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From Preservation Online, the online magazine of the National Trust for Historic Preservation www.preservationonline.org Santa Claus Is Leaving TownReaders seek help for preservation emergencies / Sept. 24, 2002 Dear Preservation 911, Opponents of roadside vernacular architecture, chortling "Bah Humbug," appear to be sneaking up on yet another victory in Carpinteria, Calif., 10 miles south of Santa Barbara. Carpinteria's 52-year-old 18-foot Santa is scheduled for oblivion on Jan. 23, 2003. After looming over a beverage stand for decades, the statue was removed in March 2002. Its owner has agreed to store it for a year while residents try to relocate it to another roadside site. Aside from the fact that large numbers of us youngsters (ages three to 93) are steadfastly protective of Santa and seriously agitated at the prospect of a Santaless Carpinteria, it should be noted that Santa also has some serious architectural credentials. He received flattering coverage, in picture and prose, in Jim Heiman's 1985 book, California Crazy, John Margolies' 1998 Fun Along the Road, and Charles Phoenix's 2001 Southern California in the '50s. Santa's impending demise was recently bemoaned in a Westway magazine article, "Land of the Giants." Finally, in terms of justifying Santa's significance, our local Kris Kringle spent a brief moment in makeup as the subject of a segment on the television channel Comedy Central. In a single word, "Help!" Time is short. The local Pearl Chase Society's tireless efforts to find a new site for Santa have come up short. Any strategies, funding sources, ideas, etc., that you can direct our way would be most appreciated. Thanks, Sincerely, Dave Moore
E-mail the writer with advice, comments, or commiseration. Got a 911 in your town? Send us an e-mail. Preservation 911 is a message board open to all readers. While National Trust staff will respond to the extent feasible, this will not be possible in all cases. We encourage other readers involved in state or local preservation to respond with advice or assistance. To contact either a regional office of the National Trust, a statewide or local nonprofit organization, or your state's historic preservation office, click here for a state-by-state list. The National Trust's regional and field offices bring the programs and tools of the Trust to communities across the country. They offer technical assistance through consultations and field visits and financial help through small grants. They hold educational programs for professional preservationists and work to foster policies that help historic places. They also provide leadership on issues that concern entire regions, such as saving historic schools, fighting sprawl, and revitalizing cities. All Rights Reserved © Preservation Magazine | Contact us at: preservation@nthp.org |