Princeton by the Sea Memories

All efforts to protect San Francisco from invasion by a foreign enemy was useless, it was believed in 1891, unless something was done at Pillar Point, some kind of fortifications.

The federal government’s partially completed survey of the coastline between Point Lobos and Half Moon Bay showed a number of black rocks several hundred yards from Pillar Point, the most identifiable called “Sail Rock.” Also identified was a reef that stretched to the southwest, perhaps a mile in length, and known as the “inner reef,” which broke the swell and made it safe to anchor.

Remnants of an old decaying wharf were still visible–believed to have been once used as the northern headquarters of Portuguese whalers, who had a second whaling station at Pigeon Point, south of Pescadero. The wharf near Pillar Point required workers to wade out to it, to deliver goods to steamers and to pick up materials.

….to be continued…

In 1891–as today–Pillar Point cast its dramatic shadow over the northern part of the crescent shaped bay. This was a very old cliff, a familiar landmark standing guard, towering some 180 feet above the Pacific Ocean–where coastal steamers anchored during the summer months, the safest time of year.

But some began to fear that Pillar Point was just the place where an enemy fleet might anchor and come ashore, then march all the way to San Francisco, capturing the city with little or no resistance.

These worriers suggested that “proper fortifications” be established atop Pillar Point to prevent such a catastrophe.

The locals in Half Moon Bay said they had heard this before but in the 1890s the argument “for” had gained fresh support.

Pillar Point was described as San Francisco’s “back door,” a point that invited attack.

…to be continued…

“Instead of being as formerly the outpost of the earth, San Francisco is at the present time practically almost as near London as Halifax, and within 20 days from the declaration of war an army of 30,000 British troops could be off the Golden Gate. How would they get in? Well, they would simply slip in the back door. They would land below Pillar Point, cross the divide, strike the Southern Pacific at San Mateo, have a few skirmishes on the way up to the Industrial School, perhaps meet with an hour’s resistance from a battery at that point and a few hours later the invader would dictate terms from the Mayor’s office in the City Hall.” Unidentified military source, 1891…

…to be continued..