Princeton by the Sea Memories

I had all the issues of the “Voice of the Coast,” an alternative paper published in the 1970s but I passed them on, and hope they’re in good hands.

Today I think we might consider “Voice of the Coast” a “green newspaper.” There were articles about conservation and recycling, with the greatest criticism reserved for the expansion of Pillar Point Harbor.

Folded inside a file, I found a stray news-sheet from the “Voice of the Coast” containing a few ads, and a piece about an important Harbor Commission meeting (see below).

Hard to read? The print’s a bit small so I will tell you what it says.

Do you remember the “Abalone Shop,” owned by legendary fisherman John Koep. His brother, Michael Koep is the author of the “Fisherman’s Son,” a novel based on life at Princeton-by-the-Sea.

I used to buy fresh fish from Michael’s wife who worked at the Abalone Shop.

The middle ad reads: “Get it all together at the Half Moon Bay Lumber Company.”

The ad to the right says: H-M-B ENCO Emergency Road Service, Corner Hwy 1 and San Mateo Road.

On the “Bulletin Board,” I found one request for “Birdwatchers.” There was a phone number for a  babysitter, tutoring services,  odd job seeker, free kittens and a free baby crib. If you lost a watch in Half Moon Bay, somebody found it.

Advertising in the “Voice of the Coast,” cost $1 for 27 typed letters or numbers or symbols.

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From “Voice of the Coast,” 1970s

“Outside, All was Darkness”

By Kent Dedrick

(coming soon)

[Around the time this article appeared, Mr. Patroni of the Patorni House, had been questioned regarding his possible involvement in rumrunning and bootlegging activities.]

From the “Half Moon Bay Review,” 1925

“One of the most popular resorts on the Coastside of San Mateo County is the one goes by the aristocratic name of Princeton. Some folks say that it got its name from the Prince of Whales, but there is another story, which may be true: that in the family of the real estaters, who gave it the name, there was a “canine” called “Prince” and the resort was named after this popular dog.

“The resort is certainly a most popular one and it deserves its popularity. There you have every seaside attraction you could wish for–a fine, clean and safe beach for bathing–a splendid wharf from which to dangle the tempting bait to catch the perch and crab—and a first class fleet of fishing vessels for those who want to venture out to the deep sea in search of salmon and rock cod.

“There is no better or more bracing place in Caifornia–no place where you can work up a healthier appetite, and when you have that appetite, no place where you can satisfy it with the best of foods, splendidly cooked.

“Chief among its hotels is the house and restaurant of John Patroni. Patroni House is widely known and very highly respected by its numerous patrons. One of the best recommendations of a seaside resort is that those who have patronised the place always come back for more and advise their friends to go there and this can be said with truth of Patroni House.

“No people know the Coastside Resorts year in, year out, better than the folks who live on the coastside and it can be said without fear of contradiction that the slanderous statements recently made by a propagandist in a San Francisco paper were a tissue of lies.

“Princeton-by-the-Sea has had a lot of popularity in past years, and we trust the popularity will continue and increase in the years to come.”

Please read my book called “Princeton=by-the-Sea.” Click here