Princeton by the Sea Memories

From the “Richard Schellen Files,”available at the San Mateo County History Museum and Redwood City Local History Room.

First Mr. Schellen wrote about Half Moon Bay.

“A general mercantile business was owned and managed by H. C. P. Morse and this was the only sore in town, as most of the marketing was done in Half Moon Bay when the people drove in to church on Sunday mornings

“Telephones were installed on May 5, 1914, John Kyne was the first long distance call to [the famous author[ Peter [Kyne] in San Francisco.

“The location of the first school house was at Princeton, where the Cosmopolitan building now stands. [note: this, I think was where Barbara’s Fishtrap is today,directly across from the John Patroni House [today the location of the HMB Brewery[.

“It was a two-room structure. The district ran from Pedro Point to Miramar.The teachers were Miss Kate McCarthy, principal, who was a sister-in-law of Mr George Hall, and Miss Rose Meehan, who for many years was vice principal in San Mateo near near where the Junior College is now located,under George Hall.

“The school was moved in 1887 to Moss Beach, after a lengthy controversy over attendance and it was finally and it was finally settled when Kyne moved his family of seven children to Moss Beach. There was only one teacher, Mr. William Savage, who later became one of San Mateo County’s prominent educators.

“After Mr. Savage, Rose Meehan returned to teach for a period of seven years. The school was located at the corner of Highway 1 and and Etheldore Street, which is now the residence of Gregorio Rossi.

“In 1890 a new one-room school was built in Sunshine Valley, which is now the house of Anthony Torre, and continued to be until 1910, when the present school was built. In these days attendance was just as great as it is now with 45 to 50 present.

“In the early days people enjoyed their card clubs and played regularly. The most exclusive club, according to the old timers, was the Cypress Club. The dances that the whole town looked forward to were given by this club in the hall over Peter Morse’s store.

“Notes on RR Station: This was the first RR station at Moss Beach and is still standing (Note: it’s’ not still standing.[ The station has been well preserved. It has been used for various businesses and is a at present a brom factory.

“The Reefs.

This building was destroyed in 1931, when the tides changed, bringing the surf up to the e]beach. The pillars under the building wre undermined and the bank holding it in the back was washed away The resort gave pleasure not only to visitors but the people of this community as well.It was quite an amusement center and convenient for swimmers to obtain refreshments.”

“Coastside residents opposed to flying (words unreadable) Moss Beach air strip abandoned after World War II today had received the board of supervisors’ assurance that no action will be taken toward county operation of the field without their concurrence in such plans.

Moss Beach property owners have registered strenuous protests with the board against operation over their homes of craft connected with the instruction school now utilizing the strip.

While word is awaited from the U.S. government on terms of c county operation, the board proposed that Moss Beach residents submit in writing conditions of county maintenance that would be favorable to them.

Plans call for county lease of the strip to private operators under (can’t read the words) principal uses of the field would be as an emergency base for air passengers and freight traffic.

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I have seen several Portuguese Water Dogs on the trail to Mavericks.

Have you walked the trail from the parking trail to the beach?

It’s a small parking lot, and quickly fills on a warmish day. Most folks bring their dogs and that’s when I saw my first Portuguese Water Dog.

The trail is something you must experience. In the beginning the sounds are quiet, maybe some local birds tweeting, but as you reach the ocean everything changes. The sound changes and grows louder, a completely different experience in sound.

All of sudden, you’re at the beach and the ocean is talking to you. And, I’m not trying to be corny, but the wave-sound confirms you are alive.

As the lady-model on tv who pushes one of the American cars, I think it’s Mercury: “You gotta put Mercury [Mavericks] on your list. Bring your Portuguese Water Dog!

I have been to Crab Landing, golly, half a dozen times now. With different people and they all love it. Most of my guests have been out of town but they love the restaurant.

Because of my delicate digestion (to being a caregiver for many times) I have been ordering the San Francisco Crab which is fresh and delicious.

But it’s not just that…I can’t get over the fact that someone has taken the care and detail to give us, Coastsiders, and “outsiders” such a beautiful place to dine. It is worth it to just walk in and look around, even if you don’t sit down for a meal. And think about the people who spent the time designing the restaurant. It isn’t just about money.

I also notice that longtime friend, Carol, is opening a bookstore in the mall. How exciting! She is an artist and has an eye for good stuff.

To do this, takes time, sure, money, but there’s much more involved. We were not given restaurants and places to stay overnight without genuine thought and caring. Go look for yourself.

Yes, dearly beloved Princeton- by- the- Sea is changing. But isn’t it changing for the better?

This is the old sign that gave the population as 200!

1925: From the Half Moon Bay Review

Princeton By The Sea

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 Wales, 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 poular dog.

The resort is most certainly a 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 California–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. Patron i 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 newspaper were a tissue of lies.

Princeton By The Sea has had a lot of populariety in past years, and we trust its popularity will continue and increase in the years to come.

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On the same page:

Dry Agents Will Be Armed In

Future In Making Liquor Raids

Calling on the government to assist in arming San Francisco, dry forces to meet the shot guns and machine gun equipment of liquor smugglers. Col. Ned M. Green, recently appointed dry chief, has announced that each agent of the San Francisco force will be equipped wth a Springfield rifle and a .45 Colt automatic.

Caught 1-1/2 miles offshore while Fishing!

What i that?

Can it be, really!!!

It’s a DEER!!

Not too much of a struggle?

She was so tired and was glad to get into our boat and rest!

AND yes, we turned her loose when we got back to shore. Just try beating this Fish Story!