Jarrell Jackman: Volunteer Jeremy Hass Played Key Role in Saving Santa Barbara’s Presidio

You know that feeling when you walk through El Presidio de Santa Bárbara and feel the weight of 246 years of history? According to a recent piece by Jarrell Jackman in Noozhawk, we have a volunteer named Jeremy Hass to thank for making sure that feeling is still possible. While many of us were celebrating our town’s founding anniversary last month, Hass was quietly working behind the scenes—helping preserve the very site we were honoring. It’s a reminder that our local landmarks don’t save themselves; they’re kept alive by neighbors who show up, not for the spotlight, but for the love of place.

What I love about this story is how it captures the spirit of Santa Barbara. We’re a community that treasures its roots, and yet it’s easy to take places like the Presidio for granted as we rush past on our way to the beach or the farmers market. Hass’s volunteer work is a quiet call to action for the rest of us. Next time you’re strolling through the Presidio grounds, maybe take a moment to thank a volunteer—or better yet, become one. Because as Jackman’s article reminds us, saving history starts with a single person saying, “I’ll help.”