SOHO presents Historic Home Tour Weekend April 13 – 14
By Anthony King | SDUN Editor
Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) will host their annual Historic Home Tour Weekend Saturday and Sunday, April 13 and 14, where participants can get an inside look at five historic Mission Hills homes that feature architectural styles dating from 1914 to 1949.
Known for its “substantive and informative merit,” the tour is a place “where guests can gather creative ideas on decoration, restoration and preservation of older homes, their gardens and landscaping,” organizers said in a press release.
Resident and 2013 Home Tour Chair Allan Hazard said Mission Hills is one of the most “architecturally significant” communities in San Diego, and the annual event brings awareness to both it as well as all older neighborhoods of the city.
“San Diego has many fantastic neighborhoods and communities that are as praiseworthy as Mission Hills,” he said in the release. “The more people visit these historic sites and neighborhoods, and participate in local historic tours, the more people will appreciate and support historic preservation.”
SOHO was founded with the mission of promoting the preservation of landmarks – architectural, cultural and historical – that contribute to the diverse character of San Diego. The weekend tour serves as a fundraiser for the nonprofit.
“The more you learn about the history of an area, the more connected you are to it and the more you want to see it restored, preserved and protected for future generations to equally enjoy,” Hazard said.
The weekend starts Saturday with four 90-minute tours: two for walkers and two for bicyclists. All tours leave from Powers Plumbing, located at 1705 Lewis St.
The bicycle tours – starting at 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. – offer an “off the beaten path” exploration of master architects and builders in quieter parts of Mission Hills, organizers said. The partially hilly route will be led by a local resident and fitness enthusiast, and is limited to 15 participants per tour.
“If bicycling is not your style, there is a 90-minute walking tour of the Arnold & Choates and North Florence Heights subdivisions,” organizers said. “Highlighted are many early architects of these communities, including Joel L. Brown, William Templeton Johnson, Frank Mead and Richard Requa, and Alexander Schreiber.”
The walking tours start at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and will include the local commercial district, an early Mission Revival church, a school and former cemetery, in addition to the surrounding homes.
Also Saturday, SOHO is offering an Arts & Crafts Embroidery workshop led by artist Natalie Richards. From 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Richards will instruct students on techniques to create “heirloom-quality” linens, they said. Participants will have the option of creating a pillow or table runner.
SOHO’s main event is the opportunity to explore the inside and grounds of several early 20th-century homes on Sunday, April 14. The self-guided tours are from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., with tour headquarters at The Bohannan Estate located at 2440 Pine St.
“The self-driven tour features homes with an abundant diversity of architectural styles dating from a 1914 English Tudor to a 1949 early Modern,” organizers said.
Architects featured include Louis Gill, the nephew of architect Irving Gill, Morris B. Irvin, Requa and John Lloyd Wright, the son of Frank Lloyd Wright.
“This tour is a must-see for architecture buffs,” SOHO said. “The annual tour highlights how connected historic homes are to the fabric, well-being and vitality of a community.”
Tickets for the walking and biking tours on Saturday are $15. The workshop, also April 13, will be held at the Marston House Museum, 3525 Seventh Ave. Cost is $95 for SOHO members and $105 for guests.
For the five-mansion home tour on Sunday, April 14, a program with map and background information on each location will be included with the entry ticket, which ranges from $40 – $50 depending on date of purchase. SOHO members can purchase tickets for $30.
There are several locations for ticket pickup and purchase, including the Marston House Museum in Hillcrest and the Whaley House Museum at 2476 San Diego Ave. in Old Town. Programs may be picked up in advance Friday, April 12 and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Marston House Museum.
On Sunday, programs and tickets will only be handled at The Bohannan Estate tour headquarters. For full ticket information visit sohosandiego.org or call 619-297-9327.
