Alexander Stewart House - Escondido, CA, USA

This Eastlake Victorian style home was built in 1890 by Alexander Stewart, an Escondido blacksmith who went on to become the director of the Escondido National Savings Bank and later the chairman of the City Board.  The building materials were shipped in pieces from New England and around Cape Horn.  Mr. Stewart lived in the house until his death there in 1940.

The photo below shows the home as it appeared in July 2012.

The house was reported to still be in near perfect and unaltered condition in 1992 when it was recommended it be listed on the National Register of Historic Places (the owner declined), but in April 2007 a court-ordered inspection found 24 code violations, both inside and out.  A large open hole had been cut in the attic facade for "ventilation," neighbors reported pieces falling from the house and it was in danger of being demolished.  Considerable improvements appear to have been made since that time.  This is the only home of this style in Escondido.

The photos below were taken in October 2007.

Located at 439 East 5th Avenue in the Old Escondido Historic District.

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.

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.

Hatch House - Escondido, CA, USA

This Victorian style house was built circa 1892 for the Hatch family.  Edward J. and Matilda Hatch raised six children here.

Located at 128 East 5th Avenue (formerly Dakota Avenue) in the Old Escondido Historic District.

Melchior Pieper Residence - Oceanside, CA, USA

This beachfront Victorian house, built in 1889, is situated on a bluff overlooking the Pacific ocean.  It was once the home of Oceanside pioneer, Melchior Pieper.  He was the proprietor of the South Pacific Hotel, as well as the owner of the bathhouse on the beach and the St. Cloud Hotel, all of which were located in the vicinity of Third Street (now Pierview Way).
When Oceanside's first pier, located at the end of Wisconsin Street, was destroyed by a storm in 1890, Pieper campaigned vigorously to have a new pier built at the end of Third Street.  After several years it was agreed to and Oceanside's second pier was built there.  Completed in 1894, and built using iron pipe, it was 400 feet in length and known as the "iron wharf."  As predicted, it helped make Oceanside a resort destination.

Located at 601 North Pacific Street, on the northwest corner of North Pacific Street and Surfrider Way (formerly Fifth Street).

Hick House - Escondido, CA, USA

Built in late 1887 for Richard S. Hick and his wife, Emeline (Wright).  R. S. Hick was an attorney and served as a Senator in Kansas from 1885 to 1886.  He practiced law in Escondido and wrote many of the city's early ordinances.  The Hicks returned to Kansas in 1890.
The Victorian style house has recently been restored to a single-family home after being converted into apartments.

Located at 710 South Broadway on the southeast corner of Broadway and Juniper Street in the Old Escondido Historic District.  Although it has a Broadway address, the front of the house faces Juniper Street.