Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Tour adobe homes from 'Mission to Modern' in Pauma Valley

PAUMA VALLEY – The Eighth Annual Adobe Home Tour includes an adobe mission, an adobe church, a classic rancho-style adobe and four modern-design adobe homes, hence the theme – Mission to Modern. The tour will take place March 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cost of tickets is $27. To order, visit http://adobehometour.com, or the Escondido History Center, 321 N Broadway, Escondido, 92025, http://escondidohistory.com. Ticket holders will pick up their program at St. Francis Episcopal Church. The tour program lists the addresses and directions to the Pauma Valley homes and the Pala Mission.

Proceeds from the tour benefit the Escondido History Center, St. Francis Episcopal Church and Pala Mission. The legacy of the Pauma Valley area is interwoven with the history of Spanish Missions, Native American tribes, Hollywood celebrities and wealthy executives.

For centuries Pauma Valley has been home to the Pauma Band of Luiseño Mission Indians and the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians. Pauma is an Indian word meaning "I bring water" or "a place where there is water."

It was the abundance of water and fertile valley that attracted an exploration party from the San Diego Mission, led by Father Juan Mariner to the area in 1795. They were the first group of white men to come to Pauma Valley.

In 1816, the Pala Mission was established as one of the asistencia" (extension or sub-mission) missions to Mission San Luis Rey de Francia built in 1798 closer to the coast. The site was chosen because it was a natural congregating place for the large Native population.

Between 1955 and 1959, the Pala Mission was restored by Father Janarius Carillo with the help of Larry Weir, well-known builder of adobe homes and a band of Luiseño and Cupeño Indians. The mission is one of the few missions that continues to hold regular Sunday services and is available for viewing after 1 p.m. as part of the Adobe Home Tour.

The Lazy H Ranch of Pauma Valley, started in 1920, was originally a working ranch. In 1950 it became a private resort known as the Lazy H Sky Ranch and attracted local celebrities to the area. It was operated by Thomas Colby who owned an adobe home next door designed by Larry Weir and built by Weir Bros. Adobe Construction Co. The home, which features a swimming pool in the living room will be one of the homes on the 2019 Adobe Home Tour.

In the late 1960s, the Utah Mining Company chose the beautiful Pauma Valley with its mountain views as a site to develop several hundred homes, a country club, golf course and a private landing strip. The developers encouraged the use of adobe bricks and natural building materials for residential construction and the Country Club.

Of the several hundred homes within the Pauma Valley Country Club Estates, about 80 are adobes, many designed by Don Brandenburger incorporating a unique Modern design. The houses feature cathedral ceilings, open-beam construction and soaring windows to take in the incredible views. The residential enclave attracted celebrities and wealthy executives from all over the U.S. looking for a secluded and serene location for vacation homes.

While three of the homes inside the gates of the Pauma Valley Country Club on the tour feature the Modern design, one of the homes is a classic rancho-design adobe that wraps around an open courtyard complete with a fountain. The home was built by Jack Weir in 1970 and all the fixtures and cabinetry are original.

Recognizing the Native American heritage of Pauma Valley, many of the streets have Indian names: cahuka, meaning Indian spirit, katkat, meaning duck, moyla meaning moon and womsi meaning snowbird, among others.

Just outside the private gates of the Pauma Valley Country Club Estates is St. Francis Episcopal Church, built of adobe in 1975 and open during tour hours. Ray Person, real estate agent for the Utah Mining Company worked with architect Richard Lamsden of Fallbrook and builder John Halper of Escondido. Halper learned adobe construction from working with Jack Weir. The church features stained glass windows based on the poem, "Canticle of Brother Sun" written by St. Francis Assisi.

The Eighth Annual Adobe Home Tour is a project of the San Diego Adobe Heritage Association, whose mission is to inspire the appreciation and understanding of adobe heritage.

For more information, visit http://adobehometour.com.

Submitted by the San Diego Adobe Heritage Association.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 
Rendered 03/27/2024 22:59