He began his working life as a poor, seven-year-old ranch hand in the San Pasqual Valley. He amassed a fortune by taking on large contracts for public improvements, related to streets, jetties and even the Tijuana Racetrack.
As a young man, he came to the San Diego area and homestead a track of land at San Pasqual. There he met Arnold Babcock, older son of Elisha S. Babcock Jr., builder of the Hotel del Coronado, who introduced him to his father.
Elisha Babcock gave Fenton a job driving a hunting coach to North Island and Point Loma. Fenton received rapid promotion and was placed in charge of the hotel’s building operations, which included the Western Salt Works at the head of San Diego Bay. Mr. Fenton entered into the construction business for himself in 1905 and was successful from the start.
In 1905 he was made foreman of the Coronado Jetty construction project, and the profits from that set the HG Fenton construction company in business.
He worked for 18 months on the government jetty (Zuniga) off North Island. He was awarded the largest contract given out under the Vrooman Act doing all the street improvements west of Orange Avenue for a total cost of $324,000. which was completed in one year. He granted liberal discounts to the property owners for cash payment with the result that little of the cost went to bond.
Elisha Babcock and Heny Fenton remained close friends until Babcock’s death in September 1922. When Babcock was no longer able to manage his own affairs, Fenton bought the Western Salt Works and provided for the Babcocks for the rest of their lives.
He then purchased Jamul Ranch, which eventually became Eastlake. He owned a 3200 acre ranch at San Pasqual, and a 2000 acre ranch in Otay
Mr. Fenton also did much of the grading for the Tijuana Racetrack (circa 1915) using 20 muleteams. In 1915, Mr. Fenton secured a lease from A. Levi for a 9,000 acre ranch in Jamul where he raised cattle and beef for market. Mr. Fenton owned a 2,000 acre ranch at Bernardo (now Rancho Bernardo) where he specialized in alfalfa and dairy products.
The HG Fenton Material Company was formed in 1928
the H.G. Fenton Co. evolved from salt and gravel mining operations that helped build Qualcomm Stadium to become one of San Diego County's largest real estate organizations with more than 3 million square feet of office and industrial space and 11 apartment communities totaling over 2,800 homes.
They lived in San Diego and Escondido. He died on 25 August 1951 at the age of 79
And I find it suspicious that such a wealthy, historic, and company founder has no wikipedia page. Almost like the company that has his name doesn't want his thorough and complete history on a public website like wikipedia. https://voiceofsandiego.org/2023/07/05/a-wealthy-familys-100-year-old-company-is-blocking-a-permanent-housing-project-for-homeless-people/
Thanks for a great American success story and for bringing this to the fore for us all to read.
ReplyDeleteMy brain seems to recall a Fentron on the floor gear shifter, like Hurst.......Maybe wrong, it's been many years..
ReplyDeleteyes, Fenton was a hot rod company, made rims, shifters, etc. But not related to this guy
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