This was a perfect time for ambitious men to be in Alta California. The Mexican government, which opposed church power and property, was in the process of “secularizing” the 21 Franciscan missions that ran the length of California’s 770-mile coast. In theory, secularization was supposed to liberate tribal peoples from the theocratic bondage of Franciscan missionaries. In reality, it proved to be one of the great land grabs in history.
Frank Edward Joseph McGinity is perplexed. How is it, he wonders, there are no streets named after Nicholas Den anywhere on the South Coast? No boulevards, bridges, public buildings, parks, or even a dusty beach trail. Given that Nicholas Den??—??the Irish immigrant who landed in Santa Barbara in 1836??—??saved the Santa Barbara Mission from being secularized, helped navigate Santa Barbara’s painful transition from Mexican control to American authority, amassed an unimaginable fortune during the Gold Rush, chased notorious bandit Jack Powers out of town, and acquired pretty much all the land from Goleta to Gaviota, so conspicuous an omission seems all but intentional.
In recent years, McGinity??—??who heads the West Coast branch of the American Irish Historical Society??—??has set out to let the world know just who Nicholas Den was. As part of this mission, McGinity has been giving talks detailing Den’s exploits. “That’s what we do,” McGinity explained. “We’re Irish. We tell stories.”
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