Historic Signatures by Santa Barbara Historical Museum

VOLUME 2 NO. 2

APRIL-JUNE 1 956

i QUARTERLY BULLETIN OF THE SANTA BARBARA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

FIESTA EXHIBIT RECEPTION

“Occurences in California” by Angustias de la Guerra Old.

TIME; Tuesday, July 24, 3:00 p.m.

“The Life of Caspar Orena,” by Miss Carlota Koch. “The Santa Barbara Gazette.”

PLACE: Society Headquarters, Old Mission

Santa Barbara City Directory for 1886.

for members and contributors of exhibit memorabilia

Your Director hopes that in the future this beginning of a microfilm library can be increased by at least two additions:

Report of the Director Birthday Luncheon On April 21, official birthdate of Santa Barbara, a very successful luncheon was given at El Paseo by the Santa Barbara Historical Society, co-sponsored by the Plans and Planting Committee and tlie Hispanic Society. The Santa Barbara Historical Society arranged for Dr. V. Aubrey Ncasham, State historian for the Division of Beaches and Parks, to speak on “A Master Plan for Santa Barbara.” President Elbert S. Conner presided and Miss Pearl Cliase introduced the speaker. Dr. Neasham pointed out “the danger of evidences of our historic past being literally llirown out the window by the tremendous influx of population into California,” and went on to state that “the destruction of our land marks can only be prevented by a Master Plan, such as is being used in other cities.” Such a plan should have city-uude approval of different organizations interested in the preservation of our history, headed by the Santa Barbara Historical Society. He suggested that Mayor John Rickard, who was present at the luncheon, appoint a committee to initiate and w’ork out preliminary de tails for such a master plan. President Conner spoke at the end of the address of the challenge this represented to Santa Barbara and urged that we accept it before it was too late, adding “Santa Barbara has so far never failed in meeting a challenge.”

The more than 1700 pages of transcribed letters and papers of Don Jose de la Guerra in the Bancroft

Library. The letters and papers of Judge diaries Fernald in the Huntington Library. We regret very much the resignation of Mrs. Elmer Whittaker, after many years of devoted work as treas urer. Her advice and help as a Board member in the formative years of this Society cannot be over estimated. Miss Margaret Conklin has been appointed by the Board to succeed Mrs. Whittaker as treasurer. At the Board meeting on May 10 Mr. Elmer Whit taker was appointed a Director. Mr. Whittaker has given generously in the past of liis knowledge and time on the many projects of the Society. Sunday Hostess Assistance The following organizations continue their valuable help in keeping the Society’s exhibition open on Sun days: The Soroptiinists International Association, on the first Sunday of each month. The Rcina del Mar, Parlor No. 126, Native Daughters of the Golden West, on the second Sunday. The Santa Barbara City Club, on the third Sunday. The Tierra de Oro, Parlor No. 304, Native Daughters of the Golden West on the fourth Sunday.

Microfilming Progress Since the very handsome gift of a microfilm viewer frojn Mr. Edward 0. de Koch in memory of his sister Miss Carlota Koch Avas received for the Society library the following films have been added and are available for researchers in the library by appointment; The Early Padrones, census of the Presidios and Mission records. Lists of Pioneers, 1812-184'2. 1850-1860-1870 census of Santa Barbara

The Zonta Club, on the fifth Sunday. Fiesta Exhibit Preview On Tuesday, July 24 at 3 P.M. a preview will be held for the members of the Santa Barbara Historical So ciety of the Spanish-California exhibit. This is the most colorful and romantic of our exhibits and the Society is most grateful to the members and friends who are lend ing their family treasures so that we all may enjoy seeing them.

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NOTICI AS

N€TICIA5 QUARTERLY BULLETIN OF THE SANTA BARBARA HISTORICAL SOCIETY Oi-TicEiis AND Directors —1956 President Elbert S. Conner First Vice President . Hugh J. Weldon Second Vice President Charles A. Storke Recording Secretary. . . Edna Sharpe Paul G. Sweelser Corresponding Secretary Treasurer Margaret Conklin Directors: Dr. Donald C. Davidson, W. Edwin Gledhill, Mrs. Henry Grifiiths, Percy C. Heckendorf, Rev. Basil Kelly, O.F.M., Dr. Philip W. Powell, Francis Price, Donald B. Welch. W. Edwin Gledhill . . Mrs. W. Edwin Gledhill Wilberta M. Finley . .

Museum Director . . . . Curator . . . . Editor

Thert arc five dosses of membership: Benefactor SlOO; Patron ,S'2j; Contribulir.s SIS; Sustaining $10; Active $S. Membership dues ore tax deductible.

MAILING address: OLD MISSION, SANTA BARBARA, CALIF.

An Open Letter to Members During the past several months, Society has amplified its program so tensively that income from members adequate to permit a continuation of its entirety.

your Historical rapidly and ex has become in the program in

If the Society is to remain in the forefront of local Historical Societies, there must be a substantial increase either in memberships or in cash gifts. The Board of Directors have just voted, unanimously, to accept the bequest from tlie estate of Mrs. Katherine B. Hastings. Tlie bequest, primarily, consists of real pro perty, which is known as “The Hastings Adobe”, located at Montecito and Castillo streets. The cash bequests will just about offset the cost of rehabilitation of the adobe and grounds. When the repairs to the Adobe are completed, plans are already afoot to improve the property by the con struction of individual units, compatible in material and architecture, to the existing adobe. This will then pro vide the Society with much needed storage space. Ulti mately, it is the hope of the officers and directors to have a suitable museum for the display of the early American period material, retaining at the Old Mission a typical Hispanic Exhibit. This program is ambitious, and of course long range, as much public financial support will be required. It will provide an excellent opportunity for members of old families, closely allied to the early days in Santa Barbara, to commemorate their families by erecting one such unit which henceforth will be known by the family name and at the same time provide a depository, in perpetuity, for their valued family possessions. A short time ago, the Society assumed the responsibility of an educational program with the City and County Scliools. Under this program, various school classes are Lransporled to the Museum, via bus, and there receive an hour’s lecture on the exhibits and their historical signific ance, and relationship to the area and the state. It is the

belief of your Society that such a program will, to a degree, amplify California history as taught in the schools under their limited time schedule. The visits to the Museum are pre-arranged and the lecture is given by Miss Anna Lincoln, one of the Society’s active members. The program has been so well received, and supplies such an important need, that the Society will do every thing in its power to see that the program is continued. Last year, the Society was the recipient of a Microviewer, through the kindness of Mr. Edward Orena dc Koch of Los Alamos. This viewer enables the student and researcher to examine microfilm of old and valued documents and manuscripts that are too fragile for hand ling. Unfortunately, the library of micro-film is limited and to fill this void a micro-film camera is a necessity. 7'he possession of such a camera will enable the Society to put on film not only their own papers but also those in the Bancroft Library that are significant to Santa Barbara. The cost of such a camera is S600, and would be an appropriate and timely gift. For many years, the Society has had in its possession, some 10,000 photographic glass plates, all from different photographers in Santa Barbara, ivho operated studios from around 1870 to 1890. It seems reasonable to as sume that among these plates, are photographs of most of the Santa Barbarenos of that period. These plates liave high historic value, but, at the moment, the Society does not actually know what it has. There should be contact prints made from all the plates and the pictures catalogued and filed. To do so is an under taking of considerable consequence. Your curator, Mr. Gledhill, from his photographic experience, estimates the total cost of labor and supplies at SI,850.00. Here again, some member could make possible this project. Funds are also needed for the acquisition of material of great value, that from time to time comes on the market and is usually in the possession of a dealer in rare books or manuscripts. Many fine paintings have been presented to the Soc iety. Many require cleaning or restoring. This is a work that only the finest experts may attempt and their services are commensurate with their ability. Funds are needed for tliis work. The Society does not own its own tape recorder. It has been borrowing one on certain occasions. Definitely such equipment should be owned by the Society. Each month, an ever increasing amount of material is being presented or willed to the Society. Much of it is furniture and similar bulky material. This involves the transporting via moving van to the Museum, witli the resulting costs connected with such items. It is not the intention of the administration to curtail any of its activities. To the contrary, they should and must increase, if the Society is to maintain its rightful position in the community. None of the foregoing takes into consideration the Society’s interest in saving old historic adobes or in a master plan for the preservation of its land-marks. case” for the It is my hope that I have made Society and that tlie membership will respond, in lime, increased membership participation, or cash gifts, in order that we may proceed to carry out the program in fulfillment of our trust. Elbert S. Conner, President

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Tours for School Children The newest feature offered by the Santa Barbara His torical Society grew out of the efforts of Mr. W. Edwin Gledhill, Director, and Miss Anna B. Lincoln, Assistant, to stimulate wider use of the Exhibit rooms by our city’s young people. With a plan for tours in mind, Mr. Gledhill and Miss Lincoln conferred with City Superintendent Dr. Einar Jacobsen and County Superintendent Mr. Hal Caywood. They helped crystallize the ideas to arrange for con ducted tours. These tours can augment the study of California and the westward movement in the school’s history curriculum, or can better acquaint our growing young citizens with the background of our own area and community—its people, artifacts and industries. Through the lectures on these tours the Museum hopes to bring alive with story and discussion, the drama, and humor and beauty of the many displays set up, to give a closer glimpse of Santa Barbara’s background. With this contact the Museum also hopes to give the students an interest which will carry over into adulthood—and with a long range view, channel new members from our interested young people. We hope, too, that their ap preciation of their own family histories and artifacts will help preserve such documents, heirlooms, etc., which could be eventually a part of the Exhibits. During the last few months a tour was conducted for Mr. Caywood and his County Teacher group. Several school classes already have used this Museum service, which can be arranged for by appointment for hours when the Museum is closed to the public. Many charm ing notes of appreciation have come from the children who toured the rooms, showing delight and interest in the lecture and exhibits. Dr. Jacobsen kindly offered space to the Museum, in his bi-monthlj city teacher bulletin to acquaint the teachers with this opportuniy for their children. With three more classes scheduled to go through shortly we wish to thank both Dr. Jacobsen and Mr. Caywood for their cooperation and help.

Gifts to the Society Since March of this year numerous items of historic worth have come into the Society’s possession, through the generosity and interest of its members and friends. The acquisition of these memorabilia is sincerely ap preciated. The enrichment of the Society’s exhibits is immeasureable, as each gift adds a little more to the known “way of life” of our community and its residents in an era now passed into history. The list of donors includes the following: Mrs. H. P. Ahrnke Mrs. Wadsworth Baylor Mrs. Henriette von Blon Mrs. Rosemond Barry Mrs. W. J. Barlow Miss Pearl Chase Mr. and Mrs. Elbert S. Conner Miss Margaret Conklin Mrs. Eithel Davis Mr. Harrison Dibblee Miss Vera Dowell Mr. and Mrs. George H. Finley Miss Pauline M. Finley Mrs. Max Fleishmann Mrs. Max Farrand Miss Jean Fay Mr. Thomas P. Hazard Miss Gail Harrison Miss Ruth Henderson Miss Virginia Holbrook Mr. and Mrs. Clinton B. Jouett Miss Cornelia Jacobi Miss Carol Jenks Mr. Kirk Johnson Miss Verne Linderman

Miss Margaret Mallory Mrs. Gordon B. Mitchell Miss Nancy L. Mitchell Miss Ingrid McCaffery Mrs. Arnold Mountfort Mrs. C. Nielsen Mr. and Mrs. William L. Otte Miss Maria Antonia Orena Mrs. John Blair Oliver Miss Litti Paulding Mrs. Louise Peck Mr. D. J. Ridenour Mr. Max Richter Santa Barbara News-Press Dr. Thornton Moore Shorkley Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Storke II Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Storke Mr. and Mrs. N. C. Sweet Miss E. A. Swift Miss Leona Thomas Mr. Lloyd Tilton Mrs. Jane Hollister Wainwright Mrs. Mary C. Winkle

Noticias Salutes . . . The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur . . . who cele brated 50 years of devoted service to the youth of Santa Barbara, on May 30, 1956. The Golden Jubilee program was co-chairmanned by Sr. Loretta Joan, principal of Dolores School, and Sr. Miriam Dolores, principal of Guadalupe School. Special honor guest was Sr. Paul, provincial of the Order. The days events included a Solemn High Missa Salve Regina at the Old Mission, following which the Notre Dame Sisters served lunch to the visiting clergy, various orders of Sisters, and the Padre Choristers at the Notre Dame Convent, 2225 Santa Barbara Street. A reception for friends and former graduates was held in the beautiful gardens in the after noon. Mission Santa Ines . . . in Solvang, where, on April 8, 1956, an Open House was held in order that friends throughout Santa Barbara County might view the resto ration work currently completed. Visitors were shown other areas in the Old Mission where future repairs will be made. Fr. Tim O’Sullivan, OFM, Cap., pastor, took this opportunity to thank the many contributors to the funds which made possible these repairs and improve ments to the Mission headquarters.

Old Mission Project Launched Dedication ceremonies for the important restoration project now under way at the Old Mission were held on April 21. Music by the Padre Choristers, included one selection, “Alabado,” which had been sung by Fr. Serra and his co-workers, at the founding of the Presidio of the Fourth Military District, in the Pueblo of Santa Barbara, on April 21, 1782 .. . just 174 years ago. Guests of honor were the members of the Max Fleischmann Foundation, whose grant of $750,000 makes pos sible the construction of a second quadrangle in which to house and train students entering the Franciscan Order. Mrs. Sarah Hamilton Fleischmann, widow of the famed industrialist and benefactor to our “pueblo” on many other occasions in the past, turned the first spadefull of earth. Brief addresses were heard from Mr. Fran cis Price, Sr., local counsel of the Foundation and Mayor John Rickard. Fr. Noel F. Moholy, OFM, executive director and treasurer of the Old Mission Restoration project, gave the principal address.

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NOTICI AS

Historic Signatures A PRIZED DOCUMENT RELATING TO OUR STATE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION One of the most valuable possessions of the Santa Barbara Historical Society is an original document bear ing the signatures of the 48 members of the Constitu tional Convention which met in Monterey on September 1, 1849, to form the California Constitution. Interestingly enough, our Society’s document (repro duced on this page) carries this heading in French: “Signatures du membres de la Convencion de la Haute California, reunir a Monterey le 1 Septembre de 1849, pour former la Constitution politique de VEtat.” Research at the Bancroft Library brought out the fact that apparently there are only three known sets of signa tures of the members of the 1849 Constitutional Con vention—ours, one in Sacramento, and the third in the hands of a private collector. We still have to find out how our signatures, one of California’s most valued col lections of names, came into being—and how the intro ductory passage happens to be in the French language. Much interest attaches to the background and person alities of the 48 men whose names appear upon this

document. Noticias has not the space to give full par ticulars, but at least we present below the names and ages (which average 36 years)—together with brief comment upon four individuals who relate closely to the Santa Barbara scene. These are Jose Antonio Car rillo, Jose Maria Covarrubias, Pablo de la Guerra, and Thomas 0. Larkin. The complete list follows: For those of our readers who might be interested in the events and background leading to the Constitutional Convention we commend the reading of Dr. William H. Ellison’s centennial paper appearing in the Pacific His torical Review, August, 1949—taken from a larger study of California politics and government later published in the Chronicles of California. The paper is full of color and interesting detail on the work of the young ama teur politicos who gathered at Monterey to form our basic state government. Here are a few pertinent facts on the four individuals who tie into our Santa Barbara story: JOSE ANTONIO CARRILLO (Delegate from Los Angeles) Jose Antonio Ezequiel Carrillo was born in San Francisco in 1796, the fourth son of Don Raimundo Carrillo and Thomasa Lugo. He taught school for a lime in San Diego. From 1821 to

0jA»~ 1843, Don Jose was constantly involved in the north-south fac tional disputes of California. He served as alcalde of Los Angeles, member of the California Cortes, and delegate to the California Constitutional Convention. Carrillo was married twice, to two sisters of Pio Pico, Maria Estefana and Maria Josefa. He re tired to Santa Barbara after the Constitutional Convention in 1849 and died there in 1862.

JOSE MARIA COVARRUBIAS (Delegate from San Luis Obispo)

ay CP,’

Jose Maria Covarrubias was born in France in 1797, emigrat ing to Mexico in 1817 and then to California in 1834. He was naturalized in 1837 and became involved in many of the factional strifes of early California. After the American conquest, he proved to be an extremely loyal United States citizen. His political career carried him to many important posts in the Cali fornia Democratic Party, and he also served as alcalde and U.S. Judge locally in Santa Barbara. He was married in 1838 to Maria Carrillo. In 1843 he received Rancho Castaic by a grant. Covarrubias died in 1870.

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PABLO DE LA GUERRA (Delegate from Santa Barbara) Pablo de la Guerra was born in Santa Barbara November 29, 1819, son of Don Jose de la Guerra y Noriega and Maria Antonio Carrillo de la Guerra. He was educated at William Hartnell’s school at Rancho Alisal, near Monterey, and in the late 1830’s was collector of customs at Monterey by Governor Alvarado’s appointment. His early sympathies were anti-American, but he was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and established an enviable record of political and civic service—four successive terms as State Senator, President of the Senate, Lieutenant Gov ernor of California. As Alcalde of Santa Barbara he partici pated in the famous “canon perdido” incident. He was made U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of California in 18.51. When the District was split in 1864, he served as Judge of the First Instance in Santa Barbara. He married Josefa Moreno in 1847, one of his four children being Francisca, later Mrs. Thomas Bloodgood Dibblee. His death came on February 5, 1874. THOMAS 0. LARKIN (Delegate from Monterey) Thomas 0. Larkin arrived in California in 1832, residing in Monterey. Businessman, merchant, importer—he played an im portant part in the events leading to Statehood for California. He was the first (and only) American Consul to California, appointed by President Polk in 1843. James Buchanan, Secre tary of State to President Polk, in 1845 appointed Larkin confi dential agent for the State Department, and he spearheaded the “fifth column” efforts which led to the annexation of California to the United States. Larkin’s daughter, Isobel, was the first .American child born in Santa Barbara (1833, in the Carrillo Adobe). MEMBERS OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION FOR CALIFORNIA Names Joseph Aram Charles T. Bolts Elam Brown Jose Antonio Carrillo . Jose M. Covarrubias Elisha 0. Crosby Lewis Dent Manuel Dominguez K. H. Dimmick A. J. Ellis Stephen G. Foster Pablo de la Guerra ... Edward Gilbert William M. Gwin Julian Hanks Henry Hill J. D. Hoppe Joseph Hobson H. W. Halleck L. W. Hastings J. McH. Hollingsworth . James McHall Jones Thomas 0. Larkin Francis J. Lippitt Benjamin S. Lippincott -M. M. McCarver John McDougail Benjamin F. Moore .... Myron Norton

Aces 39 40 52 53 52 34 26 46 34 33 28 .30 27 44 39 33 35 39 32 30 25 25 47 37 34 42 32 29 27

Names Pacificus Ord Miguel de Pedrorena Rodman M. Price Antonio M. Pico Jacinto Rodriguez Hugh Reid J. A. Sutter Jacob Snyder Winfield S. Sherman William C. Shannon . Pedro Sansevainc Abel Stearns W. M. Stewart R. Semple Henry A. Tefft M. G. Vallejo Thomas M. Vermeule Joel P. Walker 0. M. Wozencraft

Ages 34 41 30 40 36 38 47 34 32 27 31 51 49 42 26 42 35 52 34

Age Summary 30 years or under 31 to 35 36 to 40 41 to 49 Over 50 (oldest was 53) ....

12 14 8 9 5 48

Carpinteria Group Hears President Conner Elbert S. Conner spoke before the Carpinteria Rotary Club on June 5, on “History and a Historical Society— What It Is and What It Does.” During his remarks he covered the scope and services of our Society and illus trated its activities with several significant items from its collections. The “most famous hat in California”— that of the bandit Tiburcio Vasquez—excited particular interest. (A reproduction of this hat appears in tlie draw ing which heads the list of donors of gifts, in this issue of Noticias. See page 3.)

El Presidio chapel and barracks—made from on 1853 watercolor by J. N. Alden.

A Santa Barbara Master Plan Following Dr. Neasham’s visit in Santa Barbara and his address to the Society last April, much interest has gathered around the conception of a Master Plan for the preservation of our historic landmarks—a plan broad enough in vision and scope to make a real contribution to the area, with direct benefits proportionate to its draw ing power as a tourist attraction. Director Edwin Glcdhill has asked Noticias to present below some of his ideas which might be incorporated into such a Master Plan, pointing out that the California Division of Beaches and Parks is already on record as being willing to co-operate in such projects where wide local civic interest is mani fest. Such a Master Plan for Santa Barbara might well include the following, says Director Gledhill: 1. Creation of an old Pueblo area of 10 or 12 blocks east of State Street in the historic center of our old town, where old landmarks, of historical interest, could be pre served and future building would conform to SpanishCalifornia or Monterey architecture. Present non-con forming buildings would not be disturbed until such time as they needed remodelling or replacing. 2. Restoration of the Presidio, either on its original site or a nearby area. This might be a project of the State Division of Beaches and Parks, as its cost might be beyond the resources of the local area. 3. All landmarks and buildings outside zones of pres ervation should be studied and appraised for their his torical value and if worthy, added in the Master Plan. (As an example, Dr. Neasham during his visit in spected the Judge Albert Packard winery adobe, and approved the idea of its preservation and restoration. While at the site he discovered the Packard residence in the middle of the same block, and at once said it should be included in the zone of preservation. Plans of new owners to demolish the Packard adobe are of immediate concern and all possibilities should be explored by inter ested groups to save this historic landmark. Dr. Neasham also was interested and impressed by the Hastings adobe which the Board of our Society accepted on May 10, as a bequest from the estate of Mrs. John Russell Hastings. He will be happy to know that it is being preserved). Such a “Pueblo Viejo,” patterned after the New Or leans Vieux Carre, would require a city ordinance and

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an act passed by the state legislature, authorizing a planning commission for the project.

Dibblee Letters Document Our Pioneer Period

Such a plan, as outlined here, would bring national recognition to Santa Barbara as an historic city.

Much interest and value are appearing in the Society’s

With orange lines on the streets, guiding visitors from the Old Mission to the Pueblo Viejo and to landmarks in outside zones, Santa Barbara could have an historic

growing collection of old correspondence, as illustrated by the fragment reproduced below from one of our Santa Barbara County pioneers.

exhibit that would make our city important nationally to the tourist.

La Purisima Concepcion As an example of community-wide recognition of the importance and interest surrounding its historic ma terials, Noticias commends its readers to the annual fes tival staged by Lompoc in connection with the founding date of La Purisima Concepcion Mission. This year again, on May 20—La Purisima’s 169th birthday—a community festival was sponsored by the Lompoc Chamber of Commerce and La Purisima Asso ciation. Committees from leading organizations carried out the Mission Festival plans, and it was estimated that over 3,500 guests took part in the celebration. The staff of La Purisima State Division of Beaches and Parks acted as official hosts.

This particular letter is from a collection of Thomas Bloodgood Dibblee’s letters, given the Society by Harrison Dibblee of San Francisco. Harrison Dibblee’s grand father was Albert Dibblee, brother and business asso ciate of Thomas Bloodgood Dibblee, from whom our local Dibblee family was descended. The following portion of Mr. Thomas Bloodgood Dib blee’s letter to Col. W. W. Hollister tells of their efforts to buy the San Julian Rancho and the La Espada Rancho from Caspar Orena. The San Julian Rancho, originally lost by Pablo de la Guerra by way of a mortgage to Mr. Gasper Orena, was in the process of being brought back to the de la Guerra family, Mr. Dibblee having married Francesca, the daughter of Pablo and Josepha Morena Castro de la Guerra. (Col. Hollister, incidentally, became the owner of the La Espada).

The Mission Festival began with High Mass, held in the Mission Church for the first time since 1941. Fr. Eric O’Brien (OFM) a Franciscan Priest from Santa Barbara Mission, offered the Mass, with St. Anthony’s Choir participating with songs. Following the church services, those attending took part in the festivities remin iscence of the fiestas of the early Spanish days when the Mission was established. Founded originally on December 8, 1787, by Fr. Fermin Francisco de Lasuen, La Purisima, the eleventh in the chain of twenty-one Missions in California, was almost completely destroyed by the Great Earthquake of 1812. A new church, on a different loeation, was im mediately begun by Fr. Payeras, who served the Mission until his death in 1823. Time, Indian uprisings, and neglect took their toll, until little was left of this second structure but the foundation and crumbling piles of adobe walls. Built upon these old foundations, and following the original plans for the second mission, the present edifice was begun in July, 1935. In co-operation with the State of California and the United States National Park Serv ice, the County of Santa Barbara in 1954 purchased 500 acres of the former mission property. Civilian Conser vation Corps camps were established and the restora tion program was started. Adobe bricks, roof and floor tiles were fashioned by the young men working on the spot, after the fashion of the Indian neophytes of the early Mission period. The remaining arches and ruins were incorporated into the new buildings so that todays visitors are able to compare the work of the two periods, over a hundred years apart in time. Only after careful research of existing furniture found in other Missions, was each piece built; the grounds were planted in the same way, and are considered by horticulturists to be the finest collection of early California flora anywhere. La Purisima, a State Historical Monument operated by the Division of Beaches and Parks, now includes some 900 acres.

Santa Ynez, Oct. 15, 1867 Co!. W. W. Hollister San Juan, Monterey County, Cal. Dear Sir: I have been at Santa Barbara for the last few days examining title of Ranchos San Julian and La Espada and have come up here to return again to Santa Barbara tomorrow, where I shall have to be two or three days longer. For some lime past I had begun to think we might find at the last moment that Mr. Orena had some condition to annex to our arrangement with him which might be objectionable—and now I find that such is the case. When I came to draw up the contract with him yesterday he insisted on putting in this important reservation—namely—that he was to continue to occupy not only the Ranch house but all that part of the Rancho San Julian now occupied by him, until he shall have sold all his cattle and sheep—or until we shall make the final payment. In other words we should have pos session only of the half of the Rancho, only to the extent we now have it under lease, until he makes sale of cattle and sheep— or until we pay in full. I told him we had already and for a year from next February for SI,000 per annum, all the lands he now proposed to let us have for §1,500 per annum Rent even after payment of $25,000— And that we would refuse the purchase on such terms. He has since modified his restriction or reservation to about l/3rd the Rancho, but the very part which we require for headquarters, namely all the lands East of the House or rather a line drawn North and South through the house; he reserving such part of the house as he now occupies and all the Rancho above it towards the Cruces—allowing us to build fence or improve upon such lands at the Cieniga or elsewhere as we may see fit, not exceeding 100 acres—and to pass through at all times with teams and animals but not with sheep . . . The present Ranch house would thus be the nearest place to the Gaviota where we could shear as long as this restriction exists, and it may exist two years—or at least until we pay him all the purchase money. He says he wishes to sell his cattle as well as sheep—but of course may, by asking too much, protract a sale for the whole term of our credit. We could, of course, terminate this at any time by paying in full, but would partly lose the benefit of our present arrange ment of low rent in lieu of interest . . . There is not the slightest use in trying to move him from these terms. 1 have written all the terms down, and had them read and fully interpreted to

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him, and he says they are all right as written—but he does not wish to sign them. We have 18 days to give him our answer. Another thing: He returns to his first proposition of 11.25 per acre for the two Ranchos’—which would make the whole come to about $80,000—for it seems the Espada may possibly have 16,000 acres instead of 13,000 or 14,000 acres as we supposed:— the Espada is not as desirable as the San Julian, and I am sorry to have the price of that Ranch (Espada) amount to anything like $20,000. He will not sell San Julian separately. It is only by estimating San Julian worth more than $1.25 that we could afford to pay so much for La Espada—which is not worth $1.25: Probably about 0.75 per acre.

GLEDHILL? AT STATE SOCIETY MEETINGS Director and Mrs. W. Edwin Gledhill were official rep resentatives of the Santa Barbara Historical Society to the annual conference of the California State Historical Society at San Jose, June 21, 22, 23. Following their return the exhibit rooms will be closed to enable the staff to prepare the Fiesta exhibit which opens the latter part

of July. STATE CONFERENCE INVITED

. . . (and tliere the manuscript ends. If any of our

A cordial invitation has been extended by the Santa Barbara Historical Society with the co-operation of the Chamber of Commerce for the Conference of California

readers know the whereabouts of the rest of this exciting letter, please notify Society Headquarters.—Editor.)

Historical Societies to hold their 1957 meeting in Santa Barbara.

I suppose, if it is considered that the whole is worth to us

Membership Roster—Santa Barbara Historical Society In response to numerous requests Noticias presents below the membership roster of the Santa Barbara Historical Society as of May 31, 1956. Each succeeding issue will carry names of new members.

A Mrs. Mamie Goulet Abbott Mr. and Mrs. Byron A. Abraham Mrs. Leo Acquistapace Mrs. Frank H. Adams Miss Isabelle Adams Mrs. Richard T. Ambrose Frederick D. Anderson

Mrs. Schuyler M. Coe Mrs. Charles Francis Coffin Rear Admiral and Mrs.

E. G. Coffin

Miss Sarah de W. Coffin Miss S. Winifred Coffin Mr. Alexander Colt Mrs. James Wood Colt

Plans and Planning Committee Mr. Ralph Arnold Community Arts Assn. Rev. and Mrs. Perry S. M. Austin Mr. and Mrs. Elbert S. Conner B Mr. Kurt Baer Capt. and Mrs. Eben Barker Mrs. Wadsworth Baylor Mr. and Mrs. Jerry L. Bennett Mrs. M. W. Biddle

Miss Margaret E. Conklin Mr. Elisha E. Converse Mrs. Lilian Cook Miss Mary H. Cook Miss Myrtle M. Crafts Miss Elizabeth Cudahy Mr. Edward Cunningham Rosario Andrea Curlelli

Miss Charlotte P. Ebbetls Mr. and Mrs. Herman H. Eddy Mr. and Mrs. Archie Edwards Mrs. Carl F. Edwards

Mr. and Mrs. Girard Van B. Hale Mr. and Mrs. Claud F. Hannon Miss Gail Harrison

Miss Dorothy Edwards Mrs. Wagner Edwards Mr. and Mrs. Wm. A. Edwards Dr. and Mrs. Wm. H. Ellison

Miss Katherine Harvey Mrs. Roger C. Hatch Mr. James A. Hawken Mrs. Frank W. Heath

Mrs. George A. Elmott Mrs. Florence Emmons Dr. Elliott Evans

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