Casa Del Herrero Docent Party

Every year, the Casa del Herrero staff gives a “thank you” Christmas cocktail party for its docents and volunteers. It follows a few days after the gala fundraiser so the house is decorated for that soirée and for the upcoming Christmas tours – a truly special time to visit the Casa. As they say, “It’s the best time of the year!”

Executive director Jessica Tade was pouring wine. Membership and volunteer coordinator Nichole Takeda was checking folks in, and development manager Anthony Miller was seeing about his house because of the Thomas Fire. The tables were laden with hot and cold treats, the favorite being the potpies. The fountain was sparkling with floating candles, and the trees were enchanted with red satin ribbons dangling.

Some of the docents and others attending were: Larry Disharoon, Lore Dobler, Jane Dyruff, Sally Green, Thad MacMillan (finance committee), Michel Nellis, Diane Sassen, Christy and John (volunteer) Venable, Carolyn Williams, Bruce Emmens, Jane Metiu, Laura Wilson, and trustee Jane Defnet.

In case you’ve never heard of Casa del Herrero (House of the Blacksmith), it is considered one of the finest examples of Spanish-Colonial Revival architecture in America. Board member, grandson, and architect Albert Hinckley says, “It is the finest.” It is not only on the National Register of Historic Places but has National Historic Landmark status given from Washington, D.C. That is primarily due to the Moorish gardens created by Ralph Stevens, Lockwood de Forest, and Francis T. Underhill.

The Casa is an 11-acre estate on East Valley Road near the upper village, which Mr. Steedman had George Washington Smith build. It was finished on the day of the great earthquake in 1925 and withstood it unscathed. For Steedman’s wife Carrie’s 30^th wedding anniversary in 1932, he had the late Smith’s partner Lutah Maria Riggs add an octagonal library. It makes one want to curl up with a good book.

Carrie lived on the estate until her death in 1962, and then her daughter Medora Bass lived there until she died in 1987. George Bass, the Steedman’s grandson, created the foundation that has operated the estate since 1993. Besides all the 15^th– and 16^th-century antiques you’ll see, the table is set and waiting for the owners to be seated with a staff similar to Downton Abbey to wait on them. Another time, another life, another century.

Tours are by appointment only. Call (805) 565-5653.