William G. Griffith

Yale B. CritYilh

Witlinm C. Crittith

Vol.XXX, No.l Spring, 1984

/

Irnui Kern wilh Arlington Hotel proprietor Alex !.. Richmond ;md kimiergarten students.

See page S (The Arlington Tutoring School)

Margaret M. Criltin

WILLIAM G. GRIFFITH

By Yale B. Griffith* This is a series of recollections concerning the life of one of Santa Barbara's leading lawyers by his son, who was privileged to hear him tell his stories for many years, and who later became his law partner. Our community was greatly influenced by the activities and character of William G. Griffith. It was my privilege to observe and appreciate his work from childhood.

William G. Griffith's Early Life My father was born in Rushville, Illinois, on February 9, 1867. He had his early education in Rushville, and then studied at Illinois Wesleyan Law School. He graduated in 1891. This was well-known as one of the finest law schools in the midwest at that time. He was admitted to the Illinois Bar that year and practiced briefly in Rushville and Chicago. His health was poor and he decided to settle in California where he hoped the climate would help

him.

My father's trip to California in the summer of 1893 was a very interesting one, about which he told me many stories. He took the train as far as Wyoming, but there he and another man bought a horse and wagon. They loaded it up with all their possessions, and spent two months wandering around Yellowstone National Park. At that time, the Park did not have such a crowd of visitors. They had the place pretty much to themselves. They had camping equipment in the wagon and moved their camp from day to day as they visited various parts of the Park. When they came out at the end of their journey, they sold the wagon and went on to the Pacific Coast, where they separated in Portland, Oregon.

My father took a boat to Santa Barbara, and his friend went elsewhere.

My father first went to the Ojai Valley where he bought a very small ranch with funds loaned by his own father. His sister came out to keep house for him, and he lived on the ranch for two years, building himself up physically.

It is hard to think of my father as being in poor health, since we who have known him over the years, remember him as a trim, vigorous man, who walked with a well-known spring in his step. He rode horseback all of his life, even rode within a week of his death at age eighty-three. Certainly, his ranch work in Ojai must have helped him.

Establishment of a Law Practice Father was then ready to start his profession, and he came to Santa Barbara, where he hung out a shingle with Judge Paul R. Wright, who was a retired judge and quite a leading character in Santa Barbara. He shared a reception room with Judge Wright, and had an office and a practice of his own. He was fortunate to have the benefit of Judge Wright's excellent law library.

When Judge Wright retired a few years later, he sold his law library and furniture to my father, who then carried on alone.

It has always been interesting to see what a young man who is a complete stranger, does to build up a law practice here. My father had been born and raised a Presbyterian, and was active in the church in Santa Barbara from 'Yale Griffith, a retired attorney, has made several previous contributions to Noticias. He has served many groups in Santa Barbara, having been on the boards of such organizations as the City School Board, the Santa Barbara YMCA and the Channel City Club.

1

2

NOTICIAS

the day he arrived. His father had been most active in the church and had been a Sunday School superintendent and had been active in organizing Sunday Schools in other places in Illinois. It was natural that father should be superintendent of the Sunday School here and he spent many years in that position. My father was also a member of the Shakespeare Club here, and he devoted himself a great deal to the study of Shakespeare. It served him well, as 1 remember his ability to quote Shakespeare with accuracy and appropriateness many times in legal arguments, and in other situations.

He wasn't making enough money from his legal work to support himself, and so he worked as a surveyor and chainman with Frank F. Flournoy, who was one of Santa Barbara's famous old characters. Frank Flournoy really taught my father a great deal about surveying and about the property problems in Santa Barbara County. One of the results was that he always had a grasp of real estate problems that was beyond that of most lawyers.

He enjoyed surveying. His pay was S2.00 per day, which seemed to him high at that time. It was probably a matter of four or five years that he supplemented his income with this work.

His Marriage and Civic Interests My father and mother met here in Santa Barbara. She was Clara Frances Hardy, the daughter of Captain Isaac B. Hardy, a Civil War veteran and building contractor. They met singing in church choirs together. My father had a beautiful singing voice, as do most Welshmen. My father served the Presbyterian Church in Santa Barbara for a great many years, in various capacities, as Committee member, Trustee and Elder.

He was a member of many local organizations, and was one of the founders of the Santa Barbara YMCA and signed the original Articles of Incorpora tion in 1898. He later served on the Board of Directors of that organization for many years, and was president from 1925 to 1928. He was a founding member of the University Club, which he served as director and president.

He was a founding member of Rancheros Visitadores, and rode horseback on their annual treks for at least twenty-five years.

He had a great interest in politics, and was an active member of the Republican party, being elected many times to the Republican County central committee. He was a delegate to the National Republican Convention which nominated Taft for president in 1908. He was a very good father, and took me along to that convention, even though I was only five years old, and I had some fascinating experiences at the convention.

My father ran for District Attorney in Santa Barbara County in 1903, and he campaigned all over the county. In those days, candidates traveled by buggy or horseback and they had a more leisurely time to visit with their constituents. Father covered the entire county and made many friends. He lost the race to the late E. W. Squire by a small margin, and I heard him say many times that it was the most fortunate thing that ever happened to him. He found that the friends he had made in campaigning for District Attorney followed him as a private attorney. That continued even through my early practice.

3

WILLIAM C. GRIFFITH His Practice in Ventura

Partly as a result of his having lived in Ojai, my father had a number of cases in courts in Ventura. All his life he was an active trial lawyer. The transportation problem was not an easy one, and I have heard him tell many stories about how he made the trip to Ventura. He used to watch the tide records, and he would go by horseback or horse and buggy along the Rincon beach at low tide, and so his court appearances there had to be timed carefully in accordance with the tides. It was a big improvement when the Casitas Grade Road was completed, and although it was a much longer route, it was a much better road, and he didn't have to calculate the tides.

During the early years of my father's law practice and clear up to the present time, Santa Barbara has been privileged to have many distinguished visitors and musical and theatrical programs. It was my father's practice to see that his children shared in those things. I remember when Theodore Roosevelt as president sent the Great White Fleet around the world. It stopped in Santa Barbara, and my father took his children out to visit the battleship. He also saw to it that I met Theodore Roosevelt and others of distinction who visited Santa Barbara. He took us to the theatre, then the old Potter on lower State Street, to hear Peter Pan, Irene and other great shows. We had to take the streetcars and then walk three blocks to our home at 1736 Olive Avenue.

We were also privileged to have Presidents of the United States visit here on a number of occasions, and it was the appropriate thing to see that all had an opportunity to see those distinguished people. That practice is followed, as we have recently had the Queen of England and the President of the United States here at the same time. When President Theodore Roosevelt stopped in Santa Barbara and greeted townspeople on the steps of his train, I was among the small boys in the crowd, and he reached out his hand and shook mine.

My father was always very much interested in education, and served two terms on the Santa Barbara Board of Education. He was one of the founders of the Santa Barbara Girls' School. He was an excellent public speaker, and he was called upon for the city's Fourth of July addresses and speeches on other important occasions.

He did not believe in his family getting favors because of any position he held. I remember a time when he was on the school board and I was a student at Washington Elementary School. I had broken a serious school rule and was waiting in the principal's office for a well-deserved spanking. The Superintendent of Schools came in and recognized me. He asked why I was there, and I said,“Mr. George is going to spank me." He went into Mr. George's office and called his attention to the fact that I was a son of a school board member. He suggested that the spanking might be postponed. When I got home, I told my father how glad I was that he was on the school board because it got me out of a tough spanking. He said to come upstairs and I would get a spanking to remember. Much as I loved my father, I've never forgotten that spanking, and I admired him for it.

World War I Activities During World War I, those who stayed home were very busy with war-

4

NOTICIAS

time activities. My father assisted in organizing the local constabulary which used to drill every Sunday, prepared to defend Santa Barbara, if needed.

A number of lawyers went into the service, thereby putting a much heavier burden on those who remained. We had no Public Defender in those days.

Each lawyer took his turn in alphabetical order to defend indigent people who were charged with crimes. My father took his turn in that defense service for many years. Of course, he did try some criminal cases for an attorney's fee, as he had to have a rather broad, general practice. The criminal defense was a very difficult and burdensome thing, on appointment. He was over seventy-five years old when the judges finally excused him from that duty.

When my father was on the Board of Education, it was decided that there should be a State Normal here, and he actively promoted this. He went to Sacramento and presented the proposal to the State Legislature, and obtained the first grant of funds to build the State Normal School. Originally it was built downtown, and then moved to the Riviera in 1913 and then to the Mesa, and finally it became a branch of the University of California. It is now a very distinguished institution.

His Prominence in the Bar Association My father was always active in Bar Association affairs. We had a County Bar Association to which all of the local lawyers belonged. The president of that Bar Association had been Judge Robert B. Canfield, who was a very distinguished old retired Superior Court judge. He continued as president for many years, and when he died in 1930, the Bar Association held a special meeting at the Court House and unanimously elected my father as the new president. It had been the practice of Judge Canfield s day that once a man was the president, he so remained as long as he lived. My father announced that he felt it should be rotated, and after three years he stepped out to let someone else take his place.

He was always active in State and American Bar activities, and served on the Executive Committee of the old State Bar Association. He was one of those who was active in having the State Bar Association converted into the integrated Bar which now exists and to which all lawyers must belong.

He was a delegate to many American Bar Association meetings. One that was particularly important was in 1924, when the American Bar Associa tion adjourned its meeting in Philadelphia to London, England, and met joint ly with the Bar Association of Great Britain. It was quite an occasion, and my father planned on it far in advance and took his wife and children with him.

An Important Law Case My father was primarily a trial lawyer, although in his later years he devoted himself somewhat more to probate work and estate planning. Among his very important and interesting cases were that of the will contest of John E. Beale. Mr. Beale left his homeplace to his widow Lillian, who was my father's client. He also left her everything else, and Mr. Beale's other relatives contested the will on the grounds that he was claimed to have failed mentally before his death. He was one of Santa Barbara's wealthiest citizens, and his home, Vegamar, which is now A Child's Estate, was a great showplace. The

WILLIAM G. GRIFFITH

5

case involved so much that my father decided to call in one of the State's most distinguished trial lawyers, who was an expert on will contests, Garrett Mclnerney, of San Francisco.

The Attorneys for the contestants were two of Santa Barbara's leading trial lawyers at that time: Mr. B. F. Thomas and Mr. John J. Squire. Mr. Beale had died July 21, 1914, and the will contest was tried about a year later.

I recall that as a school boy, I was very excited about the case, and went there after school to hear it. My father and Mr. Mclnerney won the will contest, after a trial of about three weeks. Lillian Beale later married John H. Child and after his death, she left her home, now called "A Child's Estate," for the benefit of the city of Santa Barbara, and it is now one of the impor tant features of this city, providing a small zoo and children's entertainment facilities. Had the will contest not been won as it was. Child's Estate would undoubtedly have been cut up and sold for the benefit of the other heirs.

So, this trial was of great importance to the city of Santa Barbara.

One incident of that trial was quite amusing, and drew some publicity.

Mr. Mclnerney was a big man, over six feet tall and weighed at least two hundred and fifty pounds. He was dignified and important appearing. My father was about five feet nine inches and weighed about one hundred and forty pounds. Mr. Mclnerney stood up to argue a point of law over the admission of evidence, and my father moved over into Mr. Mclnerney's chair and moved it to one side to speak with his client. Then father looked up suddenly and Mr. Mclnerney was preparing to sit down with no chair. Father quickly jumped up but could not get the chair back, and got his arms around Mr. Mclnerney. The two went down together with Mr. Mclnerney on top.

Because my father was fast, Mr. Mclnerney was not hurt, and neither was my father. It drew quite a laugh, and was commented on in the newspapers.

Captain Waters' Will Another of my father's interesting cases was the contest of the will of Captain William G. Waters. Captain Waters was the owner of San Miguel Island, which he developed into a sheep ranch. His daughter, Edith ScottBurritt, lived on the ranch with him but was very unhappy. She was a young woman, and she was cut off from all of her friends. She finally escaped from the island by crossing the channel with a local fisherman. The story in the newspaper said that they rowed a boat across the Channel, but somehow the fisherman must have had a sail. In any event, she got to Santa Barbara, and went on to San Francisco because she wanted to be a successful singer.

When Captain Waters died on April 26, 1917, he left a holographic will dated December 11, 1916, which cut off his daughter, Edith with one dollar, and left his estate to his brother, John Waters, of Boston, and to his son, Charles Waters, of Santa Barbara. The son's share was left in a trust with the County National Bank, now Crocker National Bank, to pay the income to Charles Waters. Edith contested the will, and the case was tried three times.

My father represented the brother from Boston and he was successful even tually in obtaining a satisfactory settlement with Edith. The brother got most of the estate, and the trust provided in the will was set up. Because of the great interest in this community, not only in San Miguel Island, but in the successful opera career of Edith Scott-Burritt, there was a great deal of

6

NOTICIAS

publicity about the will contest. My father tried it alone, on behalf of the brother, and I was able to get into the court on occasion after school to hear it. There was further litigation over this trust, and my father and I later were involved in that. In going through the files in my office, I find many newspaper clippings about the opera singer Edith Scott-Burritt. She was ambitious to be a singer, and made a truly successful career.

John More's Cypress Trees Another of my father's interesting and early cases was that of Santa Barbara County against John F. More. Mr. More owned a large ranch in Goleta which has been much discussed of late in connection with the More Mesa develop ment. There was a beautiful row of cypress trees along Hollister Avenue, extending all along the More ranch. The cypress trees had been planted by Mr. More and had grown to be one of the most beautiful sights in the county.

The trouble was that the trees had roots which went out from the highway and were interfering with his ranch operations. He asked my father if he could cut them down, and father looked it up and found that the ownership was that of Mr. More. But father told him to be careful, because the public loved those trees.

One Sunday morning, father had a telephone call from Mr. More who asked, "Is an injunction on Sunday legal?" Father asked him what the trouble was. Mr. More said that he had just been served with an injunction to stop him from cutting those cypress trees. Incidentally, this was the state highway at that time, and it was important as the only road from Santa Barbara to Goleta and beyond. The neighbors and others had seen More cutting those trees on Sunday morning. He had gotten a big crew very early in the morning.

And by the time he was served with Judge Crow’s injunction, he had most of them down.

The County carried on a suit and asked for damages, and a permanent injunction. Since the trees were on the property he owned, and since he had planted them, it was arguable that he had a right to do what he liked with the trees.

Thus developed one of the first environmental cases in this county. My father and Mr. More were both fighters. When they lost the case in the trial court, they appealed. The decision of the Supreme Court refused to give the County any damages, but it did uphold the injunction, preventing the cutting of any more trees. It was a very classic decision, and a professor telling about it when I was in law school said that it was one of the first times that any court had ruled on property rights based on aesthetic value. The Supreme Court decision was made in 1917, and there have certainly been many environmental decisions since.

The City of Santa Barbara was in need of a new charter, and appointed a Board of Freeholders in 1917. My father was made the secretary of that board and worked with great diligence. Since he had the major part of writing the charter, he applied himself earnestly to the task. The Daily News opposed it, but it was passed by the voters, and it became our City Charter. There were editorials in the papers very critical of my father at the time. I was very much troubled by those criticisms. The fact is that it proved to be a good charter and continued for a great many years.

WILLIAM G. GRIFFITH

7

Griffith's Law Associates My father practiced alone for many years. He had a reception room which he shared with one or more lawyers. I recall very well his practice of having an associate in that manner. Among them were Mr. Fred H. Schauer, who founded one of Santa Barbara's leading law firms, and Francis Price, Sr., who founded another of the leading law firms here. Also, Mr. Hugh J. Weldon, who founded the firm of Weldon and Hass. None of them were my father's partners, but they all had a close association. Finally, he asked Laselle Thornburgh to become his partner in 1924, after Mr. Thornburgh had worked for him for two years. It was a very cordial relationship, and the law firm is still continuing under the name of Griffith and Thornburgh.

There have been three Thornburghs, and two Griffiths in the firm over the years.

The old streetcar system in Santa Barbara was first owned by the Con solidated Electric Company, which later became the Southern California Edison Company. The Edison Company operated the streetcars for many years, and my father was always their attorney. He tried a number of cases involving streetcar accidents. When I started practice in 1928, I got streetcar cases as my first breaking-in. The Edison Company decided to discontinue the streetcars in 1929. They had ceased to be profitable, and it was felt that busses would serve the purpose well. My father and 1 appeared before the Railroad Commission, which was the predecessor of the Public Utilities Com mission, in 1930, on behalf of the Edison Company, to obtain permission to abandon the streetcar service.

The June, 1925 Earthquake When the Granada Theater Building was completed by Charles M. Urton in 1924, it was the only tall building in Santa Barbara, and now a City Ordinance forbids such heights. It has eight floors, and most of the lawyers in town moved into that building. The leading law firms had one floor for each firm, and then the individual practitioners had another floor. The arrangement made it very easy to serve papers on other lawyers and get in touch with them since you only had to take the elevator up or down. When the earthquake hit Santa Barbara on June 29, 1925, the Granada Building stood. It was badly cracked and the walls between offices were completely broken up because they were made of hollow tile, and there had to be a lot of construction work. Clients were not willing to come into the building.

Everyone was afraid of it since the aftershocks of the quake continued for some time.

The banks, as well as the lawyers and many others, had to find temporary places, where they could continue their business. One of the locations chosen was the lawn of Lobero Theatre. There were two banks in tents there, and three law firms and other businesses were set up to operate on that lawn.

The hazards were considerable, and the Marine Corps, which had sent a body of troops here to protect the town from looting, had Marines guarding the front and back of those banks. They had to carry on that way for a while until they could get temporary quarters.

My father continued his practice, although he slowed down some, until

NOT1CIA5 he finally had a stroke at age 83 in 1949. He had been in the office only a week before he died, and had ridden his horse daily for the last fifty years of his life. He certainly had kept himself very active, and continued his participation in the affairs of this community and of the law profession.

The leadership in this community demonstrated by William G. Griffith is hard to replace. He set standards of excellence and of moral and financial conduct which have been of great value to Santa Barbara and to all who had contact with him. Other lawyers throughout the County looked up to him. We, in his own office, gained much from his demonstration of his prin ciples. It was a rare privilege to work with him and to follow his leadership.

THE ARLINGTON TUTORING SCHOOL

By Margaret Mellinger Griffin* Most every time I drive into the parking lot of the Fox-Arlington Theater, a bit of nostalgia runs through my veins, for it was there my schooling began.

In 1922 that site was a part of the Arlington Hotel grounds. The parcel nearest the corner of Sola and Chapala Streets was the location of the private kindergarten I attended, a time and a place I shall always remember with a great deal of happiness.

Tucked back into the corner of the city block-sized hotel grounds stood the small, brown, one-story, one-room building with windows on all sides.

It was a cheerful, airy and light place, built especially as a kindergarten classroom, surrounded by ample space for childrens’ playtime activities and work projects. It was only one part of a school, unique in its inception.

Alex L. Richmond, enterprising and hospitable proprietor of the Arlington Hotel, conceived the idea of a school associated with the hotel. Attempting to augment his clientele, he reasoned that eastern families with children would be more inclined to spend winters at the Arlington year after year if private school facilities were available.

The Arlington School Program With the assistance of Dr. Grant Evans, a seasoned tutor and, from 1916 to 1929, pastor of the Montecito Presbyterian Church, the school was organized into three sections. Mrs. Irma E. Kern, a former primary teacher at Howard School in Montecito, was asked to teach the kindergarten children.

To instruct the primary grades Miss Clara Thompson was recruited, and Dr. Evans assumed responsibility for the upper grades.

For her classroom Miss Thompson used a guest house back of her home at 1230 Garden Street. The older students, with Dr. Evans as teacher, attended 'Margaret Mellinger Griffin came to Santa Barbara in January, 1920. She and her sister, Eleanor Mellinger Saltier, were harp pupils of Mrs. Roscoe Lyans and played many programs at the Arlington, at churches and other local places. Margaret taught in local schools for a number of years. She is on the Oral History Committee of the Historical Society and has had a number of interviews with Santa Barbarans.

THE ARLINGTON TUTORING SCHOOL

9

school in rooms within the hotel itself. While Mr. Richmond planned, and had the little kindergarten building constructed behind the hotel, the very young students met with Mrs. Kern at the Presbyterian Church. It was then located in the first block of East Anapamu Street, across from the Public Library. Within a few months the electrically heated building on the hotel grounds was completed, and the youngsters attended their kindergarten classes there on a regular basis. The Arlington Tutoring School was a going concern!

A few local children were invited to attend the school in order to bolster the enrollment. Tuition was $10.50, or perhaps $12.50 a month.(Mrs. Kern is uncertain about which amount is correct.) Among those in the class held at the church, then transferred to the new building, were Arthur Spaulding, son of Dr. Clarence Spaulding, Presbyterian minister; Barbara Schurmeier, local physician Harry L. Schurmeier's daughter, and Virginia Ferguson.

The Arlington School's Enrollment Immediately following the move to the "hotel campus," my younger sister, Eleanor, and I were enrolled. Other local children attending at the same time were a child called Louise Voorhees and a grand nephew of Samuel Stanwood.

Surely there were others, but no records are available to prove the fact. No more than ten children were in the kindergarten class.

Since the Spauldings, Schurmeiers and Mellingers lived within a radius of a few blocks of each other, their children also spent much time together outside of school hours. Going to school for the first time, therefore, was not as traumatic to such young people as it often is in a large class of strangers.

Dr. and Mrs. Spaulding were residents of the house still standing at 508 E. Arrellaga Street, the Schurmeiers resided at 1624 Canal Street (now Olive Street), and the Mellingers lived at 1525 Laguna Street. Dr. Schurmeier and Dr. Mellinger became close friends, and at the time of the 1925 earthquake were sharing a brand new medical office on the eighth floor of the Granada Building. Dr. Spaulding was the Mellinger family minister and a fishing com panion of Dr. Mellinger. Obviously these various relationships enriched the childrens' friendships and carried over into the school situation.

How fortunate my sister and I were to be a part of this small group! With the enthusiastic, kind and understanding dynamic little native of Rouen, France, as our teacher, we were destined to cherish our hours at the Arlington.

A French Cultural Experience "Bom jour. Madame, comment allez vous?" the children inquired on week day mornings at nine o'clock, September through June, as they entered the door of the small rustic building.

'An revoir a demain," was Irma Kern's sweet farewell at noontime each day as she entrusted her charges to their parents or nannies gathered in the doorway.

French conversation, basic early childhood skills, songs, dances, garden ing and little plays excited and interested us. Examples of French sentences we were taught are: "La vache nous donne du lait."(The cow gives us milk.); "Je bois du lait." (I drink milk.); "La pomme est rouge."(The apple is red).

Frequently we sang songs such as the old favorite "Fr^res Jacques," "Sur le

10

NOTICIA5

Pont d'Avi^non" and 'Au Claire de La Lime."

Our songs especially were an important part of the curriculum. Not only were we speaking French, we learned to appreciate the joy of music and listened attentively as Mrs. Kern played the little piano she rented from Mr. Leo E. Girardy, the famous piano builder.

The hours passed quickly with the projects Mrs. Kern so skillfully planned.

Out in the yard, Mr. Richmond installed two swings, a slide and a sandbox.

The teeter-totter was constructed by our teacher's husband, Lt. Col. Joseph W. Kern. All that was lacking in the immediate area was a bathroom!

Dutch-costumed Margaret and Eleanor (with telephone) Mellinger at school party.

Margaret Mellinger in her garden plot.

Kindergarten building in background.

Margaret M. Gritfin

Margaret M. Griffin

The School's Routine and Activities Mothers had been asked to have their children "take care of things" before coming to school, with the hope that three hours would pass before any "mistakes" were made. However, cleanup time after painting and gardening, or the usual unhoped for, and unexpected, calls of nature meant a trip across the grounds to the hotel's washroom facilities. If only one child "had to go," the entire group made the trek. Certainly Mrs. Kern would leave no child unattended in the school building, nor would she allow a child to go alone to the hotel.

Many times the walks to the hotel were for more exciting reasons! Mr. Richmond, who was extremely fond of children, often hosted parties for the small classmates. These festive events were held in the hotel most of the time.

THE ARLINGTON TUTORING SCHOOL

11

Pictures show at least one of them taking place in the garden.Whenever pic tures were to be taken, we were all taken out into the garden where the light was bright enough to assure good results with the camera!

Our plays and other programs were always presented in the hotel. Often the generous Mr. Richmond presented us with gifts of toys. Some of the par ties were costume affairs, and we performed by singing songs, dancing and reciting verses relevant to the occasion. At Christmas time Mr. Richmond gave us a lovely party, complete with gifts chosen for each of us.

Every child had a small garden plot where quick growing radishes, green onions and carrots were raised. Our high laced or buttoned shoes, in black or brown leather, were sturdy enough to keep the dirt from our socks.

Interest of the parents in their childrens' schooling varied as it does today Parents of the children staying at the hotel were not overly concerned about progress made in the classroom. The little school literally was used as a "lovely place to leave the children while mother and father enjoyed California, Santa Barbara in particular." Local parents were tremendously interested in what their children were learning.

Mrs. Kern's Dedication to Teaching For Irma Kern, whose love for teaching has never ceased, or whose interest in it has never fluctuated, a salary commensurate with the tuition was perfectly acceptable. And from it she bought all of the supplies and books.

She also managed to pay $5.00 per month for piano rental. Eventually she purchased a small Girardy piano for $75 and used it for many years in her teaching career. Many years later Mrs. Edward Kupelian (Rose) bought the little piano for her granddaughter, Diane Kupelian, who began as a student of Mrs. Kern on February 2, 1942.

The pending arrival of her second child necessitated the termination of Mrs. Kern's work at the Arlington Tutoring School. This was very late in 1922, so the year was completed by a substitute teacher. It is thought that Dr. Evans and Miss Thompson continued their classes until the devastating earthquake of June 29, 1925, although there seem to be no records of proof.

Though several years passed while Irma Kern did not teach, she did not by any means forget her first love — the kindergarten/primary level of educa tion. It was three children and almost six years later that she became the proud owner of her own school. This was the Santa Barbara Kindergarten and Primary School, slated to be the alma mater of many, many Santa Barbara children until its doors closed permanently in 1957. But that's another story!

THE MEMORIAS OF JOSE MARIA ROMERO* In December, 1877, by special recommendation of ex-Governor John G. Downey, Jose Maria Romero was interviewed by Thomas Savage at Rancho Santa Gertrudis — (a part of the old Los Nietos Ranch) near Downey, California. Romero was then over ninety years of age; he was the son of a member of the founding garrison of the Santa Barbara Presidio.

In his introductory report, Mr. Savage makes clear that he was not pleased that he was given this assignment, and was also frustrated by the old gentleman's somewhat rambling account — which would seem to be understandable considering his advanced age. Savage also expressed doubts as to the correctness of his statements, and while some of them do indeed leave room for some doubts — such as the episode of the mountain lion — nevertheless even these present a picture of the thoughts and attitudes of the people of that time. His recollections and descriptions of some of the impor tant persons of the period provide interesting personal glimpses lacking in more formal histories.

Hubert Howe Bancroft evidently did not share all of Savage's doubts or opinions, for in his History of California, Volume II, Chapter If, he mentions Romero and cites him as reference material. Also, a number of his statements regarding events can be checked in other historical accounts.

As Romero could not write, Savage wrote down the interview in Spanish.

A translation has been prepared for the library of the Santa Barbara Historical

Society. (signed) Geraldine V. Sahyun, translator

THE MEMORIAS OF JOSE MARIA ROMERO I, Jose Marfa Romero, was born in Lompoc, where Mission La Purfsima was originally founded, about 3 leagues distant from Las Flores, to where it was moved later. I do not remember the date on which I was born — I think my age is 92 years. I remember that Lieutenant Anastacio Carrillo was two years older than I.‘ They said that when I was eighteen years old Lieutenant Roca came, especially commissioned by the Viceroy of New Spain to form companies of Civilian Militia, during the time of Governor Arrillaga. I was enlisted in that militia in Santa Barbara. I do not remember the year, only that it was done because the King of Spain was at war with France, that is with Emperor Napoleon.We were in continuous service for something like three years, until the end of the danger or invasion in which it was believed that these coasts were, then we were sent home. During the time of that service, we were paid every month and received the same rations as the leather-jacket soldiers.

'From Alexander S. Taylor Scrapbook, Bancroft Library, C.E. 185, Vol. 2. A copy of the Memorias in the Gledhill Library of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum has been translated

by Mrs. Geraldine V. Sahyun, Most of the translation, with headings for ready reference, but without page references, is published here. For research, the file copy should be consulted.

12

THE MEMORIAE OF JOSE MARIA ROMERO

13

Juan Maria Romero's Family My father's name was Juan Marfa Romero, and he was corporal of the Santa Barbara Company and one of the founders of the presidio of the channel.

My mother's name was Lugarda Salgada, a native of the presidio of Loreto.

My maternal grandfather was Portuguese; a brother of his was Padre Salgada, a missionary at Loreto; he was one of the Jesuits. When the Jesuits were expelled, they were placed on an island and later shipped out.

The Mission at which the Father President of the Jesuits in Baja California was, was San Luis. When the missionaries were expelled, my grandfather Felipe Romero bought the Mission, and established himself in it with all his family.

My father died here at Mission San Fernando at the age of 60, more or less. My mother was a centenarian and died in Santa Barbara. She was still scurrying around as little children do.

1 remember that my father told me that once when Padre Junipero Serra was going with his page to an Indian ranchena he told the page to gather up a little sand. Afterwards, when they reached a certain spot, he told the page to bring him his small bottle of water and a loaf of bread, to which the page replied that they had been finished. The padre said no, that he had just seen the bread and water. The page went in search of these things and found them, just as the padre had said. Later the padre asked him if he had done as he was told — gathered up the sand. The Indian boy said yes, and it turned out to be pure gold. The padre said that great treasures would be discovered to the north, but they would remain in the hands of heretics for many years, and it would cost much blood for them to come into the hands of the Christians. The padre said that we would see things that had never been seen before — that women would go with other men and men with other women, that religion would be lost, but with time things would return to their original state.

My father told me that once a lion bit him and tore off half of his ear, but fortunately the piece was put back in time, and grew on again. Another soldier who came to defend him was also bitten on the arms. This was when they were bringing down wood from the mountains, because then there were no Christian Indians, and the soldiers at the founding of the Presidio had to do all kinds of work — cut wood, make adobe bricks and tiles, and whatever was necessary in order to construct the buildings.

Early Years of the Missions In the first years when the missions of the channel were being founded, because of the hostility of the San Diego Indians 15 men had to go to carry the mail from Santa Barbara to San Diego, and 15 others to return as far as the old mission of San Gabriel.

When the blessing of Mission San Gabriel took place — I am speaking of the one which still exists — my father and I came to the function from Santa Barbara because the mason who was in charge of the work, Jos^ Salvador Caravantes, who was a soldier from Santa Barbara, was my unclein-law, married to a sister of my father, Marfa Josefa Romero. The carpenter

14

NOTICIAS

work was done by Jose" Antonio Olivera, whom everybody called Jose Antonio the Carpenter. He was the same one who did the carpentry work in the church of San Juan Capistrano, which went down in the earthquake.

At the blessing to which I refer, there was a very great celebration, and many cannon-shots were fired. The padres from other missions attended.

1 remember having seen there a very tall, serious padre who was called Padre Migueldn — Padre Francisco Dumet was there also, who was very tall and stout — very light-complexioned, Padre Dumet was a great user of snuff, and his habit was stained by so much powder falling on it. A little brother of mine, named Gregorio, had given him the nickname of Father Drippy.

1 was also present at the blessing of the Church of Los Angeles — the old church was behind where Doha Venancia lives, toward the hill — there was hardly any distance between the old one and the new, only two houses were between them, that of Valdes and that of the Rubios.

Shortly after the founding of Santa Barbara by order of the governor, a padre went out for three months to win over the Indians in the mountains and in the tule beds. He took soldiers with him, and the Indians, among whom were some very bad ones, attacked the soldiers, obliging them to fight to clear their way. The Indians were in secret caves, and from there attacked the soldiers who passed by unaware, so that some of the soldiers were wounded.

At the Presidio of San Diego, I knew Eulalie Perez, who was the wife of Corporal Guillen. The latter was in the guard of Mission San Diego, and she had come on a visit to the Presidio when I arrived there. She took me to a house where 1 had lunch, and they treated me well. Eulalia was then a robust young woman — I think she was then between 40 and 50 years old, and I was in my thirties. She was very strong, a good dancer and very lively.

Spanish Leaders of California The last Spanish governor we had was Don Pablo Vicente de Sola. I knew him in Monterey, where I went by permission of the Comandante of Santa Barbara, Captain Don Jose de la Guerra y Noriega, so that the surgeon could examine me, because my feet had been injured as a result of a horse having fallen on me. I was then in service in the civilian militia.

Having arrived at Monterey, I presented myself to the Comandante of the presidio. Lieutenant Don Jose Maria Estudillo, and from there I went to where Governor Sola was. The Governor ordered that Senor Estudillo be called, and told him, "Give the man the remedy” (which was permission to be out of service) "I have just given the remedy to several other soldiers, and within two or three days they were well and fit for full service. Don't believe you can deceive me by putting rags on your heads." (Those I had were not like that.) I was a good friend of the surgeon, Don Manuel Quijarro, whom I paid, and he offered to certify me so that they would give me a permit. Sehor Estudillo gave me the permit in the Governor's presence. After reading the document, Senor Sola said, "Here you have your remedy, but don’t bother me about it — within three days you will be well enough for full service.”

Senor Estudillo was a man of good height, not very heavy, of very fair complexion. He was a lively man, very good, and had a large following

THE MEMOR1A5 OF JOSE MARIA ROMERO

15

among the people, who liked him very much. His wife was the same — she was from Mexico. They had two daughters, one of them was always sickly, and also two sons.

Governor Sola was a very intelligent man, of medium stature, fat, — very dignified in bearing. He seemed to me to be over 60; he was not very light skinned, but ruddy. He was a despotic man with a bad disposition.

When I was there to get my permit, it was about a year before he went to Mexico.

Once when the king was at war and being beaten for lack of money, he asked the soldiers for a donation, and all the soldiers contributed — each soldier 3 pesos — the corporal 4 pesos — sergeant 5 or 6 pesos — I do not know how much the officers gave. This was before I entered the militia service.

Don Jose Arguello's Family Don Jos^ Dario Argiiello, who was Interim Governor of California, and Comandante of the Company of the Presidio of San Francisco for many years, I knew very well in Santa Barbara when he was Comandante of the Presidio.

He was a tall, stout man, quite dark-complexioned, married, and with a large family. His wife was fair. They were very religious people of the highest character, and prayed very often. One daughter, named Concepcion, was said to have been engaged to marry a gentleman of high rank in Russia,^ who was governor of the Russian colonies in North America. That gentleman died, and afterwards another man, whom I believe was Spanish and was named Ramdn Moya, asked for the hand of Dona Concepcion. I do not know if she wanted him. He died and she became a beata |one living in pious retire ment!; she dressed as a beata, in a robe, and went to live at an Indian ranchen'a [village]. Afterwards she used to go from presidio to presidio, visiting her friends and helping all who needed it, both white and Indian, because she was a very charitable woman.

Don Jos^ Argiiello had other daughters, Dof»a Paula, Doha Barbara, Dofta Isabel, and another who married a man from another troop who was named Cahizares, if my recollection is not bad. This one was the eldest, named Dona Ana. Of the sons, he had Don Luis Antonio(who was later governor), Don Gervacio, Don Santiago and Don Ignacio, who went to Mexico to be educated and was ordained there as a priest. Afterwards he came to see his father and sang Mass in Santa Barbara. He lived in a town of Yaqui Indians, and I was told that in one of those Indians' uprisings they killed him.

Don Luis Antonio Argiiello was a tall man of medium build and ruddy complexion. He was a very good man, very affable with everyone. I was in San Francisco on a trip when Don Luis was called to Monterey to be Interim Governor.

Don Gervacio was tall, heavily fleshed, ruddy. This man, after serving in his military career in San Francisco and San Diego, was sent to Me'xico on a commission, and did not return to California again. He was married to a lady from up north, whom I did not know.

Don Santiago Argiiello was tall and heavy. He married Dona Pilar Ortega, daughter of Don Francisco and granddaughter of the old Captain Don Jos^ Francisco de Ortega.

16

NOTICIAS Bouchard's Visit to California

I remember when the insurgents under the command of Bouchard came and burned Monterey.●* I was serving in the militia in Santa Barbara when the first the two insurgent frigates arrived there, one large and one small was painted black.

Bouchard sent a bragging message to Captain de la Guerra that he would land 500 men, and De la Guerra answered him with another, that he could not hold back his people, that he had more than 1000 waiting to receive them.

Then he put his men in motion, having the cavalry march up to the mission, and on reaching the hill the troop turned around behind it and continued the march in the same order, making it appear to be a very much larger force than it really was. I do not know if this made Bouchard retire — the certainty is that he did not disembark in Santa Bd'rbara nor commit hostile acts. Before coming to Santa Barbara, the insurgents were at the Ortega ranch at Refugio, sacked it, provided themselves with meat, poured out a large quantity of wine, and burned the house. There two or three men took flight, one of them was a negro. In Monterey a prisoner was taken, a certain Chavez Joseph Chapman, who afterwards was baptized and married one of the Ortegas [Guadalupe).

In Santa Barbara they put ashore a negro named Molina, who some years before had been a slave in Mexico. Molina was a heavy drinker and had been taken when drunk aboard one of the insurgent ships. The two who were captured at the ranch had been sent after him. One of them was a subaltern officer. I believe they were captured by the distinguished Sergeant Don Carlos Antonio Carrillo, the same man who many years later was governor for the Mexican government. Molina was given no greater punishment than to work in shackles on the presidio.^ Comandante Captain de la Guerra was a rather short man, somewhat stout, light complexioned, a very good officer and an excellent horseman. He was kind and extremely charitable, as was his wife, DoRa Marfa Antonia Carrillo.

The insurgents, by the word of their Comandante, Bouchard, promised in Santa Barbara to do no more harm along the coast, but they did not keep their promise. They went to San Juan Capistrano, poured out the wine and did further damage, but the valuable property of the church and the mission had been hidden in time. Here, Juan de la Rosa presented himself, and Zaldivar the latter was a servant — at the home of the Ortegas. He was a native of Chile, and it seems that his father was an army officer. Some time later he returned to his country.

After they left San Juan Capistrano, Bouchard and his insurgents did not touch at any other place in this California. They went on to Loreto, sacked the church and the houses of the presidio and its neighbors, and destroyed the archives. All the people had abandoned the place, but they did not take the time or the precaution to carry away their property. The church had very good ornaments of gold, silver, and fine pearls — the invaders carried off everything. They did not burn the building.

Santa Barbara Presidio Leaders I knew well Don Felipe de Goycoechea, who was Comandante of Santa

THE MEMORIAE OF JOSE MARIA ROMERO

17

Barbara for many years. He was a native of Alamos, tall, heavy of build, of light and ruddy complexion. An excellent officer and very pleasant and kind to his soldiers . . .

I was present at the blessing of the church of Santa Barbara, the Indians had built it, they cut stone and prepared the other materials. The masonry work was directed by Caravantes and the carpentry by Jose Antonio the Carpenter.

The Father Ministers, if my memory is not wrong, were Juan Crespi and Estevan Tapis — other padres came, among them Padre Mariano Payeras.

There was a great religious festival — a sung mass, for there was a good orchestra and very good singers — Indians whom the padres had instructed in sacred music. There were bull-fights during the day, and dancing at night.

I attended all these affairs. I never took part in the dancing except as a mere spectator. I never learned the verses of the songs which were sung to accom pany the different dances.The latter were sones, jota, jarabe. contradanza, pontorico, and many others the names of which I do not remember.

When they danced el son the tecolero went zapateando to place himself in front of the lady who was to come out to dance, and clapped his hands several times. When she had finished, the tecolero did the same with each of the ladies until all had danced. The dances in my youth were general, and took place in an arbor. There all the respectable ladies entered, but they did not fail to observe some distinctions; the wives of the officials and others of that category seated themselves somewhat apart from the others. It sometimes happened that some young men affected by liquor or other causes would put spurs to their horses and enter the arbor mounted, and afterwards precautions were taken to avoid these and other abuses by placing men at the door, or entrance to the arbor.

I knew Governor Arrillaga — he was a tall man, very light complexioned, ruddy, with blue eyes. At one time he was Interim Governor, following the death of Sefior Romeu. He became governor again in 1800 on the depar ture of Don Diego de Borica, and afterwards they made him the proprietary — he was governor of both Californias for many years, and died at Soledad.

While here he was made acting colonel. Sehor Arrillaga was very affable, and everyone liked him. He had previously been Comandante of Loreto for many years, and lieutenant Governor of the Californias.

I remember well Governor Don Diego de Borica. He was a man of medium height, a little heavy, light complexioned, a man of 50 to 60 years of age when he came. 1 knew his wife and his son, who must have been 15 years old when 1 first saw him. It seems to me he was called Cosme. I did not know the rest of the family. Don Diego de Borica was a very lively, jocular man, affable with everybody. At the time of Sr. Arrillaga's first interim command, schools were established at the presidios, and Serior Borica exerted himself strongly for their progress, urging the comandantes and the alcaldes of the three towns that they should make the heads of families send their children to the schools. Arrillaga also took much care that the troops should receive good attention. During the command of Sola, due to the War of Independence in Mexico, nothing was sent from there for the soldiers, and as a result of that the troops suffered great shortages — they had no clothes nor shoes

18

NOTICIAS

to put on, Food was never lacking because the missions and the towns supplied grain, and each company had a stock ranch established by the king to provide meat.

San Fernando Mission Indians I was employed for eleven years serving at the San Fernando Mission with Padre Pedro Munoz.

The young single Indian women were in a dwelling apart which was called the convent. The single men also had their separate quarters.

When they arose, early, the Indians used to go to pray and hear Mass in the church, then they went to the pozokra, where they breakfasted on atole [corn meal gruel or mushl and pozole [boiled beans and barley). Breakfast over, they used to go to work. They carried provisions with them to eat at noon, there in the places where they were working. At about 4 o'clock in the afternoon they used to return to the mission; they recited the rosary in the church, and afterwards went to the pozokra, ate their supper, and retired to their quarters, — the married ones to their villages. The latter were given their rations every week, and their wives did the cooking. They were given three quartillas'’ of corn, or some other grain for which they asked. The single men were given about two quartiUas on Sunday, and they used to take the ration to their relatives' homes so that they could cook it for them without their being deprived of it when they returned in the afternoon for supper.

Once the single men and women were locked in their respective quarters, the keys were given to the padre.

There were two mayordomos at the mission, one for the work in the fields and the other for household duties. Besides, there were two caporaks [assistants! who helped the mayordomos.

The punishments which were imposed upon the Indians w'ere whipping, shackles and being put in the stocks, according to the degree of the trans gressions. The greatest number of lashes which the padre could impose for a serious offense was 25.

When the offense was very serious, such as death, robbery, etc., it was the custom to order a novenario. 25 lashes daily for 9 days, but this was by sentence of the governor or the military commander.

The other years of my life, when I was not employed at the mission, I was engaged in the buying and selling of goods.

I have one brother living, in Santa Ana, the youngest of us, the socoyote, as it was the custom to call the youngest of a family. They have just told me that he is very old and almost blind — anyone would take him for an older man than I am, but he is not.

Rancho de Sta. Gertrudis (Los Nietos) December 21, 1877

By Jose Maria Romero (who does not know how to write).

(Written by) Thos. Savage.

THE MEMORIAE OF JOSE MARIA ROMERO

19

FOOTNOTES 1.

2.

Anastacio Carrillo was born at Santa Barbara April 29, 1788.

Mr. Savage suggests that the reference may have been to the war with England which immediately preceded the Napoleonic War. 3. Count Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov, founder of the Russian-American Company, who wanted to marry Concepcion, but who died in Siberia on a mission to Russia.

4. The insurgents were from Argentina, under Captain Hippolyte Bouchard, a Frenchman.

They were in the Santa Barbara area December, 1818. (Bancroft, History of California, Vol. 2, Chapter 11.) Translator's note.

Other versions of this march state that it was near East Beach. Bancroft's footnote about Romero's report of the incident is that De la Guerra "caused his troops to march round a hill in such a way as to come over and over again . . . " —Ed. 5. Bancroft states that Molina was sent to Captain de la Guerra in Santa Barbara in an exchange of prisoners. (Histor\/ of California, Vol. 2, Chapter 11, p. 239.) — Translator's note.

6. (Translator's note; 1 quartilla equals Vt of a fanega or of 1 arroba.

1 fanega equals 1.58 bushels.

1 arroba equals about 25 lbs.)

SANTA BARBARA HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEW MEMBERS ACTIVE Mr. Marv Branch Mr. Earl D. Brown Mrs. W. Atlee Burpee 111 Cate School Mr, Joseph A. Donohoe Col. Alexander Falzon Mr. and Mrs. Elton Fewson Mr. David W. Gledhill

Mrs. Marie-Louise Hattier Mr. and Mrs. Richard Jensen Mr. W. E. Johnson Mr. Brian Kennedy Miss Berthe Malecot Mrs. Laura Morrison Mrs. William Weisman Mrs. Lawrence Westbury

SUSTAINING Mrs. Obaid Abdulla Mr. Patrick A. Lejeune Mr. Havarah Bell Mrs. Ralph W. Seely Mr. and Mrs. David S. Dvorak Mr. John G. Severson Mrs. Joan P. Schulman Taylor

ASSOCIATE Mrs. Elizabeth Kelsey-Nelson

FELLOW Mrs. Dora D. Ide

Mr. R. K. Malott

IN MEMORIAM Mrs. Marjorie C. Heness Mrs. Alfred V. Orena Mr. Charles W, Partridge

Mr. A. C. Poslel Mrs. C. E. Russell Mrs. Crosby Hall Shevlin

20

SANTA BARBARA HISTORICAL SOCIETY OFFICERS President First Vice-President . .

Second Vice-President

Mr. Danily Bell . ..Mr. Glenn D. Hillebrand Mr. j. Terry Schwartz Mrs. H. Clarke Gaines Mr. Gene Harris

Secretary Treasurer Museum Director. . . .

Librarian Editor of Noticias . . .

Mrs. Henry Griffiths Mr. Michael Redmon Mrs. Stella Haverland Rouse

DIRECTORS Mrs. Mark Church Mrs. Charles Cleek

Mrs. Harry P. Hedge Mr. Eric P. Hvolboll

Dr. ). Walter Collinge Mrs. Florence Corder-Witter Mrs. Calvin Goodrich Mr. Robert E. Gross

Mr. David Myrick Mr. Rodman W. Paul Mrs. Harold V. Scollin, Jr. Mr. Walker A. Tompkins Mrs. John Woodward

Mr. Richard Harpham

HONORARY DIRECTOR Sir John Galvin

LIFE MEMBERS Mrs. Elizabeth Hay Bechtel Mr. and Mrs. Danily C. Bell Mr. and Mrs. Pierre P. Claeyssens Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cleek Mr. M. Cameron Conkey Mr. J. V. Crawford Mrs. J. V. Crawford Mr. Richard G. Croft, Jr. Mrs. Albert de L'Arbre Mr. Donald Foyer Mrs. Helen W. Foyer

Mr. Gene Harris Mrs. Gene Harris Mrs. Alfred Millard Mr. Spencer Murfey Mr. and Mrs. Willia m W. Murfey Mr. David Myrick Mr. and Mrs. Godwin J. Pelissero Mr. and Mrs. Wade Rubottom Mr. and Mrs. Russell A. Ruiz Mrs. Melville Sahyun Dr. Carey Stanton

Class of membership; Benefactor, $5000.00 or more; Life, SIOOO.OO; Patron, $500.00; Fellow, $100,00; Associate, $50.00; Sustaining, $25.00; Active. $15.00; Student, $5.00.

Contributions to the Society are tax exempt.

Mailing Address; P.O. Box 578 ● Santa Barbara, California 93101

QUARTERLY BULLETIN OF THE SANTA BARBARA HISTORICAL SOCIETY 136 EAST DE LA GUERRA STREET SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA 93101

The Gledhiil Library is compiling a file of Santa Barbara Magazine. If you have any back issues to contribute, please contact Mike Redmon, librarian, telephone 966-1601.

Some upcoming events for the spring and summer: April 15, The Society's celebration of the founding of the city of Santa Barbara.

July 22, Pre-Fiesta Barbecue.

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Santa Barbara, Calif.

Permit No. 534