Save Our Heritage Organisation facts for kids
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| Founded | San Diego, California (1969) |
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| Type | Non-profit |
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| Services | Preservation and maintenance of historic architecture |
| Fields | Protecting historic landmarks |
| Website | sohosandiego.org |
Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) is a non-profit group that works to protect old and important buildings and places around San Diego, California. It was started in 1969. SOHO takes care of several historic buildings, like the Whaley House and the George W. Marston House. They also work with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a big group that saves historic places across the country.
SOHO's main goal is to "preserve, promote and support preservation of the architectural, cultural and historical links and landmarks that contribute to the community identity, depth and character of our region." This means they want to keep San Diego's history alive through its buildings and special places.
Contents
History of SOHO
SOHO was founded in 1969 in San Diego, California. A person named Robert Miles Parker and 35 other people started the group. In April of that year, they wrote down their rules. These rules said that the group's purpose was to buy, move, fix, and take care of different homes, stores, and buildings. They wanted to show these buildings to the public, like in museums, to teach people about the different building styles in the San Diego area.
First Project
The first big project SOHO took on was saving the Sherman-Gilbert House. This was a Stick-Eastlake Victorian-style house that was going to be torn down. SOHO helped move the house to the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park area, where it could be protected.
Preservation Council
In 1970, SOHO created its Preservation Council. This council's job was to let SOHO know if any historic buildings in the San Diego area were going to be torn down or sold. Around the same time, SOHO worked with other groups, like the Historical Site Board and the A.I.A., to buy and fix up the Villa Montezuma.
40th Anniversary
In 2009, Save Our Heritage Organisation celebrated its 40th birthday! To mark this special event, a San Diego filmmaker named Dan Soderberg made a documentary. It was called Four Decades of Historic Preservation in San Diego County. The film won a California Governor's Award for Historic Preservation. Also in 2009, SOHO added the Marston House to its list of museums. The Marston House is a beautiful 1905 home built in the Arts & Crafts style.
SOHO's Projects
SOHO has worked on many projects to save and restore historic buildings. Here are some of them:
- The Sherman-Gilbert House: A Stick-Eastlake Victorian house that was saved from being torn down and moved to Heritage Park in Old Town San Diego.
- Santa Fe Depot: A historic train station that SOHO helped save from demolition.
- The Harfield Timberland Christian House: A Queen Anne Victorian house moved to Heritage Park in Old Town San Diego.
- San Diego Rowing Club building: This building was restored.
- Villa Montezuma: This historic house was restored.
- The Burton House: A Classic Revival Victorian house moved to Heritage Park in Old Town San Diego.
- The Bushyhead House: An Italianate Victorian house moved to Heritage Park in Old Town San Diego.
- Granger Music Hall: This hall was restored.
- Horton Plaza: This area was restored.
- Senlis Cottage: A 19th-century local style Victorian house moved to Heritage Park in Old Town San Diego.
- Greg Rogers House: A house in Chula Vista, California that was saved from being torn down and restored.
- Percival Thompson House: This house was restored.
- Green Dragon Colony: This group of buildings was restored.
- Julia Liffreing House: This house was restored.
- The Balboa Theatre: This historic theater was restored.
- Egyptian Revival Buildings: SOHO helped these buildings get special historic protection.
- Temple Beth Israel: This building was saved from demolition and is now in Heritage Park.
- Warner Ranch: SOHO helped save this ranch from falling apart.
- San Diego Veterans War Building: This building was saved.
- Canfield-Wright House: This house was saved from being torn down.
- Western Metal Supply Building: A building in Downtown San Diego that SOHO helped save.
- Simon Levi Building: A building in Downtown San Diego that SOHO helped save.
- Levi Wholesale Grocery Co.: This building was saved.
- Showley Bros Candy Company: A building in Downtown San Diego that SOHO helped save.
- Schiefer & Sons Aeroplane Co.: A building in Downtown San Diego that SOHO helped save.
- Station A: A San Diego powerhouse that SOHO helped save.
- Carnation Building: A building in Downtown San Diego that SOHO helped save.
- Rosario Hall: A building in Downtown San Diego that was saved and moved.
- Kidd & Krone Auto Parts Building: A building in Downtown San Diego that SOHO helped save.
- TR Produce Building: A building in Downtown San Diego that SOHO helped save.
- Art Deco Fire Station Building: A building in Downtown San Diego that SOHO helped save.
- Bledsoe Company Furniture Warehouse: A building in Downtown San Diego that SOHO helped save.
- Western Wholesale Drug Company Warehouse: A building in Downtown San Diego that SOHO helped save.
Preservation Easement Program
SOHO also has a Preservation Easement Program. This program helps protect the outside look of historical sites. It makes sure that the unique features of these buildings are kept safe for the future. Some buildings helped by this program include:
- Cliff House
- The Sherman-Judson residence
- The Wisteria Cottage (once John Cole's Bookstore)
- The Senator Hotel
- The Callan Hotel
- The Brunswig Drug Company
- The Mission Brewery
Museums and Historic Buildings
SOHO takes care of several museums and historic buildings. These places help people learn about the past.
- The Adobe Chapel: This chapel was home to the first church group in California.
- The George and Anna Marston House Museum and Carriage House: This building was built in 1905 in the Arts & Crafts style.
- The Warner-Carrillo Ranch House: This house was built in 1857. It was California's first regular stop for overland stagecoaches traveling to St. Louis.
Other Activities
SOHO does more than just save buildings. They also work to teach people about history.
- They often create or support tours of historic homes.
- They hold talks and workshops to share knowledge about preservation.
- SOHO runs gift and book stores in two locations.
- Every year, the organization creates a "Most Endangered List." This list highlights local historic places that are at risk, similar to a national list.
- SOHO publishes an e-newsletter every two months.
- They also have a book publishing part called "Our Heritage Press."
- SOHO often gives advice to smaller groups that are working to save historic places in their own neighborhoods.
