Princeton by the Sea Memories

March, 1923, from the “Coastside Comet”

“Sound Canons to Patrol Coast Seeking Rum Boats”

“The rum runners of the San Mateo county coast and points north and south are to have a real run for their alleged contraband cargoes, with the completion of arrangements now under way by customs officials of San Francisco.

“Two armored automobiles mounting one-pound cannons have been requested of Washington by William B. Hamilton, collector of customs.

“Two special patrol boats, the sub-chasers ‘Cyan’ and ‘Smith,’ have arrived at Meigg’s Wharf equipped with Diesel engines to make fourteen knots, as against ten for the fastest of the rum boats. Both are carrying small naval guns from Mare Island and are to be commissioned as rum chasers.

“With the announcement of the additional equipment, both by land and water, it was reported that two of the largest schooners of the Canadian rum fleet, both suspected of having contraband cargoes on board have been sighted off the San Francisco and San Mateo county coast and that special efforts to capture them are now under way.

“The coast guard cutter ‘Shawnee’ and ‘Tamaroa’ have been stationed outside the heads of the Golden Gate while the coast guard patrol has been instructed to maintain a sharp lookout for attempts to land in the vicinity of Half Moon Bay.

“The two new sub-chasers at Meigg’s Wharf were reinforced with the harbor patrol boats’Tulare,’ ‘Swift’ and ‘Golden Gate,’ which are held under a full head of steam, reading for instant action, it was reported.

“All the boats are equipped with naval armaments and are designed to make speeds believed sufficient to overhaul the best of the rumrunning fleet.

“Collector Hamilton said that the new automobiles are to reinforce the boats at sea for the reason that rum runners are often lost, due to their speed. With the fast automobiles on the shore, equipped with signal devices and with cannon, it is believed the movements of the rumrunners can be traced and that their unloading operations can be stopped in case they choose to land their wet goods at secluded spots, such as are offered along the shores of San Mateo County.”

“

1927: “Save the Princeton Beach” from the “Half Moon Bay Review”

“There is one of the prettiest and best and safest for bathing on the Pacific Coast in front of Granada and Princeton, that is very likely to be lost to the thousands of motorists that visit this point of San Mateo county annually. All on account of the recent heavy storms, that washed away the bluffs. The heavy seas washed away the ground in a number of places up to and in some places far under the Coastside boulevard, making it necessary for automobiles and other vehicles to detour.

“In our issue of last week we published a report made by the road viewers, which showed that the majority of people living on the Coastside wished to have the Coastside boulevard left where it is, and to have a retaining wall of rock built on the beach for the highway’s future protection.

“This will undoubtedly cost considerable money to complete, but to save this beach for the public by making it easily accessible will be worth many times the cost to the county.

“[Dante] Dianda and  [John] Patroni, Princeton residents, have offered to donate to the county the necessary amount of land needed for constructing the highway as near as possible to its present location.”

————————-

1927: “Santa Cruz Road Has Detour”

“One-mile detour, rather rough and muddy, around a washout near Princeton, was reported by the touring bureau of the California State Automobile Association in a route report of the coast road to Santa Cruz. Paved or graded road prevails from Colma to the foot of Pedro Mountain, thence it is a little rough over the mountain to Montara.

“Beyond the detour good highway continues to Tunitas followed by somewhat rough conditions to Santa Gregorio. Thereafter the road is good except that the dirt stretch between Waddell creek and Swanton is muddy after rains.”

———————-

1927: “Dumbarton Bridge And The Coastside”

“Now that the Dumbarton vehicle bridge has been opened to the traveling public, it is time for the coastside to let the people residing in the valleys, know about our beautiful beaches, and our cool climate during the summertime. The Dumbarton bridge saves considerable time in automobile travel to and from the two great valleys of California. So advertise our wonderland–and if you have friends in the valleys encourage them to come and spend their summer vacation on the Coastside of San Mateo County.”

[Image: “The Circus: 1870-1950,” book by Noel Daniel, published by Taschen}

Dear June,

I have to make sure that this is about the “Humor of the Situation,” and not about “Me Back in May of 1980.”

Here’s the true story of how and why my girlfriend, Pattie, joined the circus. You wanted to know the details and here they are: Pattie got a three week ,”One Time” gig ,as a seamstress with a “Carnival group” going to Hawaii for three weeks.

Of course, there was another guy involved, and I caught her with him even before they flew off to the Islands. I’d honed my detective skills watching “Columbo,” the old tv detective show.. Pattie spent the next two years with the “Carnival”.

Anyway,in leaving me for the circus job, she gave me–I won’t call it a “pick-up line”—but the best conversation- starter line ever!. Anything more depended on my “Boyish Charm,Wit and Humility,” all of which are now wearing a bit thin 30 years later.

Pattie up and leaving me for the Carnival also drove me back to listening to country music, the only place to be if you really want to get the most out of being down!

A close second to my sad tale comes from a realtor friend called Linda. Her boyfriend of 20 years ran off with a waitress from a “waffle house,” That qualifies for the lyrics of a country song, doesn’t it? .

————
Gray Gardner

OE Sales and Engineering Manager

Taylor Cable Products, Inc.

301 Highgrove Road

Grandview, MO 64030

816-765-5011 ext 127

816-761-4023 fax

ggardner@taylorvertex.com

Scenes from what I saw this morning. Didn’t have rubber boots to wade out to the big rocks. I saw fishermen fishing for rock cod, a kayaker, who was heading for the big waves, lots of natural, beautiful stuff, a dedication to “Foo,” famous Hawaiian surfer who got lost in the big waves, and a couple of small dead seals, also part of nature’s darker side.

Story from John Vonderlin

Email John (benloudman@sbcglobal.net)

Hi June,

I’m beginning to think James Denniston is my favorite Half Moon Bay pioneer. Here’s four more newspaper stories about events related to him.

The first is a mention of him being given governmental permission to build a wharf. I believe this is the “Old Landing,” you mention in a story about him, and is the wharf shown on the 1863 Coast Survey map of Half Moon Bay I sent you ScreenShots of.

His rancho, centered on the location of  present day Princeton-by-the-Sea, was obviously an excellent flotsam and jetsam collection area given this newspaper mention in the September 25th, 1857 issue of “The Daily Alta.”

“A GOOD WHALING GROUND—Another huge whale came ashore a few days ago, on the ranch of  James Denisson,(sic) making it the third which has come ashore in the same place within the last eight months. This is larger then either of the others. It is of the species known as “humpbacks,” and measures sixty five feet in length. It is estimated it will yield forty barrels of prime oil.”

I found this mention amongst legal postings in the January 31st, 1858 issue of “The Daily Alta,” under the heading of “General File.” I wonder if his treasures from the sea from just a few months before went to finance this improvement, which was critical  to Half Moon Bay’s early development?

“Act to authorize James Dennison (sic) to build a wharf at Half Moon Bay, was passed.”

Just a few years later, he appears again in the troubled news of the day, in the July 16th, 1861 issue of “The Daily Alta.” Just months before the Southern states had rebelled and the attack on Fort Sumter had occurred.

“A CALIFORNIA CAVALRY REGIMENT—By notice elsewhere it will be seen that James G. Denniston has taken steps to form a Regiment of Cavalry in California, to assist in sustaining the Administration. A meeting of those favoring the purpose is called for Saturday evening, at the Mission Dolores. Under the tuition of Mr. Denniston, a regiment of calvary would reflect no discredit on our boasted horsemanship.”

And finally on August 3rd, 1868, “The Daily Alta,” had a short mention of what I believe is the Amesport Wharf. This helps to locate Denniston’s wharf as the one on the Coast Survey map.

“We learn that a new wharf is being constructed at Half-Moon Bay, which is to be one thousand feet long—and five hundred of which are already completed. The wharf is about one half way between Spanish – town (sic) and the present landing at Denniston’s warehouse. It is expected that coast steamers will stop at the new wharf.”

October 18, 1921

From a San Francisco newspaper

“Whale Washed Ashore Near Moss Beach

“A fifty-foot whale was driven ashore at Princeton-by-the-Sea, two miles south of here [Moss Beach] last night. The animal is stranded so high that spectators may walk out to it almost dryshod. Whalers from the whalery at Moss Landing in Monterey County killed the whale this morning as soon as they were notified of its landing.”

From the Call, 1921

“Warrants were out today for the arrest of members of a gigantic bootleg ring whose operations extend from Vancouver to San Francisco, as a result of a confession obtained by John Exnicios, mobile prohibition supervisor, from Giovanni Patroni, owner of the resort at Granada on Princeton Bay.

“One of the ringleaders is declared to be a woman. Two are named as members of a large firm in Vancouver who have been shipping the liquor in Princeton Bay and thence to this city.

“Exnicios characterized the smuggling ring as one of the biggest uncovered in the United States.

“Patroni, a member of the ring, admitted that he has smuggled high grade liquors valued at thousands of dollars. Four others are said to be named in the warrants issued by Federal Commissioner Thomas E. Hayden at the request of Exnicios. Patroni was brought in yesterday and released on bond.

“His place had been raided two weeks ago and he was held to answer on a charge of violating the prohibition law, a large amount of liquors having been confiscated in the raid. He was released on bond on that raid. No liquor was found on his premises yesterday.

“Federal Agent James P. Doyle, who accompanied Exnicios before Hayden in getting the warrants, was directed, it was said, ‘to go north’ to serve his warrants.

“Esnicios said that through Patroni’s confession the federal authorities had obtained the names of all the prominent members of the ring shipping the liquor, the names of those receiving it and the identity of the boats on which it had been shipped.

“Fishing Boats Used

“A large cargo was brought in on September 18. A large part of it was delivered to Patroni. Fishing boats were used in landing the illicit cargo from the ship.”

————————————————

[Note: Longer version of the story above.]

Princeton Bay Headquarters for Smugglers

Former Member of Gang Tells of Operations between S.F. and Canada

————————————-

Woman is Involved

————————————-

Thousands of Dollars’ Worth of High-Grade Liquor Brought Here

“With the arrest yesterday of Giovanni Patroni of Granada, on Princeton bay, Federal authorities were told of the ramifications of a gigantic bootleg ring whose operations extend from Vancouver to San Francisco, according to the confession of Patroni.

“Patroni admitted to the authorities that he is one of a ring that has been smuggling from the north thousands of dollars worth of high-grade liquors.

“Four Other Persons Involved in Ring

“In the information gleaned from Patroni by John Exinios, mobile prohibition supervisor for California, four other persons are involved in the ring. These include two members of a large firm in Vancouver who have been shipping the liquor to Princeton bay and thence to this city.

“‘We not only located enough to uncover one of the biggest bootleg rings in the country,” said Exinios, ‘but also have the names of all of the prominent members of this ring. We know the names of members of the company that have been furnishing the liquor, the names of the boats on which it is shipped and the names of those to whom it was consigned.’

“Liquor With Thousands Seized Few Weeks Ago

“Patroni’s place was raided two weeks ago and thousands of dollars worth of  bonded liquors were seized, but his arrest yesterday had nothing to do with that raid. Patroni was held to answer at that time on a charge of having violated the prohibition law and was out on bond when arrested yesterday.

“Federal Commissioner Thomas E. Hayden, at the request of Excinos, yesterday issued search warrants and warrants for the arrest of Patroni and others said to be members of the ring. Patroni was the only one apprehended. A search of his premises failed to reveal any contraband liquor, however

“Woman Believed Member Of Smuggler’s Ring

“While Exnicios would not reveal the nature of the other warrants, it was understood in the Federal building, that one of them was for a woman, said to be a member of the ring.

“When Exnicios appeared for the warrants, he was accompanied by Tom Brown, deputy prohibition director, William J. Jordan and Robert W. Gloss of the internal revenue department and Prohibition Agent James P. Doyle. Doyle, it was understood, was instructed ‘to go north with your warrants.’

“Patroni’s confession lays him liable to charges of conspiring to defeat the prohibition law. The information given in Patroni’s confession, according to Excinios, will put a stop to booze smuggling along the Pacific Coast.

“Patroni was taken before Federal Commissioner Thomas E. Hayden and later released on bond.

“With the arrest yesterday of Giovanni Patroni of Granada, on Princeton bay, Federal authorities were told of the ramifications of a gigantic bootleg ring whose operations extended from Vancouver to San Francisco, according to the confession of Patroni.

“Patroni admitted to the authorities that he is one of the ring that has been smuggling from the north thousands of dollars’ worth of high-grade liquors.

“In the information gleaned from Patroni by John Exnicios, mobile prohibition supervisor for California, four other persons are involved in the ring. These include two members of a large firm in Vancouver who have been shipping the liquor to Princeton by and thence to this city [San Francisco.]

“‘ We not only learned enough to uncover one of the biggest bootleg rings in the country,” said Exnicios, ‘but also have the names of all the prominent members of this ring.We know the names of members of the company that has been furnishing the liquor, the names of the boats on which it is shipped and the names of those to whom it has been consigned.’”

————————

Article followed by this Advertisement

“TAKE A YELLOW CAB

“TO Baghdad on the Beach from any point in San Francisco for $2.50 in a YELLOW CAB. Phone Franklin 4500.”

Story  by John Vonderlin

Email John (benloudman@sbcglobal.net)

Hi June,

No real story here, but I found the offshore maps I’ve attached interesting. I’m looking for some close onshore ones like that USGS at Maverick’s you linked to once. Also, do you think this is the Old Landing, owned by Denniston, if I remember rightly from your posting? Enjoy. John

Biography of Giovani Patroni, 1928

From “History of San Mateo County” by Roy Cloud

Giovanni Patroni

“Italy has sent some of her best citizens to this country and they have been important factors in the development and business prosperity of their respective communities. Among them is numbered Giovanni Patroni, of Princeton, San Mateo county, where for many years he has been successfully engaged in the hotel business. He also has extensive farming interests, is recognized as a man of sound business judgment and is held in high regard throughout his community. Mr. Patroni was born in Genoa, Italy, on the 11th of January, 1878, and is a son of Giovanni and Catherine Patroni, the former a farmer by occupation.

“There the son was reared and secured his education in the public schools. In 1901 he came to the United States, landing at New York, whence he went across the continent to San Francisco, where he lived about two years. In 1903 he came to Princeton and conducted a hotel for a number of years, meeting with encouraging success, so that in 1911 he bought land and erected a hotel building, continuing in the business to the present time. A good manager, courteous and accommodating, he has long enjoyed marked popularity with the traveling public and has met with well deserved success in this enterprise. As he has prospered he has wisely invested his money and owns several cottages in Princeton, as well as a gas and oil service station, in the operation of which he has met with substantial profits. In partnership with Mr. [Dante]Dianda, Mr Patroni owns four hundred acres of good farm land, on which they are raising artichokes, which are rapidly growing in public favor.

Mr. Patroni was united in marriage to Miss Adele Garibaldi, who was born in Italy and came to the United States with a brother. They now have a daughter. Olivia, who is a student in the College of Notre Dame at Belmont, California. Cordial and affable in manner, and showing a fine spirit of loyalty to the community, Mr. Patroni commands the confidence and respect of all who know him.

———————

April 24, 1947

“Giovanni Patroni Dies on Coastside

“Giovanni Patroni, 69, prominent Coastside civic leader, died in his home in Princeton yesterday after a long illness. For many years he conducted the Patroni House at Princeton and played a major part in development of that area.

“Mr. Patroni leaves his widow, Adele of Princeton, a daughter, Mrs. Olivia Brennan and grandaughter —–of San Jose.,,,,”