by Anne Petersen
(L-R) Ruth Loper, Joy Chamberlain, Kathi Hobbs Chulick, Debbie Kendrick, SBTHP Executive Director Anne Petersen, Marjory Friestad, Judith Cardinal, and Katherine Cowell Collins. Photo by Katherine Collins.
We are pleased to announce that the Cota-Knox House restoration project was awarded the Colonial Dames of America’s 2019 Award for Excellence at the organization’s annual meeting on April 29 in New York City. The award will fund a rendering of the restoration project, a key tool in helping the community visualize the completed project and its value.
Architectural drawing of the facade detail which will inform the painted rendering of the restoration. By Harrison Design.
In 2017 the Santa Barbara Chapter of the Colonial Dames of America formed a partnership with the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation (SBTHP), and the organization serves as its service project. Each chapter of CDA must undertake a service project in support of historic preservation, or partner with an organization that undertakes such work. We are proud that our Santa Barbara chapter, one of the newest chapters in the organization, made such a strong call of support for this project, ensuring that the Cota-Knox house received this special recognition.
The Cota-Knox House today. Photo by Michael H. Imwalle.
The Cota -Knox House (1871), located in El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park, is one of Santa Barbara’s earliest brick buildings. Its appearance today barely resembles its appearance at the time of construction due to changes wrought by the 1925 earthquake and various owners. SBTHP is completing the planning process for the restoration which will involve a new roof, seismic retrofit and facade reconstruction. We look forward to debuting the beautifully painted rendering of the completed project very soon! To learn more about the Cota-Knox House and how you can support its restoration, click here.
Anne Petersen is the Executive Director for the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation.