RANCHO SANTA FE — Osuna Adobe, perhaps the oldest house in Rancho Santa Fe, held an “open house” May 4 and May 5 to celebrate its heritage — and the approval of restoration money coming its way.

Built during the 1830s, the historical house was purchased in 1836 by Juan Maria Osuna, the first mayor of San Diego. Architect Lilian Rice rehabilitated the house in 1925 and the Association purchased the house and the 28-acre property in 2006.

Repair work to the stucco exterior of the historic building is needed and the Osuna Committee requested money — not to exceed $20,000 — for the repairs. The Finance Committee also reviewed the request and given both committees’ recommendations, the board of directors approved the structural preservation of the adobe at its May 1 meeting.

At the open house, volunteers from the Historic Preservation Committee, wearing colourful historic costumes, gave visitors guided tours.

One volunteer, Susan Clotfelter Winnett, talked knowingly about the adobe because her family had actually resided there in the early 1930s. “My mother and father lived here with my brothers, but it was a little before my time,” she said.

Association Manager Pete Smith gave a special guided tour to visitors, walking them around the grounds. “I’ve learned that restoring a historic building is difficult,” Smith said. “The problem is picking a date. Do we restore it the way it was first built? Or restore the work that Lilian Rice did?”

Those are ultimately the questions that the Osuna Committee will have to debate and its recommendations will go to the Association’s board of directors who will then make the final decision.