Lawrence W. Weir

Son of Patrick Weir and Stella Bourgeois, Larry Weir was born in Chicago on November 5, 1924. He served in the US Navy from 1939 to 1946, where, during World War II he delivered supplies and briefly served as an aircraft gunner in the South Pacific. Following military service he moved to San Diego and with his three older brothers started Weir Brothers Construction, quickly establishing themselves as pioneers in adobe construction.

By 1948 Weir Bros. Construction was up and running with brother Jack serving as contractor and Larry as designer. In 1951, Weir moved to Escondido. There, he had access to a large supply of adobe at what is now Kit Carson Park. His company grew to 80 employees.

The brothers worked long hours building adobe homes. They started with small, inexpensive two-bedroom units and then expanded into Rancho Santa Fe by building high-end masterpieces. Either way, it was an acquired taste. "People either love adobe or they wouldn't even stable their horses in it," Weir said in a 1989 interview with the Los Angeles Times.

While serving Weir Bros. Larry helped the firm specialize in custom adobe structures – some designed in-house while others would enhance the talents of local architects like Sim Bruce Richards who adored adobe when not building in redwood, cedar and mahogany.

Larry and Maria Ravettino were married on June 23, 1951. They had nine children: Larry Weir, Maria Werth, Estelle Harrison, Thomas Weir, Christine Herms, Catherine Le Bell, Theresa Moller, Michael Damian, and Joani Weir.

In September 1963, he launched the Larry Weir Adobe Co. and proceeded to build homes across the county, including Rancho Santa Fe, Escondido, Encinitas and Poway across four decades. Weir’s designs were rarely conventional – for example, drew inspiration from his time in the Navy by using rope to frame windows. Larry built houses around the site, incorporating boulders and tree limbs into the structure’s design. On occasion he would visit a train yard and buy old materials for use in the construction of the homes.

While certainly adobe walls were their signature early on, passersby may also look for a signature placement of an old wagon wheel often embedded in a wall or a fence as well as round and large arched windows. Weir Brothers homes were often built of recycled lumber – decades before it was fashionable they would buy old piers and train trestles for the large beams used in their home designs. It has been said that his brother Jack’s designs were square, while Larry’s depended on circles, turrets, and more rounded, creative patterns.

Larry Weir, a designer of numerous adobe houses in San Diego County and helped restore the Mission San Antonio de Pala in 1958, died on July 11, 2012 of heart failure. He was 87.

Partial List of Projects

Adobe Home for Mr. & Mrs. M. Hallen (1958)
2640 Loma Vista Drive, Escondido
*Addition to Residence of Mr. & Mrs. Forrest Drake (1966) on this site was also by Weir Bros. Adobe Construction Co.

The Adobe Villas (1962)
1540 South Escondido Blvd., Escondido

Anderson, George Robert Residence I (1951)
288 Neptune Drive, Encinitas
*Weir Bros homeowners George Anderson and Sid Shaw co-owned Surf Cleaners in Encinitas following their pilot/co-pilot time together in the US Navy during World War II.

Anderson, George Robert Residence II (1952)
1221 Windsor Road, Encinitas
*By Jack and Larry Weir (Weir Bros.); published in San Diego & Point Magazine

Armfelt, Waldemar and Dorothy House (1964)
2952 Verda Avenue, Escondido

Aspel, Dr. Thomas and Barbara Residence (1964)
3149 Old Post Road, Fallbrook

Barend, William & Mary Jo Residence (1967)
2945 Verda Avenue, Escondido
*“Larry Weir designed plans for that location before we built but we did not use his design when we built the house," according to Mary Jo Barend.

Beebe Residence (1960)
9458 Del Dios Highway, Escondido

Bergman Museum (1955)
Aguanga, California
*By Jack and Larry Weir (Weir Bros.)

Beust, Mr. & Mrs. Ben Adobe Residence (1965)
315 Olive Avenue, Carlsbad

Bilty, Hazel Residence (1951)
Neptune Drive, Encinitas
*By Jack and Larry Weir (Weir Bros.)

Butcher, Ted Adobe (1985)
Camino de las Lomas, Escondido
*Larry Weir designed this for the producer for MASH

Colby, Tom & Midge Adobe (1961)
Highway 76, Pauma Valley
*Indoor swimming pool featured in the San Diego Union 1962

Copeland, Admiral and Mrs. Richard G. (1960)
1514 Park Hill Lane, Escondido

Crabe Residence (undated)
Country Club, Pauma Valley
*Designer not confirmed

Danylcheck Adobe / Greenbriar Lodge (1955)
Highway 395 (torn down for Highway 15), North San Diego County
*By 1958 this site reportedly became the Golden Door Health Spa; Jack and Larry Weir (Weir Bros.)

Donahue, Daniel J. Adobe (undated)
Montecito, California
*Larry Weir project

Dorgan Adobe (1963)
Via De Fortuna, Rancho Santa Fe

Fenton, H.G. & Justine Ranch (1958) and Bandy Canyon Ranch remodel (1970)
16251 Bandy Canyon Road, Escondido
*The Ranch at Bandy Canyon - 1st phase – was an outdoor work kitchen by Jack and Larry Weir (Weir Bros.). The 2nd phase resulted in an indoor party home designed and built by Larry Weir.

Fouts, Dan Residence
*Attribution

Freeland Adobe (1968)
Las Planideras, Rancho Santa Fe
*Jack Weir project

Goodbody, Mike Residence (1964)
1514 Robyn Rd. in Escondido.
*Mike was Weir Bros lead carpenter, Bob Minkler drew the original plans for the house

Green Ranch
Las Palmas

Hallen, Adobe Home for Mr. & Mrs. M. (1958)
2640 Loma Vista Drive, Escondido
*Later remodeled as Addition to Residence of Mr. & Mrs. Forrest Drake (1966) also by Weir Bros. Adobe Construction Co.

Hays, Colonel Bob Adobe (1972)
408 Olive Hill Way Fallbrook
*Jack Weir project

Hayward Adobe (1951)
Birmingham Drive, Encinitas
*By Jack and Larry Weir (Weir Bros.)

Hinrichs, Suzy & Jack Residence
2362 Royal Crest Drive, Escondido

Hinrichs, Tom Residence
Escondido
*Attribution

Holcombe Adobe (1977)
La Gracia, Rancho Santa Fe
*Jack Weir project

Hotchkiss, Bud & Donee Residence (1965)
3050 Donee Diego Drive, Escondido

Jackson, James & Gretchen Residence (1964)
2775 La Palmas Avenue, Escondido

Jamaica Project (1967)
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
*Designed the Eaton Hall

Johnson, Roy and Nancy (1970)
2453 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido
*Designer not confirmed

Johnson, Robert Residence (1969)
12415 Mesa Verde Drive, Valley Center (not confirmed)
*Designed by Robert Johnson’s cousin Millard Sheets. Adobe construction by Weir Bros.

Kaufman, Julian Residence (1959)
3125 Montesano Road, Escondido
*By Jack and Larry Weir (Weir Bros.)

Kirchman/Brubeck Adobe (1958)
2362 Royal Crest Drive, Escondido
*By Jack and Larry Weir (Weir Bros.)

Klein, Gene Residence
San Diego
*Attribution

Kurtz, Rear Adm. Thomas R. Residence (1967)
11146 Valley Lights Drive, El Cajon

La Costa Spec Home (1986)
Venado Street
*Adobe veneer - designed and built by Larry Weir

Lee, Sally Residence (undated)
Pauma Valley across from the clubhouse
*Designer not confirmed

Lindsey's Casa de la Tierra (1978)
Aliso Canyon Road, Rancho Santa Fe, CA
*Larry Weir project

Mariner's Point Model Home (1975)
Via Toluca Drive, San Clemente
*Larry Weir project

Martony Adobe (1955)
1410 Windsong Lane, Escondido
*By Jack and Larry Weir (Weir Bros.); The Eddie Martony Family lived here between 1955-1963. While the Larry Weir Family lived here (between 1963-1969) this site served as the Office for Larry Weir Adobe Co.

McGurty, Mr. William H. & Mrs. (1964)
575 W. Armsley Square, Ontario

Moonlight Playhouse and Brengle Terrace (1982)
Vista, California
*Larry Weir designed the playhouse and Brengle Terrace City Buildings

Morehouse, Homer J. Spec House #1 (1959)
4245 Cobalt Drive, La Mesa
*By Jack and Larry Weir (Weir Bros.)

Morehouse, Homer J. Spec House #2 (1962)
8030 Shadow Hill Drive, La Mesa

Morehouse, Homer J. Residence (1963)
4250 Eastridge Drive, La Mesa

Myskier Adobe (1955)
Las Palmas, Escondido
*By Jack and Larry Weir (Weir Bros.)

Pala Mesa Resort (ca. ‘70s and ‘80s)
Pala
*Tract of Weir Brothers designs

Pala Mesa Village Homes and Clubhouse (1963 – 1965)
Old Highway 395 and Hwy 76, Pala

Pala Mesa Village (ca. 1971)
Via De Todos Santos, Fallbrook
*Tract of Weir Brothers designs

Pala Mission Restoration, Fountain, Shrine and School (1955 – 1959)
Pala Mission, Pala
*By Jack and Larry Weir (Weir Bros.)

Palm Mortuary (1959)
1919 East Valley Parkway, Escondido

Paulson, Allen Residence (undated)
San Diego
*Designer not confirmed

Pauma Valley Country Club
*Tract of Weir Bros. homes

Paxton House (1948)
2608 South Escondido Blvd, Escondido
*Demolished in 2020

Pretorius Adobe (1953)
1350 Windsong Lane, Escondido
*By Jack and Larry Weir (Weir Bros.)

Private Residence (1948)
1121 Via Loma Vista, El Cajon
*Designer not yet known

Private Residence (1954)
2635 Loma Vista Drive, Escondido
*By Jack and Larry Weir (Weir Bros.)

Private Residence (1957)
3196 Old Post Road, Fallbrook
*Designer not confirmed

Private Residence (1958)
16630 Avenida Florencia, Poway
*By Jack and Larry Weir (Weir Bros.)

Private Residence (1959)
3118 Quiet Hills Drive, Escondido
*Past attribution has stated this is the Reuben H. Fleet Residence. In 1960 the home was sold to Peter and Judith Almand. It is unclear if they were the commissioning client or if this was a spec house sold to them.

Private Residence (1959)
3188 Quiet Hills Drive, Escondido
*Wood for this project reportedly came from the old Ocean Beach pier

Private Residence (1959)
3125 Montesano Road, Escondido

Private Residence (1960)
2678 Groton Place, Escondido

Private Residence (1961)
3215 Bernardo Lane, Escondido

Private Residence (1962)
32946 Camino Ortega, Warner Springs

Private Residence (1964)
29433 Cole Grade Road, Valley Center

Private Residence (1964)
3355 Old Post Road, Fallbrook

Private Residence (1964)
2765 Las Palmas Ave, Escondido
*The Castle House

Private Residence (1965)
Aguanga, California
*Tom McGiffin, grandson of Bergman Museum said that Weir Brothers build the adobe that is below him

Private Residence (1967)
4326 Citrus Drive, Fallbrook
*Designer not confirmed

Private Residence (1967)
3870 Laketree Drive, Fallbrook
*Designer not confirmed

Private Residence (1968)
2377 Royal Oak Drive, Escondido
*Designer not confirmed

Private Residence (1969)
13735 Acorn Patch Road, Poway
*Designer not confirmed

Private Residence (1969)
13747 Acorn Patch Road, Poway
*Designer not confirmed

Private Residence (1970)
1735 Caudor, Leucadia
*Designer not confirmed

Private Residence (1972)
1317 Windsor Road, Cardiff
*Designer not confirmed

Private Residence (1973)
14213 Highway 76, Pauma Valley
*Designer not confirmed

Private Residence (1975)
3839 Ladera Vista Road, Fallbrook
*Designer not confirmed

Private Residence (1976)
10082 W. Lilac Road, Escondido
*Designer not confirmed

Private Residence (1976)
14702 Tyler Road, Valley Center
*Designer not confirmed

Private Residence (1977)
4057 Ladera Vista Road, Fallbrook
*Designer not confirmed

Private Residence (1978)
17210 Archie Moore Road, Ramona
*Designer not confirmed

Private Residence (1978)
2050 La Serena, Escondido
*Designer not confirmed

Private Residence (1978)
4033 Ladera Vista Road, Fallbrook
*Designer not confirmed

Private Residence (1982)
1881 Rockhoff Rd, Escondido
*Designer not confirmed

Private Residence (1988)
14217 Highway 76, Pauma Valley
*Designer not confirmed

Private Residence (undated)
2159 Rockhoff Road, Escondido
*Designer not confirmed

Private Residence (undated)
Cambria Court, San Diego
*Designer not confirmed

Private Residence (undated)
Big Sur, California
*Jack Weir design

Pusateri, Frank Residence (1969-70)
32350 Katkat Court, Pauma Valley
*Designer not confirmed

Ravettino Adobe Remodel (1952)
Max Drive, San Diego
*By Jack Weir Project (circa August 1963 and after) for Maria Weir's parent

Ridder, B..J Adobe Ranch House and Equestrian Facility (1963)
Murietta, CA

Rimrock Design & Plans (1987)
Camino de las Lomas, Escondido
*Larry Weir designed, C&S Doctors Inc built

Ross Residence (1961)
2705 Ross, Escondido
*Designer not confirmed

Saar, Richard Residence (1991)
14927 Lyons Valley Road, Jamul
*Designer not confirmed

Shaw, Sid & LaVerne Residence (1959)
661 Melba Drive, Encinitas

Smith Residence (undated)
Just off Cole Grade Rd., Valley Center
*Designer not confirmed

Spivey Residence (1981)
131 Seeman Drive, Encinitas
*Designer not confirmed

Stone's "Villa Sardinia" (1993-1996)
Via Cantamar, Escondido
*By Larry Weir, simulated adobe due to new building codes regarding vertical steel

Stolp, Clyde and Dotte Residence
Boyle Avenue
*Attribution

Summers, Harry Residence (undated)
San Diego
*Designer not confirmed

Thunder, Joseph & Genevieve Residence (1964)
2195 E. Madison Avenue, El Cajon

Varner Residence (1979)
111 Seeman Drive, Encinitas
*Designer not confirmed

Villa Crova Design and Plans (1989)
Camino de las Lomas, Escondido
*Designed by Jack Weir for C&S Doctors, Inc.

Wadsworth Adobe (1978)
3225 Emma Lane, Vista
*Jack Weir project

Walseth Residence (1964)
705 Idaho Avenue, Escondido

Weir Bros Adobe Office and Home of Larry Weir Family (1955 – 1963)
1536 - 1538 S. Escondido Blvd., Escondido
*By Jack and Larry Weir (Weir Bros.)

Weir Bros. Offices (ca. 1970s)
Sterling Court, Escondido
*Larry Weir Adobe Co.

Weir, Jack and Connie Residence (1958)
738 Idaho Street, Escondido
*By Jack and Larry Weir (Weir Bros.)

Weir, Maria Werth Adobe (2008)
Neely Road, Tehachapi
*Larry Weir design of 1.5" adobe veneer on old mobile home

Weir/Ott Spec Home (1972)
Arroyo Vista, Poway
*Built by Larry Weir and Milo Ott

Weir, Patrick Adobe Home (1948)
47 East H Street, Encinitas
*Jack and Patrick Weir’s personal home

Weir, Robert Sr. Residence (1966)
1914 Summit Ridge Drive, Escondido

Windsor Residenc (1947)
Windsor Road, Encinitas
*By Jack and Larry Weir (Weir Bros.) adobe homes built with Ted Berryman