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186:"The first Cross was planted there, so the settlers will say, by Fr. Junipero Serra, the founder of Mission San Buenaventura. However, that is an error. When Fr. Serra started the Mission, he planted and blessed the Cross on the spot where the altar of the church would be located. Such was the rule for all occasions. He was not then in physical condition to climb to the top of the hill, nor is there any record of the raising of the Cross on the mount.
212:
the inscription "INRI", and retained it as a souvenir. Arnaz later donated the headpiece to the
Ventura Pioneer Museum, predecessor to The Museum of Ventura County. According to Sheridan's account, the headpiece discovered by Arnaz had been attached to the cross with wooden pegs and was a remnant of the original cross erected by Father Serra in 1782. The headpiece remains "one of the prized possessions" of The Museum of Ventura County.
153:. The cross has been replaced several times, including known instances in the early 1860s under the supervision of Father John Campala, in 1912 by the E. C. O. Club, and in 1941 by the Alice M. Bartlett Club (successor to the E. C. O. Club). The site was designated as California Historical Landmark No. 113 in 1933; it was also designated in 1974 as City of Ventura Historical Landmark No. 5.
241:, city and county officials, and school children from throughout the county "carrying an immense American flag." A large crowd of 3,000 to 4,000 persons gathered at the site of the cross for its dedication. Upon the raising of the cross, the Franciscans blessed it, and children from Oxnard's St. Joseph school sang. Several speeches were given, and an original poem about the cross was read by
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325:
illuminating the cross at night with fluorescent lighting and imposed a deed restriction that any future lighting was limited to more muted ground lighting. The settlement was approved by the
Ventura City Council on a 6-to-1 vote with Councilman Neil Andrews contending that the restrictions on future owners were "capricious" and part of an effort "to strip public life of religion."
237:
ceremony began at the
Mission with the ringing of the old Mission bells, including a vesper bell that had been silent for years. A procession up the hill, accompanied by Santa Barbara's St. Aloysius Band, was led by grand marshal, Francisco Camarillo, followed by the Franciscan fathers of Santa Barbara, E. C. O. Club members, Ventura County Pioneers,
350:
personal reasons; we value the Park for the sake of historic preservation and/or are interested in the cross as a religious icon and a landmark attraction to other communities and tourists. But mostly for long-time members of this community, the cross represents what makes
Ventura special and serves as an important element of our lives here in Ventura."
345:
In
September 2003, a non-profit historic preservation group, San Buenaventura Heritage, purchased the cross and the one-acre site for $ 104,216.87. The group was the high bidder in an auction that drew four other bidders. At the time of the acquisition, one of the group's leaders, Christie Weir, said
324:
In August 2003, the city, seeking to avoid costly litigation and likely defeat, reached a settlement with the plaintiffs. As part of the settlement, the City agreed to sell the cross and a one-acre parcel beneath it in an auction open to all bidders. The settlement further required the city to cease
156:
In 2003, the threat of litigation over the city's use of public funds to maintain a religious symbol on city-owned land resulted in a settlement pursuant to which the city agreed to dim the lighting of the cross and sold a one-acre site underlying the cross to a private, non-profit organization that
297:
At least as early as 1991, concerns were raised about the city's maintenance of a
Christian cross on public land. Two other Christian crosses in San Diego County were ordered removed that year (one on Mount Soledad in San Diego, the other on Mount Helix in La Mesa) by a federal judge who ruled that
211:
For more than 35 years after Father John
Campala's cross collapsed, no cross was erected at the site. After the 1875 storm, Ventura de Arnaz, then approximately 16 years old, climbed the hill with her father to survey the damage. The girl retrieved the headpiece from the cross, the portion bearing
207:
noted: "Fallen—the wooden cross, which stood on the summit of the hill back of town, after having stood the storms of a decade, succumbed to the elements on
Tuesday night and fell. A cross placed on the same spot when the Mission was founded, and the emblem of Christianity has always been replaced
202:
The first cross became decayed and collapsed, reportedly in the early 1860s. Shortly thereafter, the cross was rebuilt under the supervision of Father John
Campala, also known as Padre Juan, who was then the presiding priest at the Mission San Buenaventura. The second cross collapsed in a windstorm
349:
A new group, Serra Cross
Conservancy, was formed, and the property was transferred to it. This group maintains the site as a public park known as Father Serra Park. According to the Conservancy's web site, the group is "interested in preserving and maintaining the Serra Cross Park for a variety of
320:
The debate over removal of the cross dominated Ventura County newspaper coverage and editorials through the spring and summer of 2003. On May 4, parishioners from 10 churches encircled the cross in a two-hour prayer vigil in support of the cross. On June 8, a group called Bikers for Christ held a
236:
described the ceremony at length on its front page and concluded: "Never has the town seen such an outpouring of people. The event was an unusual one for any community. It has never happened before, nor anything just like it, nor, is it likely to happen again within the next hundred years." The
174:
on March 30, 1782. According to E. M. Sheridan's "History of Cross On Hill", written in 1928, the erection of a cross at a highly visible point was "the first act of the Mission Fathers", seeking to establish a guide-post to those coming to the Mission by land or sea. According to Sheridan's
228:
trees in Santa Paula canyon to build the new cross, and R. E. Brakey cut the trees and hauled them back to Ventura. The logs were hewn and cured at the Peoples' Lumber Company under the supervision of Selwyn Shaw, a local builder who also designed the mount for the new cross.
328:
Descendants of the Grant family, which had donated the land to the City in 1918, filed suit challenging the city's planned sale of a portion of the property and arguing that the property would revert to the heirs if the sale went forward. That suit was defeated in court.
262:
On April 3, 1932, a crowd of 5,000 persons gathered at the cross to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Father Serra's founding of the mission; after a procession from the Mission, an American flag was presented to the city, mass was celebrated by
175:
account, Father Serra himself erected and blessed the cross on what was thereafter called "La Loma de la Cruz". According to the traditional story, the cross was erected even before the Mission itself was built.
232:
On September 9, 1912, the new cross was erected on the site of Father Serra's original cross. The 26-foot replacement cross was dedicated in a ceremony that included a live band and speeches. The
531:"INRI" is the Latin abbreviation nailed over Jesus during the crucification. It refers to the Latin phrase 'Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum' meaning 'Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews'.
317:
in San Diego County. Ventura's City Attorney Bob Boehm attempted to assert that, more than a religious icon, the Serra Cross was "a time-honored landmark" with a historic character.
178:
However, some contend that the story about Father Serra personally erecting the cross in 1782 is not factual. In his 1930 history, "San Buenaventura: The Mission by the Sea", Father
814:
See "Cross on the Hill" clippings file at The Museum of Ventura County containing some 70 articles, editorials and letters to the editor published between March and August 2003.
302:
378:
30:
373:
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The E. C. O. Club was a civic women's organization in Ventura named after Ella Comstock Orr. The club was later renamed the Alice Bartlett Club in Bartlett's honor.
289:
In 1974, the cross site was one of the first six locations named as a City of Ventura Historic Landmark. It was designated as Ventura Historic Landmark No. 5.
346:
the cross would remain, noted that the organization included members of various faiths, and described the cross as a symbol of Ventura's mission heritage.
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1052:
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challenged the City of Ventura's use of public funds to maintain a religious symbol on public land. The action was premised on the First Amendment's
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238:
224:, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, and Alice Bartlett, head of the E. C. O. Club. Sheridan led a party to cut down
46:
271:, and a speech was given by John G. Mott. Also in 1932, the cross was illuminated for the first time. An article in the
404:
134:. The site is in Serra Cross Park, a one-acre parcel within the larger Grant Park that overlooks downtown Ventura, the
392:
770:
Jeff Claassen (December 5, 1991). "Is this the end of Serra Cross? Court ruling may force city to remove landmark".
608:. September 13, 1912. p. 1 – via The Museum of Ventura County (clippings file for "Cross on the Hill").
872:
382:
220:
In 1912, a movement to rebuild the cross on the hill was led by Myrtle Francis, head of the Landmarks Committee,
690:. May 22, 1983. p. 9 – via The Museum of Ventura County (clippings file on the "Cross on the Hill")).
484:
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150:
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According to some accounts, the first cross was erected at the site in 1782 at the time of the founding of the
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950:
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357:, and Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands. The conservancy leases the location for weddings and other events.
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In 1915, residents of Ventura began an annual tradition of walking up the hill to the cross for an Easter
649:
354:
135:
935:
Kevin Clerici (December 6, 2005). "Court backs sale of cross site: Ventura heirs' challenge rejected".
450:"History of Cross On Hill: Erected Thrice – By Fr. Serra, Fr. Juan and by People of San Buenaventura".
310:
264:
623:. pp. 10, 16 – via The Museum of Ventura County (clippings file for "Cross on the Hill").
826:
701:
675:. August 25, 1968 – via The Museum of Ventura County (clippings file on "Cross on the Hill").
259:
In 1919, petitions were circulated seeking construction of a road to the cross through Grant Park.
179:
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604:"Old Mission Cross Restored: In Fitting Ceremony; Unusual Demonstration Marks Raising of Cross".
454:. April 7, 1928 – via The Museum of Ventura County (clippings file on "Cross on the Hill").
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242:
187:
171:
143:
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411:
415:, United States Supreme Court case upholding constitutionality of the Mojave Memorial Cross
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Sue Crockett (March 30, 1945). "Sunday to Mark 30th Annual Easter Sunrise Trek to Cross".
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Engelhardt was unable to ascertain precisely when the first cross was raised on the hill.
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In 1966, the cross was placed on a platform and illuminated with fluorescent lighting.
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Saturday morning rally in front of City Hall to support the maintenance of the cross.
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proved unfounded, though portions of the surrounding park were burned in the fire.
225:
638:– via The Museum of Ventura County (clippings file for "Cross on the Hill").
920:
Tracy Wilson and Steve Chawkins (May 10, 2003). "Grounds for Suit Over a Cross".
727:"Pacific Crossroad: Stunning ocean views enhance peaceful site of mission symbol"
541:"Jose de Arnaz of San Buenaventura: Personification of California's Golden Era".
469:– via The Museum of Ventura County (clippings file on "Cross on the Hill").
267:(the first archbishop of Los Angeles), choirs sang, an original poem was read by
361:
337:
1019:"Iconic Serra Cross in Ventura standing tall after area ravaged by Thomas Fire"
841:
Marjorie Hernandez (June 8, 2003). "Bikers for Christ join rally for cross".
61:
48:
997:
975:
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and followed lawsuits challenging crosses in San Francisco and La Mesa and
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John Scheibe (March 29, 2003). "Ventura cross could become legal issue".
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they violated the "no-preference" clause in the California Constitution.
35:
Serra Cross with Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands in background, April 2018
360:
In December 2017, rumors that the Serra Cross had been destroyed in the
407:, lengthy legal battle regarding the cross near San Diego, California
619:
Wally Smith (August 31, 1969). "A Cross On Every Hill To Monterey".
283:
In 1941, the cross was replaced by the Alice M. Bartlett Club.
824:
Tamara Koehler (May 5, 2003). "Churchgoers hold vigil for cross".
336:
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opined: "The red outline makes a striking image on the hillside."
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Serra Cross Park is known for its sweeping views of Ventura, the
203:
on November 2, 1875. An article published four days later in the
395:, legal challenges to the Mount Davidson Cross in San Francisco
749:"City of San Buenaventura Historic Landmarks & Districts"
305:
and three Ventura County residents represented by attorney
545:. The Ventura County Historical Society. 2007. p. 43.
485:"Ventura's Hilltop Cross Now a Beacon for Controversy"
686:"Birthday celebration: Ventura was 150 years young".
303:
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
100:
85:
77:
40:
23:
957:. September 23, 2003. pp. B1, B9 – via
510:
401:, legal challenge to the cross atop the mountain
374:City of Ventura Historic Landmarks and Districts
379:Statues of Junípero Serra (Ventura, California)
465:Mrs. George H. Hall. "The Cross on the Hill".
565:"Mission cross is a lasting Ventura landmark"
157:is now known as the Serra Cross Conservancy.
16:Landmark on a hill in Ventura, California, US
8:
393:Mount Davidson (California) § The cross
170:The Mission San Buenaventura was founded by
245:, who was later designated as California'a
130:on a hill known as "La Loma de la Cruz" in
29:
20:
892:
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733:. March 9, 2000. p. B8 – via
708:. March 26, 1932. p. 7 – via
513:San Buenaventura: The Mission by the Sea
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656:. June 27, 1919. p. 5 – via
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873:"Ventura to Auction Off Hilltop Cross"
563:Catherine Saillant (August 24, 2008).
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190:would surely have noted the incident."
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856:"City Council votes to sell cross".
789:. December 22, 1991. pp. 12–13.
504:
502:
998:"About The Serra Cross Conservancy"
899:"Lights Must Dim for Ventura Cross"
341:The cross at Serra Cross Park, 2013
239:Native Daughters of the Golden West
897:Steve Chawkins (August 23, 2003).
787:The Ventura County Star-Free Press
772:The Ventura County Star-Free Press
673:The Ventura County Star-Free Press
621:The Ventura County Star-Free Press
399:Mount Rubidoux § Legal Battle
14:
951:"Cross Is Sold to Highest Bidder"
871:Steve Chawkins (August 2, 2003).
517:. Mission Santa Barbara. p.
1053:Landmarks in Ventura, California
483:Steve Chawkins (April 3, 2003).
279:The fourth cross erected in 1941
1063:California Historical Landmarks
182:rejected the traditional story:
166:Construction of the first cross
879:. pp. B1, B8 – via
860:. August 1, 2003. p. A18.
751:. City of Ventura. May 3, 2016
118:, sometimes also known as the
1:
650:"Want Road Built Up To Cross"
509:Zephyrin Engelhardt (1930).
405:Mount Soledad Cross lawsuits
333:The Serra Cross Conservancy
198:Father John Campala's cross
1079:
293:First Amendment litigation
1021:. KEYT. December 5, 2017.
905:. p. B6 – via
785:"The old, rugged cross".
491:. p. B5 – via
108:
28:
978:. Serra Park Conservancy
702:"Cross Lights Turned On"
543:The Quarterly, Volume 50
388:Mission San Buenaventura
151:Mission San Buenaventura
843:The Ventura County Star
802:The Ventura County Star
104:Serra Cross Conservancy
381:– erected in front of
342:
216:Reconstruction in 1912
192:
671:"Remember When ...".
355:Santa Barbara Channel
340:
197:
184:
136:Santa Barbara Channel
81:1 acre (0.40 ha)
311:Establishment Clause
265:John Joseph Cantwell
62:34.2846°N 119.2962°W
976:"Father Serra Park"
937:Ventura County Star
827:Ventura County Star
208:whenever it fell."
180:Zephyrin Engelhardt
132:Ventura, California
58: /
606:Ventura Free Press
343:
234:Ventura Free Press
205:Ventura Free Press
144:Santa Cruz Islands
67:34.2846; -119.2962
955:Los Angeles Times
922:Los Angeles Times
903:Los Angeles Times
877:Los Angeles Times
731:Los Angeles Times
706:Los Angeles Times
569:Los Angeles Times
489:Los Angeles Times
273:Los Angeles Times
269:John S. McGroarty
243:John S. McGroarty
120:Cross on the Hill
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1037:Official website
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128:Christian cross
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573:. Retrieved
571:. p. B2
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362:Thomas Fire
116:Serra Cross
65: /
53:119°17′46″W
41:Coordinates
24:Serra Cross
1047:Categories
420:References
50:34°17′05″N
1003:April 26,
982:April 26,
383:City Hall
188:Fr. Palou
858:The Star
755:April 8,
575:July 25,
368:See also
636:unknown
467:unknown
161:History
140:Anacapa
126:, is a
122:or the
91: (
138:, and
688:Vista
101:Owner
86:Built
1005:2018
984:2018
757:2018
577:2020
142:and
114:The
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