Horton Plaza Fountain

1910

4th and Broadway

Architect: Irving Gill 

Style: Greek Revival

Nothing is more pleasant than the sound of softly rippling water. It instantly relaxes the weary and soothes the soul. Alonzo Horton agreed.

Alonzo set aside a half block across from the newly opened Horton House Hotel for his guests to sit and enjoy the warm San Diego sun. He designated it as a plaza, and built a small fountain, placed benches around it and enclosed it with a hedge. He added watering troughs for horses, and the edges of the plaza were soon crowded with carriages, horses and people.

Doc Marten’s Brass Band, the Harmonia Brass Band, the Silver Comet Brass Band and the City Guard Brass Band regularly played concerts on the plaza. It provided an enjoyable respite for early tourists beginning in 1870 and for many years afterwards.

In 1882, a drinking fountain was added, as well as a picket fence. A new bandstand was built in 1886, and a new fountain replaced the original in 1887. The new fountain was a multi-tiered model that was equipped with a nickel plated cup. Sadly, the park had to be locked at night to avoid “vandals” from destroying or carrying away property.

In 1895, Mr. Horton fell on hard times, and sold the property to the City for $10,000. Horton’s hotel was razed in 1909, and the palatial U. S. Grant Hotel was built on the same site , and opened late in 1909. The hotel was built by Ulysses S. Grant Jr. to honor his late father, President Ulysses S. Grant. The opening of this new and grand hotel prompted 180 citizens of San Diego to petition for a redesign and improvement of Horton’s now deteriorating plaza. Banker, and later Mayor, Louis J. Wilde, donated $10,000 towards the project.

Irving Gill’s design for the fountain was chosen over 12 other designs by various architects. Gill’s design was modeled after the 4th century B.C.E. Choragic Monument in Athens, Greece. It included three bronze medallions honoring San Diego discoverer, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, Spanish mission founder, Father Junipero Serra and Alonzo Horton, who had passed away the previous January. Santa Monica sculptor, Felix Peano, was hired to mold the bronzes, including a now-missing mountain below the dome.

Beneath the dome were inscribed the words “Broadway Fountain for the People.” Perhaps its most defining feature, though, was a light show featuring 15 special effects alternating every 30 seconds. This was believed to be the first use of incandescent light bulbs in a fountain, and drew much praise from onlookers. It was originally called the L.J. Wilde Fountain, but it quickly became known as the Electric Fountain.

It was such a popular landmark, that when unusually cold weather caused the water in the fountain to freeze, San Diegans visited the fountain to stand on the thick ice!

Since 1913, plans to redesign, alter or completely do away with the fountain have been put forth. Some of these plans have bordered on the ridiculous or the bizarre.

During WWII, it was suggested that it be turned into a bus depot! Fortunately, that did not come to pass, although the City did widen the sidewalks, remove the grass and put asphalt around the information booths and trees. It could have been worse!

Numerous plans were put forth throughout the years, some even calling for the fountain to be eliminated altogether, including one by the Chamber of Commerce.

In 1961, local architect C. J. Paderewski went so far as to suggest not only eliminating the fountain, but adding a sunken replacement, replacing the palm trees with deciduous trees, benches and colored paving. He declared the fountain “of no historical significance,” even wanted surrounding businesses to alter their facades to complement this new park design! Fortunately, this too was turned down.

However, since San Diego’s citizens were strongly and loudly in favor of keeping the fountain, the City Council recognized that the deteriorating fountain and surrounding park area were in need of restoration, rehabilitation and a general cleanup. Even though faced with a growing issue with vagrancy and vandalism, the plaza and fountain had been the scene of many community celebrations, including visits by John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon, and needed to be preserved.

More plans were subsequently suggested, and finally in 1969, a task force was formed with the intention of redeveloping a 12-block area around the fountain. The city task force was joined by SOHO (Save Our Heritage Organisation) , and in 1971 the plaza was designated as Historical Site No. 51. Prior to the construction of Horton Plaza Shopping Center, newly formed CCDC (Centre City Development Corporation) and developer Ernest Hahn, wanted to destroy nine blocks surrounding the fountain for an extended shopping and parking area. Once again, SOHO prevailed in stopping the proposal, additionally saving several historic structures surrounding the park. During a re-dedication on March11, 1985, Mayor Roger Hedgecock recognized SOHO and CCDC for their for work in preserving the fountain for the people of San Diego.

By 2008, the fountain, once more in a state of deterioration, was turned off and closed to the public. In 2014, the Spectra Company, a restoration contractor, joined a $17 million project to restore both the plaza and the fountain, and to create an urban park on Broadway between 3rd and 4th Avenues.

New improvements include a 10-horsepower pump, new plumbing and electrical work and a microprocessor in the pump programmed to replicate Irving Gill’s original light show. The landscape architect, Walker Macy, provided a beautiful oasis in the center of town.

It is being touted by the yet-to-be opened Campus at Horton as the centerpiece of the Park at Horton.

Fortunately, the people of San Diego still have their iconic fountain to enjoy, just as Father Horton wished.

(Photos by Tim Trevaskis)