RANCHO SANTA FE — The year 1860 has been designated as the Period of Significance for the soon-to-be historic site of Osuna Adobe. On June 11, the Osuna Adobe Committee met and after careful consideration recommended the date; now plans for the historic site will bear that date in mind when considering future restoration work.

Librado Silva originally built the adobe in the 1830s, but the property was deeded to Juan Maria Osuna, the first mayor of San Diego. Early photographs dating back to late 1800s have been found, giving the Osuna Adobe Committee guidelines to follow when trying to restore the premises.

The committee asked for “wiggle room” in preparing the plans, however. “There may be a few items from the 1924 Lilian Rice renovation that might remain,” board director Bill Beckman, who is a member of the committee, said at the meeting.

The Association purchased the Osuna Adobe in 2006 and the Osuna Adobe Committee is currently developing a Master Plan. Choosing the Period of Significance has been a major hurdle for committee members since little is known about the structure at the time of its origin in the 1830s. A fire destroyed the roof and much of the remaining structure in the 1920s. In 1924, Ranch architect Lillian Rice supervised a renovation that significantly altered and modernized the structure, incorporating an indoor bathroom and kitchen, rooms that were never in the original adobe.

Restoration plans will probably recommend the removal of the kitchen and bathroom, plus changing the tiled roof to a flat roof with a new roofline, as per photographs from the late 1800s.

Board members greeted the 1860 Period of Significance with enthusiasm. “Wonderful,” President Marie Addario said. “We’ve been trying to prod this along and now it’s happening.”