Princeton by the Sea Memories

From the “Half Moon Bay Review,” 1945

“District Engineer K.M. Moore presided at the official hearing which continued through the day and will study and submit for federal review the submitted statements, charts, construction plans, and supporting recommendations, together with a verbatim transcript of the entire hearing….

“The case on behalf of the project was presented jointly by Chas. W. O’Brien, Half Moon Bay Bank of America executive and general chairman of the Pillar Point Breakwater committee, and Fred C. Tatton, Mgr. Central Coast District of the California State Chamber of Commerce…

“Colonel Moore prefaced proceedings by reading communications of endorsement from Pacific Coast Purse Seiners’ association and from the California State Fish and Game Commission. The latter body cited the advantages of the project for the coast fishing industry and declared heaviest commercial and best fishing grounds for the north central coast lie between Pigeon Point on the south and Point Montara on the north. It declared Half Moon Bay to be one of the most desirable harbor points on the coast and recommended it as an intermediary point of unloading between Monterey and San Francisco, strongly recommending the harbor proposal in full.”

..to be continued…

From the “Half Moon Bay Review,” 1945

“Presenting a powerful array of factual evidence substantiated by expert testimony and backed by the endorsements of recommendations of literally scores of commercial, industrial, labor, sportsmens and civic organizations, the case for construction of a harbor breakwater at the northern end of Half Moon Bay was placed before the United States district engineers in Half Moon Bay…

“More than 250 representatives of the various groups appeared at the Half Moon Bay high school for the public hearing called by the war department to examine the merits, advantages and benefits to be derived from the long sought and long dreamed harbor project.

“Written statements were provided for study by the government officials, and oral presentations were made covering half a hundred phrases of the proposal. The statements covered the topics and subtopics of industrial fishing, navigational safety, economic advantages, improvement of sporting and recreational facilities, storm refuge for small craft, labor-saving, time-saving, air and sea rescue service, soil erosion, enhancement of land values and tax accruals.”

..to be continued…

Photo by Jerry Koontz; to visit his website, click here

(Photos, at L-R Fran “Brother Buzz” Young & the “San Juan” commuter ship that came to a tragic end in 1929.)

If you’ve been following this story, with the help of generous experts, Fran “Brother Buzz” Young hopes to find and bring up the historic San Juan from the sea…..

“June, Here is the latest from the ‘Survey Folks’

Hey Fran-
Here’s an update on where we’re at: I believe the motor issue we had on the “VT” is fixed, but the problem now is that our primary vessel captain, Bill, is out of commission for a bit. Our Director, is our other captain, and right now things are a bit busy for both he and I as the semester has just started and we have classes to teach. We WILL get out there ASAP and do the San Juan search- worry not. Sooner than later. And feel free to ping me anytime to see what we’re up to.
Cheers,
-pat”

From the Half Moon Bay Review, September 1966

“The county government and the San Mateo County Harbor Commission are at odds over a master plan for the Pillar Point breakwater area, press reports from Redwood City said today.

“The board of supervisors expressed concern about reports that new buildings are planned by the Harbor Commission before a master plan is adopted.

“But harbor commission chairman Sigval  B. Johnson said a continuation of buildings already planned is proposed. He said a master plan is under study, and no further development of the harbor will be possible until work at the breakwater entrance is completed.

“The subject was brought up by Supervisor James V. Fitzgerald. He said a number of people from the area are concerned about ‘concrete blockhouses lining the beaches.’

“‘That area,  which is a beautiful area, should be developed to its best potential,’ Fitzgerald commented.”

…to be continued…

(Photo Jerry Koontz)

From the “Half Moon Bay Review,” 1945

“Mills field navy installations totaling $5,000,000 are to be turned over to San Francisco and 85 acres of the property will be promptly leased to Pan American Airways as its Pan-Pacific terminus.

“The explanation was made by Capt. Bernard M. Doolin, airport manager, in clarification of the navy’s announced intention to abandon its facilities at the field.

“At the same time the navy further announced it will the north of Half Moon By air strip, one of the erstwhile secret installations of the war.

“Both actions are expected to take place by June 1946.

“According to earlier agreements, Doolin said, the navy has agreed to hand over to the city property and $5,000,000 of improvements within two years after the war. The contract for  lease of the acreage to Pan American has already been signed.

“The arrangement was unique, said Doolin, and was done because the city wanted Treasure Island as an airport and the navy demanded it as a base. The army made similiar use of the field with the same understanding. The government paid for $10,000,000  worth of improvement, Doolin said. In November, San Francisco taxpayers will vote on a $20,000,000 bond issue to complete the Mills Field expansion program.

“Installations at Treasure Island, declared surplus, meanwhile, will either be offered to another naval bureau or air operations will be reduced,  said  naval spokesman.

“Local naval authorities were unable to disclose disposition of the Coastside air strip, which is operated as an auxiliary to the Alameda base….”

(Photo courtesy Don Walrod)

From the Half Moon Bay Review, 1957

“San Mateo County officials and members of the San Mateo Elks Club are ‘conspiring’ to hold a two-day county-wide drag race May 4 and 5 on the central Coastside.

“The ‘Conspiracy’ is a result of the move to prevent illegal and night drag races which have been held in the past at various points on the Peninsula.

“If plans now under way are successful, the hotrod drag race will be held on the main runway of the Half Moon Bay county owned airport at Moss Beach.

“Since this airport is used by the airlines as an emergency landing field, county officials must first obtain permission from the Civil Aeronautics Administration.

“The San Mateo Elks Club has promised to underwrite all expenses of the affair.

“According to officials, drag racing is becoming an increasingly great problem and their effort would be not to constrict activities by confing it.

“On the central coastside youths who enthusiasm runs to cars and drag racing interests, are forming a hotrod club. They will be known as the ‘Night Angels’ and are now meeting once a week at the Half Moon Bay High School….”

[Note: I’m looking for vintage photos of the HMB racetrack, fast cars and the people behind them….]

“In May, 1943, the navy revealed operation of a streamlined antiaircraft gunnery school at Montara Point. It now has a personnel of 1500 or more. In the emergency, the army built a $3,000,000 airstrip between Princeton and Moss Beach, from which planes could take off to battle any enemy fleet that might approach our shores. Coast farms were condemned to make room for one of the longest paved takeoffs in the world. The airstrip has since passed to the navy. Coast Guard installations appeared at Half Moon Bay, the army built installations at Wavecrest  and built a gunnery school south of Half Moon Bay and the Coastside was honeycombed with radar-range finding stations.”