A Victorian Charmer in San Diego
When Jesse Shepard built his Victorian manor in 1887, it was considered the showplace of San Diego.
Shepard had arrived during a land boom triggered by the city’s linkage to a transcontinental railroad. An accomplished musician and something of a literary figure (he used the pen name Francis Grierson), he charmed local society. From his home, which commanded a panoramic view of San Diego Bay, Shepard could look south toward Baja California. In fact, his interest in Mexican history is believed to be the reason he named his palatial residence the Villa Montezuma.
In 1970, the house was purchased by the San Diego Historical Society, and with the help of the city of San Diego, the Assistance League of San Diego County and other civic-minded groups, restoration proceedings began.
House Well Preserved
Fortunately, the house was well preserved despite having been occupied by 12 owners after its sale by Shepard in 1889.
The stained-glass windows designed in San Francisco reflected the owner’s interest in art, music and literature. The glass contains portraits of Beethoven, Mozart, Rubens and Raphael. One large glass window depicts the Greek poet Sappho attended by two cupids. There also are portraits of Shakespeare and Goethe.
Architecturally, the house is an example of the late-19th-Century style known as Queen Anne. Introduced at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, where British architects displayed a number of buildings that were already favorites in England, the style became popular in the United States.
The corner towers, gables, turrets and porches were prominent features of this type of architecture. While Queen Anne cottages could be built for relatively modest costs, the more affluent opted for more ornate and elaborate construction. Such values are reflected in the Villa Montezuma.
Rooms Named by Color
It is the interior that is the most fascinating. The rooms were named by color, with the decor a matching shade, from fabrics to candles. There is a pink room, red, blue, gold, and finally a music room that occupies the entire east side of the house. Here, Shepard entertained his visitors by giving classical concerts on the piano. After a visit to France, Shepard sold the home. Later, plagued by financial problems, he settled in Los Angeles, where he died at 79.
An article in the San Diego Sun, dated Dec. 17, 1889, described the Villa Montezuma as the most ornately finished and artistically furnished house in the city.
Today, restored to its original grandeur, it continues to charm visitors. Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 1-4:30 p.m. Admission: $2; children 12 and younger, free. Information: (619) 239-2211.
Directions: From Los Angeles, follow Interstate 5 through downtown San Diego to the Imperial Avenue exit. Left on Imperial to 20th Street. Left on 20th to K Street. The museum is on the corner at 1925 K St.
