The grand, extravagant Sheldon House in East Village.

The Sheldon House is a very cool sight at the corner of 13th and Island in San Diego's East Village.
The Sheldon House is a very cool sight at the corner of 13th and Island in San Diego’s East Village.

Like most cities, San Diego has its share of cool old houses. Here’s an example of one that’s located in downtown’s East Village neighborhood.

Standing at the corner of 13th Street and Island, the 1886 Sheldon House was designed by the famous architects Comstock and Trotsche, and is an amazing example of the flamboyant Queen Anne style. The grand, extravagant Victorian mansion was built for Dr. F. C. Sheldon and his family, and included a multiple-gabled roof, a large, elegant front porch, and stained glass features in every window. Unfortunately, the doctor died soon after the mansion’s construction. To support the large surviving family, his wife converted the home into a successful boarding house.

Lots of decorative details include an elaborate porch and stained glass crowning every window.
Lots of decorative details include an elaborate porch and stained glass crowning every window.
View of the sunlit Sheldon House from the east. A skeleton stands in one window!
View of the sunlit Sheldon House from the east. A skeleton stands in one window!
The 19th century Victorian mansion seen from the north, with modern residential buildings behind.
The 19th century Victorian mansion seen from the north, with modern residential buildings behind.

UPDATE!

Years later, I noticed this old photograph projected on a wall at the San Diego History Center. It is of the Sheldon Residence being moved by the Palmer Brother House Movers from 11th and D Streets to Island Street in 1913…

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Richard Schulte

Downtown San Diego has been my home for many years. My online activities reflect my love for writing, blogging, walking and photography.

12 thoughts on “The grand, extravagant Sheldon House in East Village.”

    1. Throughout the 19th century, San Diego remained very small, so there are relatively few cool Victorian houses. Not much gold found around here! (One of these days I’ll check out that gold mine in Julian…)

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      1. My family owned it up until about 2010 I believe. My grandfather, Richard Martinez, grew up in that house. I believe lawyers purchased it and brought it back to full life. There was an ABC Movie filmed there, The Boy Nobody Wanted if I recall. They paid our family money to dreary it down some and make it look like a drab asylum. They paid for this by renovating it some. My dad and others worked on it after that. I remember him working on the porch woodwork. My grandfather was in possession of the clock that currently sits over the mantle on the main level. When he came across it, he took it down to the new owners (the lawyers) who offered him money. He declined and said he only wanted it to stay with the house where it belongs and he remembers it. Thank you for sharing these pictures! I do recall one time in the early 2000’s, in the outpatient facility of Paradise Valley Hospital, there was a pencil or watercolor art piece of this building simply titles, “13th and Island.” I’d hoped to find that and purchase it but never did. Cheers San Diego History Friends!

        Christine Ratz (nee Rodriquez)

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