The Stammer House built in 1909 is among the homes on the Mother’s Day Tour hosted by the Old Escondido Historic District. (Photo by Carol Rea)

An ice cream social 30 years ago at an old house in the oldest part of Escondido led to an effort to restore several blocks of historical homes, some dating back more than a century.

The city of Escondido established the Old Escondido Historic District in the early 1990s and this year marks the district’s 25th anniversary.

The downtown neighborhood, bordered by Fifth Avenue on the north, 13th on the south, Escondido Boulevard on the west and Chestnut Street on the east, now includes 900 residences, many restored to their original beauty, dating back to the mid-1880s, ranging from Victorian houses and bungalows to Art Deco homes.

Continuing a two-decade tradition, the district will run a Mother’s Day tour May 14 highlighting five historical homes and their interiors.

The oldest home on the tour is the Dailey House, built circa 1890 out of bricks from the Escondido brickyard. The home was later covered in clapboard and updated with a modern interior and vintage accents.

The next oldest featured stop is the Bradbury House, built in 1905 and owned by two families in its 112-year history. The Dutch Colonial style house has the traditional gambrel roof.

The Carroll House, a bungalow built by Bernard Carroll in 1925, has many of its original features and is one of a number bungalows in the neighborhood built by Carroll, whose family was one of the area’s pioneers.

The tour will include a cedar-covered classic mid-century modern built in 1956 by William Brothers and his wife, Phyllis, with open-beamed redwood ceilings.

Refreshments will be served at the Stammer House, built in 1909 with a gable style roof and cistern under the house. The Stammer House, which has sweeping views of the valley, was the site of the first neighborhood group meeting that led to the formation of the historic district.

The homes will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Advance tickets are $20 sold at at Rosemary-Duff Florist, Major Market and the Escondido History Center and online at oldescondido.org. Children ages 12 and younger are admitted free with paying adult. Day-of-event tickets are $25 at 537 S. Juniper St. Price includes refreshments and keepsake program.

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