Edgemoor Farm Dairy Barn
Also known as: Edgemoor Polo Barn
Why it's listed
Built in 1913 on what is now the Edgemoor Geriatric Hospital grounds in Santee, this wood-frame barn measures 90 by 30 feet and rises 44 feet to the ridge of its Dutch gambrel roof. It sits on a poured concrete foundation, with redwood siding, fir framing and two ornate galvanized ventilators. The barn was built for Walter H. Dupee, who ran Edgemoor Farm as a dairy and polo pony operation. It housed prize Guernsey bulls, and the farm was called a leading Guernsey breeder in the United States, winning 70 percent of the prizes at the 1922 National Dairy Show. San Diego County bought the property in the 1920s and used the barn for livestock until 1953. A 1955 remodel turned it into storage, though its layout remains close to the original. It is the last relatively unaltered building of the farm and the only known barn of its style in the San Diego region. The name Polo Barn persists, although the pony stables stood elsewhere.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the barn is the only known Dutch gambrel-roofed barn of its type and period surviving in the San Diego area. It is also the last remaining building of Edgemoor Farm, which was a leader in scientific Guernsey dairy breeding and also raised polo ponies under owner Walter H. Dupee.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 85001065, listed May 16, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 9064 Edgemoor Dr., Edgemoor Geriatric Hospital, Santee |
|---|---|
| County | San Diego County |
| Listed | May 16, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001065 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific date 1913) |
| Architectural style | Dutch gambrel roof barn |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as storage and a central supply warehouse for the hospital; condition rated excellent and moderately altered. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 32.84348, -116.97009 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 85001065.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5337800
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.