|
*Borrowed from "The Whaley House" Website*
The history of the Whaley House reads like the history of San Diego - in a concentrated manner. From the 1850's the house has served as a residence, theater, a place for formal balls, as a courthouse and where there was a fight for a county seat. In 1857 when Thomas Whaley built the house, the cost was $10,000.
To understand the history we have to start from the person the house was given its namesake - Thomas Whaley.
Born October 5, 1823, in New York City, Thomas was born the seventh child out of ten to Rachel Pye and Thomas Alexander Whaley, Sr.
At a young age, Rachel Pye saw her son showed an unusual ability for business. She decided to give him the best education as possible in order for him to take management of the family business. Thomas Whaley Sr. died an untimely death and responsibility had fallen on Rachel and her children. Thomas went to a boarding school and also studied in Europe. He came back and took care of family business.
In December 1848, Thomas Whaley made a huge decision in his life. With the discovery of gold in California, he was offered the chance to expand an office in San Francisco for the firm he worked for. Being young and adventuresome he eagerly accepted and was off to California.
While aboard the Sutton, he expressed his love for a young lady, Anna Eloise De Launay to his mother in a letter. His letter told of how he would settle in California to build a life for himself and his future wife - and then would send for Anna.
The voyage of the ship took a tiresome 204 days from New York to San Francisco; Thomas Whaley finally arrived on July 22nd.
Working hard, Thomas made good on the opportunity in California. He took a partner in business, William Warner and bought land at Rincon Point on the bay. Thomas built a two story-house for Anna. He was ready to send for her.
When all appeared well on May 3rd, a fire hit San Francisco. All that he had built and the home for Anna were destroyed. Compounded with his tragedy - Anne's mother refused to send her out to California.
Thomas decided to wash his hands of San Francisco and try his luck in San Diego.
He arrived in San Diego on October 4th. He came to settle in a small area containing 250 inhabitants, a few stores and a family friend known as Old Town.
His thoughts were of Anna as he rebuilt his life in Old Town. He opened a store and began to study Spanish in order to do business with the Native Americans.
In 1852 his store, the Tienda General, did quite well and Thomas was again in a position to go and claim Anna's hand in marriage.
On August 14, 1853 in the Church of Ascension in New Your City, Thomas and Anna became man and wife. They returned back to San Diego to start their life together.
Life was happy for the two. A little more than a year later, they welcomed their first child, Francis Hinton, named after Whaley's partner.
With the additions to their family, Thomas decided to start building a house on September of 1856. The two-story brick house was completed in May of 1858.
Tragedy struck the family when their first son died. However, the pain of the loss was somewhat tempered by the birth of their daughter, Anna Amelia Whaley.
However, things got worse for the Whaleys', when the store caught fire and burnt down to the ground.
With this, Thomas and Anna needed to get away from Old Town and San Diego. They went to San Francisco and stayed with friends.
While they were away, another child was born - Corinne Lillian Whaley. Eventually they decided to return to San Diego. They came back to a broken down house. While they were gone, an earthquake had struck the house, leaving behind a damaged house, left in shambles.
Thomas began repair his house and also changing it to accommodate his children. The new look of the house was much more warm and comfortable than before. The family often threw social events such as balls and rest assured, all of Old Town would be sure to attend.
The Whaley House became an epicenter for Old Town. It served as a courtroom from 1863-70 with the county records kept upstairs. Rooms in the house also served as a location for political meetings, a billiard room, dairy, kindergarten, Sunday school, store and a residence.
On November 1, 1868 Thomas leased the second floor of his house to Thomas Tanner. They used the second floor of the house to do theatrical productions. During this time, Thomas Whaley took an ad out to sell his house.
On August 12, 1863 the county leased the building the building for a courtroom for two years. This also gave them three rooms upstairs to store county records. During this time there was a battle between Old Town (Democratic) and New Town (Republican). There was a push to carry the county records to New Town with local elections held and the Republicans wins; the push for New Town came to a climax. The battle raged in courts but with the death of democrat, George Penaleton, the door was open for Alonzo Horton and New Town to strike.
While Thomas Whaley was out of town, the Republican control was in motion. On March 31st, a "gang" went over and loaded the county records in wagons and stored them to the 2nd- floor of the Wells Fargo building. The transfer of power was quietly passed from Old Town to New Town in 1871.
An upset Thomas Whaley was then told the county would not pay him to store the records in his house even though the lease had not expired. They kept to their word and never paid him.
Thomas Whaley had to resort to opening a store in New Town. The power had been shifted to that part of San Diego now. He retired in 1888, served as City Clerk and Notary Public for the county for several years.
Thomas Whaley passed away at the age of 66 on December 14, 1890.
Corinne Lillian Whaley continued to live in the house until she passed away in 1953.
With no one to care for the house, it was on the brink of being destroyed. However, admirers borrowed money in the 11th hour to preserve it. During this time, the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Diego agreed to purchase and restore the home of Thomas Whaley. The house is currently being maintained by the Historical Shrine Foundation.
| 