One Million Memories

By Lisa Duncan

“They were hoping for years to compete with Mardi Gras and the Rose Parade… and you know what? We got it!” historian Hattie Beresford told members of Montecito Bank & Trust’s MClub, launching a fascinating journey through the colorful origins of Old Spanish Days Fiesta. From its earliest celebrations to the traditions that continue today, Hattie brought a century of Santa Barbara history vividly to life.

“One million photographs,” said Dacia Harwood, executive director of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, describing the remarkable Santa Barbara News-Press archive the museum rescued during the newspaper’s bankruptcy proceedings. “It tells the history of Santa Barbara through the people who lived it.” Preserving nearly 150 years of local history, the collection inspired an unexpected gift from Keith Moore, who donated his grandfather’s 1930 News-Press cover after discovering it beneath a bed. Harwood also highlighted the museum’s fantastic Finding Saint Barbara new exhibition before concluding, “If you haven’t been to the museum lately, I invite you to come!”

“The MClub had become the ‘Matrimony Club,’” laughed Maria McCall, sharing the happy news that Kathy and Joe Burns – who first met on an MClub trip to Catalina – had just days before gotten married. The festive luncheon was beautifully decorated by Beverly Cavaliere, with Diane Brighton and Linda Rosso, while vintage Fiesta touches and Katherine Murray Morse’s original pastel painting, La Fiesta, added artistic flair before being raffled and finding a new home with Sally Leon-Tondro in the afternoon drawing.

Hattie continued her engaging presentation, revealing how decades of summer “flower” parades and 4th of July festivals gradually evolved into our beloved Fiesta. Guests were reminded that going back as far as the 1886 centennial parade for the Old Mission, like most things worthwhile, “Old Spanish Days is built on the great shoulders of many earlier events in our history.” 

One million memories, now safely in good hands – and in Hattie’s stories.