SAN CLEMENTE : Plans Put on Hold for Casa Romantica

Historical Society president Charles Ashbaugh is eager to begin unpacking the dozens of battered cardboard boxes that are filled with historic pictures, documents and other precious memorabilia stored in rooms at Casa Romantica, the palatial residence built by Ole Hansen, a former Seattle mayor who founded San Clemente 66 years ago.

Ashbaugh and other members of the society, which successfully campaigned to have the mansion listed on the National Register of Historic Places last month, say the 20-room residence is an ideal place for a museum depicting the city’s rich and colorful history. The mansion was purchased by the city for $2.5 million two years ago.

“We’re still waiting to move in,” Ashbaugh said. “We have our stuff in storage on the property right now and all we have to do is move it into the rooms.”

Despite the society’s enthusiasm and the fact that the mansion’s historical designation may lead to federal grants and loans, city officials say there is no guarantee that Casa Romantica will become a museum.

“It has not been determined that it’s going to be a museum,” said Michael L. Sorg, assistant city manager. “Since we don’t know at this time exactly how the structure is going to be used, we are a little reluctant to say to the Historical Society, ‘Go ahead and move in,’ then have to say later, ‘Pull out.’ ”

Sorg said the city’s budget woes, which include a projected $2.5-million deficit next year, complicate the future of Casa Romantica, which is leased from the city by Maureen Gates for $10,000 a month and rented out for weddings and other events. Gates has agreed to let the society store its treasures in a vacant section of the building.

“Casa Romantica actually has a pretty high priority with the council,” Sorg said. “They want us to get something started down there, but they would like to increase the economic return to the city.”

Sorg said that the city doesn’t object to the museum idea, but he added that it would be more practical financially if the museum could be set up as part of a restaurant or bed and breakfast inn.

Among the artifacts that would eventually be displayed there are bronze busts of Richard and Pat Nixon, which were removed from public view inside City Hall during the height of the Watergate scandal.

There would also be an extensive exhibit depicting Hanson’s past, including his oversize oak desk and original aerial photographs that he used to plan the layout of San Clemente, California’s first planned community.