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| The Dana-Powers House, circa 1918 |
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The Dana-Powers house, built in 1882, stands on a portion of the
historic 37,888-acre Rancho Nipomo (from the Chumash Indian
word Nepomah, meaning “at the foot of the hills”) A private
residence, it has been home to six generations of Danas, beginning
with Frank, who built the comfortable home on 1200 acres of
land given to him by his father William Goodwin Dana. Frank
and his wife Justina, were succeeded as residents by their son
George, who lived in the home until his death at the age of 96. It
is George’s rose garden and Avocado orchards that are now
tended by his granddaughter Judith Dana-Powers, who acquired
the property after George’s death in 1972. Judi's own
grandchildren now call the ranch their home, as well.
The patriarch of the Dana Family, William Goodwin Dana, was a
sea captain from Boston who traveled to China, the Sandwich
Islands (Hawaii) and later to the California Coast, as Master of
the Brig Waverly. (It was his first cousin, Richard Henry Dana
who wrote the maritime novel, 'Two Years before The Mast.') In
1828 Captain Dana married Senorita Maria Josefa Carrillo,
daughter of Don Carlos Antonio Carrillo, a prominent citizen of
the presidio of Santa Barbara who later became governor of Alta
California. In 1835 William Dana became a naturalized Citizen of
Mexico and served his new country first as Captain of the Port of
Santa Barbara, and later as Alcalde. He was granted Rancho
Nipomo in 1837.
Captain Dana and Maria Josefa remained in Santa Barbara until
1839, then moved north to their rancho and built an adobe home
overlooking the valley and rolling hills beyond. La Casa de Dana
grew as the family grew (Maria Josefa bore 21 children, 13 of
whom survived to adulthood) and was a welcome stopover for
people traveling between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.
The Danas were known for their generous hospitality and lavish
fiestas. Those traditions—steeped in the rich history of the
California ranchos, were passed down through the generations to
the couple’s great-great granddaughter Judith Dana-Powers,
who, with her husband Edward Chadwell, now lives and
entertains in the home.
historic 37,888-acre Rancho Nipomo (from the Chumash Indian
word Nepomah, meaning “at the foot of the hills”) A private
residence, it has been home to six generations of Danas, beginning
with Frank, who built the comfortable home on 1200 acres of
land given to him by his father William Goodwin Dana. Frank
and his wife Justina, were succeeded as residents by their son
George, who lived in the home until his death at the age of 96. It
is George’s rose garden and Avocado orchards that are now
tended by his granddaughter Judith Dana-Powers, who acquired
the property after George’s death in 1972. Judi's own
grandchildren now call the ranch their home, as well.
The patriarch of the Dana Family, William Goodwin Dana, was a
sea captain from Boston who traveled to China, the Sandwich
Islands (Hawaii) and later to the California Coast, as Master of
the Brig Waverly. (It was his first cousin, Richard Henry Dana
who wrote the maritime novel, 'Two Years before The Mast.') In
1828 Captain Dana married Senorita Maria Josefa Carrillo,
daughter of Don Carlos Antonio Carrillo, a prominent citizen of
the presidio of Santa Barbara who later became governor of Alta
California. In 1835 William Dana became a naturalized Citizen of
Mexico and served his new country first as Captain of the Port of
Santa Barbara, and later as Alcalde. He was granted Rancho
Nipomo in 1837.
Captain Dana and Maria Josefa remained in Santa Barbara until
1839, then moved north to their rancho and built an adobe home
overlooking the valley and rolling hills beyond. La Casa de Dana
grew as the family grew (Maria Josefa bore 21 children, 13 of
whom survived to adulthood) and was a welcome stopover for
people traveling between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.
The Danas were known for their generous hospitality and lavish
fiestas. Those traditions—steeped in the rich history of the
California ranchos, were passed down through the generations to
the couple’s great-great granddaughter Judith Dana-Powers,
who, with her husband Edward Chadwell, now lives and
entertains in the home.
| Frank and Justina Dana, Date unknown |
| Judi's beloved Grandfather, George O. Dana |
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