| The Dana-Powers House, circa 1918 |
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.
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.
| Frank and Justina Dana, Date unknown |
| Judi's beloved Grandfather, George O. Dana |
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