From Emmeline Doulton of Miramar: In Memoriam (c.1911):
Emmeline Ritchie was born in 1841 in Blackheath, London. At the age of fifteen years she went with her two younger sisters to Australia to join her father and mother who were already there. At seventeen she married Josiah Doulton, son of John Doulton, founder of the Doulton Potteries at Lambeth, London, and for nine years they made their home in Australia living in Adelaide and Melbourne. Two sons [Harold and George] and a daughter were born there.
The Australian life brought business activities, delightful society, many musical friends, and some exciting experiences in one of which on a ride through the bush they were shot at by bush-rangers. Twice the family made visits to England by sailing-vessels around the Horn. On one of these, the little girl aged eighteen months died and was buried at sea.
After leaving Australia and living in London for seven years where two sons [James Leslie and Cyril] were born, the family migrated again in search of health and better business prospects; and this time to a plantation at New Garden, Gilford County, six miles from Greensborough in North Carolina. Here a daughter, [Ethel] the youngest child, was born.
The climate was a great disappointment and Mr. Doulton's health not being benefited, the charm of Santa Barbara, its climate and its hot springs, attracted them to this coast. With the five children the long journey was made direct to Santa Barbara where they lived for two years. In 1875 came the final move to Montecito and the spot where Miramar was to develop.
[... For] about ten years the family lived in the small house by themselves. But the farming and fruit growing was not profitable. ... In 1887, a friend in San Francisco begged to spend a summer holiday with them and with Mrs. Doulton's reluctant consent begins the reception of guests and the development of "Miramar." Some of us remember vividly the old red house, all by itself [pictured at left as enlarged by 1900], and as always the lawns, the trees, the flowers, the sense of loveliness and of an interesting and wise and self-sacrificing personality in command.
In 1889 came the first graceful little separate cottage, of shakes and cloth. Now there are twenty-five buildings and the whole neighborhood round about is built up with charming cottages and houses inspired to good taste and beauty by the Miramar example and the Miramar neighborliness and worth.
We of the old days shall not forget the comfortable gatherings in the old drawing room, the pleasant meetings with pleasant people, the music, the games with children old and young, Mr, Doulton's delightful voice in reading or story-telling and the friendly but not intrusive association of all the guests. With large numbers this has largely changed but the charm persists.
Mr. Doulton died in April 1903, at the age of 73. Mrs. Doulton died December 27th, 1910, aged 69, leaving two sons and a daughter, all married, and seven grandsons.
-----------
"Miramar" was managed by Emmeline's eldest son Harold until his death in 1928, and for a decade longer by Harold's widow Elizabeth and his son Harold S. until the Depression forced the sale of the resort in 1938.
See also: The Way it Was: The Miramar No One Remembers by Hattie Beresford (Montecito Journal, 2007)
** Day of birth is derived from the dedication to "dear Mama" of a birthday album in 1879 from Josiah and 6-year old Ethel. The Album later passed to Ethel and her son Gordon.
Emmeline Ritchie was born in 1841 in Blackheath, London. At the age of fifteen years she went with her two younger sisters to Australia to join her father and mother who were already there. At seventeen she married Josiah Doulton, son of John Doulton, founder of the Doulton Potteries at Lambeth, London, and for nine years they made their home in Australia living in Adelaide and Melbourne. Two sons [Harold and George] and a daughter were born there.
The Australian life brought business activities, delightful society, many musical friends, and some exciting experiences in one of which on a ride through the bush they were shot at by bush-rangers. Twice the family made visits to England by sailing-vessels around the Horn. On one of these, the little girl aged eighteen months died and was buried at sea.
After leaving Australia and living in London for seven years where two sons [James Leslie and Cyril] were born, the family migrated again in search of health and better business prospects; and this time to a plantation at New Garden, Gilford County, six miles from Greensborough in North Carolina. Here a daughter, [Ethel] the youngest child, was born.
The climate was a great disappointment and Mr. Doulton's health not being benefited, the charm of Santa Barbara, its climate and its hot springs, attracted them to this coast. With the five children the long journey was made direct to Santa Barbara where they lived for two years. In 1875 came the final move to Montecito and the spot where Miramar was to develop.
[... For] about ten years the family lived in the small house by themselves. But the farming and fruit growing was not profitable. ... In 1887, a friend in San Francisco begged to spend a summer holiday with them and with Mrs. Doulton's reluctant consent begins the reception of guests and the development of "Miramar." Some of us remember vividly the old red house, all by itself [pictured at left as enlarged by 1900], and as always the lawns, the trees, the flowers, the sense of loveliness and of an interesting and wise and self-sacrificing personality in command.
In 1889 came the first graceful little separate cottage, of shakes and cloth. Now there are twenty-five buildings and the whole neighborhood round about is built up with charming cottages and houses inspired to good taste and beauty by the Miramar example and the Miramar neighborliness and worth.
We of the old days shall not forget the comfortable gatherings in the old drawing room, the pleasant meetings with pleasant people, the music, the games with children old and young, Mr, Doulton's delightful voice in reading or story-telling and the friendly but not intrusive association of all the guests. With large numbers this has largely changed but the charm persists.
Mr. Doulton died in April 1903, at the age of 73. Mrs. Doulton died December 27th, 1910, aged 69, leaving two sons and a daughter, all married, and seven grandsons.
-----------
"Miramar" was managed by Emmeline's eldest son Harold until his death in 1928, and for a decade longer by Harold's widow Elizabeth and his son Harold S. until the Depression forced the sale of the resort in 1938.
See also: The Way it Was: The Miramar No One Remembers by Hattie Beresford (Montecito Journal, 2007)
** Day of birth is derived from the dedication to "dear Mama" of a birthday album in 1879 from Josiah and 6-year old Ethel. The Album later passed to Ethel and her son Gordon.
From Emmeline Doulton of Miramar: In Memoriam (c.1911):
Emmeline Ritchie was born in 1841 in Blackheath, London. At the age of fifteen years she went with her two younger sisters to Australia to join her father and mother who were already there. At seventeen she married Josiah Doulton, son of John Doulton, founder of the Doulton Potteries at Lambeth, London, and for nine years they made their home in Australia living in Adelaide and Melbourne. Two sons [Harold and George] and a daughter were born there.
The Australian life brought business activities, delightful society, many musical friends, and some exciting experiences in one of which on a ride through the bush they were shot at by bush-rangers. Twice the family made visits to England by sailing-vessels around the Horn. On one of these, the little girl aged eighteen months died and was buried at sea.
After leaving Australia and living in London for seven years where two sons [James Leslie and Cyril] were born, the family migrated again in search of health and better business prospects; and this time to a plantation at New Garden, Gilford County, six miles from Greensborough in North Carolina. Here a daughter, [Ethel] the youngest child, was born.
The climate was a great disappointment and Mr. Doulton's health not being benefited, the charm of Santa Barbara, its climate and its hot springs, attracted them to this coast. With the five children the long journey was made direct to Santa Barbara where they lived for two years. In 1875 came the final move to Montecito and the spot where Miramar was to develop.
[... For] about ten years the family lived in the small house by themselves. But the farming and fruit growing was not profitable. ... In 1887, a friend in San Francisco begged to spend a summer holiday with them and with Mrs. Doulton's reluctant consent begins the reception of guests and the development of "Miramar." Some of us remember vividly the old red house, all by itself [pictured at left as enlarged by 1900], and as always the lawns, the trees, the flowers, the sense of loveliness and of an interesting and wise and self-sacrificing personality in command.
In 1889 came the first graceful little separate cottage, of shakes and cloth. Now there are twenty-five buildings and the whole neighborhood round about is built up with charming cottages and houses inspired to good taste and beauty by the Miramar example and the Miramar neighborliness and worth.
We of the old days shall not forget the comfortable gatherings in the old drawing room, the pleasant meetings with pleasant people, the music, the games with children old and young, Mr, Doulton's delightful voice in reading or story-telling and the friendly but not intrusive association of all the guests. With large numbers this has largely changed but the charm persists.
Mr. Doulton died in April 1903, at the age of 73. Mrs. Doulton died December 27th, 1910, aged 69, leaving two sons and a daughter, all married, and seven grandsons.
-----------
"Miramar" was managed by Emmeline's eldest son Harold until his death in 1928, and for a decade longer by Harold's widow Elizabeth and his son Harold S. until the Depression forced the sale of the resort in 1938.
See also: The Way it Was: The Miramar No One Remembers by Hattie Beresford (Montecito Journal, 2007)
** Day of birth is derived from the dedication to "dear Mama" of a birthday album in 1879 from Josiah and 6-year old Ethel. The Album later passed to Ethel and her son Gordon.
Emmeline Ritchie was born in 1841 in Blackheath, London. At the age of fifteen years she went with her two younger sisters to Australia to join her father and mother who were already there. At seventeen she married Josiah Doulton, son of John Doulton, founder of the Doulton Potteries at Lambeth, London, and for nine years they made their home in Australia living in Adelaide and Melbourne. Two sons [Harold and George] and a daughter were born there.
The Australian life brought business activities, delightful society, many musical friends, and some exciting experiences in one of which on a ride through the bush they were shot at by bush-rangers. Twice the family made visits to England by sailing-vessels around the Horn. On one of these, the little girl aged eighteen months died and was buried at sea.
After leaving Australia and living in London for seven years where two sons [James Leslie and Cyril] were born, the family migrated again in search of health and better business prospects; and this time to a plantation at New Garden, Gilford County, six miles from Greensborough in North Carolina. Here a daughter, [Ethel] the youngest child, was born.
The climate was a great disappointment and Mr. Doulton's health not being benefited, the charm of Santa Barbara, its climate and its hot springs, attracted them to this coast. With the five children the long journey was made direct to Santa Barbara where they lived for two years. In 1875 came the final move to Montecito and the spot where Miramar was to develop.
[... For] about ten years the family lived in the small house by themselves. But the farming and fruit growing was not profitable. ... In 1887, a friend in San Francisco begged to spend a summer holiday with them and with Mrs. Doulton's reluctant consent begins the reception of guests and the development of "Miramar." Some of us remember vividly the old red house, all by itself [pictured at left as enlarged by 1900], and as always the lawns, the trees, the flowers, the sense of loveliness and of an interesting and wise and self-sacrificing personality in command.
In 1889 came the first graceful little separate cottage, of shakes and cloth. Now there are twenty-five buildings and the whole neighborhood round about is built up with charming cottages and houses inspired to good taste and beauty by the Miramar example and the Miramar neighborliness and worth.
We of the old days shall not forget the comfortable gatherings in the old drawing room, the pleasant meetings with pleasant people, the music, the games with children old and young, Mr, Doulton's delightful voice in reading or story-telling and the friendly but not intrusive association of all the guests. With large numbers this has largely changed but the charm persists.
Mr. Doulton died in April 1903, at the age of 73. Mrs. Doulton died December 27th, 1910, aged 69, leaving two sons and a daughter, all married, and seven grandsons.
-----------
"Miramar" was managed by Emmeline's eldest son Harold until his death in 1928, and for a decade longer by Harold's widow Elizabeth and his son Harold S. until the Depression forced the sale of the resort in 1938.
See also: The Way it Was: The Miramar No One Remembers by Hattie Beresford (Montecito Journal, 2007)
** Day of birth is derived from the dedication to "dear Mama" of a birthday album in 1879 from Josiah and 6-year old Ethel. The Album later passed to Ethel and her son Gordon.
