Julian: A Community That Wears Many Hats
By Amber Ward

Julian founding fathers at 1915 July 4th, Pioneer Parade. Photo Courtesy of Historical House

Almost everyone in the community of Julian wears different hats.

Business owners often double as community service leaders and officers of groups such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Julian Merchants Association.

Residents who give their time to the community are also the ones that keep us working together to maintain our small town charm, not only for our guests, but also for our residents.

This has been a longtime Julian tradition.

In an excerpt from 1900 from "My Experiences and Adventures as the First Pastor

of the Julian Baptist Church of Julian, California" by town founder Francis Lewis Blanc he wrote:

"I was called to San Diego as a witness in probating a will, which I had wrote years before. The court convened at 10 a.m., I was called. The attorney asked my name and where I lived. I gave the correct answers, then he asked what is your business. I said, pastor of the Julian Baptist Church.' 'Do you do anything else? I said I was a carpenter. 'What else?' I said I was 'justice of the peace.' I saw a twinkle in his eye. 'Now what else?' 'Deputy county clerk.' 'Anything more?' 'Yes, agent for the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company.' He took one long look at me and said, 'Does anybody else live in Julian?' I said 'Yes,' just as calm as a judge. The court and others sure got a great kick out of this."

Like so many other Julian residents, Blanc was a man of many hats.

Blanc was the first full-time pastor of the Julian Baptist Church, a building contractor and carpenter, elected justice of the peace in 1896, and was later appointed deputy county clerk. He was also a small-time rancher in the Kentwood area, storekeeper, freight operator, insurance agent and the father of eight children.

Born April 29, 1862 in Knoxville, Tenn., Blanc came to Julian with his wife, Ella, in 1893. He taught Sunday School for many years in Julian, and built the Baptist Church Parsonage.

Blanc was contracted to build the new Julian High School in 1896, and continuously served on the school district's Board of Trustees. Blanc and another builder, C. R. Wellington, built the Julian Town Hall, the Julian Gold Rush Hotel, the building that once stood where the Julian Market now resides.

Blanc built and operated a general store, near the corner of Main and B streets, and farmed an 80-acre ranch in the Kentwood area. This is where he also operated a free campground and started a freight line from Julian to San Diego.

Blanc served as deputy county clerk for 23 years, and was Julian's judge from 1896 to 1903. Blanc was a busy man that gave whenever he could to the community of Julian, he was a true community servant like so many others living in Julian today.