First letters to Santa Barbara

9-19-1890

This 1885 photograph from the collections of the California Historical Society shows the Arlington Hotel as it would have looked at the time of Emily Averell's stay in 1890.

From my window at the Arlington. Santa Barbara, Oct. 1890

This letter from Emily's mother was sent to her at the Hotel Arlington in Santa Barbara, California. In it Elizabeth Sibley mentions a plan George Folger Canfield suggested to Emily, the details of which we unfortunately don't know.  She also identifies Emily's companions in Colorado Springs, Libbie Tyler, and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Duty Tyler

We know from dated photographs that Emily had arrived in Santa Barbara at least by September 24, 1890.  The Arlington Hotel (main building on right) was built in 1876 and the annex (left) was built in 1887.  The main building burnt down in 1909.

1890-09-25

In James Sibley Watson's first letter to Emily in Santa Barbara, her refers to a letter she had written him on September 16th, which presumably is when he learned she was on her way to California.  He doesn't say when he received the letter (which was sent to Red Lodge, Montana), but says he immediately telegraphed to Colorado Springs to see if he was needed, but found she had already left.  Jimmie tells her that he admires her pluck in going "so far off all by your little self" although we know she was accompanied by both J.G. Averell, her cousin Libbie Tyler and by lawyer George Folger Canfield.