Chula Vista Star-News from Chula Vista, California • Page 21

BIO National City Centennial Edition, Sunday, June 28, 1987 St. Matthew's has turned 100 Navy stores 84 old destroyers at 32nd street by end of 1922 work. The first stage was to secure the front wall of the setved since 1984. Improvements made in the past 100 years allowed for the addition of modern conveniences. A balcony was built at the front of the church to accommodate more seating and to provide housing for the furnaces.

Chambers' were added at the back of the building for the pipe organ. During the spring and summer of 1922, the water area of the Destroyer Base was dredged to a minimum depth of 17 feet with pile dolphins placed for securing the destroyers which were then being decommissioned. Sixty nine destroyers had been secured at the Destroyer Base by the end of September 1922. In October 1922, 15 additional destroyers arrived for decommissioning. This brought the total number of decommissioned destroyers up to 84.

(NavSta San Diego currently supports '87 tive duty ships of the U.S. Navy). Populations for San Diego and incorporated towns in the 1920s were: The property on which Naval Station, San Diego, is now located was deeded to the U.S. Government" by the city of San Diego on Sept. 3, 1919, for the purpose of building a docking and fleet repair tasc.

Located just to the north of National City, the property consisted of 21.0 water acres and 77.2 land acres, the former being mostly marshland and tide flats. Today, sailors and employees working out of that base play a large role in supporting the economies of both National City and the entire Sout Bay. The reclamation work need to build the base was done by the UANavyand Board. It consisted of hydraulic fill from dredging operations to prepare a suitable channel. The concrete shipbuilding plant of the U.S.Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation first occupied the land.

Of four vessels of 7,500 tons each contracted to be built here, only two, the USS Cuyamaca and the USS San Pascual, were completed. Due to excessive costs the other two contracts were cancelled. On February 15, 1921, the Navy acquired the land, buildings and some machinery from the U.S. Shipping Board. Then, on June 10, 1921, USS Prairie, commanded by Cmdr.

H.N. Jenson, was ordered to proceed to the vicinity of Naval Station to take over the property and begin its reorganisation to prepare for the receipt of destroyers which were soon to be placed out of commission." The work of clearing the yard and otherwise preparing the base was done by the personnel of the Prairie. In addition, a marine railway of 2,500 tons capacity was built under contract at a cost of $412,000. It was completed in March 1922. Just prior to this, on February 23, 1922, the U.S.

Destroyer Base, San Diego, was officially established by the Secretary of the Navy in General Order No. 78. The congregation of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church was formed five years before the church itself was built. The congregation was established, in 1882 with construction on this historic landmark completed in 1887.

The first service was held on July 3, 1887. The Rev. H.H. Wilcox was pastor. He was the second, replacing the Rev.

Henry Bond Restarick in 1884. The church was erected on land donated by town founder Frank Kimball. The architecture of the building 'follows the English gothic style. Materials used include California redwood, Douglas fir and Georgia pine, some brought here in ships that sailed around Cape Horn. The Rev.

S.H.S. Ilderton came in 1888, followed by the Rev. J. deWolfe Crowie in 1890, the Rev. William T.

Manning in 1891 and the Rev. Arthur Lumsden Mitchell a year later. The Rev. H.S. Hanson filled the pulpit in 1897.

The Rev. Mit chell returned in 1898 and stayed until 1901 when Canon J.B. Goode stepped in. The Rev. A.C.

Taylor was appointed in 1906, the Rev. A.K. Glover in 1907 and the Rev. William Bollard in 1909. When the Rev.

Hector5 C. Clowes arrived in 1910, he stayed for 14 years. Then in 1914, the Revs. F. Bate, Skipway and Calter served until 1926 when the Rev.

Horace Wood took over. The next decade saw three changes: the Rev Harold Thelin, 1930; the Rev. Alex J. Combell, 1935rand the Rev. Dunham Taylor, 1937.

Next to come was the Rev. Wallace Essingham in 1942. He was succeeded by the Rev. H. Stonier Hamnetl in 1948.

It was 20 years later before another change was made. The Rev. Herbert William Figgess began in 1968 and in 1972, the Rev. Ar thur G. Elcombe and James B.

Grosso. served. Changes were not as frequent as in the earlier years. The Rev. At well Stewart started in 1975.

The Rev. Juan Maria church which had weakened over the years. The exterior painting was completely stripped and bad wood replaced. A new coat paint was applied to enhance the architectural features of the building. The final phase is now under way.

Restoration ot trie pipe organ is taking place 521 8th St. In National City. i bince iy4 the congregation has sponsored extensive rcstora- St. Matthew's Episcopal Church at i liti 'y I tj Great American bank 105 years old i 4 The history of Great American First Savings Bank began July 1 1, 1885, in a small storefront-in downtown San Diego. A group of local businessmen gathered in the real estate office of Morse, Noell, and Whale at 8:00 p.m.

to organize the first savings and loan institution in Southern California, San Diego Building Loan Association, for the pose of encouraging thrift and home ownership. This office, now a nightclub in the historic Gaslamp Quarter, was located at 809 Fifth Avenue, then the heart of downtown San Diego. The first three organizational meetings were held in the front' office. Later, in August of 1887, this same room became the first permanent headquarters of the association.) Among the original directors of the firm elected at the second meeting of the founders on July 13, 1885 was George Hensley, rancher in the Tijuana Valley and deputy county clerk in 1872. At this second meeting, the secretary pro tern, George Hensley, was instructed to collect the sum of ten cents on each share of stock subscribed to cover expenses of incorporation and the purchase of supplies.

The capital stock-of San Diego Building Loan Association was $500,000 in 2,500 shares of $200 each. Another pioneer San Diegan actively involved in the founding of San Diego Building" Loan Association was Moses Augustine Luce, the grandfather' pf Gordon C. Luce, Great American's current chairman of the board and chief executive of- ficer. Active in the San Diego community, Moses Luce was vice president and counsel for the California Southern Railroad. At a directors meeting on August 29, 1885, in the office of fi.W.

Mone, M.A:;luce was nominated to become the attorney for the association, along SAN DIEGO San Diego County Incorporated Towns: CHULA VISTA CORONADO ESCONDIDO LA MESA NATIONAL CITY OCEANSIDE 74,683 1,718 3,289 1,789 1,008 3,116 1,161 1960s began, the lending division expanded its activities beyond the -single-family home loan to include apartments and a variety of other commercial loans. By 1965, assets stood at $282,500,000. 1969 a new era began for San Diego Federal and Loan Association. With the untimely death of president Jack Thompson that summer, the board was faced with the task of selecting new leadership for the association. The first step was to bring in James C.

Schmidt as executive vice president to serve as interim manager until the president was selected. That second task was completed in the fall, when Gordon C. Luce accepted the board's invitation to become president. In 1975, San Diego Federal was. one of the first savings and loan institutions in the West to bring completely automated teller machines to the public.

The first one was installed at San Diego International Lindberg Field. The decade of the eighties has continued the trend of community service. These years have brought more big changes to San Diego Federal. In addition, the association's name was changed from San Diego Federal to Great American First Savings Bank; and the company became a shareholder-owned savings bank. Throughout the decade, Great American mained strong.

Its record loan volume was increased, and in -1983 it generated the highest annual earnings in its history. Assets are at the $7 billion level with a total of 120 offices serving the state and matching the acceleration of its economy. in yMC. following with J.D. Works, and J.O.W.

Paine. Moses Luce subsequently served in the positionfor 38 years, not retiring from his post until 1923. In the early years, business proceeded for the young association, with routine matters dominating the meetings. The man who replaced George Hensfey aslhe6nly paid c- employee of San Diego Building Loan Association was a native of Germany. Later that year, at the July 28 annual meeting, a new president was elected.

It was Abraham Blochman, a native of France who had come to the California gold fields at the age of 17. Land sales soared in Southern California as the country enjoyed the prosperity of the twenties. Assets reached a new high of $919,832.96. Based on a solid financial footing, the company" weathered the Crash of 1929 and remained constant during the troubled years of the "early 1930s. Unlike many other financial institutions, San Diego Building and Loan never closed its doors on a business day, continuing to serve its customers throughout the Depression.

On December 24, 1936, the association received its. federal charter, becoming a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank System, a big advantage for expansion of operations. Reflecting the change-from-a-California-state charter to a Federal charter (Charter- Revised), the name was changed to San Diego Federal Savings and Loan Association. In 1941, San Diego began to gear up for participation" in World War II, the economy improving as the war went on. Because of the growth in California during the late 1940s and early 1950s, the state became "capital-shy." As the 1950s closed and the 20 years business i churches and- synogogues extend congratulations I mm National Gity 100 years! I in Celebration ojf Universal Christian 160 ESWCV.

426-5852 -Rev. Roberto Zentella Diaz St. Anthonys Catholic Church 1816 Harding, N.C. 477-4520 Rev. Estlvlll Lorenz First United Methodist Church 242 E.

8th N.C. 477-2741 Rev. Klrby Plckus Chula Vista Adventist 102 4th C.V. 422-0405 J.W. Wolter, PestOr Bonita Road Baptist Church 73 Bonita C.V.

425-2001 Dr. Ken Oaugherty, Pastor Concordia Lutheran Church 267 E. Oxford St, C.V. 422-6606 Rev. Edmond E.

Aho National City pf 111 Chula Vista Presbyterian Church 940 Hilltop C.V. 426-2211 Pastors Paul Reeves Jamas Scott Rauch United Church of Christ of Paradise Hills 1 5810 Alleghany S.D. 474-3796 Rev. Bruce V. Talbert Pilgrim Lutheran Church 5th C.V.

422-0492 Rev. Gerald D. DeLoye First United Methodist 710 3rd C.V. 422-2525 Dan Benedict, Pastor Temple Beth Sholom 208 Madrons C.V. 420-6040 Rabbi Irwin Cutler First Christian Church 1800 E.

17th St, N.C. 474-2254 Al Young, Minister Risen Savior Lutheran Church 3602 Bonita Bonita 585-1773 Pastor John W. Zarllng Bonita Valley S.D.A. Church 3737 Sweetwater N.C. 475-5943 Pastor Kaul Rasmusson Christ Assembly Church 1401 Roosevelt, N.C.

264-4556 BAY CABINETS East 31st Street St. Mary's Catholic Church 411 E. 8th N.C 474-1501 Rev. BUI Ortmann Christian Life United Pentecostal 2515 Beyer So. S.D.

423-3380 Edward Sandez, Pastor First Christian Spiritualist 1208 Coolldge N.C. 477-6424 Rev. Margaret L. Stone National CA 92050 477-8800 Pastor Jesse RefP 0.