The Journal of San Diego History
SAN DIEGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY QUARTERLY
Fall 1996, Volume 42, Number 4
Richard W. Crawford, Editor

Back to the article: Radio and Real Estate: The U.S. Navy’s First Land Purchase in San Diego

Naval Radio Transmitting Facility

The Naval Radio Transmitting Facility, Chollas Heights, as it appeared upon completion, 1917. “This is a high-powered radio station and contains three 600-foot steel towers, with necessary powerhouse, office building, shop, water tank, main barracks, four quarters for operators and quarters for the officer in charge.” .. Rear Admiral Roger Welles, first Commandant of Naval Operating Base, San Diego, 1920.

Local business leaders

San Diego Still-Life 1915: local business leaders meet with Congressmen William Kettner and William Humphreys. From left to right, D. C. Collier, former president, San Diego Chamber of Commerce, and president, Panama-California Exposition; Fred J. Lea, president San Diego Chamber of Commerce, 1913; Representative William Kettner, perennial Chamber director; Representative William Humphreys; S. Clifford Payson; John Forward, Jr., Chairman, Union Trust and Union Title Companies, park commissioner, president San Diego Chamber of Commerce, and Mayor (1932-34); Charles Forward, prominent attorney.

Dignitaries at the Panama-California Exposition

Chamber of Commerce Secretary William Tomkins (far right) at the Panama-California Exposition, Balboa Park, 1915. Other visiting dignataries included (left to right) Frank B. Davison, Walter H. Nagle, S. Glen Andrus, and Joseph E. Caine.

Letter to Franklin Roosevelt from Ed Fletcher

Ed Fletcher restates his offer to Franklin Roosevelt.

Chamber of Commerce letter to Franklin Roosevelt

The Chamber of Commerce looks after its own.

Naval Radio Transmitting Facility

Naval Radio Transmitting Facility and vicinity, photographed from an airplane, 1930.