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10 | December 21, 2017 | Malibu surfside news News
malibusurfsidenews.com
Adamson House tips cap to volunteers at docent luncheon
Barbara Burke
Freelance Reporter
Spirits were high as the
Adamson House docents,
interns and members of the
Malibu Adamson House
Foundation convened for
the annual docent recognition
and holiday celebration
on Dec. 10.
The luncheon was held
on the mansion’s beautiful
lawn, overlooking its
ornate Malibu tile fountain
and the Pacific. The iconic,
architectural gem of Malibu
originally belonged to
the area’s founding families,
the Rindges and the
Adamsons. Musical guests
White Chocolate Martini
played blues and jazz tunes
as attendees danced and
enjoyed a beautiful, sunny
Malibu day. The event was
catered by Monrose Catering.
Adamson House has recently
undergone $6 million
in renovations and is
attracting a lot of visitors,
according to Damian Ruddy,
museum curator.
Efforts to improve visitor
experiences are greatly
bolstered by the docents,
volunteers and interns
who donate many hours of
cheerful and helpful effort
at the Adamson House.
Cumulatively, they worked
5,883 hours in 2017, Ruddy
announced at the luncheon,
as he handed out
awards recognizing their
many contributions. Adamson
House now has 70
docents.
“Adamson House is
looking for more docents
and will be providing docent
training for those interested
in January,” Ruddy
said. “We’ll also being
open on Wednesdays in the
late spring.”
Additionally, Ruddy
A peek at the Adamson House’s holiday tours
Offerings continue throughout
the month of December
Barbara Burke, Freelance Reporter
noted that volunteers donated
more than 1,000
hours of time at the foundation’s
gift store.
“Winston Churchill said
it best,” Ruddy told attendees.
“He said ‘We make a
living from what we get,
but a life from what we
give.’ The docents have
provided countless hours
of volunteer work at the
Adamson House, which is
a part of the mission of the
California State Parks system,
because it preserves
our cultural resources here
in Malibu. The volunteers
and interns have also been
of wonderful help this
year.”
Docents were recognized
for their many efforts,
with longtime
docents Nadine Bozon-Vialle,
Susie Dettmers-Smith
and Dorothy Kelly being
acknowledged for donating
more than 3,000 hours
of service over the years.
Malibu’s Adamson House will be open
for holiday tours on Thursdays through
Sundays this month, with tours provided
from 3:15 to 7:15 p.m.
Malibu Surfside News was treated to a
tour of Adamson House where they have
decked the halls to celebrate the holidays,
even going so far as to have a pink tree on
the mantle in one of the bedrooms.
“The pink Christmas tree was a favorite
of Sylvia, one of the family members,”
said Kate Anderson, a State Park
aide, as she and Samantha Ostrin, also a
Park Aide, showed Malibu Surfside News
around the festively decorated interior.
The festive decorations, many of which
are of the period when the Adamson family
lived there, amplify the house’s gorgeous
Malibu tiling and other features in
the home, including what the mansion’s
website describes as “hand-carved teakwood
doors, hand-painted murals, molded
ceilings, hand-wrought filagree ironwork
and lead-framed bottle glass windows.”
For some, the trip’s nostalgia is deeply
rooted. Attendee Gregory London, grandson
of Merritt Adamson Jr., who grew
up at Adamson House, was among this
year’s visitors.
“My family and I are grateful for the
strong relationship between the Adamson
House Foundation and the State of California
and we look forward to continuing
capital improvements on the property
and the strong growth in the number of
docent volunteers,” London said. “We especially
thank the Angeles District Supervisor
Craig Sap for his continued of his
time and state resources to the house and
grounds.”
Sap added that he is most impressed
with the volunteers’ efforts and renovations
at Adamson House.
“While the Malibu Adamson House is
a very important historical building, what
gives it importance and a sense of place
are the many dedicated volunteers that
enthusiastically bring the House to life to
the many thousands of visitors each year,”
Sap said.
All the docents were delighted to attend
and motivated to continue serving.
“I’ve been a docent since September
and I have loved every minute of it,” Betsy
Handler said. “The Adamson House is
incomparably beautiful and the people are
incomparably terrific to work with. I urge
everyone to come visit here.”
Volunteer Darlene Dubray agreed.
“I’m honored to be a part of the team
to maintain and preserve this opulent,
historical house for future generations to
enjoy,” Dubray said.
Starting in January, the Adamson House
will provide tours to school groups from
less advantaged areas, and transportation
for the school groups will be funded by
the Adamson House Foundation, Museum
Curator Damian Ruddy said.
Ruddy, who emceed the
event, and Martha Juede,
president of the Malibu
Adamson House Foundation,
recognized the volunteers
and discussed plans
for the property in 2018.
Craig Sap, district superintendent
for the Angeles
District of the State Parks
of California, also provided
remarks and lauded the
efforts of all the docents,
volunteers, interns and
State Parks staff.
Volunteer Angelo Sassi (left) receives the Poppy Award
from Adamson House Museum Curator Damian Ruddy
on Dec. 10. Photos by Barbara Burke/22nd Century Media
Adamson House
23200 Pacific Coast
Highway, Malibu
Phone: (310) 456-9378
Web: www.
adamsonhouse.org
Adamson House volunteer
Darlene Dubray was also
recognized for her service
during the Adamson House
luncheon this month.
“This property is not
an island,” Juede noted.
“Rather, it is an important
part of Malibu. It has
helped to revitalize this
area.
“Recently, we have
completed a project costing
more than $300,000
for restoring the lath
house. We’re happy to be
bringing back the school
children through our educational
program. We’re
also happy to have more
than a 30-percent increase
in our docent-volunteer
program.”
Ruddy conferred Poppy
Awards, the highest award
conferred, on Paul Wineman,
a longtime volunteer
at the Malibu Lagoon State
Park, and Angelo Sassi.
“Angelo Sassi was recognized
for his outstanding
dedication as a day
leader and he oversees
general tours,” Ruddy told
Malibu Surfside News.
“Paul Wineman was recognized
for his stalwart
volunteerism at Adamson
since 2000 and he oversees
and coordinates the Tuesday
group tours.”