Designed by Louis Gill \u2014 a principal in the office of his uncle, famed architect Irving Gill \u2014 for Dr. Harry M. Wegeforth and his family in 1916, the house is two levels and about 3,900 square feet. It included many modern amenities when it was constructed, according to architect Tim Martin of Martin Architecture.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe architecture is pretty amazing due to it being a largely intact example of Louis and Irving Gills\u2019 work,\u201d said Martin who is a lead in the project.<\/p>\n
The renovations include a new training kitchen, flexible seating area for trainings and meetings, new lounge, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant improvements, upgraded technology, and a records room that will be used to pay tribute to the JLSD\u2019s nine decades in San Diego.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a classic single-family home with many modern amenities when it was designed and built. It has changed little over the years and remains a fine example of Gill\u2019s work,\u201d Martin said.<\/p>\n
A central formal entry with grand staircase is flanked by a living room and dining room, with a sunroom to the west off the living room, and a kitchen behind the dining room, with a conventional bath near the rear of the house and a two-car garage. The upper level has several bedrooms, baths with copper tubs and porches once used for sleeping.<\/p>\n Some minor changes were made by another local architect in 1981, which involved converting the home into a commercial-use property from a residence when JLSD took occupancy, according to Case Irwin of Irwin Builders, also a lead in the renovations.<\/p>\n The kitchen is perhaps the most extensive part of the restoration project, which will bring it up to speed for teaching and to meet other current building codes.<\/p>\n \u201cThe kitchen is cool and has a lot of original elements still there that we\u2019re trying to incorporate,\u201d Myers said. \u201cOne is a huge gas stove that will be kept and we\u2019re trying to save the old doors from the original ice boxes.\u201d<\/p>\n Irwin said at the time the home was built it was advanced as far as techniques. For instance, he said in the basement \u2014 which won\u2019t be renovated and is about 1,700 square feet \u2014 they found a whole house vac system.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is also a dumbwaiter, laundry shoot, and all the baths have trap doors to access plumbing and plumbing fixtures that were ahead of the time,\u201d Irwin said. \u201cThere was also some sort of solar device that helped heat water.\u201d<\/p>\n Full steam ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n For the time being, the JLSD has temporarily relocated to the former SD Women\u2019s Club \u2014 now Parq West \u2014 directly across the street until the project is completed in December.<\/p>\n Martin said he has worked on a lot of remodels and old homes but the Wegeforth is \u201ctruly a gem.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be an interesting process and we are proud to be able to deliver what will serve JLSD very well for many years to come,\u201d Martin said. \u201cIt\u2019s still very stately, simple and very much the Gill style. It has been well preserved over years and has remained intact with little work done from the exterior that wasn\u2019t original. It\u2019s a pleasure to work on something like this and advance its life for another 100 years.\u201d<\/p>\n Added Myers: \u201cJunior League is proud that its headquarters is so deeply connected to the history of San Diego and the renovations will only continue to preserve the historic landmark.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Junior](\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/210-Maple-House-Front-Under-Construction.jpg\")
![\"Junior](\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/front-current.jpg\")