Brick Row & Heritage Square

About Brick Row

Brick Row in National City is a historically significant site, representing one of the earliest examples of brick construction in Southern California. It was constructed in 1887 by Frank Kimball and designed by San Diego architect R. C. Ball (who designed Folsom Prison).

The row consists of 10 homes, and it was one of the first residential developments in National City to use brick, a material more fire-resistant than the wood commonly used at the time.

The homes, characterized by their distinct Victorian-style architecture, were designed to be used by the executives of the Santa Fe Railroad. This development was part of the city’s push for urban growth as National City began to emerge as a prominent hub for trade and commerce in the region.

The significance of Brick Row lies in its representation of National City’s role in the broader development of San Diego County. In the late 19th century, National City was a critical link in the transportation network, with railroads connecting it to the rest of the county and the Pacific Ocean.

As a result, National City experienced a population boom, and developments like Brick Row helped shape the community’s identity. The homes are not only an example of the era’s architectural styles but also reflect the social and economic aspirations of the people who lived there at the time.

Wyatt Earp, a legendary marshal, was an early resident of Brick Row after being indicted in Arizona for killing the men who murdered his brother. He is locally known for opening three gambling halls in San Diego and, in 1889, stayed in Brick Row when traveling to Tijuana, Mexico. There, he famously refereed a prize fight during a fiesta that also included cockfights, bullfights, and a lassoing contest.

Throughout the years, Brick Row became a symbol of stability and permanence, standing in contrast to the transience of many other structures built in Southern California, which were often made from wood. The preservation of the homes also signifies an important effort to retain National City’s historical identity amidst rapid urbanization.

Today the homes are mixed use being both residential homes and private residences.  It is best to appreciate from the outside unless you have a specific appointment to visit one of them.

During a wonderful architectural tour held by Oh! San Diego, we got to tour inside a couple homes on Brick Row, including artist Ramel Wallace’s:

About Heritage Square

Brick Row is technically part of Heritage Square, but these three homes directly across from Brick Row were brought here from other locations in National City.

In 1973, the Kimball House was the first home moved to Heritage Square after it faced demolition due to disrepair. Purchased by Charles L. Welshbacher after Frank Kimball’s death, the house changed ownership several times, leading to its decline.

Through the efforts of Mayor Morgan and the city council, the home was preserved and restored over two years with federal funds from the Center City Redevelopment Project. This led to the creation of Heritage Square at A Avenue.

The Kimball House is a museum which can be visited on specific days listed at the top of this article. 

Rice-Proctor Home

The Rice-Proctor Home was the home of Julius Rice, an educator and real estate broker who bought the land in 1887 from the San Diego Land and Town Company and sold it to John W. Proctor in 1897.

Elizur-Steele House

The Elizur-Steele House, which is part of the historic Heritage Square in National City.  This beautiful Victorian home once stood at 904 East 8th st. but was donated to the City of National City in 1977 and moved to Heritage Square.  Elizur Steel & his brother John B. Steel were the architects & together they built twelve other Victorian homes in the area.

Janice Martinelli purchased the home in the 80’s.  Cleaning up the home and the neighborhood was not an easy task.  She says that buying this home cost her her marriage, largely because part of the bargain deal of purchasing it was that she could not view the interior until the purchase was made.

Once the purchase was finalized, that is when the ghastly horrors were revealed.  Urine-filled bottles lined the walls with a stench of death and decay emanating from inside.  It was a complete train-wreck.

Although her husband was beside himself on the purchase, Lady Martinelli instead chose to focus on the all the beauty the home had retained.  She saw potential in re-creating it to the magnificent piece of craftsmanship that it once was.

Janice Martinelli