News Scrapbook 1974-1975

lbr ian tlit o Inion

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Realty Roundup B ilding • Yard & Shop Patio & Pools

Homes Gardens

SECTION f SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, SUNDAY MORNING~,~D:E:::C~EM::BE:R:...1:_:5:!.,~1~9:74:________________________,,__

107th YEAR

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HUGE FOUNTAIN, weighing 17 Ions, was hand-cut from limestone in St uis Potosi in Mexico and shipped in large sections to Son Diego, where it now adorns center of the courtyard at Mission Son Diego de Alcala, a major port of the restoration proceedings at California's first mission. Building under the trelis-like roof at fof right is the new visitors center_

History Comes To Life At Old San Diego Mission By CLYDE V SMITH Real Estate and Bu, ding Editor, The Son Diego Union

fired clay, is by artist and sculptor James Hubbell, who also de- signed stained glass windows in the new rectory. Also note the arched bell lower in background, now a landmark in Son Diego.

PICTURESQUE STATUE of Father Junipero Serra, who founded the old mission more than 200 years ago, now adorns the front of Mission Son Diego de Alcala, above, This work, fashioned in

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Stoff Photos by Bob Ivins

bu1ldmg on the site The first struc- tures of Mission San Diego de Alca- la, establi:;hed in July, 1769. Y.ere either burned bv the Indians or fell Into ruin - To accomplish the present restora- tion proceedings, which is a continu- ing task, involves a team of histo- rians, archeologists, artists and ar- ch1tec• • as well as the church leader und fmancing from contri- butor "Vie hav to be guided by the pattern of the past," said Father McLaughlin "We have studied other old missions, which are similar, m sty1P - the central, walled court- yard the thick adobe walls, the Spamsh arches, the bell tower and the fountams. Then we proceed as though this 1s what might have been done here by the pioneers." Of course, there have been embellish- ments to offer expanded accommo- dations and to meet modern needs. Three considerations or rather three functions are prompting pres- ent efforts - to meet the needs of an active neighborhood parish, to res- tore an historical site and to com- bine tn1s Y.1th the old mission's obvi- ous tourist attraction Restoration efforts at the old mis- sion began about 50 years· ago, and part of the old mission was restored in 1931. But efforts since then and until 1964 were more or less on a haphazard basis. Financing, in spite of some significant donations, was hard to come by. (Continued on F-7, Col. 4)

lmprov m nts on behalf of the San Dirgo D10cese "But what we are tryi:.g to do L~ to build a n ar a we can delermme, what might have brcn the origmal pattern and de gn style • The clues to this ambitious under- taking have come from the ruins or an old church, built in 1813, from d11lg nt h1Stm1ca, re an:h and from ext ns1ve d1ggmgs on the 1111ss1on •rounds lnc1d ntally, the 1813 church was not the first m1S1 ion

NEW ALTAR REREDOS repeats the motif of the bell tower in the old mission, a tradition in most of the missions in California. The sanctuary was redesigned to ac- commodate the revisions in the Catholic liturgy. Also note the floor of the chapel, paved with rustic, irregular, sometimes bro- ken, brick paving, a pattern co- pied in the central courtyard.

LARGE MURAL, 8 1 h feet high and 60 feet long, adorns walls of new visitors center al the old mission, depicting scenes of Son Diego history from the original Indian to contemporary times, shown at right. Building was tailored after construction started lo accommo- date t ·s mural, donated by Son Diego Federal Sov- gs and Loon Association.

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