{"nrhp_refnum":"78000749","name":"Castle, The","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"W of Ramona","address_restricted":false,"city":"Ramona","county":"San Diego County","state":"CA","lat":33.013605118000044,"lon":-116.95557542799997,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1978-03-30","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A twenty-seven room mansion known as The Castle, on a roughly 3-acre site near Ramona, San Diego County, California, built between 1916 and 1921 for Amy Strong to plans by John T. Vawter and Emmor B. Weaver.","why_significant":"The nomination presents the house as an example of early twentieth century efforts to create a distinctly Californian house, blending Craftsman and Mission Revival ideas of rusticity and informality. It is also significant as a major design by architect John T. Vawter and as the expression of Amy Strong, a prominent San Diego couturier, on land once homesteaded by Dr. Marshall Clay Woodson.","narrative":"Set on about three acres near Ramona, The Castle is a twenty-seven room mansion built between 1916 and 1921 for Amy Strong. Architects John T. Vawter and Emmor B. Weaver drew the plans, reportedly while living in a tent on the property. Rough-hewn native granite forms the walls, hand-made irregular tiles cover the roof, and the doorways and windows recall California missions, while the chimney and rambling rooflines suggest an English cottage. Inside are eucalyptus logs, a copy of a fourteenth century sundial, and carved decoration. The house is valued as an example of the early twentieth century search for a distinctly Californian house, combining Craftsman and Mission Revival ideals. Strong was a successful San Diego couturier who retired in 1908 and spent about $50,000 on the building. The land was part of Dr. Marshall Clay Woodson's original 320-acre homestead. A windmill, stone garage, swimming pool and summer house survive.","period_of_significance":"1916-1921","architect_builder":"John T. Vawter, of Los Angeles; Emmor Brooke Weaver, of San Diego","architectural_style":"Eclectic blend of Mission and Craftsman elements, with English Cottage and Tudor details","criteria":[],"status_note":"Described as essentially unaltered, with the windmill, stone garage, natural swimming pool and summer house intact; occupied as a private residence.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:55:32.18453-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_CA/78000749.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/78000749/4101b0b5c7-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/78000749/4101b0b5c7-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 4.0","author":"JERRYE &amp; ROY KLOTZ. M.D.","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:THE_CASTLE,_RAMONA,_SAN_DIEGO_COUNTY,_CA.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">JERRYE &amp;amp; ROY KLOTZ. M.D.</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:THE_CASTLE,_RAMONA,_SAN_DIEGO_COUNTY,_CA.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/123860837","wikipedia":null,"wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6144217"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/california/san-diego-county/castle-the-78000749/"}