{"id":286911,"date":"2025-10-08T16:09:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T16:09:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/286911\/"},"modified":"2025-10-08T16:09:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T16:09:13","slug":"5-little-known-stories-of-the-san-diego-region-airmail-clocks-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/286911\/","title":{"rendered":"5 little-known stories of the San Diego region: Airmail, clocks & more"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Jessop\u2019s clock on 5th Avenue with the Walker Scott Department store across the street. Writing under the image includes the story of the clock\u2019s stopping due to an earthquake on March 19, 1940. (Photo courtesy of the San Diego History Center)<\/p>\n

San Diego\u2019s picture-perfect image of beaches and sunshine only tells part of the story. Behind the familiar postcard lies a city rich with oddities, surprises, and forgotten bits of the past. Here are five little-known facts about the San Diego region that might just surprise even the most seasoned locals.<\/p>\n

1. Jessop\u2019s Clock Has Traveled Through Time<\/strong>
Commissioned in 1905, Jessop\u2019s Clock is a 22-foot-tall timepiece that has become a San Diego icon. Originally installed in front of the Jessop & Sons jewelry store on Fifth Avenue, it has since been relocated several times, including to Horton Plaza. As of 2025, efforts are underway to restore and permanently house the clock at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park.<\/p>\n

\"Jessop's<\/a>The Jessop\u2019s clock when it was in Horton Plaza. (Photo courtesy of Jessop\u2019s)<\/p>\n

2. The Region Was Once Hollywood\u2019s Backlot<\/strong>
Before Hollywood became the center of the film industry, the San Diego region played a significant role in early cinema. In the early 1900s, several studios operated in the area, producing numerous silent films. Flying A Studios, based in La Mesa, was one of the most notable, creating over 150 films during its run.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Actors in front of the Flying A Studios in La Mesa back in the day. (Photo courtesy of La Mesa Historical Society)<\/p>\n

3. The U.S. Grant Hotel Is Said to Be Haunted<\/strong>
Opened in 1910, the U.S. Grant Hotel in downtown San Diego is not only a luxurious landmark but also a site of ghostly legends. Guests and staff have reported eerie occurrences, including sightings of apparitions and unexplained noises. The most famous ghost is said to be Fannie Chaffee Grant, the wife of the hotel\u2019s builder, who passed away shortly before its opening. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Image of the US Grant Hotel after opening its doors in 1910. (Photo courtesy of Marriott Hotels)<\/p>\n

4. <\/strong>San Diego Was the Birthplace of U.S. Airmail<\/strong><\/p>\n

While many associate airmail with the East Coast, the first regularly scheduled U.S. airmail service actually began in San Diego. In 1918, the U.S. Army Air Service launched a test flight from San Diego to Los Angeles, marking the beginning of a new era in mail delivery. This pioneering flight laid the groundwork for the nationwide airmail network that would follow. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Rockwell Field, San Diego, Cal., airplanes in 1918. The photograph shows three biplanes in the air and two on the ground; the plane in the foreground is empty, and the plane in the background has two men leaning against it. (Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress)<\/p>\n

5. Naval Aviation Took Flight in San Diego<\/strong>
San Diego is often called the \u201cBirthplace of Naval Aviation.\u201d In 1911, Lt. Theodore Ellyson became the U.S. Navy\u2019s first aviator, training at North Island, which was then a remote sandbar. By 1917, the Navy had established a formal air station there, cementing San Diego\u2019s role in military aviation history.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Lt. Theodore Ellyson\u00a0circa\u00a01910-1915 (Photo via Wikipedia\/ public domain)<\/p>\n

Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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