Guide to the Nicholas Fintzelberg Historic Preservation Collection
MS 74
Finding aid prepared by Samantha Mills
San Diego History Center Document Collection
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA, 92101
619-232-6203
April 13, 2017
Title: Nicholas Fintzelberg Historic Preservation Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS 74
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.5 Linear feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1967-1979
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence, reports, planning documents, and other materials regarding the creation of Heritage
Park within Old Town San Diego State Historic Park in the 1970s, as well as files on several other historic sites in San Diego,
CA.
creator:
Fintzelberg, Nicholas
Biographical / Historical Notes
Heritage Park is a 7.8 acre historical site dedicated to the preservation of San Diego Victorian heritage. It is located in
the northeast part of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, on the corners of Juan and Harney streets. The park was started
by the Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO) in 1970 when a group of concerned citizens organized to save the Sherman-Gilbert
house. Heritage Park now contains seven historic homes, all of which have been moved there from other locations in the city,
and which have been renovated and leased to business owners to operate out of.
The buildings are: the Sherman-Gilbert house (1887), Senlis cottage (1896), Bushyhead house (1887), Christian house (1889),
McConaughy house (1887), Burton house (1893), and Temple Beth Israel (1889), the first synagogue in San Diego.
Nicholas M. Fintzelberg was the chairman of the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park Advisory Committee and the Chairman
of the Historical Preservation Committee. He was also on the Shepard House Committee for the restoration of Villa Montezuma.
Scope and Content
This collection contains correspondence, reports, planning documents, and other materials regarding the creation of Heritage
Park within Old Town San Diego State Historic Park in the 1970s, as well as files on several other historic sites in San Diego,
CA. Other materials include planning maps, historical overviews, committee agendas and budgets, financial documents, and proposals.
The collection also contains files on other historic sites worked on by Fintzelberg and SOHO, including Casa de Estudillo,
the Golden Hill neighborhood, Goodbody Mortuary’s Ivy Chapel, Rancho Monserate, and Villa Montezuma (aka the Jesse Shepard
House).
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in two series:
Series I: Historic Preservation Planning;
Series II: Historic Sites.
Preferred Citation
Nicholas Fintzelberg Historic Preservation Collection, MS 74, San Diego History Center Document Archives, San Diego, CA.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession #810102.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Lindsay Banuelos in January 2008 and Samantha Mills in April 2017.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Fintzelberg, Nicholas
Karp, Louis
Mortimer, Lucille
Moss, James
Mott, William
Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO).
Golden Hill (San Diego, Calif.)
Heritage Park
Historic buildings--Conservation and restoration
Historic preservation
Old Town (San Diego, Calif.)
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park (Calif.)
San Diego (Calif.)
Series I:
Historic Preservation Planning
Box-folder 1:1
Correspondence: HABS,
1970-1971 and undated
Box-folder 1:2
Correspondence: From Lucille Mortimer,
1971-1975 and undated
Box-folder 1:3
Correspondence: To Lucille Mortimer,
1972-1976
Box-folder 1:4
Correspondence: Tom Ham,
1973
Box-folder 1:5
Correspondence: Nicholas Fintzelberg,
1975-1976
Box-folder 1:6
Correspondence: Miscellanea,
1970-1971 and undated
Box-folder 1:7
Heritage Park Planning,
1972-1974
Includes:
Correspondence; development plans; notice of public hearing; and City Planning Commission notes.
Box-folder 1:8
Heritage Park Planning,
1974 and undated
Includes:
Planning reports; documents related to petition of nearby property owners; petition to clarify and revise amendments to planned
district; and notes from Louis Karp.
Box-folder 1:9
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park,
1971-1976
Includes:
Advisory committee members; actions and policies on park development; fiesta recommendations; property map; advisory committee
by-laws; and statement of purpose and membership forms.
Box-folder 1:10
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park Corporation,
1971-1976
Includes:
Financial documents; bank receipts; and corporation members.
Box-folder 1:11
Save Our Heritage Organization,
undated
Includes:
Constitution and by-laws; and economic study by Richard Crisman.
Box-folder 1:12
Surplus Property,
1971-1978
Includes:
Correspondence; minutes of Old Town Coordinating Group; and recommendations report. Subjects include: additional parking and
traffic control in Old Town and Heritage Park; and Penasquitos Ranch house.
Box-folder 1:13
Miscellaneous Reports,
1967-1975
Includes:
A guide for development of Old Town for bicentennial; statistical report; Old San Diego Planned District report; and an annual
report of California State Parks.
Series II:
Historic Sites
Box-folder 1:14
Casa de Estudillo,
1967
Includes:
A historical/architectural summary.
Box-folder 1:15
Golden Hill,
1978 and undated
Includes:
A historical overview of Golden Hill and Sherman Heights, and notes on the following homes: Harriett Morris Livingston House
(1887), Abel H. Frost House (1896 or 1897), James Scripps House (1906), Samuel Rynearson House (1898), and Hayward-Patterson
House (1887).
Box-folder 1:16
Goodbody Mortuary: Ivy Chapel,
1971
Includes:
Correspondence.
Box-folder 1:17
Rancho Monserate,
1971
Includes:
Correspondence.
Box-folder 1:18
Senlis Cottage,
1977-1979
Includes:
Correspondence; recommendation to County Board of Supervisors; financial statement; lease agreements; floor plans and schedule
for move.
Box-folder 1:19
Villa Montezuma (Jesse Shepard House),
1970-1973 and undated
Includes:
Reports on use of home; property description; list of board members; correspondence; meeting minutes; caretaker job description;
preservation proposals; project budget; application for grant; and other documents regarding the property.
