Section 3.3.3

George Marston

George White Marston (1850-1946) was a wealthy entrepreneur and an influential local philanthropist. He built the Junípero Serra Museum on Presidio Hill, founded the San Diego History Center and gave his time, energy and money to countless other causes. Mr. Marston owned an upscale department store downtown called the Marston Company. He was married to Anna Lee Gunn Marston (1853-1940) and they had five children. Their home on Seventh Avenue in Hillcrest is now a museum run by the San Diego History Center.

Kate Sessions

Kate Olivia Sessions (1857-1940) is called the “Mother of Balboa Park”. A horticulturist, she introduced tropical plants that transformed the desert-like landscape into the lush park we know today. She had several nurseries in San Diego. She was a good friend of George Marston’s and landscaped his home.

Ah Quin

Ah Quin (1848-1914) was a Chinese immigrant who learned English and became an ambassador for fellow immigrants. As a labor broker, he helped Chinese men find work on the railroads. He was a successful merchant and a community leader who became known as the unofficial “Mayor of Chinatown.” He and his wife raised twelve children. They were forced by the rules of the day to live in Chinatown, next to the rough Stingaree district.

Alonzo Horton

Alonzo Erastus Horton (1813-1909) has been called “The Father of San Diego”. When he arrived here, San Diego was a small frontier town in the area we call “Old Town” today. He bought many acres of land to the south, divided it into lots and sold them to developers. “New Town San Diego” sprang up, as waves of people moved here to start businesses and live in a mild, healthful climate. Mr. Horton owned an extravagant hotel, Horton House, with a public plaza out front. “New Town” was located where Downtown San Diego is today.

Irving J. Gill

Irving John Gill (1870-1936) was a prominent architect who believed superior craftsmanship was not exclusively the domain of the wealthy. Though he designed homes for affluent clients such as George Marston and Ellen Browning Scripps, he also worked to create high quality affordable housing. His designs shaped the look and feel of San Diego. Many still stand, including his electric fountain in Horton Park.

Jesse Shepard

Jesse Shepard (1848-1927) was a musician, author and the original owner of the Villa Montezuma, an ornate Victorian house on 20th and K Streets. The house is now a museum operated by the San Diego Historical Society.

John D. Spreckles

John D. Spreckles (1853-1926) was the wealthiest man in San Diego during his time. He made a fortune investing in real estate, newspapers, transportation, and water systems, which helped turn San Diego into a modern city. He also invested in San Diego’s cultural life, by building the Spreckles Theater, the Spreckles Organ Pavilion and giving money to fund the Panama-California Exposition in 1915.

For more information about the HELP Program, please contact the San Diego History Center’s Education Department at: education@sandiegohistory.org