Oceanside CA— The Friends of Heritage Park hosted an Estate Sale on Sunday, November 16 2014, selling antiques, collectibles, dishes and much more. All proceeds will be going toward the refurbishment of the historic Payne/Johannsen House.
“We are so excited about upcoming restoration” said Dottie Frank, a volunteer with the Friends of Heritage Park. “We can’t wait for it to be finished”
The park buildings will undergo an ambitious restoration over the winter months, returning the interiors to their original time periods. This will include fixtures and furnishings.
“The Payne/Johannsen House was originally located on Freeman Street in Oceanside” explained park historian, Terry Larson. “It served as the Parks and Recreation office for a time.”
“Heritage Park was developed, by the City of Oceanside, for the Bi-centennial of America celebration in 1976.” Terry continued. “We hope to have a ribbon cutting in the spring and possibly a Victorian Christmas in 2015” Terry said guides for the park will also dress in clothes relative to time periods represented by the buildings at Heritage.
Below is some history of the owners of the Payne/Johannsen House provided by The Friends of Heritage Park:
Edgar S. Payne was born about 1854. When he was a few years old, he was taken to live with the family of his aunt and uncle, Mary and Josiah Payne, in Watkins, Schuyler, New York. After he completed school, he followed the example of his aunt and uncle and began a career in banking. His family is found in the 1880 US Federal Census.
The home we refer to as the Payne/Johannsen House was built in 1886, by Edgar S. Payne who was a 39-year-old native of New York and worked in a local bank.
The 1890 Census is not available for consultation; however the California register of voters for that time period indicates that Mr. Payne was living in the house at the time. He then sold the house to Soren Johannsen , blacksmith in 1897; but continued to live in the area. According to the 1900 United States Federal Census for the San Luis Rey Township in the City of Oceanside, Edgar S. Payne, 45 years of age, was still working in a bank and living in a nearby house with his aunt, Mary M. Payne, 66 years old, his niece, Lizzie McDonald, 47 years old, and Mary I. Goetz, a 27-year-old nurse.
One of the possible reasons for Mr. Payne to sell his previous house could have been the need for more room. The Johannsen House may have been too small for four adults. The 1910 Census shows that Edgar, aged 56, had married Harriet, age 48, and that his aunt and niece were no longer living with him. When Soren Johannsen purchased the house, he was a 30 year-old blacksmith and recent immigrant from Denmark.
The house was just the right size for him, his 33-year-old wife, Nellie, and their 12-year-old son , Edwin . His blacksmith shop was nearby. Soren and Nellie lived in the house until his death in 1923. Nellie died in 1993. Edwin Johannsen got a job with the railroad and before the 1920 Census, he married and moved to another city and into the home of his father-in-law.