Why was arcadia bandini important to California?

Answer 1

Arcadia Stearns nee Bandini

Arcadia Bandini was born in San Diego on January 12, 1827, to Juan Bandini and Dolores Estudillo. "Of her childhood nothing is known, except that the Bandini home was always a center of social and political affairs. The girl early lost her mother, and when she was about eight years old her father remarried, this time choosing Refugio, daughter of Santiago Arguello. … On June 22, 1841, at age 14, Arcadia was married at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel to Abel Stearns. The young couple lived at what is now the corner of Main and Arcadia Streets, in the handsomest house in the Pueblo [of Los Angeles], known because of its size as El Palacio de Don Abel" [Wright 85, 90].

Abel and Arcadia had no children. Arcadia's principal role in life was as hostess for frequent social events at El Palacio. Don Abel was not always present - he spent much of his time on business interests - but Arcadia earned a reputation for being friendly and generous to guests and family alike.

She was 44 years old in August 1871 when Abel Stearns died. As described in Section 2.3, fortunes were on the rise in Southern California during Arcadia's years as a landholder. The weather problems of the 1860s had eased, and titles to most land grants had recently been certified - or soon would be. The rancho lands that Stearns had accumulated were now extremely valuable assets, ready to be subdivided and converted into small farms and villages. When Arcadia died in 1912 "she left a fortune estimated at between $7-8 million, at that time the largest probated estate in Los Angeles history"[Jon Wilkman at socalhistory.org].

"She was strong when it came to business, but was also compassionate and kind to those in need" [Palisades Post, 2012]. A major project over the next several decades was fulfillment of Arcadia's vision for development of the city of Santa Monica and surrounding beach and park land. She enlisted the cooperation of two neighboring landowners: Colonel Robert Symington Baker (1826-1894), who became her second husband in April 1875, and Nevada Senator John Perceval Jones. They donated land for churches, schools, and parks, and for a veterans' hospital.

In 1987 a monument was dedicated to Arcadia, in memory of: "Her love and devotion to Santa Monica and generous contributions of land to benefit the people and for the development of the city" [City of Santa Monica]