Santa Ysabel General Store is on its way to becoming San Diego's Backcountry Interpretive Center
In December 2011, Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) purchased the dilapidated historic 1884 building. On January 7, 2012, they organized a BIG CLEAN event. Here is SOHO's report of the day's activities:
Volunteers came from all over the county: San Diego, El Cajon, Idyllwild, Warner's, Julian, Borrego, and Ramona. Everyone came ready to work with gloves and shovels, power tools, mowers, ladders, shop vacs, and some brought their trucks. A special thanks to Jim and all of the Julian Historical Society and Julian Pioneer Society men Dick Hobson, Jim Baker, David Lewis, Brian Steutel, and Ed Huffman who, among handling other hardy tasks, hauled a giant load to the dump and removed additions that had been tacked onto the building. Some parts of what was removed were reused to repair the gates that had fallen apart and been tossed aside in the yard, and are now attached again and working.
Hundreds of nails and other items tacked into the building's interior and exterior were removed, the cellar and attic vacuumed and cleaned out, and stairways that had been boarded up are now in use. A major yard clean up with mowing, pruning, removing of cement blocks and other debris that had accumulated in the yard was supervised by Volcan Mountain's Kathleen Beck and manned by many.
Lots of husband and wife teams were present: Laurel and Ron Granquist, Janet O'Dea and Allen Hazard, Carolyn and Gordon Hoard, Linda and Richard Lawley, Sandé and Jeff Lollis, Don and Pat Taylor, and Elizabeth and John Weems. The father and son team of Welton Jones, Jr., and Welton VI made a dynamic duo, as did Ken and Brenda Baxter whose grandparents couldn't make it but sent the teenagers instead who were awesome workers, all these young people making their families proud! Thanks to Janet and Cindy who tackled the bathroom and kitchen duties! Many more volunteers included David, Susan Carter, Barbara DeGraw, Katherine Fletcher, Connie Newguard, Sheanna, Cindy Magill, Dan Soderberg, Sara, Rosemary Gossman, Julie Iavelli, Annie, Victor Scavarda, Phil and Chris Scenna, Jokie Tolentino and Dean Glass. Windows were washed and floors degreased and mopped, all told 3,000 square feet of floors and walls were cleaned! In just five hours you returned the store to its much more authentic condition and readied it for the next stages of painting and restoration details, and that much closer to opening!
Lunch was co-sponsored by Wynola Pizza Express and we thank them and hope everyone enjoyed it. Organizations pitching in were Volcan Mountain Foundation, San Diego River Park Foundation, San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, Warner Springs Historical Society, Julian Historical Society, and Julian Pioneer Society. Thanks to one and all. Apologies to anyone missed and last names not used, with so many people showing up the sign-in portion got a little lost in the shuffle but please know that we are grateful to each and every one of you!
Here are a few photos from the day:
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