Lawrence Michel

Lawrence Michel was born in San Diego, California in 1895. His father was from Switzerland and became a dairy farmer in La Mesa. His mother was from England and had six children listed in the 1900 Census. At this time Lawrence’s name was spelled “Lorenze.”

In 1912, Michel was listed as an “Electrical” in the San Diego City Directory, a listing that continued until 1921. In 1922, his occupation changed to "Carpenter". In 1924, Michel listed himself as a "Building Contractor". From 1933 until 1940 and then again in 1942, Michel listed himself as a carpenter in the phonebook.

Lawrence and Dorothy K. Michel were most likely married in 1920. This is based on her name showing up for the first time in the 1921 San Diego City Directory.

In the 1930 Census, Michel is listed as a carpenter with an infant daughter, Marilyn. In the 1940 Census, Michel is listed as a contractor with the addition of a son, named Rodney. It was a common practice for carpenters to become contractors during the time the Talmadge Park Estates Historic District (TPEHD) was developed.

While Lawrence Michel was building homes in TPEHD, he was also building in Kensington Heights. He is pictured in an article in the San Diego Union dated November 19, 1937, entitled “Construction Leaders Plan Impressive Building Program for Tract.” This article is from the front page of the Building Section. It also features seven other contractors who built in both Kensington and Talmadge. You can find this article and picture in Beth Montes’ 2002 Historical Report “Carl B. Hays Spec House,” on page 15 of the Appendix.

Michel built eight homes in TPEHD between 1936 and 1944. He lived in two of the houses he built. The first one was at 4405 Monroe Avenue from 1940 until 1942. In 1942, Michel moved next door to another house he built at 4409 Monroe Avenue. This home was built where the 1926 Talmadge Tavern originally existed before it burned down in 1933.  He and Dorothy lived there until her death in 1948. Michel continued to live there after Dorothy's death until 1950. He does not show up in the San Diego City Directory after 1950, possibly because he married Dorothy L. Busby in Los Angeles in 1951.

As many of the homebuilders in Talmadge did, Lawrence Michel signed up for the World War II Draft in 1942, despite being 47 years old.  He never served.