Our August 1, 2015, Dana Birthday Celebration was indeed a “once in a lifetime” salute to our namesake, held in collaboration with the Ocean Institute and with the efforts of those who organized, presented and donated to create a unique event. My sincere thanks to Elizabeth Bamattre for directing a well-organized program, and to Tracy Kirby, Ocean Institute, for organizing the venues (please view page 5). The Toshiba Tall Ships Festival gives the Historical Society the opportunity to take our Dana Bicentennial Celebration to the public on September 11, 12, and 13 and we hope you can assist as a volunteer in this outreach.
A number of articles noting Dana’s Bicentennial have appeared recently including the July/August Smithsonian magazine. The Boston Globe and The Los Angeles Times have featured Jeffrey L. Amestoy, author of the new Dana biography, Slavish Shores, the Odyssey of Richard Henry Dana Jr. We are honored to welcome Amestoy as our featured speaker on September 16. Amestoy’s observations on Dana’s courageous advocacy, at a cost of his own social standing, will impress you. His book gives new insight on the influence Two Years Before the Mast had on Dana’s career and life. Amestoy is currently a Fellow at the Center for Public Leadership, Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics. This meeting is a must!
From Dana to Doheny! Our annual June Fiesta Scholarship Picnic was another successful collaboration with Doheny State Beach and the DSB Interpretative Association. We featured guitarist Arturo Echarte in support of his Acoustics for a Change program benefitting musical instruments for students and, with the donations of members and guests, we managed to finance our scholarships for two deserving graduates. I want to recognize Scholarship Chair Heidi Hyde and her committee, Jack Saunderson of Lucy’s El Patio Café and all our Fiesta Volunteers for their worthwhile efforts in memory of Lucy Chavarrias Saunderson and Doris I. Walker.
The theme of our 2015 Home Tour celebrates Capistrano Beach history. Edward L. “Ned” Doheny Jr. is credited with advertising his 1920s development as ‘Capistrano Beach’, a Doheny family effort to diversify their investments. The Doheny House # 1 (1928- 1929), built for Ned Doheny, was first in a series of homes designed by Roy C. Kelley and was the first Doheny home placed on the City’s Historic Register. This is just one of five Doheny homes plus two gated treasures and gardens to be visited Sunday, October 11, as part of the Society’s 15th Annual Home tour in support of preserving our history. The Home Tour Steering Committee has been meeting with the homeowners since June and we need and welcome your help as tour sponsors and docents. Please contact Linda Hardy, lindahardyabc @sbcglobal.net or 949-554-5140 regarding donating or obtaining a sponsor, and Sandie Iverson, sandieiverson@yahoo.com or 949-463-0819 to volunteer as a Home Tour Docent.
I look forward to joining with you at the Tall Ships Festival, the DPHS September 16 meeting and our October 11 Home Tour.
Barbara Force Johannes
