Author: June Morrall

(Photo, top, J.C. Williamson; bottom, Williamson’s General Store.)

From the “Half Moon Bay Review,” 1945

“In Pescadero’s worst fire since 1927, the J.C. Williamson general store was completely destroyed and adjoining bank building was set afire and at least three other buildings were damaged in a $32,000 blaze in mid-afternoon Sunday.

“Explosions among paint and kerosene stores and stocks of shotgun shells in the rear of Williamson’s store, a Coastside landmark, rocked the north end of town.

“Pescadero fire crews, aided by state forestry service crews summoned from Half Moon Bay and La Honda and by a county crew from the La Honda (Skyline) summit station were hard-pressed to save the entire Pescadero business district from destruction during a four-hour battle.”

…to be continued…

Granted, these photos aren’t of the Russian River I remember 30 plus years ago. Besides Tahoe, “the River” was a popular destination. These pictures were taken at a garden just outside Guerneville. Itty bitty Guerneville, the main street, hasn’t changed  a bit, though.  I wish we’d had time to get to the Italian restaurant in Occidental….

(Photo courtesy Spanishtown Historical Society. Visit the SHS on Johnston Street, east of the shops on historic Main St, Half Moon Bay.) I can’t help but notice Tom Quinlan’s name proudly emblazoned on his buiding, his business. He was “the man.” You don’t see that much today, do you?

 

From the “Half Moon Bay Review,” 1945

 

“Relatives and scores of friends throughout San Mateo County are mourning the passing of Mrs. Margaret Quinlan, 69, a native of Half Moon Bay and daughter of one of the county’s earliest pioneer families….

“Mrs. Quinlan lived for many years in Miramar where both she and her late husband operated the well known ‘Sportsman’s Headquarters’. He was the late Thomas F. Quinlan, also a member of a pioneer family. After sale of business last year, she made her home in Southwood, So. San Francisco.

“She was born at Half Moon Bay in 1876, the daughter of Patrick F. and Mary Dolan McGovern. Her father was the first foreman of the original Ogden Mills estate at Millbrae from 1857 to 1861 and later a leading agriculturist at Millbrae and Pescadero. She was an elder sister of San Mateo County’s sheriff, the late T.C. ‘Brick’ McGovern of Half Moon Bay and Dr. J.C. McGovern , former county coroner, and two sisters, Mrs. Mary E. McGraw and Mrs. Annie Conrad of South San Francisco.

“She was the mother of Dr. J.E. Quinlan of San Francisco and former Deputy Sheriff Leland Quinlan of South San Francisco…”

Click on the link below to view the 60-minute Coastside documentary (1981.)

Mystery of Half Moon Bay

Not only is it thought-provoking to re-visit the short, intense lives of murdered President JFK and his Attorney General brother RFK– but there are many “I didn’t know that” moments in this book by David Talbot, the founder of San Francisco-based Salon.com. One example that shines a light on the conspiracy angle: A Texas publisher whose last name was Dealey reprimanded the brothers for being too soft on Cuba–and he told them so in colorful language.

[In case you forgot: Oswald (wink-wink) or whoever engineered the killing of JFK, chose Dealey Plaza as the place for the shooting]

Most intriguing are the similarities you can’t miss between then and now–I’m referring to the roguish CIA and the gung-ho-ish military. Without writing about today’s news, Talbott’s story, that takes place in the 1960s, proves that the bureaucracy and rigid military establishment do not change their ways with the inauguration of a new president.

For me, the book does bog down at times, just when I’m so anxious to read more of the good stuff– and although I love adjectives and understand their importance, I wish there hadn’t been so many on each page–I don’t mean to be so critical because I do admire the detail work.

Like this ancient, ruined Roman villa found three meters (10 feet) below the construction site. I’m told the stones are quite beautiful although you cannot see it in this photo.

 

 

 

 

Photo: In 1924 the Committee of California Postmasters met in San Jose. L-R: George Hughes, San Bruno; J.E. Cawgill, San Carlos; Charles A. French, Brentwood, and R. Guy Smith, Moss Beach.

1970: Longtime Coastside Postmaster Suicide

Raymond Guy Smith, 82, well-known former postmaster of Moss Beach, was found dead in an upstairs bedroom at his home on California Street in Moss Beach. The Sheriff’s Office declared his death a suicide.

Known as Guy to everyone since coming to Moss Beach in 1912, Smith was postmaster for 40 years until 1958, also doing business in real estate and insurance.

R. Guy, a native of Charleston, Arkansas, was listed in “Who’s Who in California.

His body was discovered by his nephew, Elbert Starbuck of Chatsworth. Starbuck had been caring for his uncle who was dying of cancer.

Starbuck told authorities that Smith, a bachelor, didn’t want anyone living with him so Starbuck was sleeping in a camper outside the home. Starbuck was only allowed in the house to prepare his uncle’s meals.

Deputy Timothy McHenry said Smith had shot himself in the chest with a .32 calibre Colt automatic pistol which he kept under a pillow to protect himself.

When he retired in 1958 at age 70, R. Guy Smith was the oldest California postmaster. He began his career in 1918, the third in his family. His grandfather had been postmaster in Boreman, West Viriginia in 1871 and his father postmaster in Dahoma, Arkansas in the 1890s.

Two years before he retired, R. Guy was named “Postmaster of the Year” in California. In 1927 he was the first postmaster ever to fly to a national postmaster’s convention, taking with him an inch-thick bundle of air mail.

He was interned at Skylawn Memorial Park.

From the Half Moon Bay Review, 1962

“Coastside People View Program on Alcatraz Island”

“Helping to whoop it up recently at the Alcatraz Island Frontier Nite were many citizens from the coastside, all guests of Mrs. Anne Howe, proprietor of the House of Doors on San Mateo Road in Half Moon Bay. Among those present were the chief of the Half Moon Bay police, Donald Pearman and his wife; Manuel G. Sousa, postmaster, with his family; Mr. and Mrs. Gino Granelli of the Half Moon Bay Inn with daughter Judy and guest Claire Byrne of the Intermediate School; Dante Pompati with is entire family; Mr. and Mrs. Si Moyer with Mr. Eddie Andreini and fiancee; Mr. and Mrs. Jack Pedeuboy; Mr. and Mrs. Louie Tucker.

“Wagonmaster duties were shared by Warden Blackwell and Mrs. Howe, with the honor guest being Marshal J of TV fame. All western props were frunished by Mrs. Howe, and despite the unseasonable warmth, the hosting group and Mrs. Howe wore full Western regalia. Entertaining  were Louise O’Neal and Bob Grey of Half Moon Bay playing accordion and guitar; and there was a Boy Scout troop who did several Indian dances. The grand finale of the show consisted of a male group done up as dance-hall girls, which brought down the house. Thanks to Helen Doherty, president of the Alcatraz Woman’s Club, all went smoothly, and the entire cabaret show was a howling success, said many of the spectators.

“An unexpected highlight of the evening was a surpise presentation to Anne Howe of a Certificate of Honorary Membership in the Alcatraz Woman’s Club, in appreciation of all her continuous efforts in their behalf over the years.

“A further surprise was the knowledge that the pilot of the launch which brought people to and from the “rock” was an old friend and near neighbor of Jack Pedeuboy’s uncle, William Britton of Cazadero, where he goes to hunt in his free time. Jack learned this while he and Louie Tucker were riding the launch back and forth to cool off on the warm evening.

“Mrs. Howe was thanked by those who participated in the entertainment program; those who visited the prison island from the coastside.”