Derby-Pendleton House

 

History

Derby-Pendleton House

In 1850, one of the founders of New San Diego William Heath Davis arrived from San Francisco aboard the brig Cybele with a cargo of 10 or 12 prefabricated houses, shipped from Portland, Maine. One of these, the two-story Derby- Pendleton House established in Davis’s New Town, and then moved to 3877 Harney Street in Old Town. Don Juan Bandini, a prominent early San Diegan purchased the structure in 1851. This house was a gift for his daughter Dolores and her husband Captain Charles Johnson.

In 1854-1854 Lt. George Horatio Derby and his wife, Mary Ann Coons Derby rented the house from Bandini. This was during the construction of the Derby Dike. Lt. George Derby was an engineer in the United States Topographical Corps who surveyed the San Diego River.

In 1855, George Allen Pendleton, a merchant who arrived in San Diego, purchased the house from Bandini. Pendleton served as county clerk and recorder for 20 years and used his home as his office and storage of county records. Pendleton lived there until his death in 1871.

In 1880, Pendleton’s widow sold the house to Mrs. Ester Kerren for $150.00. It was then purchased by E.T. Guymon Jr. .He was a businessperson and owner of the largest collection of fiction in the United States. Guymon began an extensive restoration of the house in 1937, and in 1945, he sold the house to Timothy Fogg. In 1962, the California State Division of Highways acquired the house and designated it for demolition. However, the County Board of Supervisors gave permission to the Historical Shrine Foundation to relocate the Historical House. The plan to relocate the house onto the lot directly behind the Whaley House Museum was not an easy task. The house, transferred about three blocks away, required a lot of detailed planning and additional moving costs. The two-story 50-ton house had to be moved into two sections, held together with bolts and cables, and rerouted about to avoid the overhead power lines. A new foundation and porch steps had to be constructed. Finally, the treacherous project was completed and the Derby-Pendleton House stood in triumph on San Diego Ave, in Old Town on October 17 1962.

In recent years, the house has been a museum and has served as several shops, including a bridal shop and an antique store. The Historical Derby-Pendleton House provides a quaint, neighboring structure to the World Famous Whaley House.

 

 

 

 

Investigation

January 15, 2005

Time:	8:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Weather Conditions:	Clear
Lunar Phase:
Equipment:	35mm cameras digital cameras EMF Detectors IR Thermometers DVR APS cameras Sony camcorders