Eckel Smith George Eckel/Leonard Smith Spec House No.1 Ginger Weatherford, John Loughlin & Stephen Churchill

Open Summary

Summary

The Modern Ranch style dwelling, at 9508 Blair Way, was constructed in 1958 and 1959, as a Speculation House, by George E. Eckel, and designed by Leonard M. Smith.

With its intact, low-slung, Rambler plan; board and batten and wide horizontal board wall cladding; clinker brick planters, skirting, and chimney; aluminum casement and fixed windows; Catalina pool; and views of Mt. Helix, Grossmont, Lake Murray, Cowles Mountain, and the Pacific Ocean, the 9508 Blair Way dwelling retains a high degree of integrity and has been maintained such that the dwelling’s appearance has not significantly changed from the 1958 through 1961 construction campaigns. The home embodies the tenets and stylistic features of Modern Ranch architecture, and is an excellent example of the design skills of Leonard M. Smith, and the construction skills of George E. Eckel.

The George E. Eckel / Leonard M. Smith Spec House No. 1 is historically and architecturally significant for its embodiment of Modern Ranch domestic

Open Introduction

Introduction

The George E. Eckel / Leonard M. Smith Spec House No. 1 is historically and architecturally significant for its embodiment of Modern Ranch residential architecture that characterized Southern California, San Diego, and Mt. Helix in the 1950s and 1960s; and for its association with post-WWII development patterns of Mt. Helix; as a masterful representation of the work of George E. Eckel and Leonard M. Smith; and lastly, for its association with Robert K. Castetter and Marjorie Bruce Castetter, important people in the growth of California Western School of Law.

The property qualified for historical designation under the following criteria:

• V. (b)(1) for its association with development patterns of the greater Casa de Oro-Mt. Helix community in the Modern Ranch period (circa 1935-1975). The period of significance under this context and criterion is 1959, from completion of construction, through 1975, the end of the Modern Ranch period.
• V. (b)(2) for its association with Robert K. Ca

Open Historic Context

Historic Context Casa de Oro-Mount Helix Community

Dona Maria Antonia Estudillo, of the Estudillo family, natives of Monterey, received the 600-acre land-grant in 1845. She ran cattle on the rancho property, the future Casa de Oro-Mount Helix neighborhood, bounded today by Bancroft Drive to the west, Interstate 8 to the north, State Route 54/Jamacha Road to the east, and State Route 94/Campo Road to the south.

Harvey C. Parke, of the Parke-Davis Medical Company in Detroit, Michigan, acquired Villa Caro Ranch from rancher Sam Marshall in 1895. Ed Fletcher, who soon established himself as a prominent land developer and civic booster in the San Diego region, purchased Villa Caro Ranch from Harvey C. Parke in 1902.

Fletcher’s partner in the Villa Caro Ranch land acquisition was Pennsylvania-born theatre agent William Gross, who with Fletcher, envisioned the creation of an artists’ colony populated by literary and musical personalities, which would bring a significant return on their purchase throu

Open George E. Eckel

George E. Eckel | Builder

George Eugene Eckel was born in Leon, Kansas, on March 9, 1922, to Charles and Grace Eckel. He was one of seven children, two daughters and five sons. Mr. Eckel joined the US Navy’s V-7 program. Which, beginning in 1940, V-7 candidates, who were college juniors and seniors, were required to enlist in the Naval Reserve. Following a one-month indoctrination course as apprentice seaman, V-7s attended a three-month course in the midshipmen's school. Upon completion of the program, candidates were awarded an ensign's commission and placed in active status. The V-7 program allowed Ensign Eckel to secure his degree in Winfield, Kansas, before joining active service. George served in active duty in the US Navy during World War II from 1943, until he was discharged in December of 1946.

In August, 1943, George went to Northwestern University for midshipman training, graduated in December of that year, and was commissioned Ensign. He then entered the amphibious Navy where he spent al

Open Leonard M. Smith

Leonard M. Smith | Architect and Real Estate Agent

Leonard Marvin Smith was born on December 26, 1922, in Larned, Kansas, to Marvin and Nelle Smith. He attended local schools and graduated from Southwestern College, in Winfield, Kansas. He received officer's training at Columbia University, in 1944, and served as a naval officer in both the Mediterranean and the Pacific. He was serving as navigator for the Underwater Demolition Team flagship anchored in Tokyo Bay at the end of the war.

Leonard and Grace Eckel were married, in 1944, and they moved to San Diego, in 1946. After selling real estate for several years, he opened his own office, in the early 1950s. He had an architectural background and designed 75 to 100 homes in La Mesa and Mt. Helix, that his brothers-in-law, George and Wayne Eckel, built and he subsequently sold. Leonard was president of the La Mesa Board of Realtors, in 1958, named Realtor of the Year, in 1972, and was instrumental in establishing the local multiple listing service (M

Open Biographical Information

Biographical Information

The George E. Eckel / Leonard M. Smith Spec House No. 1, was built in 1958, as a speculation house. 9508 Blair Way was the first of four speculation houses, completed by the duo, from the four lots on Blair Way they purchased.

Maurice and Mary Helen Jackson purchased the 9508 Blair Way from Eckel and Smith, in 1959. Maurice Francis Jackson, Jr. was born, in 1921, to Maurice and Catherine Jackson. He graduated from Grossmont High School, in 1938, and earned a liberal arts degree from San Diego State, in 1943. Maurice served as a Marine officer in World War II and joined the Evans MacCormack & Company (formerly Fewel & Company) investment securities firm after the war. Maurice and Mary Helen Wright were married on November 22, 1945, Thanksgiving Day.

They had four children: Carroll Ann, Mary Kay, James, and Maurice III.Mary was elected secretary-treasurer of the Junior Catholic Women’s Club of St. Martin’s Church, in April 1949. She was also the president of San Diego’s D

Open Detailed Description of the Property

Detailed Description of the Property

The George E. Eckel / Leonard M. Smith Spec House No. 1, constructed under County of San Diego Permit No. 06466, issued on July 2, 1958, is a Modern Ranch style, wood, brick, and stucco dwelling, with an approximate square footage of 2,346, situated on a little over a one-acre lot, on a south-facing slope, in the unincorporated community of Mt. Helix. With its intact, low-slung, Rambler plan; board and batten and wide horizontal board wall cladding; clinker brick planters, skirting, and chimney; aluminum casement and fixed windows, with invisible screens; custom siting amongst the lot’s natural features, with views of Mt. Helix, Grossmont, Lake Murray, Cowles Mountain, and the Pacific Ocean, the sprawling dwelling is set back and up from the street with patios, pathways, palm trees, mature trees, and a kidney bean shaped Catalina pool. The dwelling was constructed in 1958 to 1959, with an addition to the east façade and the installation of a Catalina pool, in 1961.

Open Credits

The main text was written by Ginger Weatherford (2023) as a report for the Historic Site Board of San Diego County to consider the property for Historic Designation.

The original text has been edited by John Loughlin, the current owner of the property.

Stephen Churchill graciously shared his photographs of the property when it was included on the La Mesa History Center 18th Annual Home Tour (2024).