A. B. Harmer: Architectural Designer

NOTICIAS Quarterly Magazine Of The Santa Barbara Historical Society Vol. XLVIII. No,4

\Mnccr 2002

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A. B. HARMER Architectural Designer

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is afamitiar navui to those conversant uith Santa Barbara history. Alexander 1 rands Ilamercalled Santa Barbara home - one ojthefirst significant artists to settle in Southern California,tie Ixcame theacl{7i(nidedged leader ofthe dty's developing art coltyny. ^^^oUi^'ell'kywuni is hisfirst-Unii so7t, Alexander Bertrand I larmer. Steeped in the artistic ambi' axce ofthefaxxiily lume,he turned his talent to architechmd design. Hope Ratich is dotted ivith his Spanish Cohmial l^evivallumes and his artistry is rejlected m buildings suchas theMontecitu Inn,the jMonlecito Coimtx-y C7u/i, the Biltmore Ilotel, and San 1sidro lyaxich.

I rederick l\- Sidim undertakes thejirst detailed profile oj A. B. I larmer,surveying his tnost signijicant ivorks. I le also utilizes interviews uhth mexnbers oj "Bert's’family,foraglPnpse ojthe personable man behind thejinely rendered draivings and designs.

All illustrations arejrnm the collection oj Frederick R- Sidon unless otherwise noted. Ihe back cover image gtxiccd the Hope Baxich Art Jury Alinutes in the collection oj the Hope Ikanch Park I lomcs Association.

Ti iE AUTHOR: Frederick K- Sid('m ivas thejowider and president ojPrinceton Overseas Consulting Qroup, hic, a corporate strategyjirm. Educated m liwope and the U.S., he has lived in the Canibean, Ewvpe,and the East Coast axid isfluexit in seven languages. He settled in Santa Barbara in 1995 tind becaxne theozimerof an A B. Harmerhome,at 555 Ltis Pabxias Drive. autihor's acknowledgements: ! wish co extend a heardek thanks to Gaby Harmcr, A. B, Harmcr’s daughter, and to his nephew, hlarry Gesner. Without their help this piece could not have been written. Lcs Roberts, A1 Martin. Andrec Harmcr Robidoux, Ozzic Da Ros, and Joseph Seller additionally provided most usctul inlormation. My research was also greatly aided by the stall' of the Hope Ranch Park Homes Association and the proud owners of Harmcr-designed homes. Thank you all. Finally, to my wile, Diane, tliank you for your help and your patience.

INFORMATION FOR CONTRIBUTORS:.NOTiciAS is a quarterly journal devoted to the study ot the history ol Santa Barbara County. Contributions ol articles arc welcome. Tliose authors whose articles arc accepted for publication will receive ten gratis copies of the issue in which their article appears. Further copies arc available to the contributor at cost. The authority in matters of style is the IMiversity ofChicago Manual oj Style, i^lh edition. The Publications Committee reserves the right to return submitted manuscripts lor required changes. Statements and opinions expressed in articles are the sole responsibility ol the author.

Michael Redmon, Editor Judy Sutclillc, Designer © 2003 The Santa Barbara Historical Society 136 E. Dc la Guerra Street, Santa Barbara, Calilornia 93101 ● Telephone; 805/966-1601 Single copies $5.00 ISSN 0581-5916

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APcbiceccupAl besiQnep houses in the city, but it was one of the most attractive.”-^ It was built in 1825-26

The name Harmer, il recognized at all, is usually identified with Alexander Francis Harmer, whom one critic called, ''South

by Joaquin Maitorena, a Spanish army oflicer. He died in 1830 in Mexico, Icavins o behind his wife, Ysabcl. She reverted to her

ern California's first signilicant painter who was destined to become the leader of

maiden name, Yorba. and later adopted

the [Santa Barbara] art community. His adobe home on Dc la Guerra Plaza became the center of the area's arc colony Harmer was a lasdnating man. He was born in Newark, New Jersey, on Au

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Francis

Harmer,

'Southern

Calijomia'sjirst sigyiificant painter. ” Collection nj Santa Barbara Flistorical Sociely.

gust 21, 1856. He lied about his age to join the army as a youngster and cook pare in the Indian Wars. He Hrsc distin guished himself as an artist wich his scenes of chat conflict.

He married the belle ol Santa Barbara.

Fclicidad Abadie, on August 3. 1893. He had met her at Rancho Camulos in Ventura County, made famous as chc setting of Helen Hunt Jackson’s popular novel.

Riimona. After his marriage, he moved into his wife’s family home, one of the finest adobes in Santa Barbara. Here the couple raised their eight children.^ One writer said ot chc adobe home,"It was not chc largest ol chc old Spanish

Frederick R. Sidon \'m

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NOTICIAS

66 Isabel Lugo and her daughter, Refugio, both of whom took the name Yorba, Refugio married Dominique Abadic; their daughter was Fclicidad. Tire adobe was known as both the Yorba-Abadic and the Harmer adobe.

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reedy on die adobe plaster. Tliis effect was popular in the 1850s due to the discoveries being made in the Roman city ot Pompeii.

Today, there remains only a scalloped wall between city hall and the Santa Barbara NcwS'Prcss building with a plaque as a re minder of the adobe.

Harmer became well-known for his paintings which evoked the Spanish and Mexican past ot Santa Barbara and Cali fornia. Many of his works include family members as models. La Fiesta (X'isit ofQov' eniorPacheco), in a private collection, gives Fclicidad a prominent position.

Alexander and Fclicidad named their first son, born March 4. 1896, Alexander Bertrand Harmer. In July, Fr. Raymundo M. Ferrer baptized him Alejandro Beltran at the Santa Barbara Mission. Later in life, all who came to know him called him Bert.

He would sign his architectural designs, A. B. Harmer.

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Why should A. B. "Bert" Harmer merit attention? For me the answer is

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simple. Several years ago, I found a draw ing of our 1927 Spanish Colonial Revival house at 555 Las Palmas Drive, signed A. B. Harmer. 1 was curious, for I had believed

Je./ Alexander I hmneru'ith Livo ojhis children, Inez and Alexander Bertrand.

Fclicidad Abadiemamed Alexander Hanner in 189^, Vieirjirst son, Alexander Bertrand, ivas bom three yeats later. Collection oj Santa Bar bara I listorical Society.

TIic interior of the adobe was decorated by a European artist whose real name is lost to us. but who was knowii as El Pintor.'* Tlic walls were covered v'ith hand-painted wall paper. except for the sala, which had "a hcaw molded cornice and chair rail, both lavishly painted in colors From the chair rail to the floor a wainscot was painted di-

A. B. HARMER our home had been designed by Reginald Johnson, designer ot chc Bikmorc Hocel and Santa Barbara’s main post olticc.

'Three oj the I Tanner children, iStjg. I'Vom left to right, Alexando'Bertrand,/nez, and Tiniest.

1 found a brict mention of A. B. Harmcr in chc third edition ot Santa Bart?ara Ar~ chitecturc.^ When compared to chc atten tion given CO architects such as George Washington Smith,Johnson, Lutah Maria Riggs, and others, it appeared Harmcr was a minor figure indeed.

My estimation began to change when die Hope Ranch Park Homes Association re cently uncovered among its records, minutes ot chc Hope Ranch Arc Jury. It had first con vened in chc office ol H. G. Chase Real Es tate and Insurance on March 29, 1928, with the stated purpose of creating a body w'hich would regulate chc growth and architectural development ot Hope Ranch. The members were architects Reginald Johnson, George Washington Smith, Winsor Soule, William Edwards, Joseph Plunkett, urban planner Cliarlcs H. Cheney,and Harold S, Chase,chc president ot the Hope Ranch Park Homes Association.

The group, minus the absent Smith, unanimously elected Soule as president, Cheney as secretary, and Mrs, Margaret C. Thompson as assistant secretary. The

67 group also unanimously adopted the City of Santa Barbara building codes to apply to Hope Ranch and named Philip C. Conklin as inspector lor the Art Jury. The Jury was the precursor ot today’s Hope Ranch Architectural Board of Review; the inspector’s duties arc chc same as in 1928, The Building Guidelines, voted in by the membership's Board arc now closer to those ol Santa Barbara County.

In that first meeting, Chase reported on the homes in Hope Ranch which pre dated the Art Jury. Among these dozen homes were four designed by Bert Harmcr.

Ot chc thirty homes indicated on a 1930 map ot Hope Ranch, eleven were Harmcr designs. It was obvious chat here was an architectural designer who had done much more work chan previously thought.

Why was this man so popular with early residents of Hope Ranch? What was chc size and nature ot his lull body ol work? My curiosity was aroused and through contacts with family members, owners ot Harmcr-dcsigned homes, and lurcher research, I began to piece together chc story, Tire answer to chc question of his popu larity lay in pare in his design specialty.

The 1925 earthquake had badly damaged substantial portions ot Santa Barbara, in cluding chc Harmer family adobe on Dc la Guerra Plaza. Under chc leadership ol vi sionaries such as Pearl Chase and others, it was decided to rebuild much ol chc town in the Spanish Colonial Revival architec tural style which incorporated a blend of arches, columns, red tile roofs, adobe, and stucco. Ocher elements in the mix included Italian Romanesque, Moorish, and Andalusian as well as adaptations from Mexican and American Southwest styles.

Harmcr’s background muse have played a major role in his ability to meet chc require ments of his clients.

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68 For Bert Harmer grew up in a true Californio household, surrounded by art and artists. He showed an early interest in design. A drawing of his showing a pro posed remodel of the Harmer adobe is dated April 1911.

Many of his early designs were for onestory structures and of more modest pro portions than one might imagine for Hope Ranch.The threat of earthquake could well have been a factor. The majority of homes in Hope Ranch were not mansions, but smaller family homes in an attractive Spanish rancho style which allowed for horse corrals and open spaces.

eUpLy OAys There are conflicting reports about Harmer’s early life and training. He at tended elementary and high school in Santa Barbara, but never went on to earn a formal architecture degree from a uni versity. Apparently, his talent was rec ognized early on and an architect-phi lanthropist offered to send him to the Beaux Arts in Paris. His father refused the offer, insisting his son make his own way as he had at Bert’s age.

One story seems to show he was a nor mal, mischievous boy. Harmer and some of his friends were caught raiding a carrot patch in back of city hall by a mounted officer of the law. The officer gave chase and, instead of stopping at the massive front doors of the Harmer adobe, the of ficer followed the youths through the sala and out into the patio.^ Harmer started his business career as an assistant director with the Flying A Studio. The studio had set up shop in Santa Barbara in 1912 and, for a time was the largest movie studio in the country. His name appears on an announcement for the May 17, 1915, release of Jhe Qreater Strength written by William Pigott, pro duced by Henry Otto, and featuring Ed ward Coxen and Winifred Greenwood.

Harmer’s film experience lasted about eigh teen months and was followed by a brief stint with the Santa Barbara office of the Automobile Club of Southern California.

Harmer developed an early love for automobiles and drove sporty convert ibles the rest of his life. His nephew, Harry Gesner, a well-known Malibu ar chitect in his own right, recalls that driv ing with Harmer meant taking your life

Detail ofdrawing Harmer executedfor "A Possible Development ofthe Estate ofMrs.Alexander F. Harmer”in ign. He wasfifteen at the time.

A, B. HARMER

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See Americans First

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Made in U.S.iA.

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AMERICAN FILM MFC. CO. PRESENTS

THE GREATER STRENGTH Written by WILLIAM PIGOTT

Release Date

May 17, 1915

PRODUCED BY

CAST:

Henry Otto

EDWARD COXEN Lizette Thorne

CAST:

WINIFRED GREENWOOD

George Field Bessie Banks Claire Gamble

Lillian Knight

John Steppling Wm. Bertram Bert Harmer Fred Knight TOM B. MIDDLETON, Photographer

in your hands. He had a tendency to drive at great speeds, come to abrupt stops, then quickly accelerate,jerking his K passengers to and Iro, Harmer joined the army in 1917 alter the U.S. entered World War I. He was assigned to the infantry and sent to Fort Lewis. Washington, tor basic training.

He apparently took ill. tor his sister Olga wrote him at the base hospital, express ing hope he would not catch the "Span ish grip-[sic}” She was referring to the influenza pandemic which killed some 20 mi ion people worldwide, including 500.000 Americans.^ Fortunately chat was not the case with Harmer who recovered and was subse quently discharged from the army. He re turned to Santa Barbara and eventually entered the real estate business. He worked with Messrs. Philip H. Rice and C. L. Vivian and later entered partnership with William S. Seamans.

After a few years of brokering homes he turned to his real love, designing them.

I laiiner and Flying/\ Studio producer f km-y Otto.

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NOTICIAS

70 He associated with at least two architects in the early 1920s. "He and Wallace Neff started an architectural business, but it didn't last very long." according to Harry Gesner. He laughingly speculated that they probably broke up over a girl, as both were bachelors and men-about-tov\'n.‘'^

Dayton, Ohio. The letters requested as sistance in viewing places of interest. It is clear tliis trip profoundly influenced the work of both men. The inaugural exhibi tion ol the Plans and Planting Committee of the Community Arts Association in 1923 consisted of photographs taken by Harmcr on this trip.“ Harmer chose to be known as a "designer of homes” since he did not have an architectural degree.'- He began to experience a measure of suc cess working from his studio in Room 9-10 in the Carrillo Building on the southwest corner of State and

Carrillo streets. He designed not only single-family homes, but commercial and public buildings as well.

His popularity spread well beyond / Linner’s soisc oj hurnor is(m dispLi\ in this posed shot at Santa Barbara. He designed buildings Laguna Blanca in 1Injx Ruac/i, igii. in Ojai. Pasadena, Beverly Hills, and elsewhere. His nephew recalled once Tlie other architect, who became a life stepping into a home in Ojai for a remodel long friend, was Garrett Van Pelt. Jr. and felt the place .seemed familiar. It turned Harmcr and he undertook a long photo out to be a design by his uncle. He located a graphic exploration of Mexico in De Manner and QanxU \ un Pelt,'Jr. on their trip to Alexica, igzz. Uia Pelt cember 1922. visitis atJarright, Ilamiersits next to him.

ingnumcrous archi tectural and archeo logical sites. The two carried with them letters of in troduction to the postal director ot Queretaro, Gue rrero. and to the manager ol the Ocampo Theater 1n Morel ia, Michoacan. from Narciso Lafticrza, Mexican represen tative of Egry Reg ister Systems of

A. B. HARMER

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0?ie ofIlanner's earliest commissions wtisfor the "Canyon Cottages"at San Ysidru Ri.mch,ca. i

die which dated the house to 1925.'^ One

and roof lines. This became a Harmer

author noted, "To his oHice came many re quests irom Florida, New York, and other states lor his designs.

Harmer also designed a large liouse tor his sister. Inez, on the north shore of Lake

trademark —a penchant lor designing into the topography, taking advantage ol the natural contour ol the land. The

Arrowhead. She was married to John K. Northrop, lounder ot Northrop Aviation.

As a young man in Santa Barbara, Northrop had worked tor Malcolm and Allan Longhead. The two brothers went on to tound Lockheed Aviation. Harmer designed the house lor the couple in the mid-1940s.

Harmer's earliest work in the Santa Barbara area, dating trom around 1924, is probably a cluster of bungalows, known as the "Canyon Cottages," at San Ysidro Ranch. The cottages arc in use today, looking much as they originally did, except lor the replacement ol the red tiles tools with composition and the ad dition ol a wooden deck. The cottages arc built on land which slopes to the south and have several different levels

cottages are in the Spanish Colonial Re vival style.

Two commissions followed for Hope Ranch homes,one at 4191 Mariposa Drive lor Mrs. David Blankcnhorn, the other at 5v'55 Las Palmas Drive. The latter, begun in 1927 and completed the lollowing year, is a two-story home with a Montcrcy-stylc balcony. It was designed lor Alaric J. Rob erts and his wile. Roberts was an inventor/contractor/buildcr who constructed this house. Despite the recent earthquake, Roberts opted lor a second story.

In 1957 Roberts in a letter reassured a subsequent owner concerning the house, "Tine lumber that went into the construc tion was seasoned for six months before be ing used. It is what is termed an earthquake resistant type ol Iraming; even the chimney and lireplacc is boxed-in to prevent them Irom lulling in event of a severe shock. All

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T/ie home which I Lmner designedJor 555 Las Palmas Drive,shortly after completion.

metal Hashing is of copper - everything is "1.^ built in view of permanency.

Oren D. Sexton, Hope Ranch Park Homes Association manager from 1942 to 1978. remembered the house was con structed in part irom discarded lumber from the Biltmore Hotel, which was be ing built at the time. The ceiling beams in the living room arc similar to those in the 16 hotel’s lobby.

This was another of Harmcr’s traits, according to Harry Gesner. "He always

had a great eye for opportunities.”

Harmcr utilized beams taken irom the dismantled Santa Monica Pier in the 1920s homes he designed in Beverly Hills. Harmcr was a great inspiration to his nephew; the two worked on several projects during the latter’s college years.

"He was my lavorite uncle. He inspired me to become an architect and taught me a lot.” Gesner still has several books of ironwork and grille designs with hand 17 written notes by Harmer.

I kuiner won one oj his numer ous aioards Jrom the Community Arts y\ssociatio7i Jor this design oJ 151,^ Clear Viezv Ppad.

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A. B. HARMER Harmcr’s largest project in 1927 was the Montecito Inn on Coast Village Road, which at that time was part of the main highway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Construction was linanccd by Tlic Montecito Company. One ol the ma jor investors was Harmcr’s former real es tate partner. William Seamans. Construc tion costs came to some $300,000 and the hotel opened in February 1928. For a time it attracted members of the Hollywood film community including Norma Shearer.

Janet Gaynor, Wallace Beery. Carole Lombard, Gilbert Roland.Lon Chancy.Sr.,

4300 Via Prcsada tor W C. Paulcon. 695 Via Hicrba for Mr. and Mrs. D. M.Parrick and 555 Via Hicrba for A. B. Cram. All three were one-story Spanish homes. An other home he designed, at 1514 Clear View Road in Santa Barbara, won first prize in the Small House Competition. Four Room Category, sponsored by the Com munity Arts Association, The Crane Country Day School opened on San Leandro Lane in Montecito in 1928. Harmcr designed the original quad at the school. It looks much today as it did then. Harmcr also gave the school a

Montecito Fire Station, East Valley Road, ig^i.ltwas tui aivard-winnerfor Manner.

among others. A pamphlet presently handed out by the hotel states,"The origi nal architect. Bertrand Harmcr, designed the Mediterranean-styled building of three stories with an earthquake resistant root.

To this day, Mr. Harmcr's roof stands as strong as when first constructed.” In this instance. Harmcr demonstrated an ability to move beyond single family homes or cottages.

Harmcr was extremely busy in 1928, He designed three homes in Hope Ranch:

brass gong which for many years was used to call the students to classes and to meals.

Harmcr did further work in Hope Ranch in 1929. He designed homes at 910 Camino Medio for Mr. and Mrs. Catlett.

929 Canon Road for Mr. and Mrs. Irving Wills, and 4035 Ramitas Road for Mr,and Mrs. E. C. Worley. All three were singlestory in the Spanish Colonial Revival style.

In the summer of 1930. Mr, and Mrs. H. L. Hitchcock moved into their Moun tain Drive home in the developing El

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The TAontecito lun, ca.

I lannerivas responsible/or both chc original design andfor modijicaiions in the late ig^os.

Collection oj Santa Barbara I iLstorical Society.

CicHco area. This house was an excellent

grip the side oj the hill like strongfingers

example of Harmer’s skill in using copog-

tivo unusual chimneys, long verandah, the

raphy and natural settings and his ability to maximize views lor his clients. As re

roofs ofwhich are supported by well-propor

ported in the Santa Barbara Daily News:

tioned hand-adzed timbers, give the house that charming simplicity needed againstsuch a complex bacl^nmnd andforegnnmd.

One of the most charming homes in the whole city is that ofAir.and Airs. H.L. Hitchcock,

'Ike whole scheme... has been developed in excellent taste.^^

... In designing the house, A. B. Uanner seized upon afortunate plan. It u’ould have

The article continues at great length

beeti so easy to have gone wrong on this par-

to describe the many attributes of Harmer's

ticidarsite. With the mountain rising up like

design, both inside and out. The reporter

agiganticzvall immediately back(fthe house,

especially points out the use of boulders and the bcautilul views.

and droppmg offsteeply into the valley at the fx)nt,one can imagine the msecurefeeling that

More honors came Harmer's way in

might have been o'eated if the house had been

1931 in that year’s Small Hou.se Compe

designed to perch on the hillside like a

tition. put on by the Community Arts Association. Houses were to cost no

swalhnv !s nest on a chimney ledge. 'Ihere is nosuchfeeling....It snuggles against the side

more than $8,000 and the jury that year

of the mountain as if nappmg in the sioi

was composed of Winsor Soule, Mrs.

Ihe long wings which fonn a 1 seem to

Thomas Ripley, and Ralph Armitage.

A B. HARMER

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Arts Association a warded First Prize for

Armicagc was the president of Santa Barbara's chapter of the American Insti tute ol Architects and often worked with another of Santa Barbara's "self-trained”

"Distinctive Example of Civic Architec ture, erected in Santa Barbara. California in 1931 to Montedto Fire Station, East

architects. Mary Craig.

First prize in the seven-room category went to Harmer for his work on a home

Valley Road. Designer: A. B. Harmer.” A letter to Harmer, dated December 8. 1931 tells all:

on Monte Drive in Hope Ranch. Selected as a demonstration home, the jury termed it. "a delightful rendering of the hillside house, very attractively planned." He also received an honorable mention in this class for a residence on La Cumbre Road, de scribed as "a rambling house following the precedent of the old adobe." The jury created a "Special Award" for the exte rior alterations Harmer designed for the home of Mrs. Elena Covarrubias at 1436 Laguna Street, saying, "Particular charm was achieved.

The lollowing year the Community

Dear Air. Harmer: Vie Board ofCommissioners ofthe Alontecito Fire District wises to express its apprecia tion and satisfactionfor the ivorl{ of your of fice in the planning and construction of the Fire Statum recently completed inAhmtecito.

It is entirely pleasedivith the residts obtained by you and consider the building very well planned and constructed. Also ive appreci ate the very pleasant relations betiveen you and this Board and also betiveen you and the various contractors. Please accept our thanks for your efforts.

NOTICIAS

Raiichico 101 was an iixcdlent example oj I lanner's skill at blending his a7vhitectwx mto the surrounding landscape.

ybios very tndy, Board nfConnnissioncj's,Mmitecito Fire District ]. tl. I lidl, Chaiiindn II. S. Doidton, Commissioner 1Iwvn I^)ckj Secretary Seventy-two years later, the station still stands at 443 East Valley Road, an example of line design and craltsmanship.

The building which once housed fire en gines now houses otficcs and the arches are glassed-in. but it still remains a monu ment to the talent of A. B. Harmcr.

The comment in the letter about Harmcr’s relations with the contractors

with a beautiful white Panama hat in side. ” I had no idea who might have sent it as it had no card inside,” he said, but the hat was very nice and he wore it ottcn. A few months later he went to Harmcr’s studio, with whom he worked on several projects, wearing his Panama hat. Harmcr looked at him, smiled, and said. "It sure cook you a long time to tigure out where it came from.” Da Ros mused, "He was really a nice guy with "20 whom it was always good to work.

An incident showing Harmcr's sense

is an interesting tribute to his style and personality. Stonemason Oswald "Ozzie" Da Ros recalls a humorous in

of humor was cold by nephew Gesner. He and his uncle were working on a stone re taining wall at 103 Ease Mission Street. A neighbor watched the construction tor days and when the wall was finished he crossed the street to intorm them that the

cident. He received a hatbox one day

wall was on city property. Enraged.

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A. B. HARMER Harmer went to his studio, carved a gargoylc-likc face and had it built into the chimney of the house he was working on to stare down onto the unfriendly neigh bor. The chimney adornment is still there and causes Gesner to smile each time he drives by.’'

The following years brought Harmer back to Hope Ranch. He won Honorable Mention for a Six Room Class residence on Presada Road in 1932. He completed three more homes, at 665 Via Trepadora.

650 Via Hicrba, and 4475 Vieja Drive.

This last residence, designed for H. E. Miller, was named I{anchitu lui. It serves as another example of Harmer’s skill of adapting to the landscape. The home has several levels and long views are main tained from a number of angles. Harold Chase described the home in an undated promotional letter, ”... a rambling Mexican-type house with many charming fea tures and decorations built across a small

canyon. . . . [it] has beautiful views of the Santa Ynen Mountains on the north and vistas of the fragrant lemon groves in the valley below.” Tlic house has been renamed Don QiiLxotc. after a large and colorful col lection of hand-painted Spanish tiles which depicts Cervantes’ epic.

William H, Suddith chose Hariner to design his dream home on a 3.9-acre, stonestrewn lot on El Cielito Road. The house was appropriately named La Cuesta Rpqiicha (The Rocky Slope) and its con struction warranted a large article in the Sunday edition of the Santa Barbara Daily News-J^lomingPreas. November 22,1936, The headline across the page read, "William H. Suddith to Construct a $35,000 Residence on Cielito Road,” Suddith was a "retired Minneapolis mill owner.” The residence would be "ol a Cali fornia ranchhouse style, according to its designer. A. B. Harmer.”

Harmer’s special talents came into play.

7/ie childrcyi ofAlexander and FeLicidad Harmer gather, 1961. Left to right: I lelen, Inez, Bert, Ernest, Olga, DougLis. Not pictured: Ethel.

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78 "Two exceptional views in particular will be provided by the arrangement of the house. The large living room will face Goleta Valley and Rattlesnake Canyon.

The patio will overlook the city and the channel.” The one-story house featured a mahogany-paneled den with built-in book cases along all four walls.

M.ontccitoMaga:^ne featured the house: AlexanderBertrand Harmer,a native Santa Barbaran, was commissioned by Sudditli to take advantage ofthe rocky slope [he]conceived a refined hacienda-style residence that graciously conforms to a sloping saddle of cleared land studded with venerable oaks.The natural terrain dictated aflow oflevels that affects a diminutive scale increasing the ca~ sualfeel ofthe home A whimsicalgrouping ofmulti-level Spanish tile roofs, window less dormers and chimneys is supported by exposed timber beams along a veranda which runs three-quarters ofthe length ofthesingle story house.^' There are distinct similarities among Don Quixote, La Cuesta Ppqueha, and the Hitchcock home. All three were built on uneven, rocky terrain, difficult hilly plots with potentially wonderful views. All re quired careful design to incorporate the various levels yet maintain harmonious flows in the homes. These rancho-style homes with their porticos, verandas and patios, arches, and red tile roofs are prime examples of Harmer’s earlier work.

Harmer won further awards in die years before die U.S.entered Wirld War II. In 1936 he won one in the Seven Room Class for 338 Ontare Road and a First Prize in the Four Room Class for 935 Isleta Road. In 1938, he planned restoration work for the family adobe on De la Guerra Plaza. Tlie damaged front wall and shingled roof was removed. Sadly, the restoration of the adobe never came to

NOTICIAS pass. His last pre-war award came in 1940 in the Six-Seven Room Class, given for the Harold C.Bradley.Jr. residence on Creciente Drive in Hope Ranch.

CQCopLb CCUp HAnb JJrcep During the Second World War, Harmer worked for Air Research Manu facturing in Los Angeles. A 1943 letter from Robert F. Callender to the company describes him. ... in his usual work in architecture he has unusualand extraordinary ability both as to creation and execution ofdesigns and plans.

Plenty ofability in the handling ofmen and materials.[He]isfirst ofall a gentleman, the sort of man who respects the rights ofothers, who believes in and practices commonjustice andfairness to all. He has that necessary and important quality ofloyalty thatis not always in evidence these days.--^ As the house he designed for his sis ter on Lake Arrowhead attests, Harmer continued to work on architectural de signs during the war.

In August 1944, his youngest brother, Alfred Douglas, moved Harmer's old frame studio from De la Guerra Plaza to 902 Cheltenham Road, just above Foothill Road. The stone fireplace was taken apart and reassembled in the new location. The difficult move was successfully performed by house mover Frank Villalba.

The studio is still there today, next to a fascinating house designed by Harry Gesner for his aunt, Inez Harmer Northrop, at 900 Cheltenham Road.

Gesner had the adobe cut out of the hill to form the house’s exterior walls. He recalled that while work was going on two curi ous motorists, traveling in opposite direc tions, were distracted and collided.

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Newiyzveds Bert and and Beatrice 1lanner at the entrance to J^iission Santa Barbara, ig4‘y-

In April 1945, the old lamily adobe on Dc la Guerra Plaza was finally com dowai. Some of che bricks were used to rescore che Canedo adobe ac 123 Ease Canon Perdido Screec.

In November, Harmer, ac age forcy-nine, married. The bride was Beaca(Beacrice)Lidia Scepowron-Krokowska, mem ber of an ariscocracic R'jlish fam ily. Fr, Roger Agoscinelli,OFM I'Hzrlormed che ceremony before some sevency people ac che Sanca Barbara Mission.

Harmcr’s besc man was his brocher-in-law, John Norchrop.

A lavish rcccpcion in che Gold Rtx>m of che Rescaurance del Paseo followed che ceremony.

The newlyweds honeymooned ac che El Encanco Hoccl. chen seeded in Pasadena.

Harmer had formed a partnership wich his friend and old cravcl mace In Mexico, Garrecc Van Pcic, Jr., who had cscablishcd an archlceccural practice in Pasadena, Tlie part nership would last che rest of Harmer’s life.

Van Peic had actually written a book.

Old Architecture oj Snuthern Mexico, in 1926 based upon his travels wich Harmer.

That crip had a profound Inlluencc on both men, cemented their friendship, and gave them common ground regarding design.

Van Pelc was responsible for che Wescminscer Presbyterian Church and Pasadena Arc Inscicuce, as well as a multicude of homes. The A.l.A. made him a Fellow in 1961. The cercilicace noted he was ”an architect of distinction and worked wich unusual personal sensicivicy

and wich real understanding of che archi tecture of che period from which he was drawing his inspiration."^'' Ic is fair co say Harmer drew his inspiration from che same sources, making theirs an Ideal partnership.

On September 4. 1946, che Harmers were blessed wich the birch of their only child, Beatrice Gabriclle. The family moved back co Sanca Barbara in the early 1950s and lived near Crane School In Moncccico, ac 1542 Ramona Lane.

Gabriclle Harmer graduated Irom the school in 1959.

Harmer was commissioned co remodel some properties owned by a friend of his, Avery Brundage, Moncccico resident and President of the Incernacional Olympic Committee. In 1947-48, he redesigned the Moncccico Country Club's men’s and la dies' locker rooms as well as the cocktail

NOTICIAS

VieMniitcdtn Shopping Caiter,across Cuasl Village lipadfrom an other Harmer building, the Montecito Inn.

lounge(now known as the Marine Room) with a two-story semi-circular addition to the front. Harmer still remained faithful to the lines of the original Reginald Johnson design. He also did some work on another Brundage property, the El Presidio Build ing at 802-812 Anacapa Street. The grand reopening was the occasion of a K.TMS radio broadcast in which Harmer was interviewed.

Van Pelt retired in 1954 and moved to Montccito. The partnership continued, but Harmcr was now doing the lion’s share of the work.^'

On May 31, 1954, the Moncccico Shopping Center. 1266--1276 Ease Coast Highway(now Coast Village Road), across the street from the Montccito Inn, opened its doors. Owned by Mrs. Rhoda Prud’homme,a prominent Montccitan, the center had cost $33,000 to build. It was designed by Harmcr and built by Clayton Wesley Cook. Initial occupants would be a hardware store, bakery, bookstore, dry cleaners, and a women's wear shop.

Harmer received a letter of congratulations from Pearl Chase for his design, tor which he was awarded an Honorable Mention in the Retail Sales category by Community Arts. Today, its signature red tile roof is still there and is home to businesses like the Wine Bistro and Sullivan and Goss Books.

In 1957-58, Harmer assisted Brundage in remodeling the Montccito Inn. A large cy arch was cut in the facade so that guests might

Vk iving I kmner desig7iedfor Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in 1963 blends beautijxdly ivith the architectxire oj the main church Imilding.

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A. B. HARMER drive directly into the parking area. A ter race and formal garden were replaced by a driveway leading into the enclosed park ing facility. All fifty-eight guest rooms were remodeled and six bachelor apart ments were added. On the ground floor Harmcr designed a new bar/loungc, din ing room, snack shop, and seven shops.

The facelift was budgeted at $225,000. A hotel publication had this to say, "During this renovation, the wishing well that in spired Richard Rodgers to write his memo rable love song. ’There’s a Small Hotel' (1936) was lost. A replica of chat well now sics on site, in the highly acclaimed Moncccico Cafe.” The current Inn retains

'Sol y Mar’ room.” Van Pclc and Harmcr were hired to do the job but. given Vtin Pelt’s retirement, Harmcr did the lion’s share of the design. A prcscursor oi things to come. La Sala Nueva featured a Millc Otto espresso machine, a first in Santa Barbara.

A Town Chatter column in 1961 de scribed the opening; '[here luas gaiety there Ihwsday afters noon when invitations were sent... to vieiv "La Sala Nueva."...[UCSB] Chancellor

most of the features of Harmer’s redesign.

and Mrs.Samuel Qoidd brought their son, l^chard Allan,ivith them. l{eceivingcompli' 7nenLs of the new nxnn were ISertfWid Hamer. ... Mrs.Ilamer wore a blue tajfeta cocktail

The io6os

dress. . .. Mayor and Mrs. Abbott ivere guests.-'^'

The Santa Barbara Bilcmorc pro claimed with great fanfare the redesign of its famous "La Sala." Renamed "La Sala Nueva." it now included a "luxury lounge, a beaucif ul library and a delightful bar with

BliLOW: [lanner recreated this painting oj his father's,La Fiesta v Rodeo,in u photograph us ing members of hisfamily andde.‘7caidants ojOld California families. Photograph collection oj Santa Barbara I lislorical Society.

82

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Harmer also designed the new 275-seat chapel wing for Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Montecito. The News-

Personally, it is evident that Bert Harmer was a gregarious, fun-loving indi vidual. He was always impeccably

Press reported;

groomed and loved good food, the com pany of women, and fast cars. His daugh ter said that when Harmer married he left behind a trail of broken hearts.-’*

Although it is built oj steel-reinforced concrete, the new wing has the same Span ish-Colonial architectural design ofthe New Mexico mission that isfollowed in the originalJvLontedto church bidlt in 1936. The walls appear to be adobe,covered with rough,handworkedplasterand decorated in brightIndian designs. The Stations ofthe Cross are 1f^'century tiles broughtfrom Spain.

A church bulletin dated March 17, 1963, lists Van Pelt and Harmer as archi tects, Peter Davidson and Son as general contractor, with stonework being done by Oswald Da Ros. A nephew of Harmer’s, Albert Mar tin, recounted a story behind this job.

Beatrice Harmer was a devout Catholic and casually told the church elders that her hus band would "of course do the design work on a pro bono basis.” Reportedly Harmer’s jaw dropped when he heard this, but man 30 aged to hide his surprise.

The Boy Scouts of America had been cramped into El Cuartel, Santa Barbara’s oldest building and part of the Royal Presidio, at 122 East Canon Perdido Street until Harmer designed and built a new headquarters at 4000 Modoc Road.

Harmer’s brother-in-law, John K. Northrop, was chairman of the building committee for the Scouts. Tlie professional and clerical staff wrote a letter of appre ciation to Harmer, thanking him for get ting them out of a cramped environment into what they termed "seventh heaven” in the new building. The building today still retains the elements of the original design which so pleased the Boy Scouts forty years ago.

Harmer wore a moustache throughout his adult life. Henry Ewald, a long-time sports reporter for the Santa Barbara News-Press, recalled an amusing anecdote.

In commenting on Harmer’s adroit golf swing, "I was a little worried about Bert’s moustache when he first started out. It was in perfect shape when he stepped on the first tee. There wasn’t a hair out of place and the ends stuck out like a couple of dag gers. He really had mastered the art of waxing the adornment on his upper lip to perfection.” Ewald goes on to tell of the predicament Harmer experienced in a sand trap and his need to remove every last grain of sand that splattered on his moustache in his vain attempts to extricate his ball 32 from the trap.

Harry Gcsner recalled Harmer driving a large Chrysler convertible. His penchant for driving fast took a serious turn shortly before his 1945 marriage. He hit a fuel truck down in Ventura County and suffered se vere injuries. Nephew A1 Martin suggests that the lingering effects of the accident 33 plagued his uncle for the rest of his life.

Given his background, it is not surpris ing that Harmer and his family never missed an Old Spanish Days Fiesta parade.

The family enjoyed dressing in Fiesta cos tume. Harmer even went to the length one year of replicating, with his own family, a photograph from the 1890s of his father, guitar in hand, his mother, and himself, also holding a guitar. Another memorable photograph appeared in the Santa Barbara News'Press on August 12, 1956, com memorating Alexander Francis Harmer’s

A. B. HARMER

83

birth on August 21,1856. Tlic photograph recreated a Harmcr painting, La Fiesta y R()dco. and featured many descendants ol Spanish California families, with Bert Harmcr at center on horseback, The pho tograph was taken at Laguna Blanca in Hope Ranch.

Alexander Bertrand Harmcr died of a heart attack on September 30, 1967, age seventy-one. The requiem mass was said in the chapel he had designed at Our Lady

of Mount Carmel Church in Montccito.

He was laid to rest in Santa Barbara Cem etery, He left behind an impressive body of work. His name may not be well-known tixiay, but during his lifetime he was a most distinguished citizen in the Santa Barbara community. As one writer put it, "He is greatly interested in everything relating to the prosperity of his home, city and coun try, and none stands higher than he in the esteem of his fellow men.●’.^4

b€sicnei2 Of Fine Sahca ^ARl3A.pA homes.

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84

Hoces 1 William H. Gerdts, Art Across America:Two Centuries ofE^gional Painting lyio-igzo, Vol.3(New York: Abbeville Press. 1990), 294.

2 Seven children survived; Benjamin Clarence James Harmer died at age seven months in 1899.

3 Clarence Cullimore, Santa Barbara Adobes(Santa Barbara: Santa Bar bara Book Publishing Company, 1948), 39.

4 Litti Paulding, who knew both Alexander and Felicidad Harmer, wrote in the Santa Barbara News^ Press, 9 August 1964, that Leonardo Barbieri, was responsible for the interior design. It may explain the Pompeiian style.

5 Cullimore, 39.

6 Robert Easton and Wayne McCall, eds., Santa Barbara Architecture, Third Edition(Santa Barbara: Capra Press, 1995).

7 H. D. Watkins, Art News, August 1981.

8 Harry Gesner, telephone conversation with author, 22 December 2002.

9 Olga Harmer to A. B. Harmer, 24 September 1918.

10 Harry Gesner, telephone conversa tion with author, September 2002.

11 Santa Barbara Daily News, 23 March 1929.

12 Interestingly, George Washington Smith, perhaps Santa Barbara’s bestknown architect, also did not have an architectural degree. He was known as the gentleman architect.

13 Harry Gesner, telephone conversa tion with author, 22 December 2002.

14 Owen H. O’Neill, ed.. History of Santa Barbara County,State of California,Its People and Its P^ources (Santa Barbara: Harold McLean Meier. 1939). 355.

15 Alaric J. Roberts to Dr. Casey Dornz, 25 April 1957 16 Caption, Hope Ranch Park Homes Association photograph gallery.

17 Harry Gesner, telephone conversation with author, September 2002.

18 Santa Barbara Daily News, 29 November 1930.

19 Santa Barbara Daily News, 25 April 1931.

20 Oswald Da Ros, telephone conversa tion with author, 23 July 2002.

21 Harry Gesner, telephone conversation with author, September 2002.

22 Michael Gahagan,"La Cuesta Roqueha,” MontecitoMagazine, Vol. Ill, No. 2. Fall 1983, 6.

23 Robert F. Callender to S. D. Bradley, Personnel Director, Air Research Manufacturing Company, 22 March 1943.

24 Harry Gesner, telephone conversation with author, 22 December 2002.

25 Garrett Van Pelt, Jr., Old Architecture ofSouthern Mexico,(Cleveland, J. H. Hansen. 1926).

26 Santa Barbara News-Press, 9 August 1961.

27 Gabrielle Harmer, telephone conversa tion with author, July 2002.

28 Santa Barbara News'Press, 4 June 1961.

29 Santa Barbara News'Press, 17 March 1963.

30 Albert Martin, telephone conversa tion with author, 19 March 2002.

31 Beatrice Gabrielle Harmer, telephone conversation with author, July 2002.

32 Henry Ewald,"Sport Cracks,” Santa Barbara News'Press, undated clip ping.

33 Harry Gesner, telephone conversation with author, 4 February 2003.

34 O’Neill. 355.

SANTA BARBARA HISTORICAL SOCIETY 2003 BOARD OF TRUSTEES President 1st Vice President 2nd Vice President Jo Beth Van Gelderen . .

Treasurer Gen. F. Michael Rogers, USAF(ret.)

Elizabeth H. Edwards .Secretary Leslie L. Hovey Lawrence T Hammett

Dr. Glen W Adams

Jane H. Radin

Frank T Stevens

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Edgar L. Sands Robin Schutte

Stefani Taliaferro

Jane Rich Mueller

Mary Standlee

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James Vitanza Eileen S. Winters

George M. Anderjack, Executive Director David S. Bisol, Curator MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS-2002 COLLECTORS SERIES Tlie Santa Barbara Historical Society wishes to thank and to acknowledge with pride the following members and institutions for their most generous contributions to the 2002 Collectors Series: PATRONS($1,000 and up) Philip & Leslie Bernstein Paul & Leslie Ridley-Tree BENEFACTORS($500 and up) Glen & Eleanor Adams Lewis R. Bloom Marjorie Chaney Charles Bloom Foundation Robert A. Chick Gordon & Constance Fish Harold & Diana Frank Lawrence & Astrid Hammett Harry & Leslie Hovey Richard E. Hughes Thomas & Eileen Mielko Donald & Jane Patterson

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CONTENTS Pg. 65: A. B. Harmcr.

Architectural Designer