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SOHO's Dedication to San Diego’s Adobe Legacy
Vallecito Stage Station
37349 Great Southern Overland Stage Route, Julian
November/December 2024
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The Vallecito Stage Station is a rare surviving earthen structure from California’s 19th-century frontier era. As a key stop on the Butterfield Overland Mail route, it was an essential link connecting the east and west coasts of the United States. This humble station witnessed the journeys of countless pioneers, families, and travelers navigating the harsh desert terrain during one of the nation’s most transformative periods.
In the late 1990s, SOHO partnered with San Diego County Parks and Recreation, community groups, and dedicated volunteers to undertake crucial restoration work. During this effort, SOHO helped coordinate and advocate for the restoration, making certain that the exterior sod walls were repaired and plastered with an adobe coating to restore it with care and historical accuracy. The work was made possible thanks to Mark Sauer, a professional adobe restoration contractor, who generously contributed his expertise, equipment, and labor.
Despite these efforts, the site continues to face serious preservation challenges. A devastating storm in 2019-2020 caused a major collapse of the west wall, underscoring the ongoing fragility of the adobe structure. Although FEMA funding paid for some repairs and trained county park rangers stepped in to stabilize the base, county officials have been reluctant to allocate further resources for comprehensive restoration.
SOHO remains steadfast in its advocacy for Vallecito’s future. The station is not only a piece of California’s rich history but also a national treasure from a vanished era that requires vigilant protection and care.
We urge the community to join in this effort by contacting the county supervisors and requesting that funds be allocated to fully stabilize and restore this irreplaceable piece of our past.
Further Reading
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