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January - February 2025
Volume 5, Issue 1
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Monterey Bay and city circa 1920’s. Taken from Skyline Forest. | |
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Fresh Paint
Over the last several months, we’ve reported on the progress made on the refurbishment of Doud House. The work on the house itself is nearly complete. Recently the entire exterior was painted, and we have installed a new sink and toilet in the small bathroom. We still have a few window repairs to be made and some electrical work to be done. Our plan is to use the end of the building nearest to the Mayo Hayes O’Donnell Library as an archive area for the Associations collections, and we will rent the portion of the building closest to the corner of Scott Street. With the completion of the exterior/interior work, we can now focus on refurbishing the gardens.
We have also made several repairs to the Mayo Hayes O’Donnell Library. These include repairs to the floor furnace, replacing the roof over the basement storage area, and repairs to the weather-damaged front doors. The library was also repainted. There is some electrical work that needs to be done inside the library, and the roof on the south-facing side is in very bad condition and will need replacement.
We are incredibly grateful for your generous donations and the amazing support from our community! Your contributions are helping us tackle the high costs of these essential repairs, ensuring that our work continues to make a positive impact. We hope others will join our wonderful group of supporters to keep this important mission moving forward. Every bit of support makes a difference!
Thank you all for joining us and making this possible. Together, we’re restoring our beautiful buildings for generations to come.
- Gary Spradlin, President, Monterey History and Art Association
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The Mayo Hayes O’Donnell Library with a fresh coat of paint. | |
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The Art of Monterey History and Art Association
Gertrude ‘Tulita’ Bennett Davis Westfall (1889-1962)
Tulita was born on September 15, 1889 in Monterey in the original (circa 1817) Boronda adobe. She was the only child born to parents Edward Bennett & Emma Rosenda Butler. After Edward died unexpectedly while traveling to Alaska, Emma & her daughter moved to San Francisco. Eventually, Tulita returned to the family adobe where she was raised by her Great Grandmother Petra & Great Aunt Gertrudis (just as her mother Emma had been).
After graduating from Monterey High School she attended UC Berkeley, SF’s California School of Fine Arts, SF’s Rudolph Schaeffer School of Design, LA’s Otis Art Institute & the Art Students League in NYC. Her teachers included Pedro Joseph de Lemos, Frank Van Sloun, Lee Fritz Randolph, Rudolph Frederick Schaeffer & Henry Varnum Poor.
On January 21, 1909 the Salinas Daily Index announced that a marriage license was given to “Lester F. Davis, age 38, native of Maine, and Gertrude Bennett Ambrosio, age 19, native of California, both residents of Monterey.” From that union, Tulita’s only child Casimir Adriana Davis was born on March 11, 1912, in the Boronda Adobe From20 years later Casimir would give birth to her own son Lester Irving Sowell on March 12, 1932 in this same ancestral home, making him the 6th generation to be born there.
In the September 18, 1916 Salinas Daily Index we read that “a number of artists and art students from New York, San Francisco and Monterey arrived in Salinas yesterday on a brief visit and were entertained at dinner by Mr. And Mrs. George Hartnell at their home on (332) Lincoln Street. It was a jolly gathering of congenial spirits, and the afternoon, which was devoted to music was one of unalloyed pleasure. The guests included S. Westfall of New York, John Carroll, Sam McCloud, Francis Swain, Mrs. Tulita Davis, Hilda Duarte and Alta Duarte, students of the San Francisco Art Institute; Mrs. Ambrosio and Miss Casimar Davis of Monterey, Mrs. P. W. Soto and Mrs. M. L. Davis and daughter of Salinas.”
Soon Tulita would divorce Lester Davis & marry fellow artist Samuel Henry Westfall (24 years her senior). Together they traveled throughout California & Mexico & lived in San Francisco, Oakland, Hayward, & Los Angeles before returning to the Boronda Adobe in the 1930s. In 1940 after her husband’s death, she sold the Boronda Adobe & moved to a cottage on Monte Verde Street (between 8th & 9th) in Carmel.
Skilled as a watercolorist, painter & etcher she had works in numerous exhibitions, including the following: California Artists, Golden Gate Park Museum, 1915-16; San Francisco Art Association, 1918, 1931; California State Fair, 1926 (a prize for ‘The China Goose’); Oakland Art Gallery, 1928-34; Santa Cruz Art League, 1931; California Statewide (Santa Cruz), 1931, 1939; GGIE, 1939; & Carmel AA.
Tulita Westfall died on December 8, 1962 in Pacific Grove. She was buried in Seaside’s Mission Memorial Park’s Garden of the Last Supper.
Karen Sowell Dyer, in memory of her brother Lester Irving Sowell (1932-1950) who was killed in the Korean War, recently donated Tulita’s 1925 oil painting of an unidentified woman (possibly Señorita Maria Ygnacia Bonifacio) to MHAA. It is currently displayed @ our Stanton Center location.
Michael Mazgai
above-18 year old Tulita with dog photo
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Casimir, Emma, Tulita & Lester photo | |
Tulita in her Carmel cottage photo | |
1925 Gertrude 'Tulita' Westfall oil painting of an unidentified woman | |
Señorita Maria Ygnacia Bonifacio photo | |
Local People
Ed Cavallini
Born in 1923 in San Francisco, Ed Cavallini attended Lowell High School. After graduation, Ed went on to San Francisco City College before graduating from USC. That same year, 1944, he married his wife Jeanne, then headed to boot camp and then overseas. Ed was in the Marine Corp and fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima. He was wounded in the knee and still has a piece of shrapnel in his heart. Ed spent a year, 1945 1946, in Okinawa with the Military Police. He also served in the Korean War. After the war, Ed lived in Los Angeles and worked for Firestone on a new project; guided missiles. Although his degree was not in aerospace engineering, he was able to read the specs for the project. When Firestone expanded to Monterey, Ed followed taking up residency in Monterey. In the early 60s, Ed relocated his family to the Bay Area where he worked for Lockheed in Sunnyvale. After several years, Ed returned to school receiving his Masters in Library Science from San Jose State and became head librarian for Milpitas. Upon retirement, Ed and his wife retired to Monterey. Ed enjoyed listening to jazz on the radio, especially listening to the disc jockey, Jimmy Lyons. Ed got to know Jimmy Lyons and became one of the founding board members of the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1958. Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday were among the first headliners that first year of the Festival. Ed was unable to attend the Jazz Festival for many years after that first year due to the fact he moved to Sunnyvale to work for Lockheed. Ed still owns his house in Monterey. He and his wife had 4 children and 8 grandchildren. Ed remains active and likes to read.
If you have a friend or relative that would like to share their story about living in or around Monterey, please contact Monterey History and Art Association at MHAA.org1931@gmail.com
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Peninsula Diary
Mayo Hayes O'Donnell
This article was originally published in the Monterey
Peninsula Herald on February 3, 1950.
History and Art
During 1934 more historical markers were placed by the Monterey History and Art Association, including the First Post Office in Old Monterey, “El Castillo” the old Spanish
fort below the artillery stables in the Presidio; Governor Alvarado’s early home and the original southeast corner of the old Presidio of Monterey. The installation of these markers brought the number of historic sites and building marked to sixteen.
In 1934, formation of the San Juan Bautista Plaza, together with the adjoining Zanetta home and adjacent historic buildings, into a California State Monument, took place. The Association expended $275 toward the restoration on the new site of the Old French Consulate.
During 1935 six more markers were added to the Historic Trail: Brown-Underwood adobe, built in 1843; Cooper House built about 1845; House of Four Winds, built in the late 1830s; Larkin House, American consulate in 1844-46; site of El Cuartel, old California’s first American capitol, 1847-49; and Casa Verde, the house where Charles Warren Stoddard wrote his last works.
During 1936 the number of historic markers was brought to forty, by the following additional ones: Old Pacific building, Casa Munras, one of the first residences built outside the walls of the old Presidio; Casa Rodriguez-Osio,
built about 1820; Casa Alvarado, the residence of Governor Juan Alvarado from 1836-1842; Casa de la Torre, headquarters of the Alcalde when Monterey was taken by the Mexicans in 1846; Site of the First Convent in
California; Casa Abrego, built by Don Jose Abrego in the late 1830s; Site of Casa Bonifacio (The Sherman Rose Adobe); Casa Amesti, built by Don Jose Amesti in the1820s; Gordon House, one of the “early milled lumber”
houses in California; site of the First French Consulate in California; Stokes House, built by James Stokes in the early 1840s (Gragg Adobe); Casa Pacheco, built in the early 1840s by Don Francisco Pacheco; Casa Serrano, built by Don Florencio Serrano, an alcalde of Old Monterey; Mission Inn, built by Don Jose Estrada during the Mexican era, and Casa Soberanes also built by Don Estrada and later owned by the Soberanes family.
On July 7th , 1936, the 90th anniversary of the capture of Monterey by the U.S. Navy was celebrated under the sponsorship of the Association. At the Custom House an unveiling of the portrait of William P. Toler, the young
midshipman of the “Savannah” who raised the American flag over the Old Custom House, took place. The portrait was presented to the museum by his son, James Hoyt Toler and is now hanging in the main room.
In 1937, Colonel Fitch begged to be excused from the presidency of the association and the late J.R. McKillop, principal of the Monterey high school became the president. On June 1st of that year Mrs. Laura Bride Powers who had been one of the moving spirits of the entire program of the association, announced her retirement as curator and custodian of the historical monuments and landmarks in Monterey.
In 1937 the Denny-Watrous management took over the production of plays at the First Theatre which have remained throughout the years, worthy of widespread and favorable attention.
In 1939 Mr. Ted K Clark was elected president and most of his term was taken up with efforts to save the old chalk rock house on Van Buren Street, without success. In January 1940 Colonel Fitch returned as president. The
Stevenson House was accepted by the State of California in 1941, due to his efforts. The cacti along the wall in the Custom House Garden were presented by Myron Oliver in memory of his father, the late J.K. Oliver. The association played a part in seeing that the original site of the flagpole
at the Custom House was marked and that the new pole be made of Monterey pine. The ancient anchor which now adorns the north end of the Custom House was unveiled on April 28th, 1946, under the sponsorship of the association, with William M. O’Donnell acting as chairman of both the placing of the anchor and the ceremonies.
The more recent years in the life and work of the Monterey History and Art are too well known to repeat here. There have been meriendas on June 3rd each year in Memory Garden, there have been evening programs and historic tours sponsored by the Association to acquire funds to assist in the restoration of the Gutierrez adobe owned by the Monterey Foundation, and there have been numerous gifts received and historical objects, books and
documents purchased to add to the attractiveness and interest in the Old Custom House Museum, the First Theatre, The Stevenson House and the Monterey Library. Colonel Fitch is no longer the president after sixteen years
of service to the association, assisted by Carmel Martin as vice-president. He resigned the latter part of 1949 and attended the annual meeting of the board of directors held last week that he might have the honor to nominate Thomas W. Norris as his successor.
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Cooper Molera Adobe (unknown year) | |
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The Doud House with historical marker | |  |
Madariaga Adobe with historical marker | | |
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Art Talk
Sunday, Feb 2, 2025, 1PM
Free for members, $10 for non-members
You are cordially invited to Casa Serrano on Sunday, February 2, 2025, at 1PM, for an event that could only happen in Monterey. In 1963, artist Donald Teague did a watercolor painting of Mayo Hayes O’Donnell’s upstairs bedroom at Casa Soberanes. O’Donnell was known as “Mrs. History” and is well-known to MHAA members. The painting hangs permanently in her bedroom, and the public never sees it, for good reason – the staircase to the second floor is an accident waiting to happen. Currently, State Parks has moved a number of paintings from Casa Soberanes and placed them in Casa Gutierrez for public viewing. The Teague painting is among those on exhibit.
For those familiar with Teague’s work, the bedroom painting strikes most as rather unusual, both with regard to subject matter and palette. However, as Teague’s grandson (and MHAA board member) Scott Gale will explain, in reality, painting the O’Donnell bedroom was easy work for Teague – he had done scores of interiors before, as a story illustrator for our nation’s top magazines.
Gale will give a 30-minute slide show presentation at Casa Serrano and share a number of illustrations featuring interiors. He will then speak about the O’Donnell bedroom work for a bit and share several other Teague fine art interiors. There will be a small pop-up art show in connection with the presentation, featuring – you guessed it – a few Teague fine art interiors.
After the presentation, attendees will walk a few short blocks to Casa Gutierrez, to view the O’Donnell bedroom painting as well as the other paintings on display. Out of respect for others who may be present, Gale will not speak to the group while in Casa Gutierrez.
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Stanton Center
Guest Artist Exhibit
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Artist Katrina Pura and the guests at the reception for the art show. | | |
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Library News
Library volunteers are finishing up their survey of Game & Gossip issues in our collection. When the task is finished, covers and TOC will be available for perusal on PastPerfect. If a member or visitor wants to look at a particular issue, they should come to the library on either Wed. or Thurs. so that volunteers can assist them. The collection comprises over 150 issues that contain many interesting articles on local artists, authors, pioneer families, and much more.
Mayo Hayes O'Donnell Library would welcome/appreciate book donations in the New Year to refresh our sale carts in the library. Books should be in good condition (please no textbooks or damaged material); subject matter should relate to art, architecture, local and California history and biography.
All sales support the library. THANK YOU.
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The Fun, Festive Christmas in the Adobes
The library hosted another successful Christmas in the Adobes despite the blustery, wet weather. Our volunteer harpist, Yvonne Crane, provided beautiful music for all the Friday night visitors and with Saturday's attendance our head count was ~625. Library volunteers spoke with visitors about the history of the building and the continuing need for volunteers.
Casa Serrano was once again a favorite stop for those visitors participating in the annual Christmas in the Adobes. Docents, many dressed in period appropriate costumes, explained the history of the adobe and answered questions about the wonderful artwork that adorns the walls. A group of musicians led by Elizabeth Todd provided Christmas music, enabling many people to get into the holiday spirit by singing Christmas carols. We had 737 visitors on Friday night. Due to the power outages, we were unable to be opened on Saturday night.
Kudos to all our library volunteers and MHAA Board members who staffed the CITA will call event at Stanton Center. Thanks to Susan Delay, Theresa Yarnell-Todd, Monica Churchill, Mike Carbaugh, Suzette Cavanaugh, and Gary Spradlin.
| Visitors to Casa Serrano during Christmas in the Adobes- photo Michael Mazgai | |
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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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