Good Work Lives on Casa Del Herrero Staff
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Casa del Herrero ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 GOOD WORK LIVES ON CASA DEL HERRERO STAFF Jessica Tade, PhD Executive Director Nichole LaViola Membership and Volunteer Manager Laura Wyles Office Manager José Aguilar Site Manager and Head Gardener Sergio Martinez Gardener Photography throughout this report provided courtesy of Matt Walla and Monie Photography. THANK YOU TO THE SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION FOR PROVIDING FUNDING TO MAKE THIS PUBLICATION POSSIBLE. 4 ANNUAL REPORT CASA SPECIAL ISSUE 5 Board of Trustees Message from the Executive Director Casa del Herrero board members are engaged volunteers who provide George and Carrie Steedman were fortunate to build a home that leadership in stewarding the historic house museum and gardens. Through their remains a testament to their ingenuity and creative sensibility. The era of combined experience and enthusiasm, the board works to preserve the Casa’s the 1920s great estates is alive and well at Casa del Herrero. Today, I am history in service to the local community. especially proud of our preservation efforts, and our ability to share this important piece of Montecito history with the community. As I reflect on the past year, I am grateful for our family of donors, OFFICERS volunteers, committee members, and our dedicated Board of Trustees. Travis Kranz, PhD, President Together, we have accomplished so much. We completed necessary Meghan Stoll, Vice President restoration on the Pump House electrical wiring, restored the roof on the Christopher C. Hardy, CPA, Treasurer Casa workshop, started the Steedman family archive, and restored a Jennifer Kelly, Secretary number of historic chairs. Additionally, we revitalized the Arizona (cactus) Garden thanks to funding and assistance from the Garden Club of Santa Barbara. TRUSTEES Collaboration was key to our success. The Casa takes great pride in its ability to work with community groups, providing educational opportu- Fran Morrow, PhD Heather Biles Albert P. Hinckley, Jr. nities geared toward igniting the imagination and tapping into creative Annalisa Hinckley Savin Chris Blau Emily Jones potential. More and more, we are looking to encourage creativity and Robert E. Williams, Jr. Karen Jones Clark Mari McAlister innovation in our county’s youth. Katherine Pharibe Wise Bryan Goligoski Janet McCann In this annual report, you will find stories and reflections, Casa Peter Ziegler John F. Hall Elizabeth Storm McGovern history, and a recap of our signature events. Additionally, you will read about our ongoing conservation efforts. None of this important work George Steedman Bass, Founding Trustee would be completed without donors and supporters like you. Evoking Steedman family history reminds us what is possible if we take the time to honor our passions, nourishing the part of our spirit that craves beauty and inspiration. Casa del Herrero takes as its mission With gratitude, to maintain, preserve, and restore the house, furnishings, gardens, and history of the Steedman/Bass estate for the benefit of the community, visiting public, scholars, educators, and students. Jessica Tade Executive Director 6 ANNUAL REPORT CASA SPECIAL ISSUE 7 Steedman Family History: From St. Louis to Santa Barbara George Fox Steedman married Carrie Enjoying their time on the West Coast, earthquake. Carrie would follow shortly in Montecito. Herrero Foundation was officially Today, the 11-acre estate functions Robb Howard in 1903, and together and finding the climate very suitable, thereafter. With George Steedman’s death in established. The organization began as a nonprofit organization with the they built a life in St. Louis, Missouri. they purchased land to build a second George Steedman had a heart 1940, and with Carrie’s passing in giving its first public tours in 1995. goal of preserving the house and They had two daughters, Katherine and home. George Steedman began condition, which prevented strenuous 1962, the Casa became home to their The Casa is included on the grounds, as well as the Steedman Medora, who later had children of their working with Architect George activity. He spent his days in his daughter, Medora Bass. It was Medora’s National Register of Historic Places, family’s collection of fifteenth and own. Washington Smith to design Casa del workshop creating beautiful pieces of final wish to give the Casa to the and achieved National Historic sixteenth-century fine and decorative The Steedmans came to Santa Herrero. silver. Carrie loved flowers and flower community. Upon her death in 1987, Landmark status in 2009 in part due art objects from the “Golden Age” of Barbara in 1921 to visit George’s Work on the house took place arranging, and her favorite flowers her son, George Steedman Bass, to its eclectic mix of Country Place Era Spain; books; sketchbooks; drawings; brother, who was seeking treatment for from 1922 to 1925, with George Fox (camellias and roses) could be found in worked with a dedicated group of and Moorish-inspired gardens created and horticultural records. The Casa is diabetes from Dr. William David Steedman moving in on June 29, 1925, the lovely garden spaces around the community members to turn this wish by Ralph Stevens, Lockwood de Forest, preserved and stewarded for the benefit Sansum, the founder of Sansum Clinic. the day of the great Santa Barbara estate. The Steedmans enjoyed their life into reality. In 1993, the Casa del and Francis T. Underhill. of the community. 1922 1940 George Fox Steedman purchases George Fox Steedman land in Montecito and begins work 1930 passes away 1987 2009 with George Washington Smith The Steedman family begins Medora Bass (George and Carrie’s daughter) passes away, The Casa becomes a living full-time at the Casa and is the last family member to live in the house National Historic Landmark 1925 1933 1962 1993 2019 George Fox Steedman The Steedmans add the only Carrie Steedman Medora’s son, The Casa remains a nonprofit dedicated moves into Casa del Herrero addition to the main house, passes away George Steedman Bass, forms the to maintaining and preserving the house, on June 29 a book tower designed by Casa del Herrero Foundation art collection, gardens, and history of the estate Lutah Maria Riggs for the benefit of the community 1923 George Fox Steedman visits Spain, 1995 purchasing furniture, decorative arts, The Casa’s public tours begin and architectural fragments 8 ANNUAL REPORT CASA SPECIAL ISSUE 9 Preserving Casa del Herrero Remains a Lifelong Passion for First Executive Director Laura Bridley A Conversation with George Bass use committee. “When George spoke In 1993, Casa del Herrero became a nonprofit organization, thanks in part to about his intentions for the Casa, he really wanted Medora’s passions to live Founding Trustee George Steedman Bass. George remains dedicated to the Casa and is proud on,” said Laura. “He spent his child- of his family’s legacy in the community. Recently, George was kind enough to share some hood coming here and loved the estate. anecdotes about the Casa, memories of his grandparents, and the passion he will always have But, nothing he pushed was his own idea – everything he did came from a for Montecito’s only National Historic Landmark. place of wanting to make good on his mother’s wishes.” book tower, workshop with its amazing mother asking the driver, Clarence, to Laura has been associated with the tools and exquisite equipment, and take Tom and me for rides in the Casa since its inception, drafting the wine cellar. My grandfather took up silver-grey Buick with the convertible Conditional Use Permit for visitors and silversmithing toward the end of his life, top down. We all enjoyed Fiesta, and I daily operations, and serving as the and the Casa is fortunate to have several can still recollect the fire engines, organization’s first executive director. pieces by his hand including bowls and music, and groups of horses. I loved to She completed necessary nonprofit large vases. see the gentlemen and women mounted compliance and started the first docent- on antique silver saddles wearing their CDH: What was your biggest training program. Working with a old Spanish finery. It was a wonderful challenge during the process? stellar group of community members, parade. the Casa was officially opened to the George: My mother died very quickly public in 1995, the year of the estate’s from cancer, but before she did, she set CDH: What were your grandparents 70th anniversary. “In those early days, a clear vision for the future of the estate. like? I knew we were saving an important My sister and I began the process of George: I feel that my grandparents monument that truly defines giving the Casa to the community, but were very polite, and were always Laura Bridley can still remember buildings torn down. It was nice to be Montecito,” said Laura. “In addition it was very complex. It was challenging dressed in nice clothing. My grandfather walking up to the Casa’s main house for part of a project that was keeping our to support from the Bass family, I had to get all of the family members on the wore a bow tie every day. I loved the the first time in the early 1990s. She local history alive.” a great Steering Committee that really same page, but we did, and today I am Casa, but I had to be careful of my recalls thinking that the estate seemed Medora Bass (George Bass’ mother helped me. Casa del Herrero would not proud that we were able to create a clothes, my manners, and my politeness very mysterious as she went down the and George Fox and Carrie’s daughter) have made it without the local nonprofit organization and that the toward other people. During the Great long driveway to the beautiful motor had a very clear and steady vision for the community.” estate has become a National Historic Depression, my grandfather would court.