Created by June Morrall
Memorial Day is a time when Americans typically reflect on their history, and WWII has a special meaning for the Coastside. A few months after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the military arrived in Half Moon Bay. Soldiers occupied public schools and privately owned hotels. There was genuine fear of another surprise …
Continue reading “Photo of Naval Station at Montara Stirs Memories of WWII”
(R. Guy Smith was visiting in Charleston, Arkansas when this letter from Montara was written). Gives insight into local goings-on, Mills Air Field and politics after WWII. From: Giles. R. Johnson, P.O. Box 113, Phone Moss Beach 2411, Montara, California Monday Nov. 3, 1947 Dear Guy:- Thanks for all the Cards–enclosing few clippings which may …
at the famous Mills Estate in Millbrae, California.
“Down the Ocean Shore”, an a tour by automobile from the pamphlet, “The Chapter in Your Life Entitled San Francisco”, published in 1946 after WWIIHalfby Californians, Inc. The trip began near Pacifica, and the mileage figures begin there; see Part I back a few posts. Half Moon Bay, 20.6 m is farm village at northern …
Continue reading “Visit the Coastside After WWII in 1946: Part II”
(Photo at right: Shirley Thackara in the PQ14 at the Moss Beach military airstrip) Former Air Force Service Pilot Shirley Thackara returned to the Coastside in 1993 to reclaim WWII memories of flying PQ14s, tiny planes, so tiny only one person could fit inside. She flew the PQ14 out of a military airstrip in Moss …
In an earlier post, Ernie Alves (“Our Cows are Outstanding in Their Field”) hinted at the devastating effect of WWII on Coastsiders–especially Germans and Italians without citizenship papers–who were prohibited after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor from living or working on the west side of Main Street, the Highway 1 of that era. What …
Continue reading “It Wasn’t Easy Being An Italian on the Coastside During WWII”
Story by John Vonderlin Email John: [email protected] Hi June, This article from the May 22nd, 1867 issue of “The Daily Alta,” is quite interesting. It gives many details you won’t find in the official website of “San Francisco’s Early Water Sources.” You especially won’t find the description of people being able to visit and enjoy this hidden gem …
Continue reading “John Vonderlin: Lake Pilarcitos, Part III”
Story by John Vonderlin Email John: [email protected] Hi June, In Part 1 about Lake Pilarcitos, I detailed how the water of Lake Pilarcitos was so pure that a famous brewery was investigating, in the 1890s, its usage for making their ale locally. I also included a story about the unknown-to-experts planting of muskalonge (muskellunge) in the lake …
Continue reading “John Vonderlin: 1891: Pilarcitos Lake, Part II”
Image by photographer Maria Demarest, who, while visiting Half Moon Bay last week, caught this spectacular scene at El Granada beach. One of the birds looks a little large. Is that Maria flying with the birds? Some things never change, thank goodness. 10/19/2008: I’ve been thinking about Maria’s photo. Wouldn’t it make fantastic wallpaper?
was the removal of many Italians from the coast, along with all persons of Japanese ancestry. “Beginning in February of 1942, all Italian aliens living inland from Highway 1 south of Laguna Creek were required to move inland from the highway, and since many of the Italian families living on the North Coast had elderly …