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The Official News from Sam’s Chowder House Gift Shop

Hi June,

Thanks so much for your blog post about Sam’s Gift Shop – we really appreciate it.  I need to make one correction/addition – and that is that it will officially be open on May 1st.  It is possible it will be open a few days to a week earlier, but it will be officially open and fully stocked by May 1st.  It has been a Seafood Market, and we are in the midst of converting it to the Gift Shop and receiving all of our merchandise.  Sorry that wasn’t clear in our emails to you.

Thanks again,

Julie

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Revisiting Ernest Sweetland,inventor of the Purolator Oil Filter

What little i’ve read about Ernest J. Sweetland sounds like material for an article, book or even a movie.

Does anyone know about this man described as a “basement hobbyist who became a top-flight inventor” and died at age 70 in San Francisco in 1950?

Among his 30 “successful inventions”– one of which was “sleep therapy”– was the Sweetland Cast Warmer, used in hospitals.

He invented the cast warmer after a car accident in which he injured his arm requiring a cast. It took four days for the plaster to dry out. And the experience prompted him to invest in a cast warmer which dried out casts in just four hours, not four days.

His best known invention was the Purolator, once used in cars.

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June, I am Ernest J. Sweetland’s great grand daughter. There is a book about him by Dale Z. Kirby called, “Ernest John Sweetland and his Fifty Years of Invention”. It tell’s about his poor childhood, with a drinking cobbler dad, making a camera and other things out of the junk yard as a child, his teen years, education, Nevada Mines, winning over the Irish nurse,making sugar filters in Hawaiia, the amazing 25,000 sq ft home he built for his 7 children in Piedmont Ca, the law suit he won against General Motors in 1938 for his Purolater oil filter, he also played the violin and painted as well as worked secretly for the government during the war. That’s a quick overview of a very interesting life. How did you know of him?? Brenda Smith ~ Calif.

NEW 

Dear June

 I (belatedly) stumbled  upon your query about Ernest Sweetland. I am the  grand niece of  Ellen Reilly who was Ernest Sweetland’s wife and the Irish nurse mentioned in Brenda Smith’s reply to you. 

 Apparently my dad’s family who lived in Leitrim, Ireland had a ford car and spotted that the sweet filter was being used illegally and informed Ernest who successfully sued Henry Ford. 

That’s really all I know about Ernest Sweetland. 

 Perhaps you can post this on your website in case Brenda Smith would like to get in touch as I’m not sure which of the original sweetland-Reilly family she belongs to. 

 Best wishes

Helen

 

Helen Reilly

26 Woodbridge Road

Bristol

BS4 2EU

 t: 0117 971 5539

f: 0117 971 5539

[email protected]

[email protected]

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“Hot” New Gift Shop Opening at Sam’s Chowder House

pbts1

Story by Julie Shenkman

Sam’s Chowder House in Half Moon Bay is excited to announce the Grand
Opening of Sam’s Gift Shop.a charming collection of coastal gifts, inspired
by the sea.  Now you can bring the beauty and tranquility of the coast home
with you at Sam’s Gift Shop, offering the finest in high-quality nautical
gifts, coastal collectibles and Half Moon Bay memorabilia.   Whether you are
looking for a beach tote bag, coastal travel book, or seashells for the
kids, Sam’s Gift Shop offers a wide selection of wonderful beach-themed
items in a casual, Coastside setting.

Located in front of the restaurant, Sam’s Gift Shop also offers Sam’s full
menu for takeout, and other specialty items.  Enjoy a nibble of authentic
Salt Water Taffy, a soft-serve ice cream cone, or a bowl of Sam’s famous
Clam Chowder to-go.  Or feed the whole family with a bucket of Sam’s famous
Cioppino, or Lobster Clambake to-go.  Sam’s Chowder House Gift Certificates
are also available, in any denomination.

Sam’s Gift Shop is open seven days a week and evenings.  Please see
www.samschowderhouse.com <http://www.samschowderhouse.com/>  for hours,
which change seasonally.

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Angelo Misthos has a lot to say about the Ocean Shore Railroad “plaques”

Hi, June. I recently ran across two pictures online of similar plaques re the Ocean Shore R.R. One is at or near the Post Office and the other “in a small grassy  area in El Granada.”   Perhaps you are familiar with them. They were dedicated by the Order of E. Clampus Vitus , which has an interesting history and has had  a number of very well- known members over the years. What also got my interest was the Order’s motto: Credo Quia Absurdum, which is supposed to be a corrupted phrase from Tertullian, an early Christian era writer, and is translated as: “I believe it because it is absurd.” Whether the motto also referred to the unconventional way the town was laid out by its famous architect, Burnham, or to the unbelievable route the OSRR took in its attempt to reach Santa Cruz, I’m not sure. Anyway, I enjoyed spending some time online looking all this up. If you see or email John Vonderlin, please give my regards.  Angelo
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1954: Talbot J. Vallier Was A Fascinating Guy

September 6, 1954: 

Talbot J. Vallier, 85, of Main Street, Half Moon Bay, died Saturday at Community Hospital after a sudden illness. A native of Oakland, he had lived in Half Moon Bay 25 years. A former captain in the merchant marine in the northern Pacific coastal area, he participated in the Alaska gold rush at Nome in 1898.

He was a resident of Nome 15 years, and served in the army during World war I. He was a member of Coastside American Legion Post No. 474.

Surviving are his son, Edwin A. Vallier of Burlingame; two grandchildren, Edwin J. Vallier of Belmont and Mrs. Berna B. Clark of Sacramento and four great grandchildren.