By Jake Romero | Gaslamp Landmarks
On Jan. 6, 1888, George J. Keating acquired the land that the future building that bears his name would eventually be built upon.
Keating, a successful partner in one of the world’s largest farm implement and equipment firms, Smith and Keating, came from Kansas City, Missouri, to San Diego with his wife Fannie in 1886.
They were initially drawn to San Diego because of George’s poor health and it is unfortunate that he would not live to see the construction of his building, having died of heart failure at his home on June 28, 1888.
His wife Fanny however, was not to be defeated by his passing, and by August of 1890, excavation for the new building at the northwest corner of what is now Fifth Avenue and F Street, was underway.
Fanny retained the Reid Brothers, well-known architects and designers of Coronado’s Hotel Del, to design the building according to George’s original plans.
The Keating features a Romanesque architectural theme with the first two stories comprised of Sespe sandstone shipped from Ventura, California, while the remaining stories are built with pressed red brick, highlighted with terra cotta ornamentation.
Corner towers on the F Street side of the building and arched windows are distinguishing features.
This structure is one of the most recognizable and beautiful buildings in the historic Gaslamp Quarter, and today houses a popular hotel named after Mr. Keating himself.
—Jake Romero is the director of operations of the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation, located at 410 Island Ave., Downtown, in the historic Davis-Horton House. For more information visit gaslampfoundation.org.
