San Deigo Historic Site 74 CASA DE CARRILLO

A restored remnant of this house, at the east end of Wallace Street, serves the Presidio Hills Golf Course as a clubhouse. This is the oldest of the adobe mansions now standing, having been built in the second decade of theNineteenth Century, among the pear trees of Don Francisco Maria Ruiz, the Comandante of the Presidio. Ruiz's orchard has a reputation for being the oldest in Southern California. He occupied one room of the Carrillo house,and he apparently started the building, in order to be able to live nearhis trees. A kinsman, Joaquin Carrillo, moved in, bringing his family,which occupied the place for many years. At his death Ruiz left the pear garden to the Carrillos.

Later the grove passed into the hands of the Sotos, and Louis Rose, from whom it took the name Rose's Garden.

Josefa Carrillo carried on her famous romance with Henry Fitch here. From this house Andres Pico spirited her to Fitch's ship and a wedding in Peru,when her father and Governor Echeandia, an admirer, were away. Fitchreturned with his bride to be punished by the church, build a house acrossJuan Street, and become the richest merchant in town.

When Ruiz died in 1839 and Joaquín soon afterwards, son Ramon Carrillo sold this property to Lorenzo Soto. It was transferred several times before 1932, deteriorating gradually, until George Marston and associates restored the house and grounds and deeded them to the City of San Diego as a golf course.