I love discovering little tidbit historical facts, especially “local to my neighborhood” facts. It’s funny what you see and discover when you walk instead of drive. Even more so, when you leave your cell phone at home (or at least in your pocket) and keep your eyes open.
I’ve driven over this Sorrento Mesa bridge in UTC, which serves as the Eastgate Mall overpass @ the 805 Freeway (and my shortcut home), at least 2,000 times in the last 11 years of living here, in San Diego as a UTC resident. I never knew the history of it, after all it's just an overpass on a backroad. But, today I jogged it with my dog, Peroni. We discovered what appeared at first glance to be a headstone, and then on closer inspection, it was a weed-covered memorial plaque. “What an odd location, a much forgotten location, to place a memorial plaque?” I thought as I brushed the weeds back with my shoe. I leaned in and read:
HENRY G. FENTON
MEMORIAL BRIDGE
BY RESOLUTION OF THE CALIFORNIA
LEGISLATURE ON AUGUST 18, 1982
THIS BRIDGE IS DEDICATED
IN HONOR OF HENRY G. FENTON
FOR HISCONTRIBUTIONS TO THE
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF
THE SAN DIEGO CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
FROM 1906 TO 1951
So now the obvious question, “Whose Henry Gilbert Fenton?” I figured between Google & Wikipedia, I had a strong chance of finding out…and I did. It turns out there’s a 109 year old company by the name of: H.G. Fenton Company here in San Diego, founded by the man. In 1906 they were a contracting company, that later expanded into multiple industries like construction, ready mix concrete, industrial salt & real estate. Today they are a flourishing real estate organization serving businesses & residents in San Diego.
Working for Coldwell Banker, (also a 109 year old company, founded in my hometown of San Francisco, CA in 1906 out of the ashes of the 1906 Earthquake), I have much appreciation for companies that stand the test of time & evolve & change with the times, even become market leaders, as both of these companies are here in San Diego.
I just wish the plaque wasn’t in such a lonely, forgotten location. But now that I need to lose weight, I guess I’ll jog by it more often so it’s not so forgotten. I love San Diego & helping people move here!
I'm never too busy for your referrals to buyers & sellers of San Diego residential real estate!
Comments(2)