Historic Lakeman House In Old Town Murrieta Slated For Teardown

MURRIETA, CA — A historic home in Old Town Murrieta will likely be demolished after standing for more than 135 years.

A public hearing at Murrieta City Hall is set for Monday night to discuss razing the Lakeman House at the northeast corner of Washington Avenue and Juniper Street. The home was determined by the city’s Building & Safety Division to be unsafe for occupancy and has been red-tagged. It cannot be restored, according to city documents.

Because of the history tied to the Victorian-era farmhouse, the city is required under state law to analyze the historical impact before granting a demolition permit to the owner, hence the reason for Monday's public hearing on the matter.

In its current state, the home is surrounded by weeds and a chainlink fence erected to keep out curious trespassers. The structure's peeling wooden frame and curling composite roof show years of neglect.

Ray's Murrieta Cafe sits next to the home on the same .61-acre land parcel. The long-closed eatery is not slated for tear-down, and instead will be restored by the investors who own both buildings, according to city documents.

As described by the Murrieta Historical Society, the Lakeman House was constructed in 1885 by Abram and Rachel Burnett who built the dwelling from a kit ordered from a catalog. In 1903, the property was purchased by Earnest and Mary Lakeman, who opened an ice cream parlor on the property a few years later. In 1919, the parlor became known as the Lakeman Lunch Room.

In 1924, the property changed hands and the restaurant was renamed Henry's Place. Then in 1953, Ray and Joanne Bezanson bought the property and renamed the restaurant Ray’s Murrieta Cafe, according to Murrieta Historical Society documents.

Both the Lakeman House and Ray's were identified as potentially significant resources in a 1983 survey conducted by the Riverside County Historical Commission.

The cafe finally closed in 2006 and the two buildings have sat quietly, each year looking a little more worn.

The property is currently in the hands of investors. As part of the requirement to demolish the Lakeman House, the property owner will retain parts of the home through "an architectural and historic cultural materials salvage program" consistent with city historic standards, according to city documents.

The site also has the potential for cultural resources underground, so an archaeologist will be onsite during the demo, especially during excavation work that includes removing a septic tank, according to city documents. Additionally, the Murrieta Historical Society will be granted access during the razing.

After the demo, restoration on Ray's Cafe will begin so it can once again be used as a restaurant, according to city documents.

Monday's in-person public hearing at City Hall is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Seating will be very limited. The hearing will also be live-streamed. Get more information here.

Read fascinating details about the Lakeman House, its many occupants, and Ray's Murrieta Cafe here.