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From the “Redwood City Standard,” December 15, 1927

“Death Claimed Dr. William A. Brooke, coroner and public administrator of San Mateo county, at his house in Half Moon Bay last Saturday night. He had been critically ill for the past several months and his passing was not unexpected.

“Born in El Dorado county, near Placerville, 62 years ago, Dr. Brooke came to Half Moon Bay in 1906 as a surgeon for the Ocean Shore Railroad Company, which was then under construction. In 1915 he was appointed county coroner and public administrator, succeeding Dr. H. Plymire of South San Francisco, who passed away at that time. Dr. Brooke continued in office up to the time of his death being re-elected each time by large majorities. He was one of the most popular officials of the county, his genial ways and generous disposition winning him many friends. He was frequently commended by grand juries and by the Superior Court for the careful and excellent manner in which he conducted business of estates under his supervision. An added sad feature in connection with the death of Dr. Brooke was that his mother, Mrs. V.C. Brooke of Sacramento, passed away last week and was buried on Saturday. Mrs. Brooke was a pioneer of the Sacramento Valley and was the oldest living graduate of the College of the Pacific at San Jose.

“Dr. Brooke was active in lodge circles, being a member of San Mateo Lodge No. 1112, BPOE, San Mateo Lodge No. 440 F&M, and California Bodies of Scottish Rite Masonry, and Seaside Parlor of Native Sons.

“He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Jennie A.  Brooke, two brothers, Morris and Roy Brooke, and two sisters, Miss Clara Brooke and and Mrs. Lutie McCann, all of Sacramento…”

———————

From “Biographies of Representative Men”

“Dr. Brooke was born 52 years ago at Dranion Springs, a little town near Placerville in El Dorado County. He studied medicine at Cooper Medical College in San Francisco, and practiced first in Sacramento, as intern in the City and County Hospital, later moving to Alameda. He came to Halfmoon Bay, eleven years ago, and has resided there ever since. He is a member of the San Mateo Medical Society and American Medical Association. He was appointed Coroner and Public Administrator on April 7, 1915, which term he is now serving. His personal popularity and professional ability have won for him the highest regard of his fellow citizens.

“He also belongs to a number of fraternal organizations, among them being the Masons, Native Sons, Eagles and Maccabees.”

Story  by Ron Laughlin

Email Ron: [email protected]

New Zealand a couple of week ago experienced the largest earthquake in the world this year.

Luckily it was in the very remote part of the South Island in the Fiordland National Park and as such the areas of human population were not hardly affected.

BUT……..

Something else has happened I think. A close friend of mine, a helicopter pilot who has spent his entire life living by the area and working in the remote areas of it deer culling, etc , has called to tell me something relative to what he had mentioned several years ago in confidence.

In a very remote lake…so remote he had only been there a couple of times in his life and had never landed as there was nowhere to land…..he had confided in me he had seen what appeared to be a very large type “Loch Ness” style animal in the lake. He circled a couple of times but it had disappeared on him. On several curious occasions since he has gone out of his way to pass over this particular lake but never again was to see anything suspicious. He never told anyone but me as he did not wish to be laughed at.

He called the other day after having surveyed the area after the quake and he was certain he spotted something that looked as it had before. He didn’t want to tell anyone locally.

He called me to ask if I would come with him to do a photographic expedition to get real evidence before he spoke to anyone.

So this summer I am putting together just such an expedition with him and  going in to photograph.

I will have him lower me to the area and camp out there for awhile to see if I can really see anything and hopefully get some evidence of it.

Perhaps the earthquake created a situation that disturbed the creature to move up fro the depths.

Who knows? I hope to find out…………………Ron

From the Half Moon Bay Review, June 1926

“History of Telephone in County Given”

“The history of the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company of Burlingame and San Mateo dates back to the year 1890 when the Sunset lines installed a switchboard in the location now occupied by the San Mateo City Hall opposite the Southern Pacific depot. Mrs. Charles Morse, wie of a San Mateo druggist, was the first agent.

“A short outline of the development of the telephone in this county has been given by J.F. Adams, local district manager.

“Shortly after the first San Mateo switchboard was installed, according to Manager Adams, a list of 14 subscribers was secured. No numbers were assigned and the calls were placed by name.

“The Western Union then owned a telegraph line between San Mateo, Half Moon Bay, Pescadero and Santa Cruz and after building a line to Santa Cruz along the Southern Pacific railroad and abandoned the above lne selling the section between San Mateo, Half Moon Bay and Pescadero for one dollar to Levy Brothers, pioneer merchants who had stores in Half Moon Bay, San Gregorio and Pescadero.

“Levy Brothers operated the line for telephone purposes until a year after the Sunset Telephone company entered the field. They then abandoned it and the Sunset lines.

“The Sunset Telephone company did not reach Half Moon Bay and Pescadero until September 1897. Joseph M. Francis, general store owner, was agent. A small jack board was installed with four subscribers. The exchange now has 54 subscribers.

“On September 30, 1897, at Pescadero a small wall board was installed by Mr. Sprout of San Jose and new subscribers were connected. The exchange now has 26 subscribers.

“Levy Brothers sold their business at San Gregorio and Pescadero in 1898 and established a small general store at San Mateo which has grown to be the largest department store on the peninsula.

“In 1890 the Sunset Line was continued to Belmont and a five jack board installed. Eugene O’Neil was appointed agent and had the telephone business located in a small store. The late Senator Sharon, then occupying Senator Ralston’s house, was the first subscriber. The exchange now has 72 subscribers.

“The Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company is now operating the entire system. The population of the peninsula is steadily growing and the head of communication both commercial and social has been noted. The telephone company has also been stadily growing and the increased number of telephones in use has compelled them to move to a larger home. The new county headquarters has recently been completed on Burlingame avenue and is now occupied by the company.

“In June, 1918, 1457 telephones were in use in this community. In June 1925, 5478 were in use. At the time Burlingame and San Mateo have a total of 6050 telephones.

“The increase of telephones also means an increase in operators, repair men and installers, a total of 69 operators and 30 workmen are now employed at the local office.

“The old telephone building on Walnut avenue has been purchased by the town of Hillsborough to be used as a City Hall.”

From the “Coastside Advocate,” September 19, 1891

“A company of cavalry passed through town last Sunday on their way to Santa Cruz. They came from the Presidio by way of San Pedro Road.”

Story/images from Ron Laughlin

http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/2508959/

and the latest video: Central Otago – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFgGrky-rRY

June,

you do not know me. I am writing from Rome, Italy. I had an old collegue of mine working in IBM who was living in El Granada, Half Moon Bay, CA. His name was Don Carlson and I completely lost any reference to him.I think he lived in Columbus St but I am not sure. More than 20 years ago… Now he sjould be at least 70 years old. I was not able to find him in the web. Can you help me? He was well known in the local community. He was a fan of Amiga computer 🙂

Thank you in advance

—

Dario de Judicibus, Rome, Italy (EU)

Site: http://www.dejudicibus.it

Blog: http://lindipendente.splinder.com

Book: http://www.lalamanera.it

What a fine horse. Everyone is gussied up for a big event in town. You can see the old Catholic Church in the background. The newer model replaced it in the 1950s.

[Image below: L-R: Larry Hewitt, Chairman, Spectacle of Music; Jean Bradshaw, Don’s Banner Girl; Captain Manuel Sousa; PATSY SPEER, Majorette; Delores Mundrich, Don’s Banner Girl and Dean Potter, Mayor, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin.}

Story from Cindy Hamilton

Hi June,

I wanted to thank you for your post and pictures about the Spanishtown Dons. My mom

was Patsy Speer, the featured twirler who marched with them, and I came

across your blog while doing some research for my own blog post about her.

We still have a big, yellow steamer trunk in the garage that says “Half

Moon Bay Dons” on it. It was our toy chest as kids.

We lost mom much too early in 1994. If you’d like to know more, please click here

Best regards,

Cindy Hamilton