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About Solana Beach...
When settled in 1886 by Charles
Jones and his family, the region was known as Lockwood Mesa. Another settler,
Edmund Stevens, came from South Dakota to retire in the area in 1892.
The mesa was comprised of approximately
200 acres of rich soil drenched with year round sunny, warm climate ideal
for growing grains and lima beans. At the turn of the 20th Century, Solana
Beach appeared as houses and farms overlooking the blue Pacific.
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Photo © D. Stock
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Nearly 75% of the Lockwood Mesa
was sold in 1922 to Colonel Ed Fletcher. With backing from the Santa Fe
Railroad, he purchased approximately 140 acres of the mesa from settler
George Jones. The Stevens heirs began selling their property for development
ten years later in 1932.
Bluff views were nice but access
to the beach below was difficult. Ed Fletcher realized the beach
could become a drawing card to help sell his plan of a residential community.
The concept had worked in so many other cities along the California coast.
With some clever engineering, a gap in the bluffs was cut out by using
a combination of hydraulic washing and steam shovels. A new site
for community festivals was created along with permanent access for beach
lovers who previously could only gaze down on the water.
Photo © D. Stock
Solana Beach grew at a gradual
and steady pace with Justice Court created in 1930 and a community lifeguard
service at the beach formed in 1941. The
two photos above show the downward slope of the path cut and paved for
beach access. Public parking is to the left and to the right along the
stone wall stands a plaque which says:
THIS PLAZA, PARK AND MILE OF OCEAN SHORE DONATED TO THE
PUBLIC BY ED FLETCHER, THE DEVELOPER OF SOLANA BEACH ERECTED
BY ADMIRING FRIENDS
Solana Beach Civic and Historical Society
Museum--(858) 755-2937 Home--(858) 755-6213
Website / E-mail : bobgott@nethere.com
Person to Contact: Nancy L Gottfredson, Curator, Heritage
Museum
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 504
Solana Beach 92075
Site Address:
715 valley Avenue
Solana Beach 92075
Number of Members: 99
Purpose: to promote charitable giving for the artistic and cultural
advancement of the community, and to contribute to the
education of the public through support of the Historical Society
and other appropriate activities.
Activities: numerous civic beautification and civic improvement
projects; restoration and preservation of historic Stevens Ranch
House; operation of Stevens Ranch House as Solana Beach
Heritage Museum since 1994.
Publications: newsletter issued ten times per year
Resources: Stevens Ranch House, built in the 1890s, is the
oldest home in Solana Beach. Collections include period
furniture, photo collection, stories of early residents, scrapbooks,
and books on the history of the area.
Open to Public: Fridays 12-3, and by appointment
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