Casa del Herrero Updates
Casa del Herrero hosted a neighborhood gathering on March 10 to highlight progress on its Save America’s Treasures Grant preservation project.
Leading the event were Natalie Sanderson, executive director and Head of Curation, and Elizabeth Esrey, President of the Board of Trustees, who also serves on the Save America’s Treasures Ad Hoc Committee.
Casa del Herrero invited 67 neighbors to its grounds to learn more about the restoration project. Approximately 20 neighbors attended and were given a tour of the progress. Introductions were made to key members of the organization, including Esrey, Sanderson, and committee members Miles Hartfeld, Elizabeth Storm McGovern, and Isabel and Paul Wendt.
Esrey addressed the group, sharing, “As volunteers, we work closely with Dr. Natalie Sanderson, our exceptional executive director and Head of Curation. Natalie, in turn, collaborates with our extraordinary tile conservator, Susie Anders, and contractor Juan Lopez to ensure that our beloved Casa is restored with the care, expertise, and respect it deserves.”
Sanderson followed with remarks: “Thank you for allowing us to share updates on our preservation efforts through the National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund for our Save America’s Treasures Grant. We’re committed to being responsible stewards of our community and are grateful for the opportunity to share our progress. We’re proud to have received this historic preservation grant from the National Park Service, in partnership with the California Missions Foundation. We were the only organization in California to receive this prestigious, competitive grant, a testament to Casa del Herrero’s commitment to historic preservation.
“We received the full award of $750,000 and have been actively fundraising for matching funds; I’m pleased to share that we are more than halfway there. These funds are being used to restore historic masonry, horticultural spaces, and conserve beautifully handmade historic tiles across this National Historic Landmark.
“Today we are highlighting the restoration of the Eastern Exedra, an outdoor enclosure with a muraled tile backdrop for a fountain and tiled benches, designed by architect Lutah Maria Riggs. Born in Toledo, Ohio, in 1896, she later moved to Santa Barbara, studied at UC Berkeley, and became the first licensed female architect in Santa Barbara. She worked closely with George Washington Smith and continued many of his projects after his passing in 1930, maintaining a successful practice throughout her life (1896–1984). We are fortunate to have her original drawings and plans for this space.
“I’m grateful to be working with contractor Juan Lopez, president of Santa Barbara Quality Masonry Inc., and conservator Susie Anders, owner of Anders Art Conservation. Their expertise has restored the Eastern Exedra to its original beauty.”
Supporters of Casa del Herrero include David and Lyn Anderson, Susan and Riley Bechtel, Heather and Chris Biles, Laura and John Bridley, Ella and Scott Brittingham, the California Missions Foundation, Stephen and Karen Clark, the Demourkas Foundation, Guillermo Nicolas, J. Scott Francis and Susan Gordon, Kyle Irwin, the Ann Jackson Family Foundation, Jennifer Kelly, the Harold McAlister Family Foundation, Montecito Bank & Trust, the Hutton Parker Foundation, Alison and Geoff Rusack, Meghan and Bob Stoll, and the Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation.
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