William Heath Davis House revisited

[adminsandiegohaunted]

     Located in the heart of San Diego Californias historic gaslamp quarter lies the William Heath Davis house.  It is believed to be the oldest surviving wooden structure in historic downtown San Diego.  Prior to the modernization and developement of San Diego, locating trees suitable for lumber proved difficult.  It is suspected that this factor led Davis to purchase a 8 salt-box style homes (preframed lumber) shipped around Cape Horn and assembled in San Diego in 1850. Originally, the Davis home was at State and Market Street however, it was never their home. Davis instead resided in a duplicate salt-box styled home at State and F Street. While, building thir own home Alonzo and Sarah Horton's lived in the Davis House (1868-1869). Davis had come to San Diego to found "New Town". His idea was to drive trade and business via the waterfront of San Diego.  Unfortunately an economic depression in 1851 ended his plans.  By 1853 most of the houses constructed by Davis were either moved to old town San Diego or used for firewood.  The Davis house also found use as a pre-Civil War military officer?s barracks and make-shift hospital.

     The Davis house was originally at State and Market Street in 1850. Davis sold the house to Alonzo Horton in circa? 1867. Between December 9, 1872 and June 27, 1873 The Davis house was moved to 227 Eleventh Street, between K and L. This is known because the land value for that lot jumped from $350.00 to $1500.00 in that time frame. So the house passed from Margaret Mountain to Mrs. Anna Scheper. Mrs. Anna Scheper (later Mrs. Amos P. Knowles) had acquired the property at 227 Eleventh Street on June 27, only a few days before she was directed by the Board of Supervisors to board the sick in her hospital at the rate of $1.00 per day each. The property sold to Mary T. Jones and James P. Jones on February 1, 1881. Eventually the house is Purchased by the City of San Diego in the 1970s and moved to its current location at the corner of Island and Fourth Avenues (1984).

     It is unknown if and when any persons died in the William Heath Davis during its stint as a hospital. Paranormal claims have been made that the house may in fact be haunted. It is believed that the spirit, apparition, or ghost of a Victorian woman inhabits the house. In a 1977 San Diego Newspaper article occupants of the house reported strange behavior of (gas, coal, or oil) lamps self extinguishing and reigniting. The Davis house joined the power grid c. 1984. It is claimed that some members of The Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation still witness odd lighting issues. It is also noted that a Victorian Dressed female has been witnessed by museum visitors near the 2nd floor landing. It is hard to decipher who and how exactly the house may be haunted by. The house is now a museum full of artifacts that may have belonged to many persons.

--Personal note, of all the haunted suspected locations we have visited in San Diego The William Heath Davis house definitely has an odd vibe. I was seriously on edge almost expecting something to happen (nothing did of course). I attribute this to the odd architecture, unevenness of floors, slanted ceilings, and decor. It is an amazing place to spend a couple of hours just witnessing histories past. If your in the area I highly suggest spending the very reasonable 6 dollar ticket to the past.---

[PPI Tim]

I read stories about this house. It would be nice to investigate this place.

[PPI Tracy]

Agreed, Timmeh. 

[PPI Karl]

--Personal note, of all the haunted suspected locations we have visited in San Diego The William Heath Davis house definitely has an odd vibe. I was seriously on edge almost expecting something to happen (nothing did of course). I attribute this to the odd architecture, unevenness of floors, slanted ceilings, and decor. It is an amazing place to spend a couple of hours just witnessing histories past. If your in the area I highly suggest spending the very reasonable 6 dollar ticket to the past.---

The environmental influences that create the perception of paranormal activity is exactly the kind of thing that piques my interest.  Thanks for this, Dan.

[PPI Brian]

The William Heath Davis house is located on the corner of 4th and Island in the gaslamp quarter. It's open for "self guided tours" Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 9am-3pm. 

Sounds like a PPI field trip is in order.

[adminsandiegohaunted]

Many people don't realize that the Building sitting directly behind the Whaley house, is the only other remaining Salt box building of William Heath Davis.  The Derby-Pendleton House, was moved to directly behind the Whaley House in 1962. It now houses the Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO) offices.  In a recent correspondence Dean Glass,  Administrative Manager of Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) politely declined my interest in viewing the interior architecture of that building, as it is a working office.  He did  refer me to the following..... "For more information, please see this article I wrote a few years back on the Derby-Pendleton House:
http://sohosandiego.org/reflections/2005-3/derby.htm " Dean Glass


 

[PPI Brian]

I remember Jim and June Reading tell the story of moving the Derby-Pendleton House on to the Whaley's back lot. The most difficult part of the move was the adobe addition to the back of the prefab. They were afraid it would completely crumble during the move but it held together. June showed me some chinese characters that were carved into the back door of the adobe addition by one of the cooks. You can barely see it today. 

[PPI Karl]

Deffo on the field trip.  I like that idea a lot.

[adminsandiegohaunted]

The really neat thing about this house is that you can get up close and personal with everything inside of it. Unlike other historical sites, this is completely open and not tied off with glass or ropes. I was there on a Saturday for almost 2 hours and no one else (visitors, or docents) were to be seen except when entering or leaving the house.

Brian you have any pics of the inside of the Pendleton house?

[PPI Tim]

That is what one of the things that has been going on in the house. The velvet ropes closing off sections of the house have been unhooked several times and it is none of the staff who are doing it.

[PPI Brian]

The really neat thing about this house is that you can get up close and personal with everything inside of it. Unlike other historical sites, this is completely open and not tied off with glass or ropes. I was there on a Saturday for almost 2 hours and no one else (visitors, or docents) were to be seen except when entering or leaving the house.

Brian you have any pics of the inside of the Pendleton house?

Hi Dan,

I'll have to look. I only went inside a couple of times because it was leased to generate income for the San Diego Historical Shrine Foundation. The unique thing about the Derby-Pendleton House is that it was designed as a store below and living quarters upstairs - which was common in the mid 19th Century. It was my understanding that the prefab was put together using nails from a ship that ran aground in the harbor. The adobe was added as a kitchen after the building was no longer used as a store.

Here's a link about the history of the Derby-Pendleton House

[adminsandiegohaunted]

Hi Dan,

I'll have to look. I only went inside a couple of times because it was leased to generate income for the San Diego Historical Shrine Foundation....

I am so Jealous!!!! 

[adminsandiegohaunted]

A couple quick pics from a couple months ago