The Christian House

Posted: 10.22.2025 | Updated: 10.22.2025

The Christian House stands as one of San Diego’s most beloved historical homes, known for its period-style architecture and as the former home of one of the city’s earliest pioneers: Harfield Timberlake Christian. A businessman and politically active figure in life, Christian’s influence was well known across the city. 

It wasn’t until Christian passed that another side to his and his wife’s life came to light, a side that was drenched in the occult. Rumor has it that whatever they were involved in wasn’t buried with them. Instead, it may have just opened their family home to something sinister and has no plans of leaving. 

Curious as to what other haunts linger under the moonlight of San Diego? Join San Diego Ghosts for an exciting, yet chill-ridden ghost tour through America’s Finest — and some would argue — most haunted city. Visit our site and book your spot with us today!

Be sure to also take a gander at our blog, which offers more than your average ghost story. It’s filled with spine-tingling frights, cryptids, chilling mysteries, urban legends, and more.

Is the Christian House haunted?

The Christian House isn’t the only haunted house in Heritage Park Victorian Village. In fact, it might be a neighborly phenomenon. Take a look at some of the neighborhood’s other houses plagued by spiritual activity:

• McConaughy House — It was the home of John McConaughy and his family. McConaughy founded the first scheduled passenger and freight service in San Diego County.

• Sherman-Gilbert House — The house was built and first owned by John Sherman, cousin of General William Tecumseh Sherman. Later owners, Bess and Gertrude Gilbert, patrons of the arts, would host internationally renowned entertainers in their home. 

• Bushyhead House — Edward Wilkerson Bushyhead, early San Diego sheriff, chief of police, and San Diego Union newspaper owner, built the house as a rental. Bushyhead, who was part Cherokee Indian, marched in the Trail of Tears during the displacement of the Southeastern tribes in 1838-39.

History of the Christian House

The Christian House is one of the many timeless Queen-Anne-style structures adorning San Diego’s Heritage Park Victorian Village. It is the fruit of a community effort to preserve San Diego’s history during the 1960s, when the city was rapidly expanding. 

Built in 1889 at 1940 Third Ave., the residence was the family home of Harfield Timberlake Christian, his wife Myrtle, and their children. Christian, a Kentucky native, studied law and lived through the Civil War before moving to San Diego with his family in 1871.

He also brought with him a finer taste in southern living, much of which can be seen today in the Christian House’s elegant design — its exterior: a rounded corner tower, shingles, and elaborate ornamentation, while on the inside: several original carved wood fireplaces, ornamented with colorful tiles, some with relief designs of figures. 

Christian traveled back and forth between Los Angeles and San Diego before settling in the latter, where he dabbled in several ventures — mining in Julian, for starters. From there, he went on to become one of the city’s most successful businessmen and pioneers. He founded one of the earliest abstract companies and even authored San Diego’s charter in 1889. 

One of Christian’s last roles was as commissioner of the 1915 exposition—an event he wouldn’t live to see. On December 16, 1914, he had spent the day gardening when he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died in his home. An obituary was later published with his list of accolades.

There was something odd about it, though. It purposefully acknowledged Christian’s affiliation with the Elks Lodge, Freemasons, and other secret societies. There was one more secret within the Christian House: Myrtle was known for hosting palm readings and dabbling in other occult practices. 

Christian House Hauntings 

There are two spirits known to dwell in the Christian House. The first is a lady in white, whom witnesses have reported is accompanied by the scent of lavender, believed to be what she wore back in the day. She has often been seen peering through the front windows of the house or walking around on the front porch, where her footsteps can be heard. 

It’s unknown what this mysterious lady in white’s intentions are. However, the same can’t be said for her ghostly roommate — a spectral entity that has made several visitors vow never to return. 

The Watcher

The Christian House has been closed to the public since the early 2000s. But before that, visitors would often experience seeing a shadowy figure out of the corner of their eye, only to turn and see nothing. It could easily be written off as nothing, but there was still that feeling, a sure feeling as though someone or something wearing a fedora was staring them down. 

Dubbed “The Watcher,” anyone who has been in this terrifying entity’s presence has been overcome with a fight-or-flight feeling. A natural, wrenching gut instinct tells them a threat is nearby. Sometimes witnesses have felt dizzy. 

As stated prior, the house is closed off to the public, so no luck trying to see for yourself. However, you may get a glimpse of him as you pass by. Witnesses have reported seeing his shadowy figure — marked by his signature fedora — brushing by the curtains. 

Haunted San Diego 

Known for its vibrant beach life and variety of all-year-round entertainment, one would be surprised to find San Diego is home to its own chilling secrets. Some happen to hide within the walls of the historic Christian House, located in Heritage Park Row. It was once the home of one of San Diego’s earliest pioneers—a man with secret affiliations and a wife who dabbled in powers far beyond our understanding. 

Now, over a century later, the Christian House is but one of the architectural masterpieces that draw folks to Heritage Park Victorian Village. And just like its neighbors, some say its former tenants haven’t truly left. 

Tales of underground tunnels, forgotten cemeteries, and ghostly legends: they all whisper on the waters of sunny San Diego. Join San Diego Ghosts on an after-dark journey through this city’s morbid past, and visit the city’s most blood-curdling sites around, all while making memories to talk about for years to come. 

Visit our blog for more ghastly stories from San Diego and across America, should you need a good read in the meantime. From mysteries and urban legends to ghost tales and cryptids, our stories will surely have you sleeping with the lights on! Don’t forget to also stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Sources:

• https://hiddensandiego.com/things-to-do/places/heritage-park

• https://www.sohosandiego.org/tourbooklets/heritagepark.pdf

• https://www.tiktok.com/@la_history_girl/video/7257602934194605355

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rnF5PChU50

• https://www.sohosandiego.org/tourbooklets/heritagepark.pdf