Author: June Morrall

Instead we went to Pescadero and visited the goat at the Phipps Ranch, east of Pescadero. Great place to take the kids. And there’s plenty of berries to pick.

Live performance art painting by Michael Bowen accompanied by Svante
Henryson on Cello. All of these photos from the evening of June 16 in
Stockholm Sweden. All photos copyright R.W. Bruch.

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Interview with Pete Douglas (Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society) Sept. 15, 1979

Untaped.

Description of Michael McCracken: 5’10” tall.

Coming to Half Moon Bay in the 1950s was like going down to Big Sur.

Bob “the woodcutter” dragging wood along Mirada Rd. Had a long Eucalyptus limb Douglas wanted to use for a flag pole. Douglas found an old red curtain and ran it up. Busybody’s saw it and called American Legion–old Charlie Jacobs next door, member of American Legion, walked out and checked out the flag. Couldn’t find any Russian symbols on it, so decided it was ok.

Lots of police harassment at Ebb Tide Cafe. Two cops (one short, one tall, a Mutt & Jeff) one named Deputy Blood busted in one evening in the little beach house. They told Douglas he was serving after hours. Douglas replied that he had no license–that this was his private home.

He told them he was a probation officer which blew their minds. They started to look for drugs and the band strikes up the theme song from the tv show “Dragnet.”

Blue sheet showed the cops investigated a beatnik place (Ebb Tide Cafe) without narcotics but homosexuals were there (one a beautician) . Douglas spoke with Don Hillbush (head man at Hillcrest) who revealed that Pete Douglas was under surveillance. Don asked Pete what was going on in his private life. Douglas spoke with a higher up, asking him to tell Hillbush to stop the harassment.

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Former Princetonians (Princeton-of-the-Sea alumni) remember an unusual fellow named Patrick Cassidy, an artist, a kind of “out there” guy. That would be the late 1950s, early 1960s. He traded art for things he needed, and, his part of the deal this may have included quirky designs (harking back to maritime mythology) drawn or painted on the “helmets” worn by ab divers. You know, really cool stuff.

Below, Patrick Cassidy, photo courtesy Michael Bowen

hi june here is the kitchen shack at point 16, the man is a sculptor who is still around and did ab diving. he was the one who first found the ab factory. his name is patrick cassidy and i heard he is living on the north coast in a place called moon valley. michael.

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September 2, 2007

Michael received a Certificate of Honor from San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom honoring his major role in the “Summer of Love” and “Human Be-In” in 1967.

The certificate reads: “Whereas, on behalf of the City and County of San Francisco I am prooud to recognize and honor Michae Bowen for his involvement with Summer of Love and work as a promoter for the Human Be-In in 1967. Summer of Love represents a movement of individualism and environmental renaissance, which brought upon a new sense of activism and appreciation for the performance arts in a new social experience. Your charitable efforts and spirit are appreciated by all San Franciscans. Congratulations and best of luck in all of your future endeavors! Gavin Newsom Mayor.”

Cool.

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“Big Sur Coast Californiaâ€?, oil on canvas by Michael Bowen, copyright RW Bruch. Painted on Bowen’s way from the Coastside to Mexico in 1963. In the early 1960s artist Michael Bowen lived in the Abalone Factory at Princeton.

“Hikers Scoff At Law While Climbing Steep Cliffs in Devil’s Slide Area”
By Ed Bauer, Half Moon Bay Review, circa 1965

“The late Prof. Dan Reichel of the College of San Mateo often recommended that geology students study the Devil’s Slide area although he never advocated cliff-climbing. Reichel, a graduate of the Hearst School of Mines at the University of California, declared that Devil’s Slide was a result of the ‘block fault action.’

“In spite of the county ordinance against trespassing on the dangerous cliffs, the thrill-seekers still can be seen picking their ways on the narrow trails and slippery rocks.

“Even today, the gravel from the cliffside falls on the highway between Half Moon Bay and Pacifica. In 1962, a 15-ton boulder blocked traffic. The road has been closed from time to time for repairs.

“The proposed new highway [ed. this is circa 1960s] route will bypass Devil’s Slide. It will go over the top of Pedro Mountain, acording to Alan Hart, district highway engineer.”

(Photo: In the 1960s Ed Bauer was the editor/publisher of the Half Moon Bay Review)

“Hikers Scoff At Law While Climbing Steep Cliffs in Devil’s Slide Area”
By Ed Bauer, Half Moon Bay Review, circa 1965

“The history of the ill-fated Ocean Shore Railroad tells of the problems that the slide caused. The line was blocked and heavy cost problems came as a result of locating the route through the area. Old pioneers said that the line should ‘have gone over the top of Pedro Mountain’ as did the original coast highway.

“Former Supervisor Alvin S. Hatch declares that the Devil’s Slide has been a problem in many ways. ‘To keep the Devil’s Slide open cost many thousands of dollars. The gravel and rocks keep sliding down on the highway. It was a problem for Highway District 9,’ said Hatch.

“Geologists who have studied the Devil’s Slide claim that it is a result of ‘Block Faulting’ which occurred millions of years ago. At one time there was no Golden Gate. The interior of California was a gigantic lake surrounded by tropical forests. Dinosaurs and Dugongs (sea-cows) were in what is now San Francisco Bay.”

…to be continued…

“Hikers Scoff At Law While Climbing Steep Cliffs in Devil’s Slide Area”
By Ed Bauer, Half Moon Bay Review, circa 1965

“Despite many warning signs, hikers and would-be cliff climbers can be seen attempting to scale parts of Devil’s Slide on most any weekend.

“More than 13 persons have died in one way or another at the treacherous cliff area located just north of Montara. The county board of supervisors, after receiving complaints, ordered that warning signs be posted.

“The warning signs are chopped down almost as fast as they can be replaced. It is believed that the ‘night party’ crowds hack down the wooden signs for firewood.

“Tourists and newcomers to the area are struck with the rugged beauty of the ocean and cliff area. They often stop to obtain a better view and fail to notice the ‘No Parking Except In An Emergency’ signs that have been posted in the area.

“There are small trails leading to the steep cliffs and there are remains of an old railroad roadbed in the Devil’s Slide area. The would-be-cliff-climbers say that it is a thrill to walk on the steep cliff and peer down on the swirling breakers hundreds of feet below.”

…to be continued…