Six Degrees Of Downtown
They say that everybody is connected to everybody else in a mere six steps. We put that theory to the test and showed Hatworks owner Martine Seidl that not only is he connected to fomer mayor and senator Pete Wilson, but a lot of fascinating people create the community bonds in between.

1. Martine Seidl
Sporting a Tyrolean hat with a feather might have been commonplace to Austrian born Martine Seidl, but today, as owner of a hat boutique in downtown San Diego, a Panama hat is a more likely choice. Hatworks (formally Western Hat Works) represents a slice of San Diego’s history and as such is featured in the book Panama Hat Trail by Tom Miller and Tony Hillerman. Sold to Seidl in 2005 by Martin Anfanger, the shop moved from its original 3,000-square-foot location on the corner of 5th and E Streets, to 433 E Street. Anfanger’s grandfather, Morris Anfanger, a Russian émigré opened the store in 1922 and until 2005 was the only hat business left in the country that professionally cleaned and blocked hats. Today the smaller 1,000-square-foot location "is perfect," says Seidl, who met Anfanger while purchasing some of his hat stock. "When I introduced myself as Marty he laughed and said, ‘Marty, you have to buy this store because I have a thousand business cards to give you, all with the name Marty.’ We laughed and talked for a while and I did buy the store." At that time Seidl owned a hat kiosk in Horton Plaza located next door to the Jessop Street Clock. "Working at the kiosk, my wife and I became friends with a very interesting gentleman called Bill Wemer who stopped by to maintain the Jessop Street Clock," recalls Seidl.

2. Bill Wemer
In 1933, just before Bill Wemer’s father died, he gave his ten-year-old son a watch. "I had that watch pulled apart before he was even buried," recalls the highly skilled craftsman. Although professionally successful as an engineer, Werner’s hobby became clocks of all shapes, sizes, and vintages. During the ’70s and ’80s, Werner ran a small antique shop on the second floor of the Granger building on 5th Avenue where he also sold and repaired clocks and watches. "Betty Squire was the building manager and she also worked for Jessop Jewelers," explains Werner. "One morning in 1984, she ran into my office saying, ‘Get your self over to Jessops and get that street clock running.’ I said no, I’ve got too much work.’ So Betty looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘Forget it — just do it!’ And I did." The 1905 Jessop Street Clock, originally installed on the sidewalk in front of J. Jessop and Sons at 952 Fifth Avenue, was to be moved for the second time in its history to the new Horton Plaza Shopping Center. In order to move and restore the weight-driven clock, Werner had to completely dismantle the 300 moving parts including 120 gears for the one dial with 21 nations times. For security reasons Werner took the parts home and laid them all over his house. "I made five new gears, ground all the jewels, and made new shafts," he explains. "In Horton Plaza on August 5, 1985, Joe Jessop swung the pendulum to get it ticking again."

3. James Jessop
Jim Jessop grew up in the family jewelry business that at one time included seven stores in San Diego. His grandfather, Joseph Jessop, founded Jessop Jewelers in 1892 and opened his first store at 952 Fifth Avenue in downtown with ten employees. In 1970, Jim’s father, George, sold J. Jessop and Sons to Dayton Hudson Corporation, which today is known as Target Corporation. Three years later he established a new firm, Jessop & Company, incorporated in 1974, the same year Jim joined the family business. Having received accreditation from the American Gem Society as a registered jeweler, certified gem appraiser, and certified gemologist, Jim worked alongside his father until 1987 when he bought the business outright. "My father knew everyone in town," says Jim. "He created the sales while I handled store operations and buying. It was a great partnership." The Jessop family also has a long history with the San Diego Yacht Club. George’s uncle, Alonzo de Jessop, acted as commodore in 1907 and co-owned a powerboat with his close friend Albert A. Frost, Sr.

4. Al Frost
Eighty three-year-old Frost is a modest man who understands the San Diego lumber business like no other. Frost Hardwood Lumber Company has been a family business since 1911. Under the helm of founder Albert A. Frost, Sr., the business flourished at its Market Street location. "My family arrived in San Diego in 1895," explains Al. In 1896, the Frost family engaged architect Irving Gill to design and build their house at 2456 D Street (now Broadway). Today the house still remains in the family but is sadly rendered un-historic due to modifications made during an earlier period when it became a rest home. "In 1913, my grandmother Angelina Soper Frost walked for the suffragette movement," recalls Al. Ten years later Frost Hardwood Lumber Company settled into their West Market Street location where they remained until 1990. Sold under the threat of condemnation, the business moved to Miramar Road where Gordon T. Frost, Jr., Bruce Frost, and James Frost are the active principals. "Our family did have strong ties with the San Diego Yacht Club," says Al. "I became commodore in 1966, followed by Malin Burnham, who is an excellent sailor and prime mover in San Diego development."

5. Malin Burnham
For three decades Malin Burnham has been a civic leader with a passion for community involvement including his numerous charities and benevolent organizations ranging from the Boy Scouts to the Burnham Institute for Cancer Research. Burnham is also a world-class sailor, who won the Star World Championship at the age of 17. His passion for sailing and involvement in the sport at all levels from junior programs at the San Diego Yacht Club, the America’s Cup, and Olympic classes has set great standards of commitment. In 1992, as general chairman for the America’s Cup Regatta in San Diego, his leadership reached its zenith with the successful defense of the cup. Burnham is one of the first Gold Medalist supporters of the U.S. Sailing Team joining the committee to help raise funds to ensure proper resources to prepare the team for the 2008 Olympic Games. Preparing a team is what Burnham does well. Twenty-five-years ago as head of a downtown redevelopment team he led a one-week tour of East Coast cities to observe how they structured their city centers. "Baltimore was a good example of a well structured city so when we returned to San Diego we proposed our ideas to Mayor Pete Wilson," says Burnham. "Pete liked it and the first project he developed was Horton Plaza and it became the catalyst for jump-starting the revitalization of the southwest portion of downtown — north of Broadway."

6. Pete Wilson
In 1962, the 29-year-old lawyer Pete Wilson was working for Republican candidate Richard Nixon. When one of Nixon’s aids suggested he consider San Diego as a springboard for his political career he took his advice and moved the following year. Three years later Wilson won a seat in the California Assembly and left his law firm for two terms as a California State Assemblyman. In 1971 he left the Legislature to run for mayor of San Diego. As three-term mayor until 1983 he is credited with amending the city charter to make public safety the first and foremost responsibility of city government. He also led an effort to manage San Diego’s dynamic growth and to revitalize the city’s downtown area beginning with Horton Plaza. Wilson is credited for transforming the quiet navy town to an international trade hub, and according to some residents he coined the slogan "San Diego: America’s Finest City" a phrase still used today. Wilson’s political career gained strength with eight years as a United States senator from 1983 to 1991, followed by eight years as the 36th governor of California, and a run at the presidency in the 1996 elections. Wilson is back in the news this month as the city unveils a new statue downtown dedicated to his contributions. Controversy surrounds the work — some debate Wilson’s attention to the illegal worker issue, while others are lauding his past leadership. One thing remains the same: whether you like him or loathe him, Wilson’s fingerprints are all over America’s Finest City.
— Ingrid Hoffmeister, photography by Jennifer Nelson and Shawn Ehlers/WireImage