Save Dunham House Update
Special Delivery to the Heritage Ranch in Time for the Holidays!
We are very excited to announce that the 135-year-old Dunham House will arrive at the Heritage Ranch in time for the holidays! This charming beach cottage, built by Del Mar founder Jacob Taylor in 1885, is one of only three surviving Jacob Taylor houses in Del Mar, and is an excellent example of the Folk Victorian style of architecture.
This gem of local history was in danger of demolition as the property owner planned to construct a new home on the site at 119 10th Street, Del Mar. The Del Mar Historical Society had endeavored to find a permanent home for this local treasure in Del Mar and, with time running out, they approached the SDHM in an effort to find it a permanent home. In a special meeting in October the SDHM Board of Directors, recognizing the importance of preserving this important piece of local history, unanimously voted to accept the Dunham House and provide it a permanent home, thereby saving it from the wreaking ball.
Once the decision was made to save the house, the SDHM was under pressure to raise the $130,000 needed to move the Dunham House to the Heritage Ranch. Property owner Chris Huber got the fundraising underway with a generous pledge of $55,000 toward the cost of the move. A fundraising campaign was announced on our website, and within weeks the necessary funds had been raised, thanks to the generosity of our members and members of the Del Mar Historical Society.
The SDHM proposes to develop an exhibit space and community event venue centered on the Dunham House. To accomplish this, the interior of the house (which was completely remodelled in 1977) will be opened up to produce an 800-square-foot exhibit and event space. We plan to add an addition to one side of the house in a style that is in character with the beach cottage to expand the available interior space. The covered porch will be widened to accomodate tables expanding on space available for indoor-outdoor events. The area to the front and back of the house will be landscaped so that the Dunham House sits within attractive gardens. The Dunham House will be used for community events such as concerts, weddings, family celebrations and classes. The SDHM is excited by the potential of the Dunham House to capture and represent the history of our coastal cities from the 1880s to the present.
Save Dunham House Campaign
The San Dieguito Heritage Museum is excited to announce that the historic Dunham house will be moved from its current location at 119 10th Street in Del Mar to the Heritage Ranch! This charming beach cottage, built by Del Mar founder Jacob Taylor in 1885, is one of only three surviving Jacob Taylor houses in Del Mar and is an excellent example of the Folk Victorian style of architecture.
This gem of local history is currently in danger of demolition as the owner plans to develop the site starting in mid October. The Del Mar Historical Society has endeavored to find a permanent home for this local treasure in Del Mar and, with time running out,they approached the Heritage Museum in an effort to secure it a permanent home. In a recent vote, the Museum Board of Directors approved the project to save this historic 135-year-old house from the wrecking ball! Plans are under way to move the house to the museum campus, and from there establish this architectural treasure as a permanent and welcoming home for community meetings, exhibitions, and milestone events.
As you can imagine, moving the building is a major undertaking. The current owner has generously contributed $55,000 to the project, but another $55,000 must be raised by October 9 to comply with the owner's plans to develop the site. This move requires a CHP escort, removal of the roof to go through underpasses, more structural support during the move, and further restoration to replace the roof and fix any damage to the 135-year-old structure after the move.
Please consider a donation to save this important piece of local history! You can make your tax-deductible donation on this page, or call Barbara Grice at (760) 632-9711, or Kerry Witkin at 858-361-2452, to make other arrangements. All donors will be recognized at the level of donation in a permanent plaque prominently displayed on the Dunham House.
Thank you for your support!
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