bjgreen
A Santa Barbara sunset inspired a poet. (Image: postcard courtesy of John Fritsche)
By Betsy J. Green
Although there was plenty of bad news about the war and the flu in the local papers in early November of 1918, folks here were fortunate that there were some fabulous sunsets this month. Local artist Marco Zim painted a word picture to remind us of the glories of the natural world around us.
“The setting sun colored the mountains, and the rocky grays were illumined with glittering golden hue. The purple shadows enriched the view, contrasting with the burnished golden rocks like a wonderful enchanted rug that came from fairyland. At the foot of the mountains, the Pacific majestically rolled shorewards, rose and golden, with light-green shadows at the breakers, reflected with purple and azure.
“The sky overhead enkindled with a wonderful glow of glorious light, all colors superbly contrasting and blending into one. The orange golden clouds fringed with purple, mauve and citron yellow at the horizon; a rich deep blue overhead, like an orchestration in one harmonious outburst of sublime harmony.”
PERSONAL APPEARANCES – This year marks the 100th anniversary of the end of “the War to End All Wars.” I will be presenting a talk “Countdown to Armistice – Santa Barbara in the Final Days of World War I.” The hopes. The fears. The false alarms. The Spanish flu. The official telegrams with bad news. And finally, finally, the church bells rang out! Peace! Peace at last!
- Sunday, Nov. 4 at 3 p.m. at the Goleta Historical Society
- Sunday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. at the SB Central Library
Yes, you’re right. Castle Rock is that formation on the left edge of the shoreline. It was removed when the harbor was built c. 1929. Too bad. Castle Rock, along with the Presidio, the Mission, and the Mesa lighthouse were the most photographed features in Santa Barbara in the 1800s.