bjgreen
By Betsy J. Green
A couple of months ago, I wrote about the Covarrubias adobe being turned into an arts center. Now, in November 1919, there was an article in the local paper about the transformation of the Gaspar Oreña adobe at 27 East De la Guerra from a home to a studio and office building. But what was most interesting about the adobe building was the story about the original inhabitant.
“In the old days, Gaspar Oreña, who built the house had little faith in banks. At one time, he buried a sack of gold dust in the backyard … When he moved, he dug up his gold and found that the sack rotted away and the dust mixed with the dirt. It was necessary to pan out several yards of earth to be sure he got back all of his buried treasure.”
UP CLOSE & PERSONAL
If you like my “WAY BACK WHEN” posts on Edhat, you are invited to come to my mini “Magical History Tour of Santa Barbara in 1919” at Chaucer’s Bookstore on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. (The “Way Back When” posts are excerpts from my new book, “Way Back When: Santa Barbara in 1919.”) Learn more at betsyjgreen.com
