The Packard Adobe – An Appeal

Jr

VOL. 1

OCTOBER, 1955

QUARTERLY BULLETIN OF THE SANTA BARBARA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The Packard Adobe . . . An Appeal TO ALL FRIENDS AND MEMBERS OF THE SANTA BARBARA

HISTORICAL SOCIETY:

An event of really serious interest to this Society is th decision of Mrs. Arthur Cleave to place on the mar ket the seven lots on West Carrillo Street on which is located the historic Packard Adobe. Before the listing was given, Mrs. Mattye McAtee, who at the moment has the exclusive agency for this property, came to see me and was anxious to do what she could to find ways of restoring and saving this historic building. I was able to obtain from Mrs. Cleave a three months option pe riod, during which time I hope some way can be found to save this landmark.

On the second story of this adobe the first, and possibly only, attempt was made to start a silk industry in California. The silk-worms were brought from Japan, mulberry trees were planted, and, although this project was unsuccessful, it was an interesting part of the his tory of Santa Barbara. Julian Coux’s grandfather, Emil Coux, was associated with Albert Packard in this novel enterprise. The building was also a noted winery in the

old days.

To many of us ^vho have spent the greater part of our lives in Santa Barbara, the Packard Adobe is an important part of our picture pattern of this city. It would be a great loss, historically, for our city to stand by and let this adobe be either demolished or destroyed by the elements.

While the cost of this property and restoration of the old landmark might be as high as $40,000, the building could be of community use as an auditorium, library, exhibition rooms, or as a home for an organization. The Assistance League rescued the Hunt-Stambach Land mark. and a similar group could find ample room in the Packard Adobe with its two 30- by 75-foot floor areas.

Monterey considers its landmarks its most important financial asset, and has done a magnificent job of pre serving its old buildings. Can Santa Barbara afford to do less than Monterey in the preservation of historic landmarks? Our Society appeals to all who have a love for our interesting and historic past to co-operate and save this adobe. (signed:) W. Edwin Gledhill Curator of Santa Barbara Historical Society

Report on Exhibit Schedule Our second annual Spanish-Colonial exhibit, which opened with the July 27 pre-view tea for members, ex hibitors and volunteers, has been one of the most popular yet arranged—attracting nearly 8,000 visitors, since its opening, to the end of October. This exhibit will close early in December, to be followed in mid-January by an exhibit featuring the Pioneer American period, 1850-1885.

Descendants of our early Spanish-California families, some in costumes of high historical value, added color to the opening tea, and many of them were among the donors and lenders of treasured mementos in the exhibit.

Following is a list of gifts and loans which combined to make the current display one of the Society’s most successful to date: Edwin Dcakins paintings of 21 Missions of California, painted in a period of from 1875-1905—the gift of Howard and Elaine Adrian Wil]oughl>y to tiie Old Mission.

Historic do la Guerra Portraits of Don Jose de la Guerra— Josefa Morena y Castro, wife of Paldo de la Guerra, and Francisca de la Guerra who married Thomas Bloodgood Dibblee.

From Harold S. Chase “Relacion Hislorica de la Vida Fray Jiinipcro .Serra,” written by Fr. Palou. Book published 1787.

Original Serra and Palou letters from the archives of the Old Mission; kindness of Maynard J. Geiger, O.F.M. Yris and Aurora Covarrubias, loan of important Covarruhias letters with translation by Geraldine Valde Sahyun.

Early de la Guerra letters and manuscripts.

Antique gold watch and royal seal of Spain used by Cesaire .Armonde Lataillade, French and Spanish consul in 1842.

The Packard Adobe—Built in 1865.

(Continued on Page 2)

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NOTICIAS

N€TICIA5 QUARTERLY

BULLETIN

OF THE

SANTA BARBARA HISTORICAL SOCIETY Officehs .\nd Diiuxtors — 1955 . . . . Francis Price President . . . .

First Vice President . . . Hugh J. Weldon . . Charles A. Storke Second Vice President . . . Paul G. Sweetser Secretary Treasurer . . . .

Mrs. Elmer H. Whittaker Directors: Elbert S. Conner, Dr. Donald C. Davidson, W. Edwin Glcdhill, Mrs. Henry Grifiiths, Percy C. Heckcndoif, Rev. Basil Kelly, O.F.M., Duncan McDougail, Dr. Philip W. Powell, John T. Rickard, Miss Edna Sharpe.

prchensive study of the art in all of the old California Missions for later publication.

The Assistance League of Santa Barbara . . . In De cember, during its annual benefit tour of homes espec ially decorated for Christmas, the Assistance League will give the public its first opportunity to visit the Hunt-Stambach residence, now restored to serve as League headquarters. The Historical Society, through Mr. W. Edwin Glcdhill’s efforts, was instrumental in preserving this fine specimen of Santa Barbara’s early residential architecture by interesting the Assistance League in purchasing it.

EXHIBITS (Continued from Page 1)

W. Edwin Gledliill Curator Mrs. W. Edwin Gledliill . . . . Associate Curator Ellicrt S. Conner . Chairman Publication Committee Editor Wilberla M. Finley .

MAILING ADDUKSS: OLD MISSION, SANTA BA15DAHA, CALIF.

Noticias Salutes . .

Our “Queen of the Missiotis” . . . upon her approach ing natal day, December 4. On this feast day of Saint Barbara, in 1602, Sebastian Viscaino dropped anchor in die Bay which his cartographer, Fr. Antonio de la Ascencion named for the Patron Saint. The channel and the mainland were also so named. On this date in 1786 Fr. Fermin Francisco Lasuen, second padre-president of the Alta California Missions, held consecration cere monies, establishing the Santa Barbara Mission.

Santa Barbara County National Bank and Trust Company . . . on its 80th birthday. To signalize this milestone the Bank published in the October 30 Santa Barbara News-Press, a 16-page souvenier tabloid, CC County Bank Times,” replete with early Santa Barbara photographs and personalities—a most interesting his toric record. This is County Bank’s second important excursion into local historic background, the first being Pathways to Pavements,” a valuable compilation of material on our Spanish street names.

Dr. Kurt Baer . . . associate professor of art at the University of California, Santa Barbara College, upon his election as chairman of the Spanish-Colonial Arts Society of New Mexico. TIte Society will hold its fourday meeting on the Santa Barbara College campus, in August, 1957. More than 200 museum directors, his torians, archeologists, and writers will attend this first conference of its type to he held on the West Coast, to discuss Colonial-Spanisli history, arts and social aspects from about 1640 to 1840.

Author of a newly published book, “Painting and Sculpture at Mission Santa Barbara,” Dr. Baer, as the official art historian of tlie Old Mission, has given to historians the first accurate inventory of art objects in this edifice. It contains a history of the architectural background, planning and building of the Mission, list ing items received between 1786 and 1954, with detailed comments on the majority of them.

A second hook treating of the art in Mission Santa Inez will soon be released. Dr. Baer is making a com-

Two paintings presented to Maria Antonia Orena by Don Al fredo Robinson, from Mrs. T. Wilson Dibhiec.

Ouslanding Alexander Harmer paintings from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Dwiglit Murphy, John A. Parma, Selden Spaulding and the Harmer Trust.

Paintings of Wangli and Cliino Blanco, stage coach drivers, by Clarence Mattel. Loaned by Mrs. Mattel.

Borein paintings, Mexican saddle made in Morelia, and assist ance in collecting historic material for the exhibition, from John A. Parma.

A Field and Loomis saddle belonging to J. B. Rickard, loaned for the exhibition by our Mayor, John T. Rickard.

Anticpie lock and Spanisli ciicst from the Ortega Ranch, by Mrs. Soledad Rocliin Birabent.

The de la Guerra and Orena family gencology, old Spanish shawls, old Spani,sh chest and numerous historic Orena items from Mrs. Consuela King.

Costumes, shawls, silver and historic artifacts from Delphina and Inez Dibblee. Mrs. Mercedes Dibblee Poett, Mrs. Francis Underhill, Mrs. Robert Ingle Hoyt and E. Orena de Koch.

Among several collections exhibited are one of Spanish fans loaned by Miss Helene Seeley, another of old Peruvian silver loaned by Capt. Charles Gordon Davy. From Mrs. Lawence More, guns, dueling pistols, antique jewelery and other historic More family material.

From Mr. Winfield M. Van DeMark, outstanding exhibit of early California Conquistadores breast plate, dug up in Ven tura County.

T. M. Storke’s gift of a letter from Daniel A. Hill to Alpheous B. Thompson on October 31, 1834.

Palou’s “Life of Fray Junipero Serra,” annotated by Maynard J. Geiger, O.F.M.—the gift of the Reina del Mar Parlor of the Native Daughters of the Golden West.

Among other exhibits were loans or gifts from Mrs. Edward Borein, Albert Falvc, Mrs. A. W. Thompson, Santa Barbara Mission, Senor “Maldo,” Russell Rui/, Misses Yris and Aurora Covarruhias, Eloy R, Hixenbaugli, Mrs. Samuel J. Stanwood, Francis Price and Mrs. Charles L. Jacobs.

The Curator received valuable assistance in the arrangement of the shawls, dresses and historic artifacts, from Miss Anna Blake Lincoln and Charles Black: from Miss Katherine Burke for the arranging of the silver case, and the flowers from the Mrs. W. F. Kelly garden for the preview tea for members and exhibitors. Wc arc also grateful to Miss Margaret Conklin for help in typing the cards on the largc-Ictter typewriter loaned by the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.

In honor of the Pacific Coast Music Festival, the So ciety presented a music exhibit September 10 to 18.

Old programs, music manuscripts, sheet music, books and a few instruments of local importance were loaned by the following: Harold I. Callis, Mrs. Roger Clerhois, Win. B. Collier, Miss Margaret Conklin, Mrs. Mildred Couper, Miss Marie da Silva, Mrs. T. Wilson Dibblee, Miss Florence Fcrnald, Mr. and Mrs. W. Edwin Gled-

OCTOBER, 1 955 hill, Mrs. Bernard Hoffmann, Mrs. Robert I. Hoyt, Miss Gladys Moorhead, Fred Schauer, Santa Barbara Muse um of Natural History, and Santa Barbara Public

Library.

Helpful information was also given by: Mrs. John A. Berger, Miss Pearl Chase, Mrs. Camillo Fenzi, Rich ard Finley, Mrs. Greenwell, Mrs. Hilmar Koefed, Miss Verne Lindermann, Mrs. Louise Peck, Father Maynard J. Geiger, Father Noel Moholy, Francis Price, Mrs. Henry Profant, Mayor John T. Rickard, Leighton Rol lins, Mrs. Nancy Wilder.

An historical outline of music in Santa Barbara was compiled and displayed behind glass, giving musical information and dates to use as a guide from the year 1542 to 1920. Among items displayed were musical instruments of the Canalino Indians, two copies of the limited edition “Mission Music in California”; also a copy of a print of Father Duran and his Indian band, by Harmer, ca. 1833, and a photograph of one of the last Indian bands, ca. 1876; a copy of “Early Spanish and California Folk Songs” edited by Eleanor Hague, opened at the folk song as sung and played by Mrs. Francisca de la Guerra Dibblee, alongside a pair of castagnettes, and print of “Spanish dancing” by Harmer. The American period was indicated by a minia ture cannon and photograph of one of the early Ameri can bands documented to point out the happy musical solution of the “lost cannon” episode. The Spanish period was further illustrated by a guitar, and the Amer ican period by a lovely old rose-wood melodian.

Rounding out the exhibit were old programs, manu scripts and sheet music by local artists, paper clippings from about 1830 to the present, programs and clippings in connection with the history of the “Community Arts Association,” as well as photographs and programs illustrating a few contemporary musical highlights of local importance, including an outline of local music organizations and their origins.

Our curator, Mr. Gledhill, has suggested that the sub ject of this exhibit be made one of our museum’s de partments and that we continue to collect information and material on Santa Barbara music for future ex hibits and research.

The Society is indebted to the following organizations for supplying hostesses to assist the Sunday exhibit schedule: Soroptimist International Association, Santa Barbara Chapter, Mrs. Dorothy Davis, President (First Sunday of each month).

Tierra de Oro, Parlor 304, Native Daughters of the Golden West, Mrs. W. F. McKinney, President (Second Sunday).

City Club, Mrs. Roland Harris, President (Third Sun day).

Reina del Mar, Parlor 126, Native Daughters of the Golden West, Miss Ellen Hayward, President (Fourth Sunday).

Zonta Club, Mrs. 0. 0. Uhle, President (Fifth Sun day).

The Museum is open every afternoon from 2 to 5 o’clock, except for Monday. Appreciation is expressed for the volunteer-hostess work of Mrs. Henrietta Von Blon, and for the volunteer library work of Mrs. Eugene Coffin. Mrs. James W. Colt, Jr., Miss Ellen Hayward, and Mrs. Guy Stockton.

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Nicholas Den Memento The Den family name appears frequently in early Santa Barbara history, and in this connection we re ceived with unusual interest, a recent letter from Allen R. Ottley, California Section Librarian, California State Library, Sacramento. Mr. Ottley, in checking through the California State Library Davis Collection, ran across a letter from Nicholas A. Den, written on June 26, 1849, to “W. H. Davis.” The letter concerns a shipment of goods, damaged in transit to Santa Barbara.

Dr. Nicholas Den, of Ireland, came around the Horn in 1835. He held the old “Dos Pueblos” land grant, con taining 16,000 acres, deeded through a treaty as a direct grant from the King of Spain. His father-in-law, Daniel Hill, came to Santa Barbara in 1820, marrying into the Ortega family, and held the “La Goleta” grant, of some 10,000 acres. Nicholas Den later owned the San Marcos Ranch (48,000 acres), also under grant. He in troduced walnut trees to Santa Barbara County, and in 1858 brought the first carriage around the Horn from New York to Santa Barbara.

As manager of the Mission Lands of Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Santa Inez, he was responsible for the welfare of the Indians on the local reservation for many years.

“W. H. Davis,” to whom Dr. Den’s letter was ad dressed was none other than William Heath Davis (1822-1909), author of “Sixty Years in California,” northern California pioneer, and one of the leaders in early day development of San Francisco. “Sixty Years in California,” published in 1888, and the sub sequent volume, “Seventy-five Years in California,” pub lished posthumously in 1929, are “must reading” for any student of California history.

Dr. Den’s letter to Mr. Davis, a photostatic copy of which is in the Society’s archives, thanks to Mr. Ottley, appears below (with some typographic attempt to con vey the idiosyncrasies of the original communication): Santa Barbara 26 June 1849 W. H. Davis Esqr.

My Dr Sir The purport of this letter is to request of you as one of the Persons who we contracted for the Freight of our goods to this Port, When we arrived without anything remarkable occuring, but thru the Willful neglect of the Sea Men, the greater part of our goods got more or lefs wet. The Captain will Explain to you, every thing con nected with it. Never-the-lefs We paid him the full Freight.

Knowing that the Sea Men would have run away, from the Ship, if we made any scene about the Matter here, at the same time the Captain promising us faithfully, that he would Stop the full amount of the Damage from the Mens Wages, who alone were to Blame in the Matter.

For I never Saw a better Beach in Santa Barbara for landing goods than they had While here. Now My Dear Sir T look to you as a Man of honor, to sec that we will not loose in this transaction, and particularly as we consulled your interest as fair as lay in our powers, by not stopping the amt out of the freight, which we paid in full not to let the Men Know that they would have to pay the Damage. So now I leave the Matter in your hand, but beg to Say that we have also directed a letter to Mr. Alexander Sebley who I have not the Slightest doubt will act with the strictest honor in the affair. I beg to re main My Dear Sir, Yours truly

(Nicholas A. Den)

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NOTICIAS

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Prized Mission Paintings Received One of the choicest collections of historically signifi cant paintings and sketches ever to be made available for the pleasure of Santa Barbara County residents, has come into possession of the Society and was shown in the Spanish-Californian exhibit.

The Edwin Deakin collection of California Mission paintings, including 21 oils, has been given to the Old Mission by Mr. and Mrs. Howard Willoughby of San Francisco, to be exhibited by the Society as long as its headquarters remain at the Old Mission. Some of the detail sketches accompanying the paintings were made as early as 1875. The collection will be featured in the Society’s Fiesta exhibition.

The Society has in its possession a booklet printed sometime around the turn of the century, in which are reproduced each of the paintings in this very valuable collection.

Howard Willoughby, executive vice-president of the Lane Publishing Co. (Sunset Magazine), is a former Santa Barbaran, a graduate of Santa Barbara High School. Mrs. Willoughby, also a Santa Barbaran, is the former Elaine Adrian, daughter of H. A. Adrian, one time Mayor of Santa Barbara, and a former city super intendent of schools. //

Life of Fray Junipero Serra

//

A limited edition of Father Maynard J. Geiger’s longawaited edited translation of Palou’s “Life of Fray Junip ero Serra” has just been published by the Academy of American Franciscan History, Washington, D.C. We quote from a review prepared by Francis Price: “Fray Francisco Palou wrote his book, as its title implies, as a biography of the devoted missionary who truly was the father of California, a distinction attested by his selection as one of the two Californians of all time to represent our State in the hall of fame in our National Capitol.

“Palou’s work, however, is much more than a biog raphy. Published in the late 18th Century, it is the earliest book of history of California and was written first hand by an eye witness and participant. .. .

NCTICIAS QUARTERLY BULLETIN OF THE SANTA BARBARA HISTORICAL SOCIETY OLD MISSION SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA

. . The author is saturated with knowledge and feeling for his subject. Working in the serenity of the Old Mission cloister, he is surrounded by priceless orig inal material, the personal and ecclesiastical correspond ence of Serra written by his own hand and volumes of notes by the author covering a decade spent in retracing the pilgrimage of Father Serra from birth to death.

“Perhaps the greatest value of the book is in the explanatory notes of which there are some 190 pages.”

Life of Fr. Duran Planned At the request of the Academy of American Franciscan History, Washington, D.C., Francis Price is now en gaged in extensive research on the life of Fray Narcisco Duran, padre-president of the Alta California Missions just prior to California’s Statehood. Born in Catalonia, Spain, in 1776, Fr. Duran served the Santa Barbara Mission from 1833 until his death in 1846. He is buried in the crypt at the Old Mission. He is best known for his work with the Indian choristers and musicians, and his contributions to the Church music used by the Cali fornia Missions. Recent translations of Fr. Duran’s com positions made by Rev. Owen da Silva O.F.M., are sung by present-day Mission Choristers.

Original documents and letters written by Padre Duran, are being sought in Mexico, Rome, and through out California. A two-volume life of Duran, under Mr. Price’s authorship, is planned by the Academy, of which Mr. Price is a member.

Dr. Philip W. Powell, in his September 27 address to Society members and friends, convinced everyone that research can be fun, as well as labor. In describing his “Adventure in the Spanish Sources of American His tory,” he took his audience through the Archive of the Indies, in Sevilla, Spain, and to other points visited during his six-months sabbatical leave from Santa Bar bara College, where he is Professor of History.

Santa Barbara Historical Society and the Hispanic Society of Santa Barbara co-sponsored the well-attended luncheon, presided over by President Francis Price.