Franklin House

Franklin House was a nineteenth-century hotel in San Diego, California, originally established as the Exchange Hotel in 1851. The property was built by George P. Tebbetts and Philip Hooff during San Diego's early American period, when the settlement was developing commercial and civic institutions. Its first recorded public identification appeared in a May 29, 1851 advertisement in the San Diego Herald for the "Exchange Hotel and Billiard Saloon." The advertisement promoted hospitality, billiards, and the sale of wines, liquors, and cigars, placing the establishment within the social and commercial life of the young town. The hotel also became associated with the development of organized Freemasonry in Southern California. On June 29, 1851, Masons met at the hotel to commemorate Saint John the Baptist, their patron saint. That gathering helped lead to the formation of San Diego Lodge No. 35, Free and Accepted Masons, described in historical accounts as the oldest Masonic lodge in Southern California. The building therefore served not only travelers and local customers but also as a meeting place for an important civic and fraternal organization. Lewis Franklin, a cousin of San Francisco hotelier Selim Franklin, arrived in San Diego by 1851 and purchased the hotel on July 19, 1855. In November of that year, the establishment was renamed Franklin House. The new name connected the property with Franklin's family and commercial identity, while the business continued its role as a hotel and public gathering place. Contemporary descriptions portrayed the building as a three-story structure with a brick ground floor and a verandah extending across the front of the upper levels. The design reflected the practical and social character of early San Diego lodging houses, which combined accommodation with spaces for refreshment, entertainment, and community meetings. By 1858, ownership or management had passed to Joseph Reiner, who renewed the hotel's bedding and furniture. Masonic meetings continued to be held at Franklin House, and Joseph Mannasse, an early San Diego Mason, later became associated with ownership of the property. These changes indicate that Franklin House was a locally operated establishment rather than part of a modern hotel chain or nationally managed hospitality company. The building's existence ended after a fire in April 1872 destroyed Franklin House. The site remained vacant for a period afterward, and the commercial brand did not continue as an operating hotel. Its historical importance, however, survived through the location's connection to San Diego's early hotel trade, the city's formative civic networks, and the beginnings of Freemasonry in Southern California. The former Exchange Hotel site was designated California Historical Landmark No. 491 on October 10, 1951. Franklin House is consequently best understood as a defunct historical hospitality establishment and landmark-associated name, rather than as an active consumer brand.

Franklin House began as the Exchange Hotel in San Diego in 1851. George P. Tebbetts and Philip Hooff built the establishment during the early development of the American settlement. Its earliest known public reference is a May 29, 1851 advertisement in the San Diego Herald, which presented the business as the Exchange Hotel and Billiard Saloon. The advertisement promoted the premises as a place offering lodging and recreation, along with wines, liquors, and cigars. The hotel quickly acquired importance beyond ordinary hospitality. On June 29, 1851, Freemasons gathered there to commemorate Saint John the Baptist. This meeting was connected with the creation of San Diego Lodge No. 35, Free and Accepted Masons, which is historically identified as the oldest Masonic lodge in Southern California. The hotel consequently functioned as one of the town's early spaces for civic, social, and fraternal activity. Lewis Franklin, a cousin of San Francisco hotel operator Selim Franklin, was in San Diego by 1851. He bought the Exchange Hotel on July 19, 1855. In November of the same year, the business was renamed Franklin House. The building was described as having a brick ground floor, three stories, and a verandah extending across the front. Its combination of guest accommodation, refreshment service, billiards, and meeting space reflected the mixed-use character of early American hotels. By 1858, the property had come under the control of Joseph Reiner, who renewed its bedding and furniture. The improvements suggest an attempt to maintain or improve the establishment's standards as San Diego's population and commercial activity changed. Freemasons continued to meet at Franklin House. Joseph Mannasse, an early San Diego Mason, later became associated with ownership of the hotel. Franklin House was destroyed in an April 1872 fire. After the destruction, the site remained vacant for a period and the Franklin House name ceased to represent an operating hotel. The building's historical associations remained significant because of its role in early San Diego hospitality and its connection to the formation of a major regional Masonic institution. On October 10, 1951, the former Exchange Hotel site was listed as California Historical Landmark No. 491. The landmark designation preserved the location's historical identity even though the original hotel no longer survived. Franklin House should therefore be classified as a defunct local hospitality establishment with continuing heritage significance, not as a current hotel company or active commercial brand.

• 1951

  Site receives California Historical Landmark designation

  [1]Exchange Hotel (San Diego, California)en.wikipedia.org

  The former Exchange Hotel site was designated California Historical Landmark No. 491 on October 10.

• 1872

  Franklin House destroyed by fire

  [1]Exchange Hotel (San Diego, California)en.wikipedia.org

  An April fire destroyed the building, after which the site remained vacant for some time.

• 1858

  Joseph Reiner renews furnishings

  [1]Exchange Hotel (San Diego, California)en.wikipedia.org

  Under Joseph Reiner's ownership or management, the hotel's bedding and furniture were renewed.

• 1855

  Lewis Franklin purchases the hotel

  [1]Exchange Hotel (San Diego, California)en.wikipedia.org

  Lewis Franklin acquired the Exchange Hotel in July, and the property was renamed Franklin House in November.

• 1851

  Exchange Hotel established in San Diego

  [1]Exchange Hotel (San Diego, California)en.wikipedia.org

  George P. Tebbetts and Philip Hooff built the hotel, which operated initially as the Exchange Hotel and Billiard Saloon.

• 1851

  Early Masonic meeting held at the hotel

  [1]Exchange Hotel (San Diego, California)en.wikipedia.org

  Freemasons met at the Exchange Hotel on June 29, an event associated with the beginnings of San Diego Lodge No. 35.

An early San Diego hotel positioned as a lodging, refreshment, billiard, and community meeting establishment for travelers and local residents.

• Hospitality · 1851

  Hotel accommodation

  The core service was lodging in an early San Diego hotel. Available evidence identifies the premises as a hotel but does not provide detailed room counts, rates, or service specifications. Later accounts mention renewed bedding and furniture under Joseph Reiner, indicating that guest accommodation was an ongoing part of the establishment's operation.

• Entertainment · 1851

  Billiard saloon

  The original public description identified the business as the Exchange Hotel and Billiard Saloon. The billiard function gave the property a recreational and social role in addition to lodging. No detailed information is available about the number of tables, operating hours, or other entertainment services.

• Food and beverage · 1851

  Wines, liquors, and cigars

  The hotel's 1851 advertisement promoted wines, liquors, and cigars as part of its commercial offering. These products were typical of nineteenth-century hotel and saloon businesses and helped make the property a gathering place for travelers and local residents.

• 1858

  Renew hotel bedding and furnitureStrategy

  Background

  By 1858, the hotel had come under Joseph Reiner's control or management.

  Action taken

  Reiner renewed the establishment's bedding and furniture.

  Aftermath

  The hotel continued operating and remained a meeting place for Freemasons before its destruction.

  Source

• 1855

  Rename the Exchange Hotel as Franklin HouseStrategy

  Background

  Lewis Franklin acquired the Exchange Hotel in July 1855. The business had already operated as a hotel and billiard saloon since 1851.

  Action taken

  The establishment was renamed Franklin House in November 1855, aligning its public identity with its new proprietor.

  Aftermath

  The Franklin House name remained associated with the property until the building was destroyed by fire in 1872.

  Source

1. 1Exchange Hotel (San Diego, California)en.wikipedia.org