Imperial Valley press., 1920-11-22
DID MISSIONS
TO Be RESTORED
BY ASSOCIATION
Hoyoed with History and RO-
nance, Landmarks of Cali
foyJsia's Earlier Days Are to
be Preserved for California
GRd America.
- ''


(Srccial to The Prass.j
MONTERREY, Nov. 20. = After
many years, during when the most
important factors Of California his
tory - the old Spanish missions
nave gone into decline and decay, and
aftcr many attempts to bring about
their preservation, the complete chain
Of q Spanish missions, separated
jus5 che days journey Of another day
on "El Canine Real" arc to be ply
s;cally restored.
This is the announcement made
here following the organization of an
all-California group pledged to work
until the last of the old mission units
constructed throughout California by
TIE cid Spanish Franciscan padre eX-
plorer5 again become mecca for
travellers. The historical, romantic
and commercial value OF the missions
Isl co be preserved for California and
America through the activities of the
"California Mission Restoration Asso-
ciation." a&S
Active in the organization and
among the leading Californians COM
prising the executive committee of the
association are Herbert c.. Hoover,
Palo Alto; Luther Burbank, Santa
! Rosa; John G. Mott, Harry Chandler,
Mrs. Florence Porter, Los Angeles;
Juan Camarillo Ventura; r. III. To-
Din, Charles Templeton Croker and
/ Mrs. Eleanor Motrin, San Francisco.
! Officers Of the association have
not yet been selected, nor has any for
NAL statement of the scope of the
movement been made. Immediately
fo11 IIo..L~,-L TTnC--ov.'-
December from the east an organiza-
tion conference will be held here at
the Carmel rnissionh and the Del
Monte hotel to launch q permanent or
gan nation. All groups that have been
working fer years toward the preser-
vation c. the missions will represent
cd in the statewide organization.
Edward II. Brown Of San Francisco,
fer many years campaign executive
in the Pacific regional states fer the
+ Rec Cross and mary ether patriotic
1cmpaiGns is to be the promotion di-
toHtor ior the new association.
Full ecclesiastical authority has
been given to the California associa-
zion fer whatever restoration work
the Spanish mission architectural au-
thorities recommend. Title to all the
misGinon properties is still held &C.
clesiastically.
Father Raymond H. Mestras, Span
ish diocesan padre, who has devoted
20 years to the study of the Spanish
missions OF California and to work in
the missions, is to have full charge
ii the actual restoration work. The
pristine architecture and beauty of
the cid missions viii be followed in
detail without attempt al uodcrniza-
ton in any way.
From the archives at Madrid under
the Moors and the church records left
by Junipera Sierra, the mission build
er he has secured all the necessary
data fer the preservation Of the old
missions as landmarks OF California.
Father MesCles' cooperation with the
association viii be from the stand
point CT . mission historian, archeolo-
gist ard builder.
The plan Of restoration being fol-
lowed at the C2rmel mission is to be
followed throughout. Descendants of
the cid Spanish tile makers and the
indian oo0e makers Of $50 years ago
will follow the restoration detail of
the original Wor2.. It is expected that
three years will hc required for the
wcrk.
Thousands Of tourists c;vh year
come to California for study of the
few missions that are. accessible TO
travellers The restoration work will
make accessible all the missions lining
the historic Gel Canine Real almost
The cntilc length Of California.