LIVING OUR MISSION | HISTORY OF ST. VINCENT'S | MILESTONES | ARCHIVES
History of St. Vincent’s: Yesterday and Today
St. Vincent’s has a long and rich tradition in Santa Barbara dating back to the pioneer days of the 1850s. Soon after California became a state, Santa Barbara had need of an English-speaking school and orphanage. Bishop Amat of Monterey (Santa Barbara) wrote to the Daughters of Charity in Emmitsburg, Maryland and asked for Sisters to come to Santa Barbara for this purpose. The leadership of the Daughters of Charity responded to this need and made the commitment to send Sisters from Emmitsburg to Santa Barbara. Stepping on the now famous Stearn’s Wharf, the Sisters arrived in early January 1858 and within the week opened an English-speaking school and orphanage.
Since there was no hospital in Santa Barbara, St. Vincent’s first infirmary opened in 1873. In 1874, the downtown orphanage building was destroyed by fire leading to the idea of the of formation of Santa Barbara’s first volunteer fire department. St. Vincent's later rebuilt the infirmary on property located on De la Vina Street.
By the early 1900s, the school was discontinued as other educators were meeting this need, but the orphanage continued until 1935. In 1917, the Sisters responded to the needs of working parents during WWI and began one of the first childcare programs in California, St. Vincent’s Day Nursery. Operation of the Nursery continued until the 1970s when others were fulfilling this need.
These first works were located in downtown Santa Barbara between Carrillo and Canon Perdido and between De La Vina and St. Vincent’s Avenue. Two of those buildings remain today: the orphanage at 925 De La Vina and St. Vincent’s Day Nursery (now the Coast Blueprint Company).
In 1924 the orphanage moved to our present location on Calle Real. Eventually, the orphanage gave way to residential and educational services for developmentally disabled children, the first such program in the western United States. This program remained the primary service through most of this century until the 1990s when it became difficult to continue due to lack of funding.
IFrom 1994 to 2001, St. Vincent’s responded to a Santa Barbara County need by opening a residential treatment program for adolescent girls placed on probation. In 1996 a transitional housing program, PATHS, for single mothers with children was established. This Program of Affordable Transitional Housing and Services, helps single mothers move from welfare to work or from low paying jobs to careers. A high priority is placed on education and family.
In 1999, St. Vincent’s responded to yet another area need and re-opened a quality, affordable childcare program. Casa Alegria Children’s Center for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers offers services to residents in the PATHS program and from the local community.
To supplement the growing needs of the PATHS families, Vincent’s Heart opened it doors in 2001 providing food, clothing, and other necessities. Community volunteers lead by the Ladies of Charity and the St. Vincent de Paul Society collect, organize, sort and distribute food, clothing and personal items to the PATHS residents. Donations are gathered throughout the Santa Barbara community to aid this effort.
In the fall of 2004, responding to yet another pressing need, St. Vincent’s broke ground for the largest affordable housing development in the history of Santa Barbara County. Opened in late 2007, St. Vincent’s Gardens provides 75 units of 2, 3, and 4 bedroom apartments for families and Villa Caridad provides 95 units for Seniors 62 and older.
St. Vincent’s Tradition of Caring originated by the Daughters of Charity in 1858, continues through the vital assistance and generosity of our donors, volunteers, and community.
