At this point, a brief timeline of the property involving Congress Hall’s initial location in Block 426 is presented to provide a more complete understanding.
Figure 1: Detail of Couts' 1849 map of Old Town. Blue highlight covers area under discussion.
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1838 January 4 – A Spanish deed recorded the purchase of property (Lots 1 and 4, Block 426) from Francisco Ruiz, Commandante of the San Diego Presidio by Juan Machado.[1] The deed stated in part:
I, Francisco Ruiz, resident of San Diego, say that I have sold a house to citizen Juan Machado in 100.00 current money, situated close to that of the retired Corporal citizen Juan Ma. Marron. Said house is composed of three pieces or divisions… the first is finished entirely, the second lacks the roof, and the third has only the foundation.
Included with the Deed Books' translation was a drawing of the lay-out of the buildings on the plot of land. (See Figures 2 and 3 below.) [2]
Figure 2: Plot lay-out of Machado land.
Figure 3: Detail of lay-out of Machado land from General Development Plan.
Regarding Figure 3 above: There is a small notation that I dispute. Slightly to the right of the highlighted square is a numeral marked "25A." It's associated note states that it is "Congress Hall Built ? Moved 1870 - 1872 (Location) Parker Photo." On this drawing, I firmly believe that "25A" is in the wrong location. It should be a later construction on the spot where "20" "Casa de Alta" is drawn.
Using the model of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park in the Visitor's Center as a guide; it shows Congress Hall in the position I think it should be - over the location of Casa de Alta.
Figure 4: Model from Visitor's Center. Detail of rear of Congress Hall.
1850 September 1 – Juan Machado entered into a 5-year lease of this property to Adolpho Savin. Savin built a two-story wood-frame structure on the lot. Savin, then, subleased the building to Lewis A. Franklin who opened the Tienda California general store in it.
1855 September 28 – After the expiration of the lease with Savin, Juan Machado and his wife, Maria Serrano de Machado (Jose Antonio’s sister?) sold the property, Lot 1 Block 426, to Eugene B. Pendleton and Matilda Kerren. Several stores operated out of the establishment.[3]
As a side note, it is unclear why Savin's lease on the property was not renewed. However, as a consequence, Franklin had to find a new location for the Tienda California.
And Lewis Franklin went big! Together with his brother, Maurice, in 1855 they purchased the Exchange Hotel, extensively remodeled the first floor and added two more stories on top of that. This made the Franklin House the first three-storied structure in San Diego.
Figure 5: Image from the Journal of San Diego History, April 1956.
1856 The ground floor was used as the new location of the Tienda California. See Figure 6 below for the announcement in the San Diego Herald.
Figure 6: From the San Diego Herald, May 17, 1856, page 5.
1857 August 14 – Matilda Kerren bought out Pendleton’s interest in the land for $1250 and became sole owner of Lots 1 and 4 Block 426.[4]
1868 After fire destroyed the original structure some time previous, James and Matilda (Kerren) Anderson leased the property to George W. Robinson. On the site, Robinson agreed to build the Magnolia Billiard Saloon.
October 10 – From the San Diego Union, page 2, column 3:
Figure 7: San Diego Union, October 10, 1868, page 2, column 3.
October 31 – The San Diego Union ran an advertisement announcing the “Grand Opening Ball” at Robinson’s New Saloon to be given Wednesday Evening, November 4, 1868. A. O. Wallace was listed as Floor Manager.
Figure 8: San Diego Union, October 31, 1868.
Also in this issue of the Union, a small editorial was written to all “Terpsichoreans” announcing the ball and inviting all interested to purchase tickets.
Figure 9: San Diego Union, October 31, 1868.
November 14 –The lease between James and Matilda (Kerren) Anderson and George W. Robinson was signed on this date.
November 28 – The San Diego Union prints an advertisement for the Magnolia Billiard Saloon with its choicest brands of wines and liquors. ( See Figure below)
Figure 10: San Diego Union, November 28, 1868.
At some point, while Robinson was owner and Wallace was Floor Manager, the establishment changed its name to “Congress Hall”. It is thought that this was done to honor Commodore Stockton and his flagship, the frigate USS Congress.
1870 February 3 – In the San Diego Union, an advertisement announced that A. O. Wallace had bought Congress Hall. See Appendix for reproduction of advertisement.
Figure 11: San Diego Union, February 3, 1870.
1872 March 10 – Wallace sold Congress Hall to Cant
April 24 – In the divorce case between William Cant and Maria Cant, Frank Czarnowsky gave testimony on this date. In part it stated that William Cant:
…bought from A. O. Wallace, what is known as “Congress Hall”, a saloon and its fixtures in Old Town. He gave said Wallace twelve hundred fifty - $1250 dollars for the said building, the saloon fixtures and the stock on hand. I had been Wallace’s clerk in the saloon before and up to the time of the sale…
After Cant purchased the saloon from Wallace, Czarnowsky stayed on for some weeks as Wallace’s clerk.[5]
1873 April 17 – The San Diego Union reported that Congress Hall was sold at tax sale auction to George Gillis. The article stated: “Improvements only on a lot known as Congress Hall, assessed to William Cant, to Geo. Gillis, for $12.10.”
1874 Detail of 1874 photograph. Congress Hall, at extreme left - seen from the rear, is still in its original location. The view of the Robinson-Rose House is no longer obscured by the “Jolly Boy”. As well, Osuna’s wood frame structure is bare on its south side. See Figure 12 below.
Figure 12: Detail of 1874 photograph
[1] Deed Book D, page 113 for translation of Spanish deed. See Appendix for translation.
[2] The original deed was established in 1838. However, the translation and accompanying drawing are from the Deed's May 1853 recording.
[3] Deed Book C, page 381.
[4] Deed Book 1, page 160.
[5] See Appendix for full text of Czarnowsky’s testimony. It revealed some of the habits of a saloon manager and provided insight as to why Cant was divorced by his wife.
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