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Story from John Vonderlin

Email John ([email protected])

Hi June,

Here’s an extract from the 1888 San Diego to San Francisco map at the Coast Survey website. It shows Spanishtown, something I don’t think I’ve seen on a map before. Enjoy. John

From “The History of San Mateo” by Roy Cloud, 1928

[This is an incomplete article.]

Alvin S. Hatch

“One of the leading commercial enterprises at Half Moon Bay is the lumber business conducted by Alvin S. Hatch, who has prospered, due to his progressive methods and keen judgement in practical matters. Mr. Hatch was born in San Mateo county on the 4th of June, 1876, and is a son of Rufus H. and Maria J. (Schuyler…ed. there was the famous Schuyler Hotel in Half Moon Bay), who were married in March, 1875. The father was born, reared and educated in Vermont, where he lived until 1853, when he came to California, residing in San Francisco awhile. In 1854 he came to Half Moon Bay, his arrival being prior to the organization of San Mateo County and here he engaged in farming for a time but later turned his attention to the lumber business. In 1864 he took up a tract of government land and, in partnership with G.R. Borden, bought a large tract of timber land. They built and operated a water-power sawmill, which they converted into a steam power mill in 1871, theirs being the first sawmill in this part of the county.

“Maria J. Schuyler was born in Georgia in 1850, and in 1870 arrived in California, to which state her father had come some years previously. He served as a butcher on steamers plying between Panama and San Francisco, but later came to Half Moon Bay and from 1870 conducted the Schuyler Hotel.

“To Mr. and Mrs. Hatch were born four children, of whom two are living, Alvin S. and Edna, who became the wife of Dr. J. C. McGovern. Both parents are deceased, the mother dying in 1888 and the father in 1906.

“Alvin S. Hatch received his education in the public schools and early became familiar with the lumber business, with which he has been identified during practically all his life. He now owns and operates a large yard at Half Moon Bay, where he carries a complete line of lumber…..”

Story & Photos/Video by Deb Wong

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The kids and their counselors from Camp Butano Creek visited our gallery today, to start off their field trip.  They are practicing photography at the camp, so they got to ask Michael a lot of questions about how to shoot photos.  While they were here, I took a few photos & some video (I am trying to practice my video skills, which can use some help). There were 3 adult volunteers to take the girls around.  So, o.k.,  I know that we weren’t the most exciting stop in their field trip, as they were on their way to the Santa Cruz boardwalk!  At least maybe they learned something, & got to look around. Before they left, they presented us with some Girl Scout cookies as a “thank you”.

Here is a link to a video of Michael talking about one of his photos:

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/5599923[/vimeo]

Story by John Vonderlin

Email John ([email protected])

Part 1 The Widow Wood Mystery

Hi June,

This posting is about my observations of the second of the old maps of the Coastside from the Coast Survey website. This map, compiled in 1863, published for the price of 30 cents in 1864, is of the Half Moon Bay area. Note that this document has both the modern name and spelling for HMB. To have easy, online access to such an old, but meticulously prepared map of the Coastside is a real treat for me.  Although, it has created a number of questions and a couple of mysteries in my mind. I’d like to share some of those.

[Images: Complete Map and Legend ScreenShots]

As I magnified the map to examine it, my eyes were immediately drawn to and along the diagonal  black slash in the offshore waters. “Widow Wood’s House and Bald Pate in Range” is what it reads along the dot-and-dashed line. Following  it to the northeast as it goes ashore, you see Widow Wood’s home is marked and the line ends at the top of a small hill, probably the “Bald Pate.”

The questions for me were then: Who was she? Where exactly, if it existed today, would Widow Wood’s house be? Is it still there in some form or name?  Lastly, why was her dwelling selected to be immortalized in a Coast Survey Map nearly one hundred fifty years ago?

[Images: Diagonal Line and Close-up of Widow Wood’s]

The last one I assume has to do with the triangulation they were doing. Some point of reckoning lined up with the Widow’s house and the top of the hill. I’m not sure of the significance, but it should be easy to find out.

By comparing Google Earth and the Survey Map I’ve pinpointed the house’s location in Miramar, just south of Medio Creek.  As you can see in this overlaid ScreenShot it looks like the house was about in the middle of where Highway 1 is these days. Right where Google Earth has their Miramar marker.

Image: Overlay of Google Earth and Coast Survey Map]

When at the Coast Survey website if you use “Half Moon Bay” as a Search term thirteen maps come up for viewing or downloading. They range from this 1863 map to one from 1990. The nice thing is they are all of the same area, so you can compare them easily. Here’s a ScreenShot from the 1947 version.

[Image: Excerpt from 1947 Map]

That’s about all I have on Widow Wood at this time. But, there are several other features of interest I’d like to point out on the map in other postings. Enjoy. John

Part II: Whaleman’s Harbor : To read this story, please click here

To read John Vonderlin’s story: “Peacock Rock and Ice Plant Arch,” please click here

To Whom It May Concern

As I have sold my interests in the Montara Garage to Wm Armstrong and Frank Smith, I will not be responsible for any bills contracted by them on or after the date of February 17, 1923.

J. W. Tremel

============================

To Whom It May Concern

As the undersigned, and Wm L. Armstrong have purchased the J.W. Tremel interests in the Montara Garage, we will not be responsible for bills contracted by him in the name of the Montara Garage on or after February 17, 1923.

Frank Smith

==========================

To read Dave Holleman‘s memoir on fascinating Tunitas Creek painter Sheri Martinelli, please click here

Story from John Vonderlin

Email John ([email protected])

Hi June,

It took a disaster, but Spanishtown made it into the Record-Union, Sacramento’s newspaper. This story was from the April 13th, 1894 issue. Enjoy. John

FIRE AT SPANISHTOWN.

A Block in the Center of the Place

Destroyed.

Halfmoon Bay, April 12. —Fire broke

out yesterday afternoon in the Occidental

Hotel, destroyed that building, spread to

adjoining houses and consumed almost

the entire block in which the hotel was

located. The only buildings left standing

are the feed mill and two dwellings be-

longing to the J. B. Dollof’s estate and

Charles Bowman’s small saloon building.

The burned block is right in the center

of Spanishtown and included a large por-

tion of the business part of town. The

loss is between $10,000 and $17,000. Had

the flames gained headway on the other

side of Main street 90 per cent of the town

would now be in ashes.

All images from Katie in Southern Oregon

Meet Charlie M., Sheep Shearer

Trimming the hooves

This is how we shear: Audrey gets a haircut

That part’s done

Molly comforts Dollie

All done

Says Katie: irls. Linda completely shed her coat. So I was interested to find out from Charlie what kind of sheep they were. He told me that Linda and Audrey are called “hair” sheep – sheep that shed their wool and don’t need shearing. Although Linda shed hers, Audrey still had most of a coat with only the neck and chest area shedding. Hair sheep are raised for their skins and meat. Their hides make the finest glove leather. They are
White Dorper sheep and maybe some Barbedos in there too as Audrey is colored, with white sox and a patch of white on her side. It is a breed originatating in Africa where it’s hot and they don’t need the heavy wool.
Charlie didn’t tell me all that as I went on the internet and looked up hair sheep, Dorper, and Barbados. I’d like to see my plumber – who I bought Linda and Aurdrey from – to get a ram so we could breed the two younger girls.