Time Worn Historic Structures to be Demolished

Once home to an essential member of Loma Linda University’s staff, the small cottage on Buena Vista Street has more recently become home to ravenous termites.

After looking through photos of disintegrating wood and a dilapidated foundation Loma Linda’s Historical Commission supported a decision by the university to demolish the property.

Despite its history, commission chairman Jim Shipp said there has been significant documentation of several of the original university buildings. While many had been saved, the group noted this one, and a second building, a block building built sometime in the 1950’s, were in very poor condition.

“I think it’s important to point out there is a legacy village in the works that would include museum and historic site in that area,” Shipp said.

It is not in the area where the village is proposed, but is certainly does not add anything to the project.

“It would be extraordinary to try to restore this building,” he said.

The five-room cottage was built sometime around 1908 for Roderick S. Owen, one of the university’s original Bible teachers who served for about 20 years.

The commission also supported the demolition of the Loma Linda University Biology Block Building. That structure did not get the same greeting the Owen cottage did.

The building is in the middle of a parking lot off of Anderson Street. The building had a story. Built around 1955, the building was used by a number of departments, said commissioner Dick Schaffer, a Loma Linda University historian.

It’s now empty, but at one time Dr. Bruce W. Halstead used it for his research on poisonous and venomous fish.