Adobe U Provides Much Needed Repairs to Casa de Estudillo

By Alana Coons

SOHO partnered with Old Town San Diego State Historic Park thanks to funding from the California State Parks Foundation for a course on repairing and restoring adobe structures. The hands on workshop at the Casa de Estudillo in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park was a great success. Volunteers received a brief overview of historical and architectural background with the greater part of the day's emphasis on practical application.

The immediate goal was to help restore and repair the walls of the Casa de Estudillo house museum with the long-range goal to develop a trained team that can be called in to action when other adobes throughout San Diego County are in need, a core group of volunteers that can help to protect and preserve these rare sites when they don't have the funds and staff to do so on their own.

(Left to right) State Park Historian Victor Walsh & Maintenance Chief Bill Minnell; Teri Delcamp uses a hand saw to cut an adobe brick to size; Melanie Como Harris & Stephani Stephenson; Ellen Sweet & David Swarens

(Left to right) Adobe U Instructor Executive Director Bruce Coons & SOHO VP David Swarens; (middle photo left to right) Teri Delcamp & Yeather Urquhart; (in back) Ellen Sweet, Rick Burns, & Stephani Stephenson; Bill Minnell observes while State Park Archaeological Leader, Cynthia Hernandez, Alana Coons and Foresta Von Kurt finish up the west wall. All photos by Sandé Lollis

Volunteers came from as far away as San Juan Capistrano and from all points in San Diego County from Rancho Santa Fe and La Mesa to the South Bay. A good amount of work was accomplished on the front section of the Casa with both general maintenance the adobe structure needed as well as the repair of previously improperly repaired sections. The group of volunteers was a most amiable group of people who were quick to learn the techniques demonstrated. Teamwork was the order of the day with a show of stamina that was admirable to say the least. I think everyone slept well that night after such hard work. A second day is being planned to complete and whitewash the repaired walls.

Thanks to Dr. Therese Muranaka, Associate State Archaeologist for San Diego Coast District; and Bill Mennell, Maintenance Chief, San Diego Coast District, California Department of Parks and Recreation for arranging and providing oversight to the project.

2006 - Volume 37, Issue 4

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