Dudley House

San Buenaventura Heritage, Inc. (SBH) is a non-profit 501c3 educational and charitable corporation founded in 1978 which is active in  historic preservation in the City of San Buenaventura (Ventura), California. The primary focus of SBH is the preservation of the Dudley House, an 1892 Victorian farm house. The3 house and SBH headquarters are located at 197 N. Ashwood, the corner of Ashwood and Loma Vista in Ventura.

The house has been an ongoing preservation activity since 1977. Owned by the cirty since 1977, SBH was formed and took over the project when proposition 13 prevented the city from continuing to fund the project. The interior is complete with much of the original Dudley furniture returnng to the house in 2006 from the estate of the late Johanna Dudley Overby. The terraces and pergola for outdoor events have been installed on the north side side of the house, and the newly installed demonsdtration lavender garden with some 100 plants featuring over 20 varieties is on the south side of the house. The house is a living histopry museum reflectibng the life of the Dudley family. The b asement is used as a community room and visitor center with cooking facilities and is avaialble for small events and receptions. Larger events can be held outside on the grounds.

 

Activites

SBH is run by board of directors and meets the first Wednesday of the month atg 7:30pm. The board has committees for restoriation, interior design, fundraising, docents, and house operations. Events sponsored by SBH include:

Open Houses

The Dudley House is open for tours the first Sunday of the month from 1pm to 4pm from January to November (as January 1, 2012 falls the first Sunday, the Janaury open house may change date or be cancelled). The house is also open July 4 (hours depending on docent availablility), and during other special events.

Special Docents Tours

The house also availble for group tours, including school and childrens group tours by appointment. Call Sheri Oelschlager at (805)-642-7664.

Historic Recording Series

During open houses, pre-1930 recordings transferred to CDs are played. A new recording is played each month on the Victrola console in the parlor. The recording schedule 2012 is as follows: 

DUDLEY HOUSE HISTORIC RECORDING SERIES 2012 SCHEDULE

Ashwood & Loma Vista, Ventura. Free Admission.

Performed During Dudley Open House Dates

(Subject to change depending on availability of records)

(For information call 644-3286)

 Sunday, January 1, 2012   1pm to 4pm No shows

              

Sunday, February 5, 2012   1pm to 4pm

                 The Era of Adelina Patti, Vol 2 Recordings from 1902 to 192              

Sunday, March 4, 2012   1pm to 4pm

                Bessie Smith Recordings Volume 1, Part 2 Recordings from 1923 to 1924

Sunday, April13, 2012   1pm to 4pm

                Pol Plancon, Vol 1 Recordings from  1903 to 1905

 Sunday, May 6, 2012   1pm to 4pm

                Stellio Intégrale Chronologique 1929-1931 Part 2. Recordings 1931                           

 Sunday, June 3, 2012   1pm to 4pm

                Early Jazz 1917-1923 Part 2. Recordings from 1921 to 1923

 Sunday, July 1, 2012   1pm to 4pm

                Louis Armstrong Recordings Vol 2, Part 2 Recordings from 1924-25.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012   1pm to 4pm

                Louis Armstrong Recordings Vol 2, Part 2 Recordings from 1924-25

Sunday, August 5, 2012 1pm to 4pm

                Fado Lisboa-Coimbra 1926-1931 Part 2. Recordings from 1927 to mid 1930s  

Sunday, September 2, 2011pm to 4pm

                Early Tzigane Records, Vol 1, 1898 to 1912

Sunday, October 7, 2012 1pm to 4pm.

                Fats Waller, Vol. 1, Recordings 1923-29

 Sunday, November 4, 2012 1pm to 4pm

                Emma Eames. Vol 1, Recordings from 1905 to 1906.

 No recordings in December due to Dudley House Victorian Holiday Boutique.

Old Time Radio Series

CDs of radio shows are performed in the radio consdole on the second floor hallway. The 2012 schedule is as follows:

DUDLEY HOUSE OLD TIME RADIO 2012 SCHEDULE

Ashwood & Loma Vista, Ventura. Free Admission.

Performed During Dudley Open House Dates

All shows 30 minutes repeated unless otherwise noted

(For information, call 644-3286)

 Sunday, January 1, 2012   1pm to 4pm No shows

               

 Sunday, February 5, 2012   1pm to 4pm

                Sherlock Holmes-Death is a Golden Arrow, March 21, 1948

Sunday, March 4, 2012   1pm to 4pm

                Hitchcock on Radio-Shadow of a Doubt, September 11, 1946

Sunday, April 1, 2012   1pm to 4pm

                The Burns and Allen Show with Jack Benny, November 2, 1943.              

 Sunday, May 6, 2012   1pm to 4pm

                Sherlock Holmes-The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax, March 28, 1948

Sunday, June 3, 2011   1pm to 4pm

                Escape-Three Skeleton Key, March 17, 1950

Sunday, July 1, 2012   1pm to 4pm

                The Jack Benny Program-Your Money or Your Life? Part II, April 4, 1948

Wednesday, July 4, 2012   1pm to 4pm

                The Jack Benny Program-Your Money or Your Life? Part II, April 4, 1948

Sunday, August 5, 2012 1pm to 4pm

                Sherlock Holmes-The Adventure of Lady Waverly's Imitation Pearls, April 4, 1948

Sunday, September 2, 2011pm to 4pm

                Inner Sanctum-The Man Who Couldn't Die, February 12, 1946

Sunday, October 7, 2012 1pm to 4pm.

                Orson Welles Mercury Theater-Dracula (1hr), Jul;y 11, 1938

Sunday, November 4, 2012 1pm to 4pm

                The Bob Hope Show with Jack Webb February 4, 1953

No shows in December due to Dudley House Victorian Holiday Boutique.

Speakers Bureau

Talks are offered for organizations. Call Lynn Weitzel 641-3563 for more information.

Docents

The docent program performs various activities for the house. Call Sherti Oelsclager at (805)-642-7664 for docent opportunities and Lynn Weitzel at (805)-641-3563 for docent tour guide infoprmation.

Rental of Facilities

The house, basement and grounds can be used for special events, such as weddings and receptions. Maximum occupancy in the house is 49 people for small events with no food or drink and the existing museum furniture in place. The Loma Vista outdoor area can accommodate 150 people with no limitations. Call Jan Hunter at (805)-654-8381 ro Steve Cummings at (805)-644-3286.

Victorian Holiday Boutique 2012

The 19th Dudley House Victorian Holiday Boutique will again be from 10am to 6pm on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting on ther Friday after Thanksgiving, November 23. The dates are November 23, 24, 25, 30 December 1, 2,7, 8,9,. One of the great events of the Holiday season on the Central Coast, the House is decorated inside by dozens of crafters who will be selling their items. For information on the event call Jan Hunter at (805)-654-8381.

How You Can Help

SBH is a membership organization of dues-paying members,docents, and volunteers. If you would like to work on our project call Steve Cummings at (805)-644-3286 or email at sc@cummingsresearch.com. All donations to SBH are tax deductible. Please send them to San Buenaventura Heritage, Inc., P.O. Box 6803, Ventura CA 93006-6803.

San Buenaventura Heritage, Inc.
P.O. Box 6803
Ventura, California 93006-6803
U.S.A.
(805)-644-3286
email: sc@cummingsresearch.com
Last Updated January 22, 2012