Much was happening in Santa Barbara a century ago in 1924, one year before a massive earthquake shook our city. Many people tend to believe it was only post-earthquake that Santa Barbara took its now-familiar shape, but there was a lot happening that affected the look and feel of the city before then. Here are some notable local events from 1924.
The death of Margaret Baylor, social worker and founder of the Recreation Center: Margaret Baylor, the much-beloved social worker who started working in Santa Barbara in 1910, was just 44 years old at the time of her passing in 1924. Her funeral was a city-wide event, attended by mourners from all walks of life from the many lives she touched with her good work. As the Morning Press reported, “The love and kindness she dispensed during her long, active career is reflected a thousand-fold in the expressions of praise that are heard on all sides.”
Founding of the East Beach Association: Alarmed by the prospect of out-of-town real estate developers who intended to establish a commercial district along East Beach, a well-heeled group of Santa Barbara and Montecito residents moved into action. With Dwight Murphy serving as president and Pearl Chase serving as secretary, the group established a trust “to secure everything they could buy for City Park purposes — from the Bird Refuge to State Street.” The waterfront was held by the organization, and saved from development, until the City of Santa Barbara was financially able to purchase the land some years later.