Office Building History

Office | Staff | Dr. Baker | Office Building History

Dr. Edgar B. Buell, who built this office in 1935, practiced dentistry in Escondido for 44 years, from 1901 to 1945. Dr. Buell's distinguished career in Escondido consisted of much more than the practice of dentistry, however. He was also a prominent civic leader, whose life story reads like a Who's Who.

Dr. Buell was born in 1871. As a young man, he worked as editor for the Julian Sentinel during the town's gold rush. Julian was a rough town in those days, and Buell was said to keep a loaded six-shooter on his desk, pointed towards the door.

After graduating from dental school, Dr. Buell moved to Escondido to set up practice. In addition to practicing dentistry, he edited the town's newspaper, founded the Escondido Kiwanis Club, and presided over the Escondido Congregationalist Church, the Escondido Chamber of Commerce, and the Escondido School Board. He also served as the Mayor of Escondido for two years. As president of the first Escondido Utilities Company, he was the man who ceremonially turned on the first electric lights in the city.

Dr. Buell moved out of his office on Grand Avenue and built our building in 1935. After his death, Dr. Lorenz DeJulian, and Oral Surgeon, purchased the building, and added on to the building, doubling its size in the 1970's. He and his associate, Dr. Walt Johnson, practiced Oral Surgery in the building for nearly 30 years. Two generations of Escondido lost wisdom teeth in this office!

Dr. Baker purchased the building in 2000 and at that time the building underwent a major face-lift and internal reconstruction in order to modernize it and re-tool it as a state-of-the-art orthodontic facility. In keeping with the historical nature of the building, many of the distinctive architectural features of the building, as well as its Spanish Colonial period flavor were carefully preserved in the remodeling process.

Interiorly, Dr. Baker selected a safari Theme for the design. This was inspired by Escondido's own Wild Animal Park, and reflects Dr. Baker's (and his team's) love of animals. This theme is carried throughout the building, with murals, paintings, and animal hangings, and Jungle game room. There is even a fully functional model safari train, which was inspired by Dr. Baker senior, who worked as a fireman on a train while attending dental school.

The office is outfitted with the most up-to-date digital x-ray and photography equipment, for convenience and accuracy in acquiring records on our patients. Our sanitization area is state-of-the-art, for your safety. Parking is plentiful and free, and we are conveniently located across the street from Escondido's main public library.