(The San Mateo County & San Francisco) Town & Country Homes 1910-1930
Gabriel Moulin’s glamorous photos of the beautiful homes and people who lived “over the hill” [code for the Peninsula.] in “very interesting” times, as the Federal Reserve (they print our money) was organized in 1913 followed by WWI, and this country’s first Great Depression in 1929. I’m giving the book some context by using the significant events that define the era when the great Peninsula photographer was shooting pix.
You may enjoy more of Mr. Moulin’s work (and his book) at the San Mateo County Historical Museum in Redwood City.
The cover photo is of the pool at “Uplands,” the Hillsborough estate of Charles Templeton Crocker (1917.)
mgv2>datura is back on the track. I’ve been away for a while and I am deeply sorry for those of you who were expecting the September issue. Many had sent their work, most of which was to be published. I had troubles with my computer and lost all of it.
I’d like to upload another issue before the end of this year, so if you would like to submit your work, please do.
[Image: If you are wondering who the hand on Jack’s left shoulder belongs to: it’s Janice’s hand, Jack’s girlfriend.]
The last time I saw Jack King
was at the hardware store in El Granada, when Tom Andersen owned it. That day, more than a decade ago, was very windy and cold. It was winter. We were doing some remodeling on our house, and the blustery winds had snuffed out the flame in the old heater located beneath the house, way back in a dark and scary crawl space.
[Yes, yes, I could have called PG&E but I didn’t think of it.]
On that very cold, winter day I bumped into Jack King at the El Granada hardware store. Jack was a local character. I knew him as an unusual fellow who could spout classical poetry on demand–all the while flashing his generous smile. The way he wore his tousled brown curly hair, combined with the scholarly pair of glasses, helped to give him an intellectual look–and he was smart—
His talented girlfriend, Janice, designed and made original clothing. Jack and Janice lived in different places on the Coastside, near Cowboy’s Surf Shop and near the top of the El Granada Highlands.
Remembering that our heater was down, and that I did not know how to light a flame safely, and that I was afraid to make my way through the shadows in the crawl space…..I asked Jack if he would help us.
Not a moment of hesitation, and, fifteen minutes later, dear Jack wouldn’t take a little gift of thanks from us, as we had much to be grateful for once the rooms were warming up.
That was the last time I saw Jack King. I heard he moved to San Francisco, somewhere near San Francisco General Hospital. Burt and I hope that life is treating him well. We will always remember Jack King by the act of kindness he performed for us on that gloomy day long ago.
—————
Dear June,
I lived with Jack King at 2040 Laguna st. in San Francisco back in the day. Could you tell me if Jack is still around. If so and you see him give him my Email address and to contact me.
Wally:We might have crossed paths back then I was a member of the Family Dog(still there in my heart) did backups and played congas with a band call the Initial Shock. I now sing Jazz at the Sacramento Jazz jubillee and at their music scenes every 2nd Sunday at the Dante hall in Sacramento.
Dear friends & family,
Today is my daughter Marika’s birthday & I thought you would enjoy the little e-card that I sent to her this morning. We concluded the beautiful day (above) this last Saturday by kayaking and rollicking and having fun at Mavericks, playing some wild three-way frisbee with Michael Murphy until well after a glorious sunset on the low tide beach out front.
I remember so clearly on the morning of October 28, 1974, a few hours after Marika was born, seeing the headline in the San Francisco paper: STATE GETS FIRST BIG STORM. Well, I guess it is true that Marika has been a “big storm” in my life–one that has brought me so much adventure & happiness, and for Marika, I am forever grateful.
I was surprised to hear him answer: “Agriculture.”
As to the “why” of his unexpected investment choice, Rogers pointed out that most of the farmers working today are old–and there’s no one to replace them. Nobody’s going to farm school. Farm equipment, like tractors, have aged along with what could be America’s last generation of farmers.
Farming has been left behind: so, who will grow our food?
The present dismal economic picture will surely discourage new hammer & nail work for the indefinite future. There’s an irony here. The Coastside earth that has historically produced artichokes, Italian beans, and brussels sprouts, has been, overtime replaced by new homes. Could that change?. Who knows? Farming on the Coastside could turn into the biggest industry we have!
