Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) is a

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

devoted to the preservation of the historic architecture and landmarks around the

San Diego, California San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United Stat ...

area. Founded in 1969, Save Our Heritage Organisation maintains several historic buildings including the Whaley House and the George W. Marston House. They are directly partnered with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The organization's mission statement is: "Through education, advocacy, and stewardship SOHO's mission is to preserve, promote and support preservation of the architectural, cultural and historical links and landmarks that contribute to the community identity, depth and character of our region."

History

The organization was founded in 1969 in

by Robert Miles Parker. He and thirty-five other members the organization wrote its constitution in April of the founding year. The constitution states that, "The general purpose for which this corporation is formed is to purchase, own, move, improve, maintain, repair, display, lease and/or operate, as

museums A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance. Many public museums make these ...

or otherwise, various homes, stores, buildings, and other structures exemplifying different types of architectural styles found in the

San Diego San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United State ...

area for the education and benefit of the public." The first project the organization undertook was the restoration and relocation of the Sherman-Gilbert house, a Stick-Eastlake Victorian that was set to be demolished. The house was eventually relocated to the

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, located in the Old Town neighborhood of San Diego, California, is a state protected historical park in San Diego. It commemorates the early days of the City of San Diego and includes many historic buildings ...

area. In 1970, Save Our Heritage Organisation's Preservation Council was created. This council was instated to notify the organisation of any demolitions or sales of historic buildings going on in the

area. Around the same time, Save Our Heritage Organisation worked with the Historical Site Board, the A.I.A (American Institution of Architects) and the San Diego Historical Society to purchase and restore the Villa Montezuma. In 2009, Save Our Heritage Organisation celebrated its 40th anniversary. This milestone was marked by an award winning hour-long documentary titled ''Four Decades of Historic Preservation in San Diego County,'' by San Diego film maker and photographer Dan Soderberg. The film received a California Governor's Award for Historic Preservation. Also in 2009, they added the Marston House, a 1905 Arts & Crafts movement home, to their list of museums.

Projects

*The Sherman-Gilbert House, a Stick-Eastlake

Victorian house In Great Britain and former British colonies, a Victorian house generally means any house built during the reign of Queen Victoria. During the Industrial Revolution, successive housing booms resulted in the building of many millions of Victorian ...

saved from demolition and relocated to Heritage Park in

Old Town San Diego Old Town is a neighborhood of San Diego, California. It contains and is bounded by Interstate 8 in California, Interstate 8 on the north, Interstate 5 in California, Interstate 5 on the west, Mission Hills, San Diego, Mission Hills on the east ...

* Santa Fe Depot, a historic train depot saved from demolition *The Harfield Timberland Christian House, a Queen Anne Victorian house relocated to Heritage Park in

*San Diego Rowing Club building, restored * Villa Montezuma, restored *The Burton House, a

Classic Revival Neoclassicism (also spelled Neo-classicism) was a Western cultural movement in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that drew inspiration from the art and culture of classical antiquity. Neoclassicism was ...

Victorian house relocated to Heritage Park in

*The Bushyhead House, an

Italianate The Italianate style was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. Like Palladianism and Neoclassicism, the Italianate style drew its inspiration from the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian ...

Victorian house relocated to Heritage Park in

*Granger Music Hall, restored * Horton Plaza, restored *Senlis Cottage, a 19th-century

vernacular A vernacular or vernacular language is in contrast with a "standard language". It refers to the language or dialect that is spoken by people that are inhabiting a particular country or region. The vernacular is typically the native language, n ...

Victorian house relocated to Heritage Park in

*Cliff House, helped by Save Our Heritage Organisation's Preservation Easement Program** *The Sherman-Judson residence, helped by Save Our Heritage Organisation's Preservation Easement Program** *The Wisteria Cottage, once John Cole's Bookstore, helped by Save Our Heritage Organisation's Preservation Easement Program** *The Senator Hotel, helped by Save Our Heritage Organisation's Preservation Easement Program** *The Callan Hotel, helped by Save Our Heritage Organisation's Preservation Easement Program** *The Brunswig Drug Company, helped by Save Our Heritage Organisation's Preservation Easement Program** *The Mission Brewery, helped by Save Our Heritage Organisation's Preservation Easement Program** *Greg Rogers House, a house in Chula Vista, California saved from demolition and restored *Percival Thompson House, restored *Green Dragon Colony, restored *Julia Liffreing House, restored *The Balboa Theatre, restored *Egyptian Revival Buildings, helped receive historic designation *Temple Beth Israel, saved from demolition, currently located in Heritage Park *Warner Ranch, saved from deterioration *San Diego Veterans war Building, saved * Canfield-Wright House, saved from demolition *Western Metal Supply Building, a building in Downtown San Diego saved by Save Our Heritage Organisation *Simon Levi Building, a building in Downtown San Diego saved by Save Our Heritage Organisation *Levi Wholesale Grocery Co., saved *Showley Bros Candy Company, a building in Downtown San Diego saved by Save Our Heritage Organisation *Schiefer & Sons Aeroplane Co., a building in Downtown San Diego saved by Save Our Heritage Organisation *Station A, a

powerhouse saved by Save Our Heritage Organisation *Carnation Building, a building in Downtown San Diego saved by Save Our Heritage Organisation *Rosario Hall, a building in Downtown San Diego saved and relocated *Kidd & Krone Auto Parts Building, a building in Downtown San Diego saved by Save Our Heritage Organisation *TR Produce Building, a building in Downtown San Diego saved by Save Our Heritage Organisation *Art Deco Fire Station Building, a building in Downtown San Diego saved by Save Our Heritage Organisation *Bledsoe Company Furniture Warehouse, a building in Downtown San Diego saved by Save Our Heritage Organisation *Western Wholesale Drug Company Warehouse, a building in Downtown San Diego saved by Save Our Heritage Organisation **The Preservation Easement Program provides protection for historical sites façade

Museums and other buildings

Save Our Heritage Organisation maintains multiple museums and historic buildings including: *The Adobe Chapel, a

chapel A chapel is a Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. Firstly, smaller spaces inside a church that have their own altar are often called chapels; the Lady chapel is a common ty ...

that served the first congregation in the state *The George and Anna Marston House Museum and Carriage House, an Arts & Crafts movement building built in 1905 *The Warner-Carrillo Ranch House, California's first regular overland stage connection with St. Louis built in 1857. *The Santa Ysabel Store, an iconic landmark dating from 1884.

Other activities

The group, for purposes of public education, has frequently created or sponsored historic home tours, lectures, and workshops. SOHO operates gift/book stores in two locations. The organization assembles an annual Most Endangered List, a local take on the National Trust's Eleven Most Endangered List. The group publishes a quarterly magazine and has recently started a book publishing wing "Our Heritage Press". SOHO regularly acts as an adviser to smaller neighborhood advocacy groups.

References

External links

Save Our Heritage Organisation Website

* ttp://www.sandiegohistory.org/links/oldtown.htm#silvas San Diego Historical Society: Old Town San Diego State Historic Park- full list of sites and museums {{authority control History of San Diego Non-profit organizations based in San Diego Conservation and restoration organizations Historical societies of the United States Organizations established in 1969 1969 establishments in California