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July - August 2024
Volume 4, Issue 4
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1890's Monterey-
Alvarado Street Parade
Manuel Walter (center) Grand Marshall
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Now You See, Now You Don’t
On May 28th, Stanton Center was tented and fumigated. We have been aware for a while that there was a termite infestation in the cupola and in various wooden window frames.
Most of Stanton Center is constructed of concrete and iron, but there is wooden trim - around windows, balcony railings, roof rafters, fences, and the cupola. We looked for a window in the weather, openings in the events calendar at Stanton Center and, of course, availability of the significant funding needed for fumigation of such a large structure.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Monterey County, Robert and Virginia Stanton Endowment, cooperative weather and a lack of bookings in our theater, all the pieces fell into place just before Memorial Day.
Also, if you missed the announcement at the La Merienda, the Emile Norman Trust gifted the Association a substantial sum to be directed toward the restoration and display of the Emile Norman endomosaic panels illustrating the history of Monterey. These panels were made for and displayed in the Munras Hotel but were purchased by the City of Monterey and subsequently displayed in the Portola Plaza Hotel. The panels have been in City storage for several years. We will keep you posted as this project unfolds.
- Gary Spradlin, President, Monterey History and Art Association
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The Art of
Casa Serrano
Bertha Stringer Lee (1869-1937)
Bertha was born on December 6,1869 to affluent parents William James & Ida May Stringer in San Francisco where she joined her 6 year old brother William Arthur. She attended local public schools & later graduated from UC Berkeley. She took private lessons with William Keith. Her other SF teachers included Amédée Joullin, Arthur Matthews, Harry Stuart Fonda, Charles Chapel Judson, & Raymond Yelland. She trained @ SF’s Mark Hopkins Institute of Art between 1897-1899. She continued lessons in New York City with the portrait painter Joseph F. Matthews.
She married electrician Louis Eugene Lee on June 9th in 1894 @ 2524 Gough Street. The 6/14/1894 SF Chronicle reported ‘the entire house was decorated with wild flowers, ferns & California oak, and presented a very attractive and unique appearance. After the happy couple had received the congratulations of their friends, an elaborate wedding breakfast was served, after which Mr. & Mrs. Lee departed for a tour of the Hawaiian islands.’
In 1901 the couple resided @ 2744 Steiner where they would remain until their deaths in 1937. MHAA’s own Laura Bride Powers reported in a SF Call 7/8/1906 article (after the Great 1906 Earthquake & Fire) that ‘among the lucky artists who lost neither home nor studio was Mrs. Bertha Stringer Lee. Incidentally, though, she parted with a couple of hundred dollars’ worth of frames in the co-operative venture at 723 Sutter Street. Since disposing of a houseful of refugees she has been putting in good licks on her favorite themes, the waterfront & the ocean’s sandy edge…Mrs. Lee has the distinction of having sold a picture since the quake—a bit of cheering news.’
Casa Serrano includes in its collection her painting ‘Porch of Old Custom House before Restoration Monterey California’ 1906 (identified as studio painting #87). The following year this work & others were displayed @ the Sequoia Club Exhibition held @ their new quarters @ 1565 Bush Street where art critic Hanna Astrup Larsen declared ‘among the most charming of her paintings is a view of the old custom house @ Monterey before the restoration.’
That same year Bertha had 3 paintings accepted (2 of Carmel scenes & one of SF’s waterfront) into the inaugural show held @ Monterey’s Hotel Del Monte gallery. Critic Elsie N. Graupner in a 11/3/1907 SF Call feature reported that ‘Bertha Stringer Lee sees the waterfront of city life and the sand dunes of Monterey county with all the appreciation of a real artist.’
The native Californian proclaimed ‘In the Golden State one can find all any artist could demand in variety & beauty of subject. That is why every picture I paint is different. California offers me of her best, and I portray it gratefully.’
She was a member of the San Francisco Art Association, the SF Sketch Club, the California Arts Club, the Carmel Arts & Crafts Club, the Carmel Art Association, the National League of American Pen Women & the Unknown Club.
Michael Mazgai
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‘Porch of Old Custom House before Restoration Monterey California’ 1906 | |
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The Custom House
Circa 1890
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Her home at
2744 Steiner St. in San Francisco
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Local People
Dennis Mar
Laura Bride Powers Award Recipient
Dennis Mar first came to the Presidio of Monterey as a young army officer in 1972. After leaving the army he worked for Department of Defense contractor analyzing data for the Army at Fort Hunter Liggett. He was consequently hired as Director of User Services at the Naval Postgraduate School where he retired after 26 years.
Dennis is currently a Board Member and past Present of MIRA (Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy), served on the board of the Friends of the Pacific Grove Library, past President and Board Member of the League of Women Voters, and is on the Board of the Central Coast Lighthouse Keepers. Dennis enjoys giving tours at the Naval Facility at Point Sur and the Point Sur Light Station.
While serving as a docent at Casa Serrano, Dennis was fascinated by the artwork and life of Jo Mora. When it became known that the Jo Mora Trust was to be sold, he felt that the Jo Mora Trust should remain on the Monterey Peninsula. Dennis purchased the entire Trust and then donated it to the Monterey History and Art Association. A remarkable gift to the people of Monterey County.
Dennis shared his thoughts...
My appreciation of Jo Mora came from introducing visitors to his artwork at Casa Serrano, listening to Peter Hiller, and browsing the Trotter Gallery. For most of my life, making a significant financial donation was not possible. But as I learned from this experience, at unpredictable times, events fall into place. MHAA has dedicated volunteers who contribute so much time, energy, and expertise. I’m happy that this monetary support aids their mission and the presence of Jo Mora into the future.
Thank you, Dennis, from all of us at MHAA!
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Monterey History & Art Re-dates Mora’s Seventeen Mile Drive Carte
For decades, Jo Mora’s Seventeen Mile Drive carte has been dated to 1927 – one year after Mora created the Monterey Peninsula carte. Stylistically, the two cartes look different. And, for various reasons, it wouldn’t make much sense for Del Monte Properties to commission two similar cartes one year apart. No copyright, contractual, or archival evidence exists to date the carte.
During preparations for our carte show at The Stanton, Scott Gale worked closely with Neal Hotelling, historian for Pebble Beach Company. Neal identified several items in the Seventeen Mile Drive carte that did not exist in 1927. The most obvious item is the Highway 1 sign toward the bottom right. The first numbered California State Route sign ever was placed on Carmel Hill for Highway 1 on September 10, 1934. Mora placed his Highway 1 sign in this precise location. Either Mora could see the future, or the carte was created after that sign was placed.
Based on these and other considerations, Monterey History and Art is highly confident that the Seventeen Mile Drive carte was created in 1935. We continue to search for definitive proof as to precisely when Mora created the carte.
Scott Gale
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Monterey Peninsula Carte, 1942 | |
Salinas Index-Journal, September 10, 1927; p1.
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Peninsula Diary
Mayo Hayes O’Donnell
February 11, 1953
Gifts of the Jacks Sisters
Miss Margaret Jacks was unanimously elected president of the Monterey Foundation at the annual meeting of the directors and members, held last month at the home of the secretary and treasurer, Frank Work. The Jacks name has been prominent in the annals of Monterey history since the early 1850’s, but there are many newcomers who probably would read with interest of some of the very admirable things that Miss Jacks and her sisters have done for the community through the years which have passed.
Miss Jacks now claims both Monterey and Palo Alto as home. She is a registered voter in Monterey and is the owner of a charming and historic adobe home, known as the General Castro home, on the mesa back of the Del Monte golf course, where she spends a great deal of her time.
Miss Jacks is the owner of the Pacific Building, a two-story adobe building built about 1835, and used at one time as a hotel. It was acquired by David Jacks about 1855, and in addition to the hotel the Presbyterian Church held services there. Through the generosity of Miss Jacks, the city of Monterey now has the use of the building, and the school department has offices there. Each June 3rd, Miss Jacks permits the Monterey History and Art Association to hold an annual Merienda in honor of Monterey’s birthday, in the Memory Garden at the rear of the building. She also provides the huge and beautiful birthday cake for this occasion.
In 1939 Miss Jacks and her sisters, Misses Lee and Vida Jacks, deeded Case de Oro (House of Gold) at 200 Oliver St., to the State of California as a historical monument. The building was built by Thomas O. Larkin and was acquired by Mr. Jacks about 1855.
The building is partly constructed of chalk rock and partly of adobe brick. At present it is being restored to its original condition and will be opened to the public under the supervision of the Division of Beaches and Parks, as an early day general store. This was the use made of the building in the year 1846 and for several years thereafter, by Joseph Boston and his cousin E. L. Williams, both of whom became prominent citizens of Monterey and whose descendants still reside in various parts of this county and Santa Cruz.
Miss Jacks and her sisters have given to their city other valuable pieces of property such as Don Dahvee Park, which borders the south side of Fremont Street going up the Carmel Hill, Iris Canyon and Washerwoman’s Bay, historical spots near the Monterey Peninsula College to the south side of Fremont Street. The small and beautiful lake, and extension of El Estero to the west of Via Mirada Mesa, was also a gift of the Jacks sisters to the city of their birth.
When the idea was born that Monterey should have a plaza in order that Colton Hall might have a proper setting, the Misses Jacks again came forward and gave generously, that land might be acquired for such a park. When the writer first came to Monterey in 1925, there were a number of houses on the site of what is now our “Friendly Plaza” – one of Monterey’s true beauty spots. Miss Jacks was also one of the large contributors to the fund raised from private citizens, to match that of the State, when the Custom House was purchased from the Federal government in 1930.
On June 7, 1898, more than 50 years ago the Monterey Chapter of the American Red Cross was organized at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Charles D. Henry, and their daughter, Miss Lou Henry, was the first temporary chairman. Miss Henry later became the wife of Herbert Hoover, and finally the First Lady of the Land. Later at the same meeting Miss Margaret Jacks became the first president of the chapter and Miss Henry the treasurer.
Miss Jacks’ sister, Mrs. Mary Jacks Thomas, gave the ballpark to the city of Monterey – a block square of land. A bronze tablet at the corner of Franklin and Adams Streets is inscribed: “Dedicated to Sports, February 22, 1928, Monterey Athletic Field, the gift of Mary Jacks Thomas.”
Another sister, Miss Vida Jacks, bequeathed her valuable library of Californiana and other historical books to the City of Monterey. Most of these several hundred books, all handsomely bound, are included in the collection in the California Room at the new library on Pacific and Madison Streets in Monterey.
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Margaret Jacks in costume for a La Merienda Party in Monterey | | |
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Stanton Center Guest Artist Exhibit
Monterey History and Art Association will be hosting the artistry of Randy Chavez, beginning Saturday, August 3rd, with an evening of introduction to the world of IA commencing at 6pm. Light refreshments will be served. The IA Exhibition will continue through Thursday, October 24th.
Randy's home and studio lie across the Golden Gate Bridge in the town of Fairfax. He teaches illustration, painting and Art History at the California College of the Arts (CCA) in San Francisco. He states that, "I paint because I feel it's the artist's fondest ambition to tell stories, large and small. That there is a responsibility to try to widen the doors of perception. I paint because I enjoy asking "what if?" You can get a glimpse of Randy's work on www.randychavez.art
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Library News
Accessioning and scanning art works and books from the Jo Mora Collection have been priorities the last several months for library volunteers. A large collection of photographs from the Knight family (Allen Knight, Sr. was a gifted photographer) dating from the 1880s to the early 20th century has also been scanned and accessioned to PastPerfect.
A volunteer duo have started working together apart at the library and Doud House. While Mike Carbaugh volunteers at the library several times a month, his partner, Suzette Cavanaugh, weeds and cleans the garden beds at the Doud House next door. Thank you both.
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ERRATUM - MAY/JUNE 2024 NEWSLETTER
Volume 4, Issue 3 The Art of Casa Serrano
Ferdinand Burgdorff (1881-1975)
Correct hotel location where the ‘Canterbury Tales’ murals were painted in 1934 is San Francisco’s Canterbury Hotel.
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‘ADOPT A PAINTING’
ART RESTORATION INITIATIVE CONTINUING AT CASA SERRANO
The artwork hanging in Casa Serrano is a wonderful legacy to the artists who made the Monterey Peninsula their permanent or temporary home and left us their impressions of the beautiful place we call home.
If you are interested in joining this initiative and adopting a painting, please send an email to: mhaa.org1931@gmail.com
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MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL REMINDER
Our membership year is October 1 to September 30; please remember to renew your membership to continue receiving our newsletter, invitations to lectures and events, and FREE ADMISSION to Monterey History and Art at Stanton Center.
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Come visit our exhibits at Stanton Center.
Free admission for MHAA members!
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P.O. Box 1082
Monterey California, 93942
montereyhistory.org
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