Pearl Chase and Pearl Harbor

By Cheri Rae

La Purisima Mission was founded on Dec. 8, 1787. Over the centuries, the adobe structures fell into decay and disrepair. But in 1934, repair work began, a joint project of the National Park Service, California State Parks and the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Pearl Chase had served as an advisory chairman on the restoration project. As she described it, “It’s a very comfortable position to have, not full of responsibility, but you have your finger in the pie where it’s needed.”

Pearl Chase (courtesy photo)

As the years of work on the once-crumbled landmark neared completion, the date to celebrate its dedication was selected: Sunday, Dec. 7. 1941, an homage to the 174th anniversary of its founding.

Charles Storke, son of newspaper publisher Thomas Storke, had been selected to serve as the featured speaker and emcee. But plans changed when Charles heard the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor on the radio on his way to the dedication. He decided to leave it to Pearl to manage the situation.

Pearl noted: “And so we all got set, the board was coming down, the picnic was set up and provisions made for special meetings and Charlie Storke met me at the gate and stopped my car and said, ‘Well Pearl, you’ll have to take over, you’ll have to take over. The Japanese have bombed Pearl Harbor, and I’ll have to go back as fast as I can and help get out a special edition of the paper.’”

La Purisima Mission in 1937 following the renovation (Photo: Library of Congress)

As usual, when faced with adversity, she rose to the occasion. On that Sunday morning, a time of havoc and mayhem with the shocking attack on Pearl Harbor, Pearl Chase kept calm and carried on. Admitting it was a very tense situation, she reflected, “There was no change in the program, or the speakers and I suggested that every speaker do not discuss the bombing of Pearl Harbor.”

Eighty years later, we remember the day that will live in infamy for all time.