista Unified School District.  The City of Vista gained the two-acre parcel surrounding the adobe home through a land swap with the school district.  Rancho Minerva Middle School opened across Foothill Drive in 2007 on the old ranch property.  In September 2009 the Vista Historical Society entered into a 25-year lease with the City of Vista and relocated their museum to the old adobe house.

Located at 2317 Old Foothill Drive at the intersection of San Clemente Avenue.  The home is visible from Foothill Drive, directly across the street from Rancho Minerva Middle School.

Santa Fe Depot - Hemet, CA, USA

This depot, built by the Santa Fe Railroad, once served a Santa Fe spur line that ran from San Bernardino through Perris, then on through Hemet, ending in San Jacinto.  It handled both passengers and freight.  The two-story section was the passenger depot and its construction was completed in 1914, replacing two earlier depots.  The long adjoining section was the freight depot. It was part of the second depot, built in 1898, and was moved to this location.  It is one of the oldest structures in Hemet's downtown area.   Restored by a local group, Save Our Station, the freight depot is now the home of the Hemet Museum.  A coffee and bagel shop occupies the end of the building nearest Florida Avenue.

Located at the intersection of Florida Avenue and State Street.  Entrance and parking lot along State Street.

Crest Theater - Oceanside, CA, USA

In 1950 Erwin Sklar purchased property in downtown Oceanside and began construction of this Steamline Moderne theater.  When the Crest Theater opened around March of 1951 it was one of the largest single-screen movie theaters in San Diego County.  It screened family-friendly films for several decades.  Eventually it was taken over by Pussycat Theatres and continued to operate as a movie theater until the late 1980s.  It is presently home to a church, Grace Chapel of the Coast.  The movie screen remains and films are occaisionally shown there.  The sign that now has the letters G R A C E originally held the letters C R E S T.  The pillar and planter below was originally the location of the ticket booth.

Located at 102 - 108 North Freeman Street on the northeast corner of Freeman Street and Seagaze Drive (formerly First Street).

Oceanside Gym and Health Club - Oceanside, CA, USA

During the 1950s and 1960s Bill and Angie Freeman were the owners and operators of the Oceanside Gym and Health Club.  It was located across the street from the site, at that time, of the Oceanside Boys Club.

Newspaper advertisement from April 28, 1960 in the Vista Press.

Newspaper advertisement from February 18, 1966 in the Vista Press.

I was not allowed to go to public swimming pools as a child, probably due to the Polio epidemic, but my parents did allow me to take beginner swimming lessons from Bill Freeman at this pool.  I remember sitting in the women's steam room after swimming lessons.  My family and the Freeman family attended the same church.  Bill and Angie were always deeply tanned and fit.

This is how the exterior of the facility looks today.  There have been several occupants over the years since the Oceanside Gym and Health Club closed.  It is presently occupied by the Oceanside Scuba and Swim Center.

Located at 225 Brooks Street just east of Interstate 5.

Library Building - Escondido, CA, USA

Built in 1895, this was Escondido's first library.  It was originally located on Grand Avenue at the corner of Hickory Street.  When the realignment of Grand Avenue caused the building's removal it was relocated to Grape Day Park in 1971.  After renovation it has served as the office of the Escondido Historical Society since 1976.  It is one of several historical buildings that make up the Esondido History Center Museum.

Located in Grape Day Park at 321 North Broadway.

Burnham House - Temecula, CA, USA

This private residence was the home of the George A. Burnham family, owners of the Burnham Store/Temecula Mercantile which was located a couple blocks to the east.  This structure began as the Wildomar Hotel which was built in the 1880s.  George Burnham had it moved to this location in the 1890s, modifying it into a home for his family.

Located at 28653 Pujol Street.

I.O.O.F. Building - Oceanside, CA, USA

The brick I.O.O.F. Building was built in 1924 by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge #346.  The door to the far right leads to the stairway to the second floor where the Odd Fellows held, and continue to hold, their meetings.  The J.C. Penney Company leased the downstairs portion of the building in 1929 and occupied it for forty years until they relocated to the newly built Plaza Camino Real Shopping Mall in Carlsbad.  Various businesses have occupied the downstairs space since that time, including an Amvets thrift store in the 1970s.

  
This sign has hung on the front of the building since at least the early 1950s, and probably much earlier than that.

Located downtown at 503 to 509 Mission Avenue (formerly Second Street).

Borders Books - Carlsbad, CA, USA

The Borders Group once operated a a chain of brick and mortar bookstores across the United States and several other countries, as well as maintaining an online presence.  Due to declining profit and increasing debt the company filed for bankruptcy and liquidated all assets.  All Borders bookstores have closed.

This small Borders Express store was in operation in the Plaza Camino Real Mall in 2008.  It was located at 2525 El Camino Real, Suite 161, on the lower level of the mall.

This Borders was located in The Forum at Carlsbad Shopping Center at 1905 Calle Barcelona, Suite 120.  It closed in December of 2010.

Bunker House - Oceanside, CA, USA

Built in 1886 by Theodore C. Bunker, this 2-story brick building served as both his family's home and a boarding house.  In late 1887 Oceanside's First Baptist Church was both organized and held meetings here for about a year until a church building was constructed.  Many years later, in the 1960s and 1970s, it had become the Traveler's Hotel and was known to be the site of prostitution activity.  One of the building's owners was stabbed to death there in 1976 after which the building sat vacant and dilapidated.  In 1992 it was purchased and turned into an artists' gallery and studios.  The neighborhood has undergone significant redevelopment in recent years and the Bunker House is presently occupied by Apotheque, a day spa.  This building is the oldest brick residential/commercial structure remaining in Oceanside.  Some of the windows still contain old "wavy glass" panes.

Located at 322 North Cleveland Street on the southeast corner of North Cleveland and Civic Center Drive (formerly Fourth Street).