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Thursday, March 30, 2006

Open Thread for Thursday

Continuing our theme of California's Missions, today, Mission La Purisima Concepción.

Mission La Purisima was founded December 8, 1787, at the site of the present town of Lompoc. In 25 years the mission was extremely prosperous, with herds of livestock numbering in the thousands. Then came the great earthquake of 1812, which did so much widespread damage, and struck Purisima perhaps worst of all. After a week of violent aftershocks not a building was still standing. The mission was re-established at its present location four miles to the north and east. Prosperity returned.

After the Indian uprising of 1824 the mission declined, and ten years later was in the hands of the secular administrator. The neophytes disappeared, the Franciscans retired to Santa Barbara, and soon the buildings were nothing but piles of rubble. The desolation as so complete that after the site was returned to the Church it was offered for sale to the highest bidder.

La Purisima was reborn at the time of a California Conservation Corps project beginning in 1935. Building methods exactly like those of the missionaries were used. Hundreds of thousands of adobe bricks, floor and roof tiles were made by hand. After the buildings were completed young craftsmen turned to the making of furniture of the period. Then the complicated water system was recreated, beginning at springs more than a mile away, and brought to a series of storage pools. The gardens and orchards were replanted. Today La Purisima is a State Historic Park of 967 acres, and unique in that rangers and docents recreate mission life as at no other site making it the most completely restored mission in California.

Not only have buildings been rebuilt on old foundations, but crops and animals of the mission period are there, as are docents in costumes of those times, who spin and weave wool, tan hides, make candles, operate the blacksmith shop, and guide visitors. The modern city of Lompoc, plus Vandenberg Air Force Base and the famous flower fields are nearby.

California Mission History

Previously
Mission San Fernando Rey de Espana
Mission Santa Cruz
Mission San Francisco de Solano
Mission San Luis Rey
Mission San Buenaventura
Mission San Rafael
Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
Mission San Francisco de Asís
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Mission San Jose

8 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Mayor Sam told another blogger he is quiting the blog.

March 30, 2006 8:21 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Archie if Mayor Sam quits he should give you the blog. But You can't compare bloggers to rock stars. Rock stars come back and back for the cash. Bloggers just do it for fun and most of them burn out after a year or two. The blog has gotten light lately and ever since MEAT left Mayor Sam has been on his own, wouldn't shock me if he is burnt out.

March 30, 2006 8:59 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

What is a good old gay girl network anyway?

March 30, 2006 9:01 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

8:21 Is it bcuz of Ludlow case? Is this blog involved?

March 30, 2006 10:34 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Yes, Mayor Sam has to shut down because of the Ludlow case. He can't talk about it.

March 30, 2006 10:55 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Did they subpoena the blog??? What ever happened to Freedom of Speech? Mailander should take over. Maybe Antonio pressured cause there are so many negative comments about him on here where reporters read.

March 30, 2006 11:26 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Jackie Goldberg is annoucing she is supporting Ellen Pape.

March 30, 2006 12:14 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Mayor Sam before you go can put a pic of Angelides' daughers and their racks?

March 30, 2006 12:47 PM  

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