• La Purísima Mission State Historic Park: Mission Reconstruction - Lompoc CA
    The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) carried out a complete restoration of the  Mission La Purisima in Lompoc CA, 1934-41.  It was an astonishing achievement, given the ruined state of the Mission and scarce historic sources to guide the work. The CCC agree to do the restoration if land could be secured to turn the site into a State Historical Park.  Donations of land by the Catholic Church and Union Oil Company did the trick, and the CCC went to work. From 1934 to 1941 CCC crews uncovered, restored and rebuilt 13 separate structures at the Mission.  The State Historical Park was...
  • La Purisima Mission State Historic Park: Painting and Sculpture - Lompoc CA
    As part of the New Deal reconstruction of Mission La Purisima, the Federal Arts Project (FAP) of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was asked to send in professional painters to finish the interior of the buildings. In 1938, FAP artists were employed in painting the pulpit and railing in the chapel of the padres' residence building, under the supervision of Douglas Parshall of Santa Barbara (Savage, p. 151).  in 1940, artist Harry Hemle got the job of decorating the interior of the completed church.  Hemle painted the walls, alter decorations and pulpit, with the assistance of two Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) enrollees...
  • La Purisima Mission State Historic Park: Seegert Fountain - Lompoc CA
    As part of the New Deal reconstruction of Mission La Purisima, Helen Seegert created a concrete fountain at the east end of the complex in 1936.  It was paid for by the Federal Arts Project (FAP) of the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
  • La Purísima Mission State Historic Park: Twin CCC Camps - Lompoc CA
    Two Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps were established at what is today the La Purísima Mission State Historical Park: Camp La Purísima and Camp Lompoc.  They were built back-to-back on the mesa above La Purísima Mission, but housed two separate companies that worked on different projects.  They shared a few officers, activities and functions, however, and came to be known as 'the Twin Camps'.  The first camp was set up on the site of Mission La Purísima in Lompoc CA in July-August 1934.  It was called Camp Santa Rosa and housed CCC company 1951, whose enrollees came mostly from Southern California (Savage, pp....
  • Lompoc Veterans' Memorial Building Mural - Lompoc CA
    Helen Seegert completed this 7' x 12' painted cement mural, entitled "Building the Mission," in 1936 with funds provided by the Works Progress Administration's Federal Art Project. It id viewable in the foyer of the Lompoc Veterans Memorial Building auditorium.
  • Lompoc Veterans' Memorial Building Wood Carving - Lompoc CA
    David Swanson completed this 3.5' x 9' wood carving, entitled "Indians and Father Lasuen," in 1936 with funds provided by the Works Progress Administration's Federal Art Project. It is viewable in the second floor club room, above the fireplace, in the Lompoc Veterans' Memorial Building.