A “then” and “now” view of a State Street building (Left image: Santa Barbara Morning Press, October 19, 1919; right image: Betsy J. Green)
By Betsy J. Green
All year, I’ve been on the lookout for homes or buildings constructed in 1919 that are still with us today. It’s a real challenge with the passage of time and the 1925 earthquake. But this month, I got lucky – although it’s not a totally new building, just an attractive facelift that was completed in December 1919. Next time you’re downtown, look for this building at 913 State Street.
Betsy’s Way Back When book — 1919 — is now available in local bookstores and at Amazon.com. This is the sixth book in her series of the history of Santa Barbara, one year at a time. Learn more at