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Restoring the George and Anna Marston House
September/October 2024
The Marston House Museum & Gardens is undergoing a significant restoration thanks to a $1 million grant from the State of California, and administered by the City of San Diego. Over 50 years have passed since the historic home was gifted to the city, and more than 35 years since its last partial restoration. While the trees and plantings have thrived, the house and garden masonry, wood, and painted surfaces have suffered from weathering, neglect, and vandalism. This restoration is bringing the beloved structure back to its former glory, addressing the deterioration of the exterior and preserving its structural integrity.
The project's scope has been identified and coordinated under the knowledgeable direction of SOHO's executive director Bruce Coons, and his efforts, combined with the expertise of Spectra Company contractors, enable us to direct 100% of the grant funds for the physical restoration. To maximize the grant's impact, SOHO is absorbing all costs of overseeing, coordinating, and directing the project.
 The Marston House with scaffolding and netting in place. Photo by Sandé Lollis |
Working with the reliable and quality-driven Spectra company guarantees that these repairs and restoration work are done properly. Their skilled on-site crews and effective project managers have demonstrated the expertise and work ethic that has made Spectra one of the foremost restoration companies in the Western U.S., ensuring the entire project adheres to best practices and runs smoothly.
Assemblyman Chris Ward is responsible for securing these funds for the Marston House. Support also comes from District 3 Councilmember Stephen Whitburn and Mayor Todd Gloria, with particular thanks to senior advisor Steven Hill. Thanks to their efforts, this complex project—one for the history books—has become a reality.
"We have patiently awaited as the project moved through the state and local funding process, and now we are eager for the public to visit and see the restored house and gardens. This crucial funding, for which we are grateful, ensures that this significant architectural reminder of the region's rich history is preserved for future generations," Coons said.
In addition to the brickwork, the project involves restoring the garden walls, and character-defining elements like the garden gate and carriage house's pocket sliding doors. This extensive undertaking also includes painting, restoring, or repairing the wood trim, which includes the gables, balconies, and sleeping porch, as well as 65 windows and 19 doors of the 8,500-square-foot, four-story home. All of this work is essential to returning the site to its original splendor.
However, additional funds—approximately $250,000—are still needed to complete the remaining work, including the restoration of the early 20th-century canyon garden.
Restoration of our historic places is an ongoing process, a responsibility passed from one generation to the next, to preserve our city’s roots in perpetuity. Since 2009, when city officials asked SOHO to take over management of the museum abandoned by its previous operators, we have worked to restore and improve the Marston House Museum & Gardens, subsidizing restoration, repairs, and operating costs to keep it accessible to the public.
SOHO has always envisioned the museum as a vibrant communal centerpiece. This home and its gardens offer much more than a glimpse into the past. As when the Marston family, popular leaders and cultural patrons, lived here, this inviting residence provides a gathering place on the park's edge, where the community can come together to reflect on our history while also envisioning our future.
Undoing the damage of time and neglect
The restoration began in the gardens and the carriage house; the house itself will be complete and unveiled in October. The following overview of the current Marston House restoration includes the methods being used and how the results help enhance the ways the house and grounds are used by the public.
Our before-and-after photos show some parts of the work, but to fully appreciate what has been done, we invite you to visit the Marston House on Saturdays and Sundays. As always, SOHO members enjoy free admission.
The process of brick repointing—renewing the external part of mortar joints—plays a critical role in maintaining masonry walls. Even under ideal circumstances, this kind of construction requires repointing every 50 to 100 years, and it is vital to use the correct mortar. Mortar is a sacrificial material, intended to deteriorate over time to protect the masonry. Historic bricks should never be repointed with standard modern pre-mix mortar. The composition of brick and mortar has changed over time; modern bricks and mortar are much harder than their historic counterparts. Modern hard mortars, such as Portland cement, when combined with porous 19th-century materials, can lead to damage as moisture penetrates the stone or brick, as evidenced in some of the before photos.
Hardened and damaged mortar was carefully replaced with appropriate soft mortar, ensuring compatibility with the historic materials. Damaged bricks were also meticulously repaired. The color of the mortar was a crucial consideration due to the numerous patch repairs over the years. After careful selection, a color was chosen that seamlessly integrates the various patches, and we're pleased with the harmonious result.
All painted surfaces had to be repaired or restored, primed and painted.
- Hidden for the past 80 years, the carriage house's original sliding pocket doors have been revealed from where they had been boarded up inside the walls. Now restored, these original Gill doors enhance the building's aesthetic appeal and the functionality of the interior, once again revealing the design of what is now the Marston House Museum Shop. With the bulky hardware of the old garage door removed, the upstairs egress is now unobstructed, allowing the original door to the second floor to open fully and lie flat against the wall as it was originally designed to do. See photos of the carriage house
- A key aspect of the restoration involved rebuilding the wall between the formal rose garden and the carriage house, which was at risk of total collapse due to mortar failure and severe vandalism. The garden gate and archway have been restored. The wooden gate, once discarded, was retrieved and carefully stored by SOHO, and is now back in place. See photos of the garden gate and arch
- The home's brick incinerator had become an outpost for the homeless population whose fight for the small space resulted in near loss when they vandalized it with hammers and axes. Sadly, its original foundry marker was stolen some years ago. See photos of the incinerator
- The entire length of the terrace’s low wall, which had deteriorated due to plant overgrowth, has been repaired to provide a place to sit and reflect on the park-like grounds. The clay-tiled terrace floor off the living and dining rooms is being restored, allowing us to host outdoor gatherings there once again. See photos of the ongoing work to restore the terrace floor
Completing the remaining phases of the Marston House project, including the restoration of its early 20th-century canyon garden and trail, requires additional funds. These gardens, part of the city parks system, are an important missing link in the trail program, and with the Marston structures now stabilized, we can finally focus on this area.
Now our challenge is to raise another $250,000 to complete the remaining work, including the restoration of the early 20th-century canyon garden. Though the costs are significant, addressing these needs now will prevent further deterioration and ensure that this irreplaceable historic site is preserved for future San Diegans. By contributing to the Marston House restoration, you’re not only helping to safeguard a key piece of San Diego’s history and the Marston family’s legacy, but also enhancing a city park and supporting SOHO’s mission. Most importantly, you are creating a vibrant gathering place that will enrich our entire community.
Be a part of history. Make a lasting impact. Give to the Marston House restoration fund today!
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