On March 6 and 7, the Friends of the Michael White Adobe hosted K.L. Carver Elementary School’s entire third grade, showcasing the historical household.
The 111 visiting students, along with their chaperones and teachers, were guests who traveled back through time experiencing what life would have been like in the 1840’s White household.
Board members Jane and Jeryd Pojawa dressed in outfits of the period representing Maria Guillen de White and Michael White, teaching students more about the White family’s personal histories and activities at that time.
Marla Felber and Bill Ellinger explained how the adobe was constructed and what natural resources were used, while board member Al White photographed the visit with the organization’s official photographer, Raymond Kwan.
Along with Al White’s will, Kwan’s photographs document visits as White continues to update the website’s historical content utilizing professional museum 3-D imaging for virtual visitors.
Beth Davis and Fred Sohl provided much-needed support, supervising and guiding the students through each discussion. Terry Welder provided an overview of 19th century activities children their age participated in, specifically some toys still used today, such as jacks, marbles, tops and yo-yos.
The Friends of the Michael White Adobe grew out of the task force created in 2009 by San Marino Unified School District to explore options for preserving and reusing the Adobe, realizing its Native American, Spanish, Mexican and early pre-California historical significance from the Old Spanish Trail. Composed of architects, preservationists, conservators, San Marino residents, and other community members FoMWA is a nonprofit organization.
For more information about the adobe and the efforts to preserve it, visit michaelwhiteadobe.com.
First published in the March 14 issue of the San Marino Tribune
