Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
California
Related: About this forumPast is always a present for San Juan Capistrano preservationist (LA Times)
Past is always a present for San Juan Capistrano preservationistFor the last several decades, Swiss-born preservationist Ilse Byrnes, 86, has battled to save places that tell California's story.
By Paloma Esquivel
Photography by Don Bartletti
September 16, 2013
Ilse Byrnes wanders down Los Rios Street, pointing out San Juan Capistrano's patchwork of historic homes: elegant Victorians, 18th century adobes, picket-fenced cottages sheltered by a scattering of trees. Just across the tracks, a construction company is remodeling a two-story adobe building. A sign says it'll be a winery.
She grumbles. "Oh, God. Another winery."
Workers at the construction site sift through dirt and debris, searching, in part, fornative artifacts under the guidance of Joyce Stanfield Perry, of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians. Perry stops and waves at Byrnes.
"How are ya? Did you find any treasures?" Byrnes asks.
"Lots," Perry says.
Outside a teahouse, Byrnes greets a gaggle of older women wearing red hats, purple suits, and some feathers and beads to match members of the Red Hat Society social group who had taken the train to San Juan on a sightseeing trip.
So it goes throughout her stroll-slash-tour: The 86-year-old preservationist is a bit of an institution in this town she fell in love with more than five decades ago.
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-c1-ilse-byrnes-20130916-dto,0,5806212.htmlstory
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
3 replies, 2110 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (3)
ReplyReply to this post
3 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Past is always a present for San Juan Capistrano preservationist (LA Times) (Original Post)
pinto
Sep 2013
OP
antiquie
(4,299 posts)1. Ilse Byrnes, another local hero.
I took the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society couch tour with Huell Howser. Thanks, this was a good story.
pinto
(106,886 posts)2. I love these local slices the LA Times brings up from time to time.
Iwillnevergiveup
(9,298 posts)3. Same here
and bravo to Ilse.