Dates: Tuesday, March 18th or Thursday, March 20th, 9:30am

Location: The Parsonage Museum, 3185 Olive Street, Lemon Grove, California

Website: https://lghistorical.org/

This week, we travel to Lemon Grove to visit two historical sites at the Civic Center Park. We will visit the Parsonage Museum, dedicated to information on Lemon Grove and the region, and the H. Lee House, built in 1928 for Harold Lee. This house currently serves as Lemon Grove’s cultural center, offering reading resources, chamber concerts, lectures, poetry and social events. Our handout will discuss these two structures, as well as provide some background on the history of Lemon Grove as well as offer up some facts and statistics about this quaint small town.

Background on the H. Lee House

The H. Lee House was built in 1928 by British architect Frederic C. Clemeshaw and built by Scottish carpenter George Simpson. It was built for San Diego auto dealer Harold Lee and housed at 8450 Troy Street in Lemon Grove.

The home was built in the Tudor Revival style, and is a California State Historic Site listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In May, 1993, Caltrans notified the city that this home was in the way of freeway construction. Since the home was on the National Register of Historic Places, Caltrans was required to relocate it. Caltrans agreed to purchase and relocate the home, provided it would be used for historical purposes and not remodeled to change its historical characteristics. City Manager Jack Shelver said that it could be leased to the Lemon Grove Historical Society for a nominal fee. He also recommended that the council give approval to the deal with Caltrans and suggested that a citizens’ committee be set up to explore relocation possibilities.

The committee was formed in 1944, and spent a year looking at possible sites. They eventually zeroed in on a vacant lot on the corner of Church and Olive Streets. It also happened to be in the middle of town on land recently purchased by the city. The lot also included City Hall and the Sheriff’s station. It was also right across the street from the Atherton Chapel, one of the city’s oldest surviving historic sites. Eventually, the city bought the land, the chapel and the 1913 Congregational Church of Lemon Grove with its big Friendship Hall for less than $500,000. However, shortly after the 1913 church and Friendship Hall were demolished.

The Citizens Advisory Committee was called in again to further work with this plan. Ultimately, it was teams of volunteers in the summer of 1997 who would help restore Atherton Chapel, and in 1999 Atherton Chapel was rehabilitated. It is now known as The Parsonage Museum of Lemon Grove.

The vacant lot across the street was still vacant, but the plan remained to bring the H. Lee House to that lot. In 1998, the home caught fire, which destroyed the casement windows on the first floor, but the home survived.

In early 2000, the house was relocated, courtesy of Hansen Family House Movers of Santee. However, it was not the vacant lot but to a temporary site southeast of Route 125. She would be moved twice more in the construction area. Volunteers would park by the house and protect it from vandals. They would also bring cookies to the Caltrans guards. Negotiations continued between the City, Caltrans and the Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB). Caltrans came through with the money for the lot, roofing, plumbing and electrical, and even repaired the home from the fire and removed a large collection of honey bees.

By mid-2000, the historical society had plans to rehabilitate the home. They presented plans to make the home a “cultural center”, and a “People’s building”, where free and low-cost events could be held. It was moved to its permanent home in 2002. Since then, the interior has been 95% restored, and is home to celebrations, events, anniversaries, dinners and more. The Civic Center Park was constructed between the H Lee home and the Parsonage Museum.

Background on the Parsonage Museum

The Parsonage museum began as First Congregational Church, the city’s first church in 1897. One hundred years later, it was renovated by the Historical Society. The Society received the 2001 Governor’s Historic Preservation Award for the project. The late Victorian building offers two floors of exhibits related to the story of Lemon Grove and surrounding areas. Some of the exhibits include the General Store, Fruit Packing, Parson’s Study, the Great Horse Show at St. John of the Cross, Children’s Room, Parents’ room, Sewing Room.

You will also find vintage photos, artifacts, documents and more.

Perhaps the most recognizable landmark in Lemon Grove is the big lemon. Sitting at the intersection of Broadway and Lemon Grove Avenue, it has the phrase “Best climate on Earth” inscribed on its base. It was originally created as a centerpiece for a float in a parade in 1928, and is possibly the largest lemon sculpture in the world.

Lemon Grove began as a large mass of land bought in 1869 by rancher Robert Allison, considered the first permanent resident. He purchased 4,200 acres and settled in an area then known as La Mesa Springs. The name was later changed to Allison Springs.

By 1892, only 76 people lived in Allison Springs. Most of them made their money in citrus, making oranges and lemons the region’s biggest businesses. By 1920, the town had a school, library, post office, clubhouse and another store. People began planting other fruits and vegetables, and some began raising chickens. By 1925, the population was over 800. There was also a newspaper. Allison Springs continued to grow. By 1930, over 1300 people lived there,growing most of the lemons and tomatoes for the nation. The produce was shipped via railroad. By World War II, though, most of the citrus groves had disappeared and were replaced by housing. By the 50s, there were 216 businesses including grocery stores, restaurants and two theaters.

Sonka was regarded as the grand old man of Lemon Grove. He was heir to Sonka & Son General Merchandise, established in 1907 on the corner of Main and Pacific Streets. He was considered “Lemon Grove’s first citizen”. His accomplishments included:

• Jumpstarted the post agriculture economy by turning Sonka Bros. General Store into an East County shopping area, similar to Walmart today.

• Served as postmaster from 1907 to 1940.

• Founded the Lemon Grove Chamber of Commerce in 1912

• Actually ran a bank in the General Store until the First National Bank opened in 1949.

• Showed compassion to residents by only changing one or two percent interest during hard times, and not demanding payment during the Great Depression and the Mattoon Act.

• Donated funds to build the new grammar school in 1924, buy the first fire truck in 1926, built the big Lemon in 1928, and started Old Time Days in 1948.

• Also bought the first school bus in 1954, and the first school band uniforms in 1960.

• Donated the land for Green Spot Park (now “Skate Spot”), and land for the Community Center on School Lane.

• Donated land for Boy Scout and Girls Scout camping

• Donated space for the early libraries and supported every church in town

• Bought milk cows to town in World War I so local kids could have milk and gave food to the needy during the depression. In fact, the town’s lone doctor wrote to Sonka during the depression, saying “You keep them fed and I’ll keep them alive.”

• Built homes and planted trees around town. His own home, a Craftsman-style bungalow, still exists on Buena Vista Avenue.

• There is a Sonka Archive of the Lemon Grove Historical Society which contains things related to Tony Sonka.

• During the Lemon Grove Sonka Centennial in 2007, a new gravestone was unveiled for him. Look for it!

• The city incorporated in 1977. 

• The name, Lemon Grove, is attributed to Tempa Waterman Allison, wife of Robert Allison.

• A little-known fact is that in 1931, Lemon Grove was the location of the nation’s first successful school desegregation case. According to the Journal of San Diego History, the principal (acting under instructions of the trustees) stood at the door and admitted all students, except Mexican students. The judge ruled that the board must let Mexicans back into the grammar school.

• In 1954, Helix High School had a graduate who was voted “Most Likely to Succeed”. This person was Dennis Hopper, actor, who began his career the next year appearing with James Dean in “Rebel Without a Cause”.

Lemon Grove by the numbers: 

This week, you will be immersed in the small-town world of Lemon Grove. See how many of the things discussed in this handout you can view first hand. Don’t forget to check out the lemon!

H. Lee House. (2018, June). Retrieved from lghistorical.org: http://www.lghistorical.org/h-lee-house/

Huard, C. (2012, July 23). 1963: Honoring Lemon Grove's 'First Citizen'.

Retrieved from patch.com: https://patch.com/california/lemongrove/1963-honoring-lemon-grove-s-first-citizen

Lemon Grove, CA. (2018, January). Retrieved from Livibility.com:

https://livability.com/ca/lemon-grove

Olfield, H. (2012, October 15). Moving the H. Lee House to Its New Home at Civic Center Park—Part I. Retrieved from patch.com: https://patch.com/california/lemongrove/moving-the-h-lee-house-to-its-new-home-at-civic-cente270d6b8a20

Parsonage Museum of Lemon Grove. (2018, September 1). Retrieved from

sandiegoreader.com: https://www.sandiegoreader.com/places/Parsonage-Museum-of-Lemon-Grove/#

Schimitschek, M. (2018, June 22). Lemon Grove: Citrus groves, school history and 'Best Climate on Earth'. Retrieved from sandiegouniontribune.com: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/almanac/east-county/lemon-grove/sd-me-almanac-lemongrove-20170423-story.html

The H. Lee House. (2006, April). Retrieved from sohosandiego.org:

http://www.sohosandiego.org/reflections/2006-4/leehouse.htm

https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ca/lemon-grove/demographics

https://www.city-data.com/city/Lemon-Grove-California.html