Neal Graffy is almost a Santa Barbara native, the result of a premature birth nine years too soon in Wichita, Kansas.
His love for Santa Barbara History began at age 13 when he started gardening and doing odd jobs for Mrs. Leontine Phelan, a descendant of the founder of the Santa Barbara Presidio, who lived in an adobe house built from the Presidio ruins.
In 1989 he gave his first slide show on Santa Barbara History and has since given well over 250 presentations on 19 different topics. He is no stranger to the printed page, having written for the Santa Barbara News-Press, Santa Barbara Independent, Santa Barbara Magazine, the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, the Trust for Historic Preservation and the Santa Barbara Genealogical Society.
In return, his expertise has been sought out by the media with countless appearances on local, state and national radio and TV. He has been featured in several documentaries including the Emmy Award winning “Impressions in Time.” He has appeared statewide on Huell Howser’s California Gold, KCET TV’s Life and Times and, nationally, on This Old House.
Neal has served as a Board Member of the Historical Museum, member (and chairman) of the Santa Barbara County Landmarks Commission, board member of the Mission Canyon Association, and president of the Santa Barbara Corral of Westerners. He is, also, a founding member of de la Guerra y Pacheco Chapter 1.5 of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus and an exNoble Grand Humbug of that esteemed organization.
Neal Graffy's Historic Santa Barbara 
Hi Neal, do you do regular history walking tours of Santa Barbara? If so, when is the next one?
-Evan
Evan – I have done a few tours for groups by special request but nothing on a regular basis. I expect to in the future as I’ve had a lot of people asking about them, but for now I’m concentrating on writing. Thanks, Neal
My grandma and I were cleaning out a cabinet and found a booklet with photos on the 1925 earthquake. If you would like to have it email me and we can make arrangements.
Thank you Stephanie! I would love to your booklet to my research and collection. Your offer is especially timely as I’m working on next book – “The Great Santa Barbara Earthquake – The Disaster That Built a City”. My home address is 2976 Foothill Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
I’d like to send you more information about Ellwood. Please send me an email address
Thanks, Carol
Good morning Carol.
That would be great!
My eMail is nealgraffy@gmail.com
Thank you,
Neal
I am a historian and a patient at Mission Park, 623 West Junipero. Event guests relate this was once a luxury hotel. In the 1970’s through 1988, it was Care West Enterprises, a notorious nursing home. Then Mrs. Eve Murphy purchased and it became Mission Park Terrace. Source: employee working here since 1987. I am wondering if you know the name of the hotel. Cell 206 478-3569
Good morning Sue.
Not quite a luxury hotel, the original facility located here was the Silver Saddle Motel, a 20-unit motor court built of adobe in 1946.
The Silver Saddle closed in 1968 and was torn down to build the Oak Park Convalescent Hospital. When it opened in September 1968, it was considered modern and “deluxe” with 138 beds and a nursing staff of 70 to 80. James Free & Richard Scoby were the investor/owners.
It was sold around 1984/85 to Care Enterprises West (Care West SB) who during their four years of ownership “racked up one of the worst patient care records of any nursing home in the county” according to state enforcement records. In 1988 they were sued by the District Attorney for 28 “alleged” violations with fines totaling close to a half-million dollars. They settled out of court for $15,000.
Care West sold the facility in May 1988 for $3,000,000 and the new owners renamed it Mission Terrace.
As for Eve Murphy, for may years she was the administrator for Cliff View Terrace and received high marks for her work.
Hope that helps,
Neal