City of Santa Ana: Restored Pepito & Joanne House Wins Preservation Award (2007)

Monday, January 1, 2007

Historic Preservation Award Winners

Congratulations to the 2007 Outstanding Historic Preservation Award Winners!  The first winner is Fermin Valencia for Restoration of the Pepito and Joanne’s Dance Studio. Pepito and Joanne were long-time friends of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, and were in fact “co-conspirators” in getting the first episode of “I Love Lucy” on the air. Lucy and Desi were unable to pay their dear friend Pepito for his acting role in the pilot episode, and was given the original film as payment.  This “lost episode” was later found in this very house, and was made available for public view.  After Pepito and Joanne died, the home passed to a non-profit agency, who were unable to restore it or use it for their own purposes because of its decrepit condition.  Fermin has fully restored the home, both inside and out, along with the structure’s wonderfully intricate Queen Anne style details. It was a tremendous job, and he was up to it – all the while completing law school. 

Source: 

City of Santa Ana, California

http://www.ci.santa-ana.ca.us/pba/planning/HistoricPreservationAwardWinners.asp