Untitled Document

3131 Zola Street

Point Loma

The home of Retired Superior Court Judge Ross G. Tharp and Betty Tharp.
Ross Tharp told us the minute he walked up the steps and saw the front door he was ready to buy this magnificent Richard S. Requa designed house. Blue Spanish tiles framed the mahogany door and drew him to the entrance of the home. He didn’t even need to see the inside. Inside he and Betty found a six bedroom, five bathroom 4,763 square foot Spanish/Mediterranean home perfect for their family and busy life needs. Among the home’s many features are a magnificent staircase, windows, doors and balconies that draw you to the beautifully landscaped grounds. and the many Requa design touches. To this day they both say they will never part with it.

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Retired Superior Court Judge Ross Tharp and Gordon Fleury.

     Judge Tharp graciously invited Gordon over to study and document the features of his home. An avid fan of the Spanish and Mediterranean style homes Judge Tharp has taken steps to preserve and protect the original feel of his property. He bought the corner lot across from his home and built another single story home in the Spanish/Mediterranean style. That home can be seen in the background of this picture. He also purchased a lot to the west of his property and maintains the existence of the canyon and trees. He added building restrictions to the deed so the lush canyon would be preserved.
     Judge Tharp is an authority on San Diego History and he treasures the history of his Richard Requa designed home. The house is meticulously maintained and a marvelous example of early San Diego architecture. The Tharp family were the third owners of this home.
     It was built in 1928 as the home of Mat and Lulu Heller and their family. Mat was an early San Diego grocer. He purchased an entire city block. Mr. Heller persuaded the city to abandon projected streets on 3 sides leaving Zola as the only access street. He divided the block into four parcels. The first for himself and his wife, the second for his son Milton and his family, the third for his daughter, Lenore and son-in-law, James D. Forward and the final parcel for the first grandchild to marry.(It went to Jimmy and Polly Forward).

On the left the home built for Milton Heller. On the right the home built for Mats daughter Lenore and her husband James D. Forward. (both designed by Richard S. Requa) Milton P. Sessions was the landscape Architect when these homes were built.

Ross G. Tharp was elected to be the City Councilman for District 1 in 1957. Judge Ross served as Deputy Mayor. in 1959.
Governor Ronald Reagan appointed him to the Municipal Court in 1969 and later to the Superior Court where he served for 22 years.
Ross Tharp proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps as the Marine Corps Judge Advocate and maintains an impressive collection of military memorabilia in his home office.
Betty Tharp made many contributions to San Diego serving on many auxilaries such as the County Bar, Mercy Hospital and the Star of India. She was involved in activities supporting the American Heart Association. Betty and Ross also raised five children.

Two story building with white stucco walls and balconies with wrought iron railings and heavily tiled roofs.

Spanish tiled floors and arched hallways with richly toned wood accents.

One of the distinctively shaped fireplaces with rounded chimneys.

First floor picture window with view of the lush, well groomed yard and downtown San Diego in the background.

Arched alcoves, rich wood doors and table part of the original house.

Arched alcove with detailed woodwork.

Looking back at the house from the pool shows the simple lines of this beautiful Richard Requa designed home atop the hill on Zola in Point Loma.