Boat Houses-Encinitas
|  |
The Boat Houses in Encinitas
Tip of the Week: July 19, 2008
"A lot of people ask me if I were shipwrecked, and could only have one book, what would it be? I always say "How to Build a Boat"-- Stephen Wright, comedian
Recycling is back again. We say that because creative dudes have been taking something old and tired and bringing it back to life, in a new use, going back longer than most of us were born. When the Moonlight Beach Dance Hall and Bathhouse (circa 1888) was demolished in 1925, someone saw a reuse in the making. In those days, it was Mr. Miles Kelllog. He had a knack for recyling all sorts of materials. A nautical engineer by trade, and a man of many interests, he set his sights on a way to pay homage to his boat building days back in Lake Michigan. Back in the late 1920's, with the recycled lumber of the demolished bathhouse, he built what are now considered treasures of Encinitas. Work is underway to get these treasures registered in the National
Register of Historic Places. They ARE eligible, it just comes down scads of paperwork.
The Boat Houses, S.S. Moonlight and S.S. Encinitas, happen to be the most photographed and the most famous houses in Encinitas. Along with the adjoining 4 courtyard apartment units, they are examples of what is called "vernacular architecture" which refers to buildings designed in an informal way, rather than by architects using design principles. In other words, build whatever floats your boat. Long, long ago, folks driving along Highway 101 had a view of the Boat Houses from the road. Nowadays, you need to drive off Highway 101 and through the residential community to see them. And you should have a look. In a time of cookie-cutter homes, these two buildings will bring a smile to your face. If you like architecture that rocks the boat, these structures which are anchored in concrete and not water, will enchant you with their eccentric charm.
As a miracle of modern times, the City of Encinitas, a private developer and a non-profit organization worked together to save these creative beacons of Encinitas. Thankfully, no one missed the boat on this one. The Boat Houses will be preserved under the watchful eye of the Encinitas Preservation Association. In the future, one of the Boat Houses will be converted into a museum. Currently, the Boat House units are private residences, so please keep that in mind.
Here's to the people of Encinitas who are all in the same boat in preserving these unique structures from stem to stern.
726 & 732 Third Street
Encinitas, California
Map
| 
