The History of Kensington

In the year 1909, a group of men with daring, wisdom and finances came together to develop 59, 875 acres known as Rancho de la Mission San Diego Alcala. This area included what is now Kensington, Talmadge, Tierrasanta, Mission Valley, La Mesa, and San Diego State University. George Burnham and G. Aubrey Davidson of the Commerce Bank formed the Kensington Park Land Company and created the first subdivision of Kensington called Kensington Park.

The name of Kensington was taken from one of London's twenty eight metropolitan boroughs. Street names were also chosen, their origin again from England, and the stone river rock pillars were constructed to designate the Southern boundary along Monroe Avenue. A small park landscaped with trees, shrubs and grass, and a large oblong fish pond was created as the center of the subdivision. The newest homes were built around this park, the park acting as the showplace and center of attraction. This is the park we see today with the addition of the library. The Kensington Park subdivision was the first of its kind in the United States and many subdivisions created after would follow its restrictions on use. Kensington Park became the second most exclusive residential area, after Mission Hills by 1910.

During the 1920s, Kensington began to grow at a rapid pace, adding the Kensington Annex, the Kensington Park Extension, the Kensington Villa Annex, the Kensington Manor a highly restricted, completely improved residential park, Kensington Heights and finally Kensington Point. The average square footage of these homes was 2,000 square feet, with lots ranging from $900 to $400. Most buyers purchased double lots during this time so that they could build gardens, swimming pools and servant's housing. Building continued at a brisk pace until the Great Depression hit.

In 1936, building began again and all of Kensington became part of the City of San Diego, except Kensington Park which remained part of the county until 1953. Kensington voted to become part of the city to take advantage of city services such as: fire protection, police, trash collection. tree trimming, and street cleaning. To give you an idea of the change in pricing over the years and the sudden increase in value due to WWII and a severe shortage of building materials for new construction, a luxury two-story house built in the late 1920s (with four bedrooms, two baths, living room with fireplace, tiled kitchen, central heat, double garage and beautiful grounds) sold for $5,000 in 1934,$9,500 in 1941, and $21,000 in 1945. Kensington continued to prosper and grow through the 1960s with only a few final lots available for building. The final phase of Kensington, Kensington Park Villas, began in 1976.

Today, homes in Kensington are still in great demand, thanks to careful planning, superb architecture, and excellent construction, along with attractive street lighting and planting. Kensington has retained a village atmosphere and the friendliness and neighborliness has passed from generation to generation. Enjoy the beauty and climate that is Kensington. In the words of the early Kensington Park Civic Club, "the climate conditions in this district are the most perfect of any portion of San Diego, geographically situated so that it gets very little wind, very seldom has any fog, and has more hours per day and more days per year of sunshine, than any to her portion of California."

The "Sister" Neighborhhood of Talmadge

Talmadge began as a neighboring community to East side of Kensington in 1925. An article from the San Diego Union Tribune sums up the relationship between the Talmadge sisters and this new exclusive community. "Norma Talmadge, Constance Talmadge and Natalie Talmadge and her husband, Buster Keaton, all famous motion picture stars, made their first public appearance in San Diego yesterday afternoon when they dedicated Talmadge Park, the new residential tract at the end of Adams Avenue, by planting a Monterey pine tree on one of the choice lots of the subdivision at its Eastern end overlooking Mahogany Canyon (now called Fairmont Canyon)." The Talmadge sisters fame helped to sell the homes and properties in Talmadge even though the sisters themselves never lived in the community. Roy Lichty, Talmadge business manager, I.C. Freud, president of Southern California Realty Corporation, Joe Schenck, Joseph Loeb, Louis B. Mayer, Lon Anger, Sid Graumen, and Joseph Toplitsky were each responsible for the financing of the Talmadge project. Talmadge Park was later joined by Talmadge Park Estates in 1928 and Talmadge Park Manor in 1944.

Houses of Historic Interest

Take this directory along with you as you explore the following Kensington and Talmadge residences:

1. Silas St. John - 1912
   Silas St. John is known for being the first to carry mail between San Diego and San Antonio in 1857. Kensington Drive and Park Place and  4482 42nd Street were the sites of each home where apartments now stand.
    
2. 4679 Vista Street
   This home is one of the original Kensington Park homes built in 1911 and moved by William Kroepper to its current location to make way for  the Standard Oil gas station where the Starbucks now stands.
    
3. 4148 Palisades Road - 1939
   Mr. & Mrs. Bill Morgan, first owner of City Chevrolet. Housed a "Cameraobscura" known as the "magic eye" for panoramic views  of Mission Valley.
    
4. 4632 Vista Street
   Kensington’s short lived "Red Light District" in 1973.
    
5. 4615 Terrace Drive
   Past home of Luba Sundquist, a Yugoslavian Olympic Gold Medalist in  the five kilometer track race.
    
6. 4680 West Talmadge Drive
   The ghost of Camilla Reynolds plays the piano when no one is at home.
    
7. 5274 Marl borough Drive
   Past home of Krafft Ehricke, the world renowned physicist.
    
8. 4784 Lorraine Drive
   Home of Doug Oliver, seen on Channel 8 as the "Weatherman" and on "Zoorama".
    
9. 4738 Kensington Drive
   Marilyn Marshall, Mrs. America, 1963.
    
10. 4816 Adams Avenue
    Robert Elliot, Pittsburgh Pirates Outfielder and 3rd Baseman, 1939 - 1946, Boston Braves 3rd Baseman and National League MVP, 1947. Went on to play for New York Giants, Chicago White Sox,  St. Louis Cardinals, and the San Diego Padres. Managed the Sacramento  Solons, the Kansas City Athletics and eventually became 1st base  coach for the Los Angeles Angels.
     
11. 4625 47th Street
    Bill Starr and his wife Bertha, owners of the San Diego Padres 1944 to 1955. Developers of the Clairemont Quad and Del Prado.
     
12. 5003 Bristol Road
    Deron Johnson of the New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Padres and Boston Braves. He was the Cincinatti Reds National League MVP in  1965 and later, he coached the Los Angeles Angels, the New York Mets  and the Philadelphia Phillies.
     
13. 4313 Ridgeway
    Ernest "Ted" Boud & Wife Nell 1934 -- Councilman 1940-1947.
     
14. 5090 Westminster Terrace
    William D. Lowery & Family -- U.S. Representative, 41st District.
     
15. 4194 Palisades Road
    Harry & Hilda Landt, well known architect and native San Diegan who designed Dr. Baumann's Dental Office. City Council member from 1968 to 1973.
     
16. 4246 Ridgeway
    Leon "Lee" R. Hubbard, Jr. and wife Betty. Lee served as city council member from 1971 to 1977.
     
17. 5108 Canterbury Drive
    Mayor Susan Golding lived here from 1992 to 2000 until she became Deputy Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing under  Governor Deukmajian. Later she became Supervisor of the Third  Supervisoral District.
     
18. 4104 Pallisades Road
    Gloria Demers McColl Third Council District Member - City of San Diego - 1983 & 1985.
     
19. 4885 Kensington Drive
    Former Chief of Police William B. Kolender.

Many thanks are given to Dr. Thomas H. Baumann, DDS and his book "Kensington, Talmadge: 1910 - 1997" for which we relied heavily for information. Due to printing space,only a random selection of homes have been listed here. Please see Dr. Baumann's book for a complete listing. If you know of some other homes that you would like to see listed, please send information to kenassoc@cox.net.