Kensington is a great place to walk, shop and dine...

Happy 100th Birthday, Kensington!

The first subdivision, Kensington Park, was mapped on April 8, 1910 and opened for the sale of lots on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1910.  In honor of that historic event, Kensington will be holding a year long celebration in 2010, and you are all invited!

April 24, 2010 - Annual Landmarked Homes of Kensingtion Tour

Stop peeking in windows and stroll right on in!  April 24th was the date for the ‘Centennial Edition’ Landmarked Homes of Kensington tour, and everyone was invited to see the interiors and exteriors of some of the finest historically designated houses in Kensington.

Beautiful homes and their designers were showcased via an “open house” format, and tour participants had the opportunity to see one of the city’s oldest planned residential projects, meet with historians, and explore Kensington.

The self-guided tour, from 10 AM to 4 PM, included a visit to the 1929 Edward C. Mann House on Ridgeway in Kensington Heights.  This four bedroom house was built by the famed Bathrick Brothers Company of Pasadena and is a classic example of Spanish Eclectic architecture.

HRB Site #515 - 1929 Edward C. Mann House

The house was built for Dr. Edward C. and Mrs. Betty Avery Mann, and its historical significance is attributed to both the exemplary architecture as well as the association with Dr. Mann. In 1901, Dr. Mann was attending the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York when an assassin shot President William McKinley, who was also attending the event.  Dr. Mann was one of the first physicians called to attend to the President.  Dr. Edward Mann administered morphine to the President, while his father, Dr. Matthew D. Mann performed surgery in an attempt to remove the bullets.  Congress awarded Dr. Mann a gold watch for his role in attempting to save the President's life.

This year, event headquarters was located at the historic 1910 Duehn-St. John Residence at 4720 Kensington Drive.  This beautiful Craftsman house, now the home of the Fraternal Spiritualist Church, is the oldest and the first house in Kensington to be historically designated.

The ticket price included admittance to all six tour homes, lectures and a souvenir booklet.  This year's lecture featured Ron May speaking on "The Changing Face of Adams Avenue."

The houses that were open for the tour this year are:

• The Edward C. Mann House - 1929
• The A.L. and Cleveland Dennstedt House - 1941
• 5301 Marlborough Drive - 1933
• The Wonder House of Stone - 1926
• The Florence E. Mead House - 1931
• The Dr. James and Leona Parker House - 1923

Heart of Kensington is a member of the Centennial committee, which is a group of neighbors from each of the local community groups who have come together to help plan and hold celebratory events throughout the year.

Information about the Centennial events, volunteers, fund raising, and commemorative souvenirs can be found at the Centennial website - www.Ken100th.com

To keep posted on the details for the 2010 Landmarked Homes of Kensington tour, visit this website frequently for updates, or send email to hometour@HeartofKensington.org.

Northwest corner of Adams Avenue and Marlborough Drive, circa 1947.

The Heart of Kensington (HoK) promotes appropriate development on Adams Avenue in the Kensington commercial district by focusing on urban planning and development that conforms to the small-scale, historic, pedestrian friendly guidelines of the Mid-City Communities Plan. HoK represents the concerns of over one thousand Kensington residents to City planners, elected officials and developers to ensure that the existing community character drives the graceful and sensitive renewal of the commercial district.

Behind San Diego is a romance of love, chivalry and struggling pioneers. - Davis Baker Company advertisement, San Diego Union, 21 February 1926

For more information regarding our activities, please send an email to Info@HeartofKensington.org