The Albert H Beach House

In 1968, the property was purchased by Virgil and Natalie Bergman. Virgil Bergman is retired Dean of Instruction at Palomar College. Virgil Bergman was also President of Palomar College and taught at The University of Southern California (USC). Natalie Bergman was educated at USC and met her husband while both were there. She is a dancer and taught for many years at Alhambra High School and Long Beach City College (now Long Beach State University). She also served on the San Diego County Board of Education.
The Bergmans undertook the difficult but rewarding project of restoring the mansion to its original splendor, while modernizing it to an extent that would make it appropriate for comfortable home life.
The house is filled with 18th and 19th century antiques that complement the architecture. There are also art treasures in the house - many of which have been done by Natalie Bergman's family. Since the house has always been open to local groups, the result of the Bergman's efforts is what many Escondidans have enjoyed over the years. Both the exterior and interior represent its period of significance very well.
Alan McGrew who included 700 Juniper as the only home written about in Hidden Valley Heritage says: "The Bergman home boasts nearly all the distinctive features of the American Queen Anne style. Some of the distinctive features include an irregular floor plan, a steeply pitched hipped roof with cross gables projecting to the front and side and fish scale shingles" The house is also featured on the cover and as one of thirteen houses in the Escondido Historical Society's walking tour of historical buildings as "a showplace" of Queen Anne Architecture. A Guide to Los Angeles and Southern California features 700 Juniper as one of four houses in the Escondido section. The house is representative of the highest Victorian period in Escondido. It is ornamented by decorative shingles and carpentry, steep gables, tall windows and other features typical of the period. Some of the features that contribute to the significance are the heavy fretwork frieze on a circular porch, heavy carved eaves brackets, and ship's wheel bas-relief ornaments in the gable ends. The house, even with some alterations, is the best example of a Queen Anne Victorian remaining in Escondido, an outstanding example of the style and is in excellent condition. It has the most commanding presence of any house in Escondido. It is on a hill on a large corner lot and has an estate-like quality. The millwork used on the house is like no other in Escondido.
This house cannot be recreated. It is one of the treasures of Escondido and San Diego County