The Old Mission Water System

VOLUME 3

JANUARY-MARCH

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QUARTERLY SANTA

BULLETIN

BARBARA

OF

THE

HISTORICAL SOCIETY

army garrison to protect the inhabitants of Santa Bar LUNCHEON —APRIL 23 Commemorating Santa Barbara’s 175th Birthday Time: 12:15 Place: Restaurante del Paseo

La Casa del Presidio Plaque The opening event of Santa Barbara’s 175th Birthday Celebration on April 21 will be held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer 11. Whittaker, 123 East Canon Perdido Street, at 2:00 o’clock Easter Sunday afternoon. Mr. Whittaker will receive a bronze plaque from Mrs. John J. Kriger, Regent, Santa Barbara Chapter, Daughters of Anierican Colonists, which will be placed upon the re stored adobe, “in appreciation of its preservation.” The plaque, 14 by 18 inches in size, is given by the local chapter to mark La Casa del Presidio as one of our city’s historic spots, for it stands within the confines of the old presidial plaza where once stood the old Caneda adobe.

The inscription on the bronze plaque to be placed on the Adobe reads: CASA del PRESIDIO Part of

bara), La Casa del Presidio is a symbol of the valiant soldiers and their families who braved the dangers of an unknown land, with leaders such as Portola, Ortega, Father Crespi and Father Serra, to open up Alta Cali fornia for settlement in the name of the King of Spain.

La Casa del Presidio is one of two adobes remaining from those erected by the Santa Barbara Company in the years following the founding (El Cuartel, across the street, now serves as the headquarters for the Boy Scouts of America). Although “La Casa” has been en larged and made into a modern, comfortable home, Mr. Whittaker has skillfully retained the spirit of the original dwelling. Within its walls are many of the Indian-manu factured bricks used in the Caneda adobe.

The flags of three nations have flown above these two presidial structures: the Royal Standard of Don Carlos III, King of Spain, under whose aegis the settlement was founded; the Mexican flag, after Mexico threw off the yoke of Spain and became an independent nation; and lastly, the Stars and Stripes of the United States, after Alta California was taken by conquest.

Members of the Santa Barbara Chapter, Daughters of American Colonists, will serve as hostesses at the Open blouse to be held from 2:00 to 3:00 o’clock for visitors attending the marking ceremony.

Soldiers Quarters of Spanish Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara

Official Community Luncheon

Founded April 21, 1782

Tuesday, April 23, 12:15 Restaurante del Paseo ($2.00) Hosts: Santa Barbara City Council and County Board of Super visors.

This marker is placed by the Santa Barbara Chapter, Daughters of the American Colonists in appreciation of its preservation.

April 21, 1957

The Whittakers, who have made Santa Barbara their home since 1912, purchased tliis property in 1920, but did not complete the residence until 1948. When the earthquake of 1925 brought final destruction to many adobes already in a state of deterioration, Mr. Whittaker salvaged adobe bricks still usable from the Abadie adobe in De la Guerra Plaza, among others, and incorporated them into his new home.

Located in the heart of “el pueblo viejo,” and situated as it is in what had been the plaza of the Spanish Royal Presidio (which served for more than 70 years as an

Presiding: William N. Hollister, Chairman.

Blessing: Rev. Aubrey J. O’Reilly, Pastor, Mission San Buena ventura.

Songs: The Westmont College Quartet.

Introductions: The Spanish Consul, El Marc/ues de la Alcantara; and the Mexican Consul, Senor Adolfo G. Dominguez and, rep resenting the Stale of California, Dr. V. Aubrey Neasham, Historian.

Recognition of Cooperating Groups by E. S. Conner, Pres. S.B. Historical Society.

Brief Remarks: “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.'

“The Old Presidio Fr. Maynard Geiger, OFM, Historian, Franciscan Fathers of the Pacific.

“Historic Values Today”—Warren N. Dorn, Supervisor, Los Angeles County, San Fernando District.

“Tomorrow Starts Today”—Mayor John T. Rickard.

After the Luncheon, Guests Invited to Visit Places and Exhibits of Historical Materials.

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NOTICIAS

NOTICIAS QUARTERLY BULLETIN OF THE SANTA BARBARA HISTORICAL SOCIETY Officeus and Directors —1957 President . . . .

Elbert S. Conner First Vice President Hugh J. Weldon Second Vice President . . . . Elmer H. Wliillaker Recording Secretary Miss Edna Sharpe Corresponding Secretary . . . . Paul G. Sweelser Treasurer Mrs. Henry GrilEtli Directors: Elbert S. Conner, Mrs. Wilson Forbes, W. Edwin Gledhill, Mrs. Henry Grifiilh, Julian Goux, Mrs. Robert Ingle Hoyt, Rev. Basil Kelly, O.F.M., Mrs. Ernest Menzies, William S. Porter, Miss Edna Sharpe, Paul Sweetser, Hugh Weldon, Judge Atwell Weslwick, Elmer H. Whittaker, Don W. Woods.

W. Edwin Gledhill .

Mrs. W. Edwin Gledhill Wilberta M. Finley .

Museum Director . . . Curator . . . . Editor

Then art five classes 0/ membership: Benefactor $100; Patron $25; Contributing $15; Sustaining $10; Active $5. Membership dues are tax deductible.

MAILING ADDRESS: OLD MISSION, SANTA BARBARA, CALIF.

Articles of Incorporation Amended The Society, by majority vote of ihc mem])ership, amended the Articles of Incorporation, thereby qualifying the corporation for tax exemption.

Our thanks to Mr. Hugh Weldon, the First Vice Pres ident of the Society, for handling the legal work necessary thereto.

Visitors 1956 proved to be the greatest year in the Society’s history for visitor tralTic in and out of the museum; 23,500 registered visitors passed through tlie portals of the museum to view the special exliibits. An exact figure is impossible, as some failed to register. In this group were representatives of 47 states and 23 foreign countries, Mississippi alone not being represented. This is an increase of 14,500 or 161 per cent over 1955, Avhen 9,000 persons were recorded.

August had the heaviest attendance of the year. In this one niontli alone, 6,000 people, from 43 states and 27 foreign countries, visited the museum. Obviously, the Historical Museum is one of llie popular attractions of Santa Barbara. Reduced to terms that the community likes to use as a standard of measure, the 23,500 visitors cost the Society only 18^ per visitor.

School Program

Report of the President During the twelve months just passed, the Society and its progress and welfare have been uppermost in my mind. The problems have been many. In all proprie ty, I can point with some degree of pride to certain ac complishments.

Membership This time last year, the membership of the Society was 265. Today, thanks to Mrs. Sylvia Griffith and her cohorts, the membership has increased to 431, a gain of 166, or 62% per cent. This membership, however, will not suffice if the Society is to occupy the prominence among local Historical Societies, that it so richly de serves. Each member should interest others, especially his neighbors and friends, in assisting us in this activity.

Santa Barbara Foundation Grant During the presidency of Mr. Francis Price, the sum of .$3,500 was granted the Society by the Santa Barbara Foundation, to be utilized in the employment of students to assist the museum stall in the performance of their routine duties. During 1956, 1,477% man-hours were utilized by 10 students at a cost of .$1,836.50. This grant is now practically exhausted and must be replenished or the work of the Society must suffer.

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Noticias”

During the year Mrs. George Finley ably and com petently edited three issues of “Noticias,” with the fourth issue on the press. The sincere thanks of all go to Mrs.

Finley.

Luncheons In 1956 the Society scheduled two luncheon meetings: On April 21, when Dr. Aubrey Neasham spoke on “The Preservation of Santa Barbara’s Landmarks;” and on December 4, when Dr. Andrew F. Rollc spoke on “An American in California,” the Biography of William Heath

Davis.

The first of a series of student educational programs were instituted in 1956, under the direction of Miss Anna Lincoln. The program was originally worked out through the offices of the Superintendents of the City and County Schools, who gave it their ^vhole-hearted support. As a result, individual room teachers, by prior arrangements, brought their classes to the museum by bus where they were shown the many items in the exhibits, thereby amplifying the schools’ California History courses and bringing about a greater interest in the historic background of California. Ten schools partici pated in this program which proved to be a most satis fying activity of the Society. School authorities should be encouraged to assist the Society in broadening its scope.

As time and money become available, we hope to make this feature one of the Society’s greatest community con tributions.

Hastings Adobe I now report to you, in my opinion, on the most interesting and worthwhile Society project of 1956, the acquisition of the Hastings Adobe, located at 412 West Montecito Street.

Mrs. Katharine Bagg Hastings, on her death, left to the Santa Barbara Historical Society the real property, cer tain personal property, and any residue, after all bequests were fulfilled. Under the terms of the will, tlie Society had two years to accept or refuse tlic bequest.

In interpreting the terms of the will, it was concluded that it was Mrs. Hastings’ desire for the Adobe to be maintained without structural change as an Historic Monument.

Unfortunately, the house (Iniilt in 1854) was in a bad state of repair, and the grounds, which are extensive, had grown rank and unsightly. Obviously, immediate repairs to the adobe and cleaning of grounds, were in order.

JANUARY-MARCH

At this point, Mr. Elmer H. Whittaker, a Director, vol unteered to survey the property, estimate the cost of repairs, and give the project the benefit of his many years of construction experience, in the supervision of the project.

As some S6,000 in cash was realized from the Hastings estate and the repair estimates equalled the money avail able, the Board of Directors authorized the repairs and they were undertaken without delay to avoid any further deterioration.

As of today, the first phase of the rehabilitation is completed. A shake roof has been added; wiring and plumbing repaired; necessary exterior and interior plas tering completed; inside painted; a walk laid; and, with fine cooperation from the City and County, the grounds have been cleaned. Through careful supervision, Mr. Whittaker has accomplished this at minimum cost. The second phase will involve exterior painting, additional walks, fences and grading.

The completion of this project will add to Santa Bar bara’s imposing list of historical monuments, a superb adobe of the early American Period.

We are happy to announce publicly, for the first time, that the State Park Commission and its Historical Land marks Advisory Committee have designated and reg istered this adobe, as of December 31, 1956, Historical Landmark No. 559, of the State of California.

Hostesses and Participating Groups The maintenance of a museum is not an insignificant task. An ever-increasing visitor traffic places upon the Society the responsibility of a satisfying experience.

Many organizations have contributed by supplying personnel to act as Hostesses. Prominent among such groups are: The Zonta Club, The Soroptimist Club, The City Club, and Reina del Mar and Tierra de Oro Parlors of the Native Daughters. To these groups and individ uals, we voice our grateful appreciation.

To these volunteer workers who have been so gracious in contributing their time, we extend thanks—to Mrs. Lawrence More, Mrs. James Colt, Mrs. Guy Stockton, Mrs. Martha Williams, Mrs. Walter Cheever and Mrs. Weiler, as well as all others whose names may not have been recorded.

To our understanding landlords, the Franciscan Fa thers, our gratitude for allowing us to maintain our headquarters and museum at Mission Santa Barbara.

PAGE 3

ning to make any disposition, much of value could be saved.

The Gledhills No longer can any formal gathering of this Society convene without tribute being paid to those dedicated personalities who have made this Historical Society the envy of all such societies in California—Mr. and Mrs. W. Edwin Gledhill, our Museum Director and Cura tor, respectively. It is only simple justice to say that their splendid achievements in the advancement of the Society places them among the outstanding leaders in this field. Their personal qualities which account for their outstanding success, are the typical virtues of the best pioneers—simplicity, modesty, honesty, perseverance, friendliness and patience. No President could have asked for more compassionate and thoughtful workers.

To all who have lent their efforts, and to the mem bership who continue to lend their support, thank you, from the top to the bottom of a warm and grateful heart.

May 1957 continue to advance the Society and bring this new year to a happy and successful close.

Respectfully submitted, E. S. Conner President

New Members It is with pleasure that we announce the following list of new members and extend to them a cordial welcome into the Society: Miss G. Louise Hull Mrs. Gordon Armsby Mr. William Kurfess Miss Vesper Bell Mrs. I. A. Bonilla Mr. and Mrs. George Lenci Dr. D. MacKenzie Brown Dr. and Mrs. Jay Monaghan Mr. and Mrs. Edward Camp Miss Christine Myrick bell Mrs. Edward Tallant Mrs. Walter Cheever Mr. Ulric L. Trussell Miss Claire F. Coursen SUSTAINING Mrs. John S. Edwards Mrs. W. H. Yule Dr. Joel Ferree PATRON Mrs. James Foell Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Odell Information concerning membership in the Santa Barbara Historical Society may be obtained by writing to Mrs. Henry Griffith, membership chairman, or tele phoning the Society’s Leadquarters (WOodland 2-7712) at the Old Mission.

Publicity A great part of our success has been the result of proper publicity. This we have received in no small measure, and I want to especially pay tribute to Litti Paulding, Verne Linderman and Jean Bradford Fay of the News-Press for their understanding and sympathetic assistance.

Collecting In spite of all efforts made to educate individuals and organizations that nothing should be destroyed, posterity is constantly suffering from the disposal and destruction of valuable historic material through ignorance and neg lect. This is particularly true of estate executors. They are prone to dispose of the odds and ends that no one seems to want, by relegating it to the trash pile. During 1956 many valuable papers were lost in this fashion and others, such as paintings, saved merely by accident. If all such agencies would permit the Director or Curator of our Museum to first survey such material, before plan¬

UCSBC Summer Offerings The Spanish-Colonial Theme (1540-1840 period) dom inates 24 classes in creative and liberal arts to be held on the Santa Barbara Campus, the University of Cali fornia, Goleta, during the summer session June 24 to August 2, 1957. Enrollment is open to all interested persons. The Spanish theme was initiated at the instiga tion of The Hispanic Society of Santa Barbara and is being offered by the University of California in tribute to the city’s 175th birthday year.

The Spanish-Colonial Arts Society, Inc., with head quarters in Santa Fe, New Mexico, will hold its first California conference July 30 through August 3 at Santa Barbara Campus, the University of California, Goleta.

Some 40 papers by experts on various aspects of Hispanic culture in the Southwest 1540-1840 will be read. Early registration in the biennial conference is welcomed by Dr. Kurt Baer at Santa Barbara College.

NOTICIAS

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Three Flags Over the Presidio SPANISH ROYAL STANDARD April 21, 1782

Charles Fremont and his California Battalion. Between the two episodes lay four months of conquest filled with the excitement of intrigue, aroused loyalties, jealousy between men in power, and surprise skirmishes. Pueblos and presidios, at first un resisting to the invading “Gringos,” rallied to the California Cause in order to save their hard-won land, forcing the Ameri canos to take their principal pueblos twice. Resistance ended when General Andres Pico surrendered to Colonel Fremont and signed the Cahuenga Treaty near Los Angeles on January 13, 1847. The United States Standard carried but twenty-eight stars in the blue field at the time. Fremont had been assigned a spe cial flag to carry during his explorations and map-making for the Topographical Engineers in the 1840’s, but upon joining the military force under Stockton at Monterey, he retired his banner and flew the regulation Stars and Stripes.

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Sketches and commentary—W.M.F. Flown over the Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara at founding ceremonies held by Governor Felipe de Neve, Lieutenant Jose Francisco de Ortega, and Padre Junipero Serra. This white banner, with its shield bearing the arms of Castile, Leon, and the royal crown of Don Carlos III, surrounded by the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece, appeared at the head of every band of Spanish explorers that penetrated into the Californias until 1785. It was unfurled over presidios, pueblos and missions, until the Royal Decree instituted the more familiar red and yellow ensign, the “man-of-war” flag used until 1821 in Mexico. Padre Serra carried the standard of the Holy Cross, raising it in the name of the Catholic Church.

MEXICAN STANDARD August 9, 1822

PARTIAL PROGRAM FOR

Santa Barbara's 175th Birthday Celebration Sunday through Tuesday, April 21-23, 1957 Observing the Founding of the Royal Presidio (Jose Francisco Ortega, Commandante), Founded April 21, 1782, by El Gobernador de California Don Felipe de Neve and Fray Presidente Junipero Serra. Presidio established to protect Missionary Settlements of: San Fernando, San Buenaventura, Santa Barbara, La Purisima, Santa Ines.

Sponsored by the City and County of Santa Barbara, with Cooperation of Schools and Civic Organizations Theme: Yesterday and Today

EASTER SUNDAY — APRIL 21st SANTA BARBARA’S BIRTHDAY 2:00 "Casa del Presidio” Mexico gained her independence from Spain in 1821. In 1822, General Agustin Ilurbide proclaimed himself Emperor and Mexico an empire. In that year, Santa Barbarans took the oath of allegiance to the new regime in the presidial plaza on April 13, and on April 21 at the Mission. The new imperial flag, first flown sample” over the presidio on August 9, 1822, was brought as from Mexico on the brig “San Francisco de Paula, Iturbide abdicated in 1823; Mexico became a Republic in 1824. Alta California’s pueblos and presidios acknowledged the Mexican Constitution in 1825. The flags of the Empire and Republic differed but slightly. The first Mexican ensign was based upon an old Aztec legend foretelling the location of Tonochtitlan (Mexico City). It consisted of green, white and red stripes of equal size, the white central stripe charged with the coat-of-arms of Mexico: “a royal eagle perched upon a nopal and a rock beside a lake, with a serpent in his talons and his broad wings open to the sun.”

3:00 Official Dedication of Santa Barbara City's Mission Historical Park Alameda Padre Serra. Brief Ceremony: Mayor John T. Rickard; John D, Fox, Vice-Chairman, Park Commission; Rev. Basil Kelly, OFM, Fr. Superior Mission; Presentation of Historical Landmark Plaque by State Park Commission. Inspection of Mission Water Works Ruins in Park. Guides: Boy Scouts of America, Troop 17.

—and Across Road, in Park Meadow— 3:30 Founding of the Royal Presidio—1782 An Historic Episode, authentically enacted by Students of St. Anthony’s Seminary. Directed by Fr. Kenan Osborne, OFM. Public Invited to Visit Exhibits 2:00-5:00 Santa Barbara Historical Society, West end of Mission Corridor—and—Old Mission Museum Rooms, on Corridor.

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123 E. Canon Perdido (La Caneda Adobe—part of Old Presidio) Preserved by Mr. and Mrs. Elmer H. Whittaker. Placing of Plaque by Daughters of American Colonists, Mrs. John J. Kriger, Regent.

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UNITED STATES STANDARD August 4, 1846

The Star Spangled Banner was formally raised for the first time over the Santa Barbara presidio on August 4, 1846, by Com modore Robert Field Stockton of the United States Navy. It was raised a second time on December 27, 1846, by Colonel John

TUESDAY — APRIL 23rd PICTORIAL CIVIC CEREMONY 11:30 Santa Barbara's Birthday Program City Hall Steps—De la Guerra Plaza. Mayor Rickard and Super visor Hollister Welcome Honor Guests and Visitors. Supervisors and Mayors of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, and San Fernando District, Los Angeles County; Representatives of The Five Missions of Presidio Area; and U.S. Armed Services.

Blessing—Rev. Acquistapace, Our Lady of Sorrows, successor of Presidio Church.

(See Page 1 for Luncheon Program)

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JANUARY-MARCH

Museum Director's Report Your Museum Director and Curator attended, with Miss Jean Fay of the Santa Barbara News-Press, the tenth annual institute of the California History Foun dation at Stockton on March 8th and 9th. From there we went to Sacramento, on a search requested by Judge Atwell Westwick, to discover, if possible, good portraits of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara judges, such as Telit, Carnes and Heacock.

On March 11, we called on Senator J. J. Hollister and Assemblyman James Holmes at the State Capitol, and on Dr. V. Audrey Neasham, Historian of the State Di vision of Beaches and Parks. After Miss Pearl Chase had given her approval of the State of California’s proj ect for the restoration of the Royal Presidio in Santa Barbara, Mrs. Gledhill and I had the unexpected pleas ure of presenting to Senator Hollister and Assemblyman Holmes a suggested form of the Bill that was, on March 26, 1957, introduced in the State Legislature at Sacra mento by Senator Hollister as Senate Bill No. 2653,

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An act for making an appropriation for the study, ac quisition, development and interpretation of the Santa }j Barbara Presidio.

At a meeting in San Francisco eleven days earlier (March 15) the State Park Commission had passed a resolution authorizing members of its staff, under Dr. V. Audrev Neasham, to make a study of the Presidio area and other sections and environs of Santa Bar bara which are of historic interest.

Behind this projected restoration has been the great interest of the Division of Beaches and Parks, and Dr. Neasham—and the importance that they attached to this restoration; also the interest of Elbert S. Conner, President of the Santa Barbara Historical Society, and your Museum Director, W. Edwin Gledhill, together with a group of citizens who have worked for the restoration: Mayor John T. Rickard, Miss Pearl Chase, Mr. Thomas M. Storke, Mr. Elmer Whittaker, Mr. Harold Chase and Mr. Francis Price Sr. This Society’s interest began in 1954, when your Museum Director submitted to Mr. Price and Mr. Charles Storke, and later to Mayor Rickard, a plan for the preservation and restoration of the “pueblo viejo” area in the center of Santa Barbara.

Following the Historical Society’s Santa Barbara Birth day luncheon on April 21, 1956, at which the speaker.

Dr. V. Audrey Neasham suggested to Mayor Rickard the necessity of a master plan for the intelligent approach to the preservation and restoration of Santa Barbara’s historic landmarks, there has been a marked increase of interest in the community in such a project.

We take modest pride in the assertion that the Noticias of April-June, 1956, contained for the first time in Santa Barbara, a suggested Master Plan for the Santa Barbara Pueblo Viejo,” which included the restoration of the old Royal Presidio. If and when accomplished, such an attraction would be of immeasurable value to all of California. To Santa Barbara, its cultural and financial values would be impossible to over-estimate. The passage of this bill would solidify and preserve Santa Barbara’s reputation as an historically interesting city.

A recent valued gift is Mrs. William Louis Otte’s present to the Society of Carl Oscar Borg’s “In the Cattle Country,” the last picture Borg painted before his death. This canvas, and the one by William Otte

PAGE 5 entitled “The California Mountains,” (which is to come later to this Society)—bring back memories of these fine Santa Barbara artists whom your Museum Director was fortunate enough to know intimately during their long lives here.

Of extreme importance in the cultural history of our city is the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Robertson: framed reproductions of the original 1943 Assembly Bill No. 956, with a collection of photostats for filing. To former Assemblman Robertson must go the credit, and our gratitude, for securing the passage of the bill that was responsible for the establishment of the University of California, Santa Barbara College, in Goleta.

W. Edwin Gledhill

Gifts and Loans The Society received valuable gifts from the following donors, to whom we wish to extend our sincere ap preciation: Mrs. Wadsworth Baylor Miss Pauline Barbour Miss Katherine Burke Mrs. Edward L. Campbell Chamber of Commerce of Santa Barbara (through Mr. Courtenay Monsen) Mr. Selah Chamberlain Mrs. Walter Cheever Mr. Alexander Colt Miss Margaret Conklin Mrs. James A. Farra Mrs. George H. Finley Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Hollister Mrs. Robert Ingle Hoyt Mrs. Mabel G. Mahan Miss Laura McKeen

Mrs. Lawrence More Mrs. Glen Morrey Mrs. Arnold Mountfort Mr. Max C. Peebles Mr. Darwin B. Peebles Mrs. Charles Perkins Mr. William Porter Mrs. James B. Rickard Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Robertson Mr. and Mrs. Russell Ruiz Dr. T. M. Shorkley Mrs. John Somerville Mrs. Jane Hollister Wheel wright Mr. Don W. Woods

We are deeply indebted to the members and friends whose generosity prompted them to share their treasures with the Society for exhibition. Since January 1, we had had material on loan from: Mrs. Francis E. Bishop Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brown Mr. and Mrs. Harold Chase Miss Pearl Chase Miss Dorothy Cotton The Dibblee family Mrs. Cammillo Fenzi Miss Florence Fernald Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Gledhill Mrs. Girard van B. Hale The Harmer Trust Mr. J. J. Hollister Mrs. Robert Ingle Hoyt Miss Jennie Kimberly Mrs. John Lincoln Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Van De Mark Mrs. Lawrence More

Mr. Dwight Murphy Mrs. William L. Otte Mr. and Mrs. John A. Parma Miss Frederika Poett Santa Barbara Public Library Mayor John T. Rickard Mrs .William H. Roberts Mr. Cameron Rogers Mr. and Mrs. Russell Ruiz Archives of the S. B, Mission, through kindness of Father Maynard Geiger, 0. F. M. Miss Helene Seeley Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Storke Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Vaughn Mrs. John Watt Mrs. Harwood White

Society Committees-1957 Committee Chairmen appointed by President Conner at the January directors’ meeting include the following: Mrs. Sylvia Griffiths, Membership; Don W. Woods,

By Laws; Elmer H. Whittaker, Trussell-Winchester Adobe; Mrs. Elmer H. Whittaker, Teas; Mrs. Robert Ingle Hoyt, Luncheon Meetings; Mrs. E. F. Menzies, Publications and Publicity; William S. Porter, Finance, (Hugh Weldon and E. S. Conner also serve on the fi nance committee).

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The Old Mission Water System

By Marjorie Gunnerson The City of Santa Barbara is fortunate that, in so beautifully and conveniently located an area, its Park Department has been able to preserve the water works ruins and make them easily accessible to the public by means of convenient paths, and to identify the different units. Citizen groups have furthered this project. Visitors to the Old Mission and to the rooms of the Santa Barbara Historical Society, at the west end of the pic turesque Mission Corridor, may walk across the road and see the old Water Works and get lovely views across the Park Meadow to the Mission and to the Santa Barbara Channel nearly three miles away.

Mission Santa Barbara and the City’s Mission Historical Park have been officially recognized as distinct units of State Historical Landmark No. 309. The Park will be known henceforth, as the —Pearl Chase Santa Barbara City Mission Historical Park.

From the time of has been recognized hundred seventy-five California missions

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the fi rst Spanish settlements, water as the life blood of California. One years ago, the Fathers of the young were as aware of this fact as are

the engineers of today.

In the early years, the Fathers and their Indian helpers dug ditches and constructed temporary dams of brush, earth, and rocks. Then, in the years 1790-1795, artisan instructors were sent up from Mexico at government expense, and structures of sandstone and mortar ap peared; a few adobe houses were built on stone founda tions.

The accuracy and enduring quality of their work can be traced in the water system developed at Mission Santa Barbara. The system was designed to furnish water for the Mission itself, for the adjacent Indian pueblo, for the irrigation of fi elds and orchards, and for the operation of the grist mill. It included two dams in the canyons,

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two reservoirs, a water power grist mill, a filter, many aqueducts, and a fine stone fountain with adjoining lavadero (laundry basin). A part of the system is still in use; remains of much of it can still be traced by the visitor to Mission Santa Barbara and Mission Historical Park.

The Lower Reservoir: Built in 1806, this masonry reservoir, 110 feet square and originally 7 feet deep, is still used by the City of Santa Barbara. It stands some 500 feet from the Mission, on the north.

The Dams: In 1807, a large stone dam and an aqueduct were built on the west fork of Pedregosa (Mission) Creek, about a mile and a half north of the Mission and may be seen in what is now the Santa Bar bara Botanic Garden. The dam was used to store water, and also to direct it to the aqueduct leading to the lower reservoir. Subsequently, another dam was built on the e^t fork (called Los Canoas or Rattlesnake Canyon), about three miles from the Mission. It was used as a weir to direct water to a stone aqueduct, or zanja, that followed the sides of the mountains down to the Mission area. Both substantial, Indian-built dams are still in existence.

The Upper Reservoir: Probably constructed at the same time (1827) as the mill that adjoined it on the west, this oddly hexagonal-shaped reservoir stored water for the operation of the mill. It was paved with ladrillos (bricks) and plastered with pinkish cement. The ruins of the mill reservoir, and the mill, stand at the side of the hill to the north of the Mission, in Mission Historical Park.

The Mill: Now in ruins, the water power grist mill built in 1827 was 12 varas (31 feet) long. The mill wheel stood in the west end of a narrow stone-walled channel with a slightly concave fl oor. Directly above it, on the upper fl oor, were the millstones. Water entered

JANUARY-MARCH

PAGE 7

Water Channels and Conduits: Part of the wall that leads from the filter to the Mission may still be seen, close to Mission Ridge. At one time, the road leading up the canyon passed through a beautiful arch in this wall.

Because the opening was too low for large loaded wagons, the arch and part of the wall were removed about 1880.

Traces of other aqueducts, or zanjas, remain along the old courses of water from the dams to the reservoirs, and on to the Mission and its orchards and fields. They were constructed of sandstone, cut and chiseled, and cemented with mortar. In general, the channels were about ten inches deep and ten inches wide, but deeper and narrower on steep slopes.

Wotcr Works, Santa Borbara Mission, August 3, 1847.

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from the upper reservoir through a penstock fitted with a wooden gate that could be raised or lowered as needed.

A specially molded clay pipe directed water at an angle of. about thirty-five degrees against the buckets of the wheel, causing it to revolve. After passing through the mill, the water flowed into the lower reservoir, whence it was conducted to the orchards and fields for irrigation, and to the fountain. little north of ,The Filter: The filter house stands the mill reservoir close to and above Mountain Drive. A gate diverted some water from the aqueduct leading to the upper reservoir into a channel to the filter house.

There the water was clarified for domestic use by passing over a bed of charcoal and crushed sandstone before flowing into a channel on the top of a high stone wall leading to the Mission and the old orchard site.

Clay pipe was used for conducting water under the ground. This pipe, floor and roof tiles, and pottery for domestic purposes, were made in a large three-room building near the lower reservoir. Erected in 1808, only the one end of the pottery remains today; part of it and the kilns were destroyed when Alameda Padre Serra was built in 1912.

Fountain and Lavadero: The famous fountain and lavadero are in front of the Monastery wing of the “Old Mission,” as it is affectionately called in Santa Barbara.

These units were constructed in 1808 “en beneficio de la humanidad” (for the benefit of humanity). Water from the lower reservoir was conducted to the fountain, and then to the adjoining lavadero, where it entered and was discharged through stone carvings designed to represent the heads of bears—the then all too prevalent Cali fornian grizzlies! In this ample washing basin (65 feet long by 23 feet wide), the women from the adobe Indian pueblo, west of the Mission, doused their clothes, and scrubbed them on the sloping sides.

City Birthday Reminiscences

Jose Francisco de Ortega, who brings the Company to a halt at the edge of the clearing.

By Frank Price, Sr.

Father Serra advances to the altar, where he conducts an appropriate religious ceremony, which is concluded with the singing of a hymn. At a word from Governor Neve, Lieutenant Ortega advances with a color guard, planting the Royal Banner of Spain by the altar.

April 21st is the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara. Anniversaries of communities, as well as individuals, are always occasions for reminiscences. In this spirit, let us turn back the pages of Santa Barbara’s history to the day of its birth.

Let us return to the Spring of 1782—one hundred and seventy-five years ago—when California was Spanish, and Don Carlos III was King of Spain. Instead of reading the record, let us picture what happened in our imagination. We see the Valley of Santa Barbara, in its native beauty of live oaks, underbrush and wildflowers.

We see no streets or buildings; only a few conical Indian teepees, made of tule reeds around an open glade and located very near the center of our present city. In the middle of the clearing we see a crude altar and a Cross made of poles. A cluster of primitive Chumash Indians are watching with awe and amazement the approach of a band of strange white men. At their head, mounted on a spirited charger, rides the Spanish Governor of Alta California, Don Felipe de Neve. At his stirrup walks the gray-robed Franciscan Friar, Junipero Serra, FatherPresidente of the Missions. They are followed by a squad of “soldados de cuero”—leather jacketed troops of the rugged frontier guard. Their Commandante is Lieutenant

Governor Neve, standing beside the flag, announces the orders of His Majesty, Don Carlos III, for the estab lishment of the military and civil authority of Spain for

El Presidio Church from en 1853 watoreolor by J. N. Alden.

NOTICIAS

PAGE 8 the Presidio district of Santa Barbara, and outlines the obligations of the new Government, as follows:

EL PRESIDIO REAL DE SANTA BARBARA FOUNDED APRIL 21, 1782

To guard and protect the Franciscan Missionary settlements.

To promote and preserve in San Fernando, San Buenaventura and Santa Barbara the language and culture of Spain.

To provide the benefits of civil government for the future inhabitants of the Santa Barbara Presidio district.

When the Governor concludes, the troops fire a salute of honor; then, stacking their arms, they take up axes and begin cutting logs and poles to fashion crude tem porary shelters.

We have witnessed the establishment of the Spanish Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara.

When Don Carlos III heard the news, he conferred on Governor Neve the cross of an illustrious order he had established to reward those who had rendered dis

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ing the Presidio and laying down the precepts. It is the Cross of the Illustrious Order of Don Carlos III, patron of our Presidio.

The Insignia of the Order was presented to the City of Santa Barbara in 1952, folowing its 170th anniver sary, the first time in history that the honor was con ferred on a city outside of Spain.

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tinguished services for the general welfare of mankind.

The actors in the opening scene have gone to their higher rewards, but their roles are played by their descendants or successors in office, who discharge the original obligations imposed by Don Carlos III. The obligation to aid the Franciscan Fathers has not been forgotten for they are still cherished in Santa Barbara, and they have without cessation or interruption of devotion, carried on here the work started on that day, so long ago, by Father Serra.

Nor have we forgotten our obligation to preserve the cultures and traditions of our old Spanish days. The language of Spain has been preserved, at least in our street names. We strive to preserve our heritage of Spanish culture by our annual Old Spanish Days Fiesta, and by continuing appreciation of our Mission structures and old adobes.

Spain has not forgotten Santa Barbara, though she early had to relinguish her rule here. She has given to. this city her reward for compliance with the pre cepts she taught us in our infancy. This reward is the same honor conferred on Governor Neve for establish

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The award was accompanied by a citation stating that the honor was conferred in recognition of the especial love and devotion with which Santa Barbara has kept alive the remembrance of Spain as the nation which founded and civilized it, and for preserving and exalting the traditions deposited by Spain.

Birthdays are times for good resolutions as well as reminiscences. Let us, from our city’s 175th birthday onward, resolve that we will keep the faith that was entrusted to us; that we will preserve our enviable herit age of colorful tradition—an unique inheritance which sets Santa Barbara apart from ordinary communities.

We shall grow bigger as surely as we shall grow older.

But let us grow old gracefully, and without losing our traditions.

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