{"id":8316,"date":"2017-12-15T18:18:45","date_gmt":"2017-12-16T02:18:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=8316"},"modified":"2017-12-18T15:13:43","modified_gmt":"2017-12-18T23:13:43","slug":"postcards-from-the-past","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=8316","title":{"rendered":"Postcards from the Past"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cabrillo Boulevard, as it once looked. Note Los Banos del Mar<\/a> pool in the foreground. Originally built in 1901, it was rebuilt with a Public Works Administration<\/a> grant after the 1925 Earthquake and opened in 1939. Image from the collection of\u00a0Peter Jordano.<\/p><\/div>\n

You never know\u00a0where story inspiration is going to come from.<\/p>\n

When my brother-in-law, Eric States, casually mentioned that he was creating large-scale metal prints from vintage\u00a0postcards that belonged to long-time local businessman and philanthropist Peter Jordano<\/a>, I was intrigued. Especially\u00a0when Eric said the collection was “impressive.”<\/p>\n

The word\u00a0impressive<\/em>\u00a0was definitely an understatement. It turns out that Jordano owns about 6,000 pre-1950 Santa\u00a0Barbara postcards, all meticulously organized into photo albums that document the history of Santa Barbara’s\u00a0waterfront and downtown development, as well as the leisurely lifestyle of days gone by.<\/p>\n

A significant part of Jordano’s collection is from Osborne’s Book Store<\/a>, a retail fixture on State Street until it closed in\u00a01987, which published hundreds of Santa Barbara\u00a0postcards. The postcard collection also parallels the Jordano’s history.<\/p>\n

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The Masonic Temple<\/a>. Image from the collection of\u00a0Peter Jordano.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Beach scene. Image from the collection of\u00a0Peter Jordano.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Oil wells off the coast of Summerland. Image from the collection of\u00a0Peter Jordano.<\/p><\/div>\n

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De la Guerra Plaza courtyard with cars. Image from the collection of\u00a0Peter Jordano.<\/p><\/div>\n

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El Encanto hotel<\/a>. Image from the collection of\u00a0Peter Jordano.<\/p><\/div>\n

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A 1923 postcard of the beach at Castle Rock<\/a> from the Osborne’s Book Store collection. The remainder of Castle Rock was removed to build the Santa Barbara Harbor<\/a>, which was completed in 1930. Image from the collection of\u00a0Peter Jordano.<\/p><\/div>\n

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El Paseo Restaurant<\/a> during Fiesta. Image from the collection of\u00a0Peter Jordano.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Santa Barbara street scene. Image from the collection of\u00a0Peter Jordano.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Old De la Guerra mansion. Image from the collection of\u00a0Peter Jordano.<\/p><\/div>\n

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El Paseo Restaurant. Image from the collection of\u00a0Peter Jordano.<\/p><\/div>\n

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The Santa Barbara Mission<\/a>, just after the 1925 earthquake. Image from the collection of\u00a0Peter Jordano.<\/p><\/div>\n

The family-owned business started in Santa Barbara in 1915, with four brothers, a family loan and a little grocery\u00a0store on State Street. On March 1, 1915, the first Jordano Bros.<\/a> opened at 706 State St., making deliveries by horse\u00a0and buggy.<\/p>\n

By the early 1970s, Jordano’s had weathered two world wars, the Depression and a number of minor recessions; had\u00a018 stores throughout Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties; and operated a distributing business\u00a0stocking hotels and restaurants. One son from each of the original four brothers joined the family business, including\u00a0our postcard collector Peter C. Jordano, who leads Jordano’s Inc.<\/a> today.<\/p>\n

Under Jordano’s leadership, the company diversified into what it is today: a distributing conglomerate including food\u00a0and beverage distributors, a kitchen supply business and an institutional foods distributor. Now it’s a multi-million-dollar corporation with more than 500 employees.<\/p>\n

Jordano’s postcard collection has also continued to grow and, with help from Eric’s painstakingly high-resolution\u00a0reproductions, will be digitized and preserved for generations to come. Here is a selection of our favorite postcards\u00a0from the past. To view more of the collection and for more information about metal prints, visit\u00a0santabarbaraphotographs.com.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Santa Barbara State Teachers College<\/a> on the Riviera, the predecessor to UCSB. Image from the collection of\u00a0Peter Jordano.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Mar Monte Hotel<\/a> and East Beach. Image from the collection of\u00a0Peter Jordano.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Winter bathing on Miramar Beach. Image from the collection of\u00a0Peter Jordano.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Winter bathing on Miramar Beach. Image from the collection of\u00a0Peter Jordano.<\/p><\/div>\n

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An overview of State Street. Image from the collection of\u00a0Peter Jordano.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2014Leslie Dinaberg<\/a><\/p>\n

This story was originally published in the Winter 2017-18 issue of\u00a0Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine<\/u><\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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