It starts with the story of Yankee Jim. Who's real name is James Robinson. A man caught and found guilty of grand arseny on August 17th 1852. He was sentence to be hung by the neck till dead. The hanging was to take place the next day at the tree located where the Whaley house now stands.
But, it was post-poned an intire month for reasons unknown to me. It is unknown do to lack of records whether the hanging still took place at the same tree on the property. But there are early pictures taken of the location which suggest it still may have.
The two story Whaley house structure was not completly built until 1857. By that time Thomas Whaley was already a prominent business man establishing his stature in both San Francisco and the now growning town of San Diego. He was now married to Anna Eloise De Launay. The wedding took place at the Church of Ascension in New York city on August 14th, 1853. They're first son was born soon after. Francis Hinton Whaley was born in what is called the Burkholz house which the Whaleys were leasing on December 28th, 1854.
The construction of the Whaley house began the of September in 1856. The home was to be a 2 story Greek revival and would act as a residence and store. It would cost Whaley $10,000 to complet. He planned to pay for labor in trade. At the time he was using his own brick yard company to complete his house. The house was finally finished in May 1857. The house was called "The most handsomest and most covenient place in 150 miles." The upstairs was to be family living quarters. While the downstairs would be the short lived store front. Though the whaley house was the center of attention and known as one of the most luxurious mansions at the time, Thomas still wanted to move his family back to New York city.
Thomas Whaley and his now growing family where living in San Francisco by the late 1850's. In 1868, a group of actors was now residing in upperstairs room at the Whaley house. They where called the Tanner Troupe. They setup a small theeatre there but the group was very short lived after opening. By the near end of 1868 the Whaley family had returned to San Diego. That's when the court house upstairs comes in. The three rooms located upstairs of the whaley house are converted into a courthouse on August 1869 for a two year lease at a mere $65 a month.
So lets recap where in the history of the Whaley house we are right now. The property was once the possible site of a hanging. Then was home/store front. Then the upstairs was converted into a small theatre for a group of actors. Lastly the house was once again made a home and now the upstairs was a court room.
The place in now a home again. Many parties for the young Whaley children are thrown there. Whaley is often gone now he has been experiencing financial woes and has spent a lot of time in New York with his mother and traveling with business partners looking for new venturers.
Unfortunatly, all his efforts failed and by November 1879 his family was in terrible condition. Thankts to the help from Whaleys eldest child Francis the family was able to survive. But, Thomas was in dramatic despair. His idleness and poor quality of health made him depressed and often violent. The subject of most of his outbursts was his son George. He was often criticized by Thomas for being a violinist. George left his home and later lived under his mother's name.
Finally, the Whaleys' make a come back. The entire family is begining to prosper. Grandchildren are born and many new business venturers have come around. But, admist the prospering family there was one major down fall.
Violet, Whaleys fifth child commits suicide by shooting herself in the heart with her fathers 32 calibre Smith & Wesson pistol on August 19th, 1885. Poor Violet was upset over a failed marriage that lasted a total of two weeks to a con-artist who left town just afterwards. She was divorced and hummiliated. She first attempted to drown herself in the month of July. But, she survived and was now under the care of a local doctor and living at home with her family. As devistating as her suicide sounds, it gets worse she wasn't found dead. Her father found her barely alive and carried her into the house where she died in the lounge.
Violet wrote this note:
"Mad from lifes history,
Swift to deaths misery,
Glad to be hurled,
Anywhere, Anwhere, out of this world."
The Whaleys in December of 1885 have now built a one story house in which they move into. The Whaley's old home is now the residences of the Barnes family. Mine owners from El Paso, Texas. Thomas Whaley dies Decemer of 1890 at 933 State street in San Diego. In 1912 the Whaley house was back in the Whaley family. Mrs. Whaley is still very much a socialite and holds dances and parties at the Whaley house. She dies February 14th, 1913 at the age of 80. The next year Francis dies in the house as well, of rheumatism on November 19th.
The house is not left vacant though his surviving brother and sister, george and Lilian live there. The Whaley house was made a home until 1953 when Lilian was put into a nursing home. San Diego County assumed ownership of the Whaley property in 1956. The house was in terrible condition. It was renovated and has stood as a historical landmark and museum in Old town, San Diego ever since.
The information provided is thanks to the posted findings of the Whaley house chronology website compilied by Kathy Flanigan.