Castle Plays Part in Ramona History
By Ruth Lepper

The Strong castle today plays host to weddings and parties. Photo by Jamey Ritter

The castle stands strong and proud, a sentry at the outskirts of Ramona.

Officially called Mount Woodson Castle, most locals refer to the national historic landmark as the "Amy Strong Castle."

Amy Strong, a noted San Diego modiste, selected this area on Mount Woodson to build her home, a stately mansion built primarily of stone.

The house has barely changed from its early days. There remains a bold resemblance to old photographs taken some 80 years ago.

The architects were John Vawter of Los Angeles, and Emmor B. Weaver of San Diego. Although Strong also was involved in the design. Together, they came up with sketches for her "dream castle."

Strong was an independent woman who knew what she wanted when her home was built. She not only had a hand in designing the house; she dug right in and helped to build it.

Strong, born in 1860 in Peoria, Ill., set up business in San Diego during the 1890s and was a sought-after dressmaker for more than 20 years for the well-to-do of San Diego and Coronado. She made annual treks to Paris to keep up with the latest fashions and to bring back bolts of silks and satins for her popular creations.

Construction of the the 12,000-square-foot house was completed in 1919. Photo courtesy of Guy B. Woodward Museum

Strong was a short, stout woman who suffered from respiratory problems. Seeking a healthier climate, she bought 12- acres of land near Mount Woodson in the early 1900s for the then-extravagant sum of $2,400. Construction on the more than 12,000-square-foot, two-story building did not begin until 1916. It was another five years before it was completed.

The house started with two large boulders under its foundation, molding itself to a rising knoll at the foot of the mountain. The rocks that went into the walls on the first level, and which have retained their natural colors and shapes, were found in the surrounding area.

The adobe used in the walls and interior partitions on the second story were made on site. Keystones in the many arches were placed there in their natural state.

Amy Strong, shown here in 1900, was a sought-after dressmaker. Photo courtesy of Guy B. Woodward Museum

The building has 27 rooms, including five bedrooms, four bathrooms and two music rooms. There are four fireplaces and a Dutch oven. The living room is 72 feet long with an 18-foot-high ceiling. The stone walls are 4-feet to 7-feet thick. On the living room ceiling, small carvings were inscribed by local Indians working on the house. Some of the signs are said to ward off evil spirits. Markings around the doorways are said to "symbolize wealth and a long and happy life for all who dwell within."

A 14th century sundial on the ceiling in the dining room depicts the 12 signs of the zodiac, handpainted by Strong and her niece, Margaret Meyers.

Strong spent $50,000 during construction of the castle. Tiles were purchased at the San Gabriel Mission in the Los Angeles area, but all other basic materials came from the surrounding property.

The castle is made almost entirely of rock, tile and cement. Under the tile roof and the walls on the main floor also are made from concrete. Interior doors are heavy redwood planks and polished to a satiny finish. The mantel over the fireplace in the dining room was hand-hewed from a solid piece of redwood.

Photos by Jamey Ritter

The steps leading into the castle and the inside stairs are made out of granite. Eucalyptus from the surrounding property was used for beams and woodwork inside the house. A balcony at the top of the stairs leading to the second level has been called "an architectural wonder," because it has no visible means of support as it extends out over the living room.

Strong's personal suite of three rooms can each be entered from the balcony. In the sunroom, where there once was a swinging porch bed for Strong to rest during the day, there is evidence of the moss that grew on the inside walls. Strong would have the walls watered down by a hose once a year to keep the moss fresh.

Two other bedrooms on the second level were guest rooms for women invited to stay overnight. One smaller room on the first level was a guest room for male visitors, since Strong did not consider it proper for men and women to have rooms on the same floors.

Strong and her niece lived in the castle until 1950 when, once again, ill health prompted Strong to move. They relocated in San Diego, near Lemon Grove, and stayed there until Strong's death in 1952.

Strong sold the castle to Lawrence Hertline. Many people in Ramona today recall being entertained by the Hertlines. They would leave their Christmas tree up for six months to allow enough time for all their social obligations. Church choirs were often invited to sing from the balcony as the guests sat in the living room below.

Hertline sold the castle to the Tibbitts family in 1956. The Tibbitts remained there for several years, raising a large family. They once entertained 75 guests in the huge living room with a three-act play and a cast of 50 actors.

After the Tibbitts family, the building stood empty for several years before it was sold to developers.