November 18, 2003: The historic County Courthouse Flagpole was taken down and dismantled for a restoration effort. At 8 am, four members of the armed forces, lowered the flags in a slow ceremonially decent. Each flag was folded and presented to the Director of General Services for keeping while the flagpole is restored. Moments later, a crane, donated by Specialty Crane and operated by Ryan, held the flagpole. A member of the Courthouse Maintenance staff used a chain saw to cut the flagpole free. Then Ryan sat the flagpole on specially made "saw horses". Last year, Santa Barbara Industrial Finishing, restored the 30" eagle.

December 20, 2003: The Girl and Boy Scouts along with other community members gathered to paint the  flagpole. Pictures are below.

March 19, 2004: The Flagpole was placed in its new footing today. The flawless installation was managed by the Santa Barbara Contractors Association. Read More Detail.

With the generous help from the following companies, the flagpole, rigging and weather vane will be restored so that future generations can enjoy this truly historic flagpole.

April 18, 2004 : The weather vane is completed and on display at the Courthouse Information Booth. The flagpole footing is next. We anticipate the flagpole being completed by April 5, 2004.

June 14, 2004: Flag Day. A crow gathered at the restored flagpole during the lunch hour with local and state dignitaries to rededicate the completely restored historic flagpole. While the National Anthem played from the courthouse tower, the US, State and County flag were raised. With a short pause, the flags were then lowered to half-staff out of respect for the recent passing of President Ronald Reagan.

This flagpole is a double-mast, 86-foot high structure consisting of two ship's booms. The segments are attached by a wood step or "crow's nest."  The flagpole was originally located at Plaza Del Mar, near Los Banos near the West Beach.  After the Potter Hotel burned down in 1921 at the site of today's Ambassador Park, the area fell into disrepair.  Local citizens rallied to move the Plaza Del Mar flagpole to the Courthouse grounds.  The combined flagpole had only been on the Courthouse site a short time before the 1925 earthquake. An October, 1993 Santa Barbara News-Press article attributes this flagpole's (lower section) origin as the first flagpole erected by Commodore Robert F. Stockton at the Santa Barbara Presidio in 1846 to officially fly the American flag.  The ship's mast segments were removed from Stockton's ship, the USS Congress.  An authority on historic flagpoles, Mary Ann Quinn, has written that this flagpole is the among few in the nation of its kind which is double-mast. 

Flag Day, June 14, 2004. The flagpole was rededicated.

Old base, which has been rotting over the past few years.

(click on images to enlarge)

Thanks to everyone for their help!

If you are interested in the progress, please feel free to call (805.560.1079) or email us. Jill Van Wie, Project Coordinator.

QUICK LINKS

Read the Newspress article.

Painting the Flagpole Sections

Weather Vane Project

Placement of flagpole into new footing

Beginning with the photo at the far left and moving right

1. Eight layers of paint are discovered as the poles were striped.
2. Sail pulley of upper pole is closely inspected.
3. A tightening wedge was uncovered when the crows nest was removed.
4. Remaining part of crows nest. The missing piece broke apart when Rich began removing the crows nest.

(click on images to enlarge)

Close-up of remain pole and footing. The pole was soaked with water, the inside eight inches remained protected. That was the only portions strong enough to keep the poles vertical.

(click on images to enlarge)

Channel Coast Corporation removes the lead paint
 and prepares the pole for further work.
 

Eagle before restoration...

Another view...

Olan Arakelian, 12, of Santa Barbara's Boy Scout Troop 1 helps refurbish a historic denizen of the city -- the flagpole at the downtown Courthouse. Girl and Boy Scouts, including Scoutmaster Deborah Salzuffo, below left, and community members like Brandy Alanzo, 6, below right, gathered Saturday for the makeover.

(Photos by FRANK BOTT Newspress)

Olan Arakelian, 12

Brandy Alanzo, 6