Step into the heart of Old Town San Diego. Before you stands La Casa de Machado y Stewart a testament to San Diego’s rich history. This unassuming adobe structure whispers tales of families and eras long past.
La Casa de Machado y Stewart began as a humble two-room adobe built around 1835 by Jose Manuel Machado a retired soldier. He and his wife Maria Serafina Valdez de Machado raised eleven children within its walls. Imagine the lively chaos the laughter and the everyday struggles of a large family in this small space. The original roof was a simple tule thatch later replaced by a more durable tile roof.
The house passed to Machado’s youngest daughter Rosa. She married Jack Stewart a sailor and carpenter from Maine. They continued to add to and improve the house making it their lifelong home. They expanded the dwelling adding rooms and refining its features. Think of them adding those wood-paned windows and a charming piazza a perfect place for outdoor gatherings.
In 1911 a significant remodeling occurred. Frank Pancho Stewart Machado’s grandson completely transformed the house. He replaced the adobe exterior with wood siding added new windows and installed tongue-and-groove floors. This modernization reflected the changing times though it sadly obscured much of the original adobe’s character.
By 1966 the house fell into disrepair. Luckily California State Parks acquired La Casa de Machado y Stewart. They undertook a meticulous rehabilitation. The goal was to return the building to its appearance from the 1830s and 1840s not a complete restoration. They carefully repaired the adobe walls reinforced the foundation and replaced damaged bricks. They painstakingly recreated the original piazza. Today you can see the results of this careful restoration.
La Casa de Machado y Stewart stands as a living museum. It showcases the life and times of the Machado and Stewart families. It demonstrates the evolution of adobe architecture in San Diego. The house reminds us of the continuous changes that impact a building. Its history however remains a captivating thread through time. As you leave La Casa de Machado y Stewart remember the stories it holds. It embodies San Diego’s enduring spirit adaptability and resilience.