Author Archives: junemorrall

Story from John Vonderlin Email John ([email protected]) 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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

Story  by John Vonderlin Email John ([email protected]) 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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

From a newspaper article, dated 1927 Girl Wrapped in Seaweed Saved Two Miles From Peninsula Shore Rescuers, Following Fisherman’s Alarm, Find Unconscious Maid in Kelp Tangle “An unidentified girl was saved from drowning yesterday after she had been washed two … Continue reading →

[Note from June: Silent film star Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle was an immensely popular actor in the 1920s, subject of a juicy scandal centered in San Francisco, and rumored to have haunted the bar and restaurant once called “Franks” in Moss … Continue reading →

Story from John Vonderlin Email John ([email protected]) Hi June, This article from the June 16th, 1875 issue of “The Daily Alta,” tells of the construction of the Montara Fog Signal. What I found most interesting was the article’s mentioning of … Continue reading →

To read Michaele Benedict’s new story: “A Terrifying Sea Tale,” please click here

If you cannot read the writing on the map, here is my translation: Upper left corner: it says “warehouses,” and is surrounded by a square box shape. Outside the square it says: “Remnants of sidewalks from 1908, The Boom Year.” … Continue reading →