Escondido Public Library

The Pioneer Room will be closed on Monday, July 13 due to critical electrical work.

We'll reopen on Tuesday, July 14 at 9 AM. Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to seeing you then!

Hello Escondido! Although the façade of the First Christian Church is washed in new colors, the proud upswing of the church's roof remains.

It was built in 1962.However, the church was established much earlier than this building, being organized in 1889 with 13 charter members. There were many locations used by the church prior to this one on 1300 S Juniper. The first meeting was held at the original Lime Street school. Other meetings were held in homes, the building that was a Seventh Day Adventist Church on Orange Street, Cravath Hall, and the Knights of Pythias Hall.

William Justice preached from 1889 to 1891 as one of the first pastors of the congregation. In 1894, a small church was built on a lot at the corner of 2nd and Juniper and saw many pastors throughout the years. Today, at the Corner of Juniper and Chestnut, the Canvas Church holds services every Sunday.

Sources: “First Christian Church founded 84 years ago.” Eloise Perkins, Daily Times-Advocate, July 27, 1973, Page 8-9.
“Escondido’s First Christian Church.” Eloise Perkins, Daily Times-Advocate, May 23, 1969, Page 7.

(Photo Source: https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/13030/kt4r29r6xd/)

The Pioneer Room is open on Thursdays 2-6pm and Fridays and Saturdays 10am-2pm. We're located at 247 South Kalmia Street, Escondido, California, 92025.
Questions? Give us a call at 760-839-4315 or email us at [email protected]

Hello Escondido! Now it's the Miner's Diner and Old Julian Drug Store & Candy, but it has been a lot of different business along the way.

Residing on the corner of Washington and Main street, this brick building was built in 1886, the only one in Julian at the time. In the 1930's it was Tozer Drug Store run by Clay Tozer. Before that is was leased by Olan Blanc to different families, being at one point a café, a pool room, and a drugstore. Originally, however, it was Marks & Levi General Store.

Joseph Marks and A. Levi were partners until Marks sold his interest in the store that acted as the Julian Post Office, the Wells Fargo Express Agency and the general merchandise, to J. A. Noah. Interest was held by Levi and Noah until the later bought out the store and named it Noah’s Ark. Marks left Julian to expand his family in San Bernardino, but returned later to repurchase the store. It was run by Marks until he retired.

Sources: "Store built in 1886 of bricks baked in Julian." Eloise Perkins, Daily Times-Advocate, November 29, 1970, Page 73.

"Our History." Miner's Diner. https://www.minersdinerjulian.com/

(Photo Source: https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/13030/kt3c60339t/)

The Pioneer Room is open on Thursdays 4-8pm and Fridays and Saturdays 10am-2pm. We're located at 247 South Kalmia Street, Escondido, California, 92025.
Questions? Give us a call at 760-839-4315 or email us at [email protected]

Hello Escondido! A school, a library, and now home to the Julian Historical Society, the Sant Ysabel School at Witch Creek has seen a lot of history. It was built in 1880 on Sawday Family land and was a school until 1954. Grades first through eighth were taught here until 1952. Then the middle schoolers were sent to school in Julian, and then two years later the remaining first through sixth graders followed. The last teacher of the school was Mrs. Rosemary Dewitt. After its close the school and land passed through the Lightner Family and then onto the Starr Family.

In a state of disrepair, the school was offered to the Julian Historical Society – if they would move it. They secured the necessary funds to move the historically significant building into Julian. It was picked up and placed on a truck to slowly make its way up the mountain. It was placed in Pioneer Park and was restored, opening it doors as a public library in 1971. In 2004, the library moved to a new building and the school became home to the Julian Historical Society. It resides at 2133 4th Street.

This photo, showing the Witch Creek Schoolhouse in 1967, exhibits some damage to the building which had then been abandoned for 13 years. Perkins also took a picture of the school restored which can be viewed here: https://cdm17446.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/eloiseperkins/id/134/rec/2

Sources: Historic Julian, Julian Chamber of Commerce, https://visitjulian.com/historic-julian/

(Photo Source: https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/13030/kt658036v5/)

The Pioneer Room is open on Thursdays 4-8pm and Fridays and Saturdays 10am-2pm. We're located at 247 South Kalmia Street, Escondido, California, 92025.
Questions? Give us a call at 760-839-4315 or email us at [email protected]