St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel (Ojai, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 130 W. Ojai Ave., Ojai, California |
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| Built | 1918 |
| Architect | Richard Requa, Frank Mead |
| Architectural style | Mission Revival—Spanish Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 95000785 |
| Added to NRHP | June 29, 1995 |
The St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel is a historic building in Ojai, California. It was once a Catholic chapel, a place for worship. Today, this special building is home to the city's museum, a research library, and a historical society. It is located in Ventura County, in southern California.
Contents
History of the Chapel
Building the Church
The St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel was designed by two architects, Richard Requa from San Diego and Frank Mead. They created the building in a style called Mission Revival mixed with Spanish Colonial Revival. These styles often feature elements like bell towers, arched doorways, and red tile roofs, similar to old Spanish missions.
The chapel was built in 1918. It replaced an older wooden Catholic church in Ojai that had been destroyed by a fire. Richard Requa also designed other important buildings in downtown Ojai, like the Arcade and Watchtower. These were part of a project led by a community leader named Edward Libbey. He wanted to make Ojai more beautiful in the early 1900s.
Saving the Chapel
By 1963, the church community had grown too large for the downtown chapel. They moved to a new location in Meiners Oaks.
In the early 1990s, the old chapel was in bad shape. It had cracks and was starting to crumble. Church leaders thought about tearing it down and selling the land. However, city officials and people who cared about history and old buildings wanted to save it. They worked hard to find money to buy and protect the chapel.
In 1993, the City of Ojai bought the historic chapel and its nearby hall from the Catholic Church. They paid $385,000 for it. The city then fixed up and updated the building. This allowed it to be used by Ojai city groups and other non-profit organizations in the Ojai Valley. In 1995, the Aquinas chapel was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list recognizes buildings that are important to the history of the United States.
What the Chapel is Used For Now
Today, the St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel building is home to several important community groups. It houses the Ojai Valley Museum, the Ojai Valley Historical Society, and the Ojai Valley Museum Research Library.
The museum has many interesting things on display. You can see old items and photographs from the early settlers of Ojai. There are also baskets made by the Chumash, who are Native Americans from this area. The museum also shows modern art.
More to Explore
External Websites
- Ojai Valley Museum website
- Ojai Valley History Timeline: interactive website
