Stories - The Mary Gordon Volkmann House in Bonita, San Diego
Curation by Andy Eakes, Instagram @san_diego_historic_real_estate
The Mary Gordon Volkmann Residence is located just south of Rohr Park in Bonita Hills, CA, a rural and active community nestled between San Diego and Chula Vista. This Colonial Monterey style residence was designed by local architect Robert W. Snyder and completed for well-known San Diego artist, Mary Gordon Volkmann and her daughter Elizabeth in 1929. It is currently listed on the market for $1.57 million.
With an astounding 4,645 square feet of livable space on a 1.32-acre lot, this estate features seven bedrooms, five and a half bathrooms, a pool and jacuzzi with panoramic canyon views, second story porches in both the front and back yards perfectly positioned by architect Robert W. Snyder to receive sunlight from sunup to sun down, and a surrounding “forest” of mature trees planted by late 1920’s developer Albert G. Wheeler. Wheeler planted over 800 Acacia trees in the surrounding area, giving this home’s cross street, “Acacia Ave”, its name.
Monterey Colonial architecture is typically categorized as a sub-style of Spanish Colonial style and is believed to have been originated in Alta, CA by Thomas O. Larkin of New England who brought vernacular building methods with him during the post-colonial Mexican Era. Typical stylings which make a home Monterey Colonial include two or more stories, surrounding porches on both sides, a hip roof, French doors and windows, adobe or wood facades, and more.
The resulting product, much like this Monterey Colonial home, is a highly sought-after floorplan with worldly influences and all the warmth and coziness Spanish architecture offers. Snyder spared no detail when he was hired by Volkmann to build her a space for her original art studio. The home proved to be so artistically influential for Volkmann that she painted three murals on the walls of the façade which remain today and are meant to depict early life in California.
Volkmann was very familiar with Snyder’s work in 1929 as he co-led the $400,000 development of the 10,000 square foot San Diego Museum of Art building in Balboa Park with William Templeton Johnson three years prior in 1926. Volkmann, a popular patron of SDMA, went on to feature her work in the museum during the 1935 California-Pacific International Exposition, with a few pieces still on display there today. Volkmann also served as the secretary of the Sweetwater Women’s Club and is still remembered in the community for her immense contributions.
It is believed that many of Volkmann’s earlier works were painted in the home including those for museums such as San Francisco Museum of Art in 1935, San Francisco Art Association in 1938, and the Golden Gate International Exposition in 1939. Although she remained in Bonita for many years, Volkmann sold this property in 1943 to Robert and Jean Frazee who founded Frazee Paint of San Diego. Other notable residents of the property were Richard Wilson, along with his wife Marian, who developed the Bonita Valley Country Club and golf course in 1962 which remains a staple of the community.
Today, the home remains in immaculate condition, retaining many of the original features including the wood casement windows and wooden front door. It is believed that the home was renovated in the 1950s to give it updates, revamp the kitchen, and extend the family room. All updates though appear to be period specific and do not alter the overall architecture of the home.
Aside from the main house, the property boasts a charming one bedroom, one bathroom guest house perfect for guests or family. Other unique features include an RV parking and gated driveway, Viking and Sub-Zero appliances, and the potential for incredible tax-savings with Mills Act designation. This one-of-a-kind home truly is any entertainer’s paradise.
Listing courtesy of Amy Spear at Pacific Sotheby’s Int’l Realty