Hopefully this video will give more people an opportunity to appreciate the work of Irving Gill, Frank Mead (the architects who got it built) and Wheeler J. Bailey, the original owner who was instrumental in getting other buildings built in this era – namely at the Bishop’s School, where the library is named after him.
Here is Part One of the video tour:
I wonder where they got all the redwood from? Place is worth a fortune just in wood. Guess they dont have to worry about termites.
Wheeler Bailey ran a building materials company in early San Diego, supplying materials for many of San Diego’s buildings as well as the San Diego Exposition and Hotel Del.
Smart family by not selling the house.
avejoe, before the 1920’s there was nothing much being done to preserve redwood trees. Starting in the 1850’s, there was a “gold rush” for redwood, and most california old growth forests were eliminated. It was a favorite wood for builders because of it’s inherent fire resistance–an important quality back then as cities were being built. 90% of old growth forests were gone by the time significant restrictions were in place.
So in 1907, in california, you could easily procure all the redwood you wanted, for anything you wanted to build.
This is a really cool video. Wow is all I can say.
And thank you to to the family for showing us around.