Hi June,
“The pier and warehouse called Amesport Landing were owned and operated by the Pacific Steamship Co.
“A small steamer (about 200 feet) was operated up and down the coast, carrying farmer’s crops–mosty oats, barley and hay to San Francisco.
“The produce to be shipped was raised in this area and stored in a large warehouse until the steamer arrived which was about once or twice a month, during harvest season.
“The warehouse, about 100′ feet wide and 300′ feet long, had a track down the center, which extended out to the end of the pier. The pier was 1000′ feet long. Horse drawn flat cars carried the freight from the warehouse to the steamer which was tied to the wharf and also the buoys.
“When the steamer came in, local farmers were hired to work for the company. One event, often retold by my father, was the time he drove the flat car–heavily loaded–out on the pier. The load broke through the pier, and the whole load, car, horse and driver went into the ocean. The horse was killed and my father luckily escaped with his life.
“When the Ocean Shore Railroad was built, –about 1900– the Pacific Steamship Co. discontinued service as farmers were sending their produce by rail. The wharf and warehouse were not used and in 1914 my father [Joseph Miguel] purchased the property from the Pacific Steamship Co.
“The Miramar Hotel was built in 1916 on the site of the warehouse, which was torn down and much of the timber used in its construction.
“By this time the pier was in need of repair, and many piles had to be replaced. The piles were logs about 100′ feet long and weighing two or more tons. They were eucalyptus and came from the hills of El Granada.
“The railroad was scheduled to go as far as Santa Cruz but was only finished to Santa Cruz. A real estate boom resulted from the building of the railroad. Promoters bought up all the area around Miramar and El Granada from the farmers. This property was surveyed into lots.
“Property across the street from the Miramar Hotel ==some 3 or 4 lots==which extended from the road to the center of the creek, was also owned by us. It was purchased from lot owners after the real estate boom died out.
“My father bought the property on which the Miramar Hotel was built from the Pacific Steamship Company. The hotel plans were drawn by an architect, according to my father’s ideas.
“The excavation for the swimming pool and cellar was all done by hand. The swimming pool ws 20′ by 40′ and 10 feet deep at one end. Salt water was pumped from the ocean via a pipeline, and was heated by a circulating oil furnace.
“The building of the Hotel was all done by day labor. Carpenters at that time received $2.50 a day and the foreman was paid $3 a day.”
[Note: I will add photos soon.]
