History Uncovered on Park Boulevard in University Heights
Historic Sign Uncovered at 4628 Park Blvd. in University Heights
A little bit of University Heights history was uncovered in early April when an old hand-painted sign for “Johnston’s Variety Department Store” was revealed under the former Small Bar sign at 4628 Park Blvd.
The University Heights Historical Society did some digging and found out that Alex and Mary Johnston established and operated the Johnston’s Variety Department Store for 16 years from 1924 until Mr. Johnston’s death in 1940.
Alexander Johnston and Mary Suzzanah Sandford were both born in 1865 in Dane, Wisconsin and married in 1900 in Weber, Utah. They moved to San Diego in approximately 1920, where they lived downtown at 1556 2nd Avenue in a beautiful, historic apartment that still stands today. Alex worked as a bookkeeper and business secretary for the YMCA and Mary worked as a stenographer for a law firm.
The Johnstons moved to University Heights in 1924 where they opened their first store at 4652 Park Blvd. and moved it in 1926 to 4628 Park Blvd. Johnston’s Variety Department Store was typical of the small, family-owned, independent businesses of that era. This began to change with the advent of large department stores in the mid 1800s and early 1900’s, as noted by Alex Johnston in the San Diego Union on September 10, 1928:
“Statistics show that the jobber is decreasing in number. As the little merchant will be unable to buy directly from the manufacturer, it looks like he, too, will fade from the picture in a few years, and only the big chain stores will be able to get the goods.”
Mary Johnston was a member of the San Diego Business and Professional Women’s Club, San Diego’s first organization for women in business founded in 1917. Mary was quoted in the San Diego Union on more than one occasion. On June 2, 1935, she spoke of the passing of John Davidson, the Superintendent of Mission Cliff Gardens which was established in 1898 in University Heights by John D. Spreckels:
“The items in the local papers recently relating to the passing of John Davidson stressed mainly his career as nurseryman and custodian of the Mission Cliff Gardens. But to his many friends and neighbors, and the tourists from out of town who visited the garden, he was known and loved as a rare personality. The group of retired men who for years gathered afternoons at the spot had set aside for them for their horseshoe, card and checker games, were constant recipients of his courtesy and consideration, and their love was evidenced by a beautiful floral piece for his funeral. One man was heard to remark that he followed Mr. Davidson about his work as he deemed it a rare privilege to be in the company of such a man. His constant and untiring devotion to and care of his invalid wife for years, and the sterling qualities of his life as he lived it, his uncomplaining patience, gentleness, and tolerance were a constant example to his children, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren as they grew up and will ever remain with them a blessed memory and a valuable and priceless heritage.”
Alex passed away in 1940 at age 75 and Mary passed away in 1946 at age 81. We are grateful to the Johnstons for their contributions to our community, and to the small businesses today in University Heights who continue this tradition.