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Local
History |
'Working
to preserve the rich heritage of the Temecula Valley' |
Visit
Old Town Temecula |
Historic
Old Town Temecula Tour Guide |
Download
(pdf) |
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First National Bank of Temecula |
Located
on the former site of Hugh McConville's livery stable, this cement
building was open for business by June 10th, 1914. Hugo Guenther and
Albert Nienke were two who served on the first Board of Directors.
Eli Barnett was the first President. (Notice the original hitching
posts and granite curbing.) In 1943 the bank closed its doors and
the building served in other capacities ever since. It has been a
Mexican Restaurant since 1978. |
The
Welty Building (Ramona Inn) --> |
Built
by R.J. Welty in the 1890's and used as a storehouse and a store.
In 1908 Joe Winkels bought it and opened his hotel., "The Ramona
Inn." It contained a bar, pool tables, card tables, slot machines,
a boxing ring, and rooms to rent upstairs with bulldog and badger
fights out back. Many celebrities visited the "blind pig"
at the Inn during Prohibition. Later names included: "The Stallion,"
and "The Stables." |
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The Burnham Store |
Built
in the early 1890's from fired Temecula bricks. First owner, Philip
Pohlman, sold this general store around 1902 to George A. Burnham
who ran it until the mid 1920's when Paul Ware took over the operation,
eventually marrying Burnham's daughter, Ethel. Family members continued
to run the store until 1953. The building has also held an auto repair
shop, and much later, an antique business. In 1969 it became the Temecula
Mercantile. This reconstructed building is now a small art gallery
and theatre. |
The
Hotel Temecula (Welty Hotel) --> |
The
second of two hotels built on this site by R.J. and Mary Jane Welty.
After the first hotel was destroyed by fire in 1891, the present building
was erected the same year. Both hotels owned and operated by the Welty
family for a total of over thirty years. Later, owner Grace LeClare
operated it as both an apartment house and hotel. It was a private
residence from 1960, when it was purchased by local historian Horace
Parker and his wife Leverne, until 2015. Other names: Fronie Hotel,
Temecula Hotel. Now serving as a Historic Hotel. |
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The Palomar Inn Hotel |
Built
around 1927 it opened for business in 1928 as the "Hotel McCulloch"
after owner Lena McCulloch. Later names included "Hotel Palomar"
and the "The Palomar Inn". The hotel was the site in 1967
for the first episode of "The Invaders" titled
The Beachhead.
It once contained a drug store, soda fountain, town phone switchboard,
and the post office. The Thunderbird totem was placed by Bob Majeski
who purchased the hotel in 1954. It has endured historic floods and
is currently operating as a European style boutique hotel. |