Under Construction
FROM 2ND TO 3RD ST. VIA FRANKLIN
(1) Old Indian Village: On this site in the early 1800's the Mission housed
Christian Indians in adobe buildings. When these adobes were abandoned in 1834,
they proved a source of ready-made bricks for the first adobe residence along
3rd and 4th Streets.
(2) Felipe Gardella House (c. 1860): Moved here from Polk Street, Gardella was
a San Juan merchant in the 1850's. private
(3) Jasper Twitchell House (c. 1860): A wheelwright and blacksmith, he developed
the first commercial limestone kiln in San Juan Canyon. c. 1877. private
(4) The Old Brewery (c. 1870): Operated by Jake Beuttler 1870 to 1900; some
of its beer was shipped into the San Joaquin Valley. private
FROM FRANKLIN ST. TO WASHINGTON VIA 3RD:
(5) Juan De Anza Adobe: Spanish style, one of four adobes still standing in
the commercial area, all built after the Mission lands were secularized. Francisco
Bravo, who built it, operated a cantina here during the 1850's.
(6) Bravo also built the next frame building in 1869 as a saloon. Similar in
its Italianate style in Plaza Hall.
(7) Number 109: Dates from the 1860's. Was moved here from 3rd near Polk Street
in 19908. The second-story porch has been removed.
(8) Theophile Vache Adobe: This once two-story adobe on the SE corner of 3rd and
Washington was, in the early 1850
s a store in which the wines from Cienega Vineyards were sold.
(9) Tuccoletta Hall: Across Washington Street, this adobe, altered in the 1850's
first operated as a tavern, then as Adophe Vache's bakery until the 1880's. It then became
the merchandise store of the Lavagnino family for the next 50 years.
FROM 3RD TO 4TH VIA WASHINTON:
(10) Lavagnino House: Built after the 1906 earthquake. So thoroughly scared Mrs.
Lavagnino refused to spend another night in their quarters over the store in Tuccoletta Hall. (Queen Anne Style).
FROM WASHINGTON TO MARIPOSA VIA 4TH:
(11) The fourth of the still standing adobes, this one on the south side of 4th Street, now
houses the locala parlour of the Native Daughters of the Golden West.
FROM 4TH TO 3RD VIA MARIPOSA:
(12) John Anderson House: 1895. The closest thing in San Juan to a true Victorian building.
(13) Present frame buildings on SE cornder of 3rd and Mariposa date from 1897. The 1895
fire destroyed a two-story adobe here.
FROM MARIPOSA TO POLK VIA 3RD:
(14) On the north side of 3rd, this corner building dates from the 1850's. Remodeled many
times in the past 120 years, it was originally an adobe structure.
(15) Next door was an old saloon, The Fly Trap. Date uncertain.
(16) Alexander Bowler Bakery: 1857. Bread for the Plaza Hotel was supplied from ovens here. Front
of store altered in the 1890's.
(17) Several shop fronts dating from the 1860's, much altered.
(18) Number 318: Frame building dates from the 1860's or 1870's. Little is known about it. It
may have been the old Ten Pin Alley, which stood here during the Civil War period.
(19) The Old Bank Building: On the south side of the street, and now behind you. Built a year
after the great 1867 fire destroyed the entire block, it became the location of San Juan's first bank in 1907.
(20) Talx Block: This sandstone was built by Antoine Taix in 1908 (Romanesque Revival). Dona
Guadalupe Vasqquez (mother of the famous bandit, Tiburcio Vasquez) ran a Spanish restaurant on
this site from 1863 to 1867.
(21) Next to it stands the first sandstone in San Juan. Built in 1868, it was first occupied
by a store known as the Pearl of San Juan. Note the iron fire doors.
(22) The Galacoma Building: 1870. This large sandstone building with its second-story porch has served
as a hotel and bar.
(23) Building on the SE corner of 3rd and Polk streets is San Juan's first brick building
(1861); survived the fire of 1867, and was for many years, the house of Abbe Merchantile.
FROM 3RD TO 4TH VIA POLK:
(24) Rozas House: so called because Emelda Lugo Rozas resided here for more than 75 years.
Built by Samit, a Chilean, in 1856. An example of early "post-adobe" or "board-on-end" construcction
without the use of studs in the walls.
FROM POLK TO MUCKELEMI VIA 4TH:
(25) Safety Award presented to Ideal Cement, the company which operated a plant and quarry
in San Juan Canyon off and on from 1915 to 1973.
(26) Native Daughter's Plaque commemorating the first raising of the American Flag in this area.
FROM 4TH TO 3RD VIA MUCKELEMI:
(27) Honeymoon Cottage: First occupied in 1890 by newlyweds Ed Pearce, Sr., and his bride. private
(28) Kemp House: 1860. Early attempt at Greek Revival architecture. Rooms were added
at random over a 50-year period. (private)
FROM MUCKELEMI TO POLK VIA 3RD:
(29) Glad Tidings Church: Formerly First Baptist Church, 1863. This example of Greek
Revivial was moved here from the cemetery in 1886. Front porch was enclosed in 1888.
(30) Joe Zbrankik Blacksmith Shop: Turn of the century.
(31) Bluebird Hotel: 1894. Built by the Bowie brothers.
(32) Odd Fellows Hall: was the old schoolhouse (1868). Moved here from 1st Street site in 1907.
FROM 3RD TO 2ND VIA POLK:
(33) The Crane House: c. 1835. Shows obvious Cape Code influence. (private)
(34) St. John's Institute: An orphanage built in 1864. Razed after being severely damaged in the
earthquake of 1890. The name represents one of the few times that "San Juan" was translated into English.
FROM POLK WESTWARD A LONG 2ND:
(35) The Masonic Hall: 1868. Built by the members for the princely sum of $5,000. Cupola
reminiscent of colonial days.
(36) The Jim Jack Cabin. Moved here temporarily from its site in the San Juan Valley.
Plaque gives history. Simple "board-on-end" construction.
(37) The Lovett House. 1852. Early frame house. Lovett House was once owned by San Francisco to
Los Anageles stage line. (private)
(38) The Cole House. 1856. Early frame house. San Juan homes were never pretentious, rather tending toward cottages than
great houses. (private)
(39) The empty block at 2nd and Monterey, given to the City by the late Francesca Luck,
will be developed as a cultural center.
(40) If one continues south on Monterey, one will come to the two-story, gable Pedro
Maraentis House, 1874. (private)
(41) Monterey Street leads to the old cemetery.
This map & and the guide are available (free) from the San Juan Bautista Chamber of Commerce.
Back to San Juan Bautista Home Directory
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