USA > California > A memorial and biographical history of the coast counties of Central California > Part 12
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The post office of Salinas belongs to the third-class. The annual gross receipts of the office are $6,000.
The various social and benevolent societies are well represented in Salinas. There are two lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows: Alisal, No. 163, established in 1869, with a present membership of 122; Fraternal, No. 276, organized in 1878, mem- bership sixty-five. There is also a Canton of Patriarchs Militant, and an enampment of
over sixty members. Also a Rebekah Lodge, No. 42. The Masonic fraternity is repre- sented by Salinas Lodge, No. 204, organized in 1869, with a present membership of over 100; and by the Salinas Chapter, No. 59, of Royal Arch Masons; and by Reveille Chap- ter, No. 47, of the Order of the Eastern Star. There are also, Salinas Lodge, No. 131, of I. O. G. T., and a society of the W. C. T. U., a Council of the Legion of Honor, and a Parlor of N. S. G. W., etc.
When a young man and a professor in a college in Italy, Father Sorrentini was an intimate friend of the illustrious Ital- ian composer, Verdi, for whose genius and many noble qualities he has very high admiration. To the remark that the great maestro liad been made a senator by the Italian Government, Father Sorrentini responded: " Yes, but he takes but little interest in political matters, being wholly engrossed in his art." Evidently the close re - lations between the young professor and the youthful composer must have been strong and altogether honorable to both parties, judging from the enthusiasm and kindly feeling which the venerable prelate does not conceal when speaking of his early friend who also is now an old man. Some of Ver- di's music is thoroughly churchly in style; not a little of it, including characteristic sacred pieces introduced into his grand operas, have already become classics.
The Methodist Episcopal Church South of Salinas was organized in 1867. Rev. J. C. Simmons, D. D., is its present pastor. The
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church building was erected in 1871; its seating capacity is about 250; the church membership is about seventy. The trustees are: John Kalar, John Sexton, Curns John- son, H. V. Morehouse, Jasper Phares and R. J. Emmerson
In 1861, thirty-one years ago, Rev. Dr. Simmons, as presiding elder of the San Francisco District held a camp meeting at the Blanco schoolhouse, on Salinas river, about four miles from the site of the present city of Salinas. Dr. Simmons, who came to California from Georgia in February, 1852, was present and took part in the organi- zation of the Pacific Conference at San Fran- cisco, April 15, of that new year; and he is the only person who was present then and is now a member of the conference, and he has been a member ever since. Rev. Dr. Simmons is the author of " The History of Southern Methodism on the Pacific Coast," pages 454, published in 1886; and of a theo- logical work, entitled ' The Kingdom and Comings of Christ," pp. 320, and published in 1891. Dr. Simmons attended, as a repre- sentative of his church on the Pacific coast the Ecumenical Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church held at Washington, Dis- trict of Columbia, in October, 1891.
The Salinas United Presbyterian Congre- gation was organized by Rev. W. H. Wilson, acting under the authority of the Presbytery of San Francisco, December 7, 1869, and is the oldest Presbyterian congregation in Mon- terey county. Mr. Wilson was succeeded Angust 10, 1873, by Rev. George McCor-
mick, who has been continuously in charge ever since. The present membership is about 100, and the average attendance about the same. About 300 names in all have been enrolled during the present pastorate. Out of these have been formed congregations in Castroville, and in Easton, Fresno county, both of which are flourishing. The present beautiful church building, seating about 300, was erected in 1876, at a cost of about $7,000. It is free of debt. The present members of session are W. H. Clark and George A. Daugherty, Esq. The latter is also Sunday- school superintendent and choir leader. The present board of trustees are J. A. Wall, Esq., Alfred Grant and Thomas Chappell. The congregation is self-supporting, and for many years has used the voluntary or envelope sys- tem of finance.
The Baptist Church of Salinas, was organ- ized in 1873, and the church edifice was erected in 1875. It has a seating capacity of abont 200. Rev. E. B. Hatch is the present pastor. The trustees are Dr. E. K. Abbott, Judge J. K. Alexander, W. F. Treat, Ira Tucker, Henry Whisman.
The Methodist Episcopal Church (North), Rev. C. G. Milnes, pastor, has about sixty members.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Salinas built its present church edifice in 1875; it was consecrated by Rt. Rev. W. I. Kip, D. D., LL. D., July 4, of that year; it has about 120 sittings, and cost $1,200. Its present rector is Rev. John Acworth. Some of its former rectors have been: Revs. J. S. Mc-
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MONTEREY COUNTY.
Gowan, William Lund, J. Fred Holmes, J. S. Simonds.
Rev. N. V. Hölm is pastor of the Danish Lutheran Church, which holds regular ser- vices.
NEWSPAPERS.
The Salinas Weekly Index, established in 1871, W. J. Hill, editor and proprietor, is an influential local journal. It is the county official paper, and is Republican politically. Editor Hill is a practical newspaper man, of long experience and considerable force of character. His paper, having been long in the field, and being well managed and edited' has come to be a valuable property and a power in the community.
The Salinas Weekly Democrat is another long-established and influential paper, Demo- cratic in politics, as its name implies. It is published by Thomas Harris, and is edited with much ability. It was started at Monte- rey in 1867, by D. S. Gregory & Co., with Rasey Bivan as editor. Some time after, J. W. Lee became editor and proprietor of the Democrat, and he moved it to Salinas city about 1874, or just prior to the removal thither of the county seat. He conducted the paper until 1885 or 1886, when Thomas Harris and D. W. Lee bonght out J. W. Lee. In February, 1888, Mr. Harris became sole proprietor. Mr. Harris is a thoroughgoing newspaper man; he is practically acquainted with every department of the newspaper busi- ness, from printer's "devil " to editor.
The Salinas Daily Journal is published, as
its name indicates, daily, by Harris & Smelt- zer. It is now in its seventh volume.
OTHER BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS.
The officers of the Salinas City Gas and Water Company are: J. B. Iverson, presi- dent; William Vanderhurst, treasurer; R. L. Porter, secretary; F. B. Day, superintendent. Directors-J. B. Iverson, William Vander- hurst, P. Zabála, C. Hoffman, J. H. Mc- Dougall. The gas works were established in 1873, and the water works were built in 1874, and the electric arc-light system was put up in October, 1888. The Thomson- Houston arc-light system is used with a thirty-light dynamo. The Incandescent Na- tional Electric Company started November 1, 1891. Two thirty-five horse-power Westing- house, Jr., engines are used. Each dynamo is run by a separate engine. Capacity of in- candescent machine, 500 sixteen-candle power lights. The water works use one No. 10 Knowles pump, and one duplex compound Worthington; capacity of both, 60,000 gal- lons per hour. Three 50,000-gallon tanks, eighty-six and seventy feet above the ground, are supplied from five artesian wells. Capi- tal stock, $60,000; but about $75,000 have been put into the works.
The Salinas brewery, G. H. Menke, pro- prietor, was built in 1891-'92, and com- menced operations in May, 1892, with a capacity of twenty-five barrels per day. It consumes 3,000 sacks of barley per annum. It has the latest and best machinery. The present plant cost about $20,000. Before
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MONTEREY COUNTY.
building his present establishment, Mr. Menke had been engaged in the same busi- ness here in a smaller way since 1877.
The annual rainfall of Salinas city, based on an average of eight years, is about four- teen inches.
SALINAS CITY SCHOOLS.
From the last annual report of the county school superintendent the following facts are derived concerning the schools of Salinas for the year ending June 30, 1892:
There were fourteen classes, one high, six grammar and seven primary classes, taught in three schoolhouses, by fourteen teachers, for ten months in the year.
The number of pupils between five and seventeen in the district were:
Boys, white, 393, negro, 1; girls, white 379, negro, 1; total. 774
Total number of children under five years in district
165
Total under seventeen, native, 922; foreign, 17. . Grades, number of pupils, high, 79; grammar, 215; primary, 343; total. 637
939
Teachers, male, 2; female, 12.
14
Grade teachers' certificate, high, 3; first gram- mar, 6; second grammar, 5
14
Current expenses:
Teachers' salary. $10,652.50
Rent, repairs, etc. 2,276.57
Libraries.
114.10
Apparatus.
754.00
Sites, building, furniture.
2,534.62
Total
$15,731.79
Receipts :
Balance July 1, 1891,
$3,087.43
From State
4,870.00
From county
3,922.00
From city
4,647.03
From subscription.
1,220,75
Total
$17,747.21 Balance June 30, 1892
$ 2,015.42
CHAPTER XXII.
PACIFIC GROVE .- THE GENESIS OF PACIFIC GROVE
RETREAT.
N 1873, a Methodist minister by the name of Ross, and his wife, both being in feeble health, and having tried all the remedies that science could suggest, were advised to find some place where the temperature varied but little through the entire year, and where the fluctuations from heat to cold were merely nominal. After many months spent in re- search, it was at last decided that Monterey was the most likely place to supply those re- quirements. By the kindness of Mr. David Jacks, who at that time owned large tracts of land extending throughout what is now known as Pacific Grove and all the grounds acquired by purchase by the Pacific Improve- ment Company, they were induced to try a residence amongst the pines as being bene- ficial and conducive to the restoration of health.
They accordingly came here and located on what it now known as Grand avenne, and near the present site of El Carmelo Hotel. After a short residence, the effects were so palpable that Mr. Ross went back to his for- mer home and brought with him his brother and his brother's wife, who were also troubled with pulmonary complaints. They all lived out of doors, they slept in hammocks under the trees, and ignored for the time being all indoor comfort, living principally on fish and game. Their recovery seemed almost mirac.
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ulous, for in a very few months they were perfectly restored to health.
In 1875, Bishop Peck, who was ever on the alert to do good, conceived the idea, after a brief visit, that this place so nearly resem bled those health-giving retreats in the East, that negotiations were soon pending with Mr. Jacks for the purchase of a site that should at once form the nucleus around which could be built a retreat where spiritnal and social comfort could be had without limit, and where the ever rolling, restless sea would sing a sweet lullaby to woo the drowsy god and produce that sweet, refreshing sleep which is acknowledged by all scientists to be the great restorer of human nature. Here in this lovely spot, breathing the pure aroma of the pines, and inhaling the pure ozone from the broad Pacific, with no one to trouble them or make them afraid, these people proved be- yond all doubt that so far as they were con- cerned, this was to them the Mecca for which they had so long and so persistently searched.
TOWN OF PACIFIC GROVE.
The town of Pacific Grove, one of the most healthful, equable all-the-year seaside resorts in the world, was founded in the year 1875, by David Jacks and representatives of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The articles of incorporation of the "Pacific Grove Retreat Association" are dated 15th of June, 1875. Among the purposes stated in these arti- cles, for which the corporation was formed, were the purchasing or leasing, and improve- ment of lands in Monterey county, for a sea-
side resort, and for holding camp-meetings, etc. The original corporators were the follow- ing named gentlemen: Revs. J. W. Ross, F. F. Jewell, Otis Gibson, George Clifford, G. O. Ashe, H. B. Heacock, E. S. Todd; also Messrs. J. W. H. Campbell, G. F. Baker, J. A. Clayton, A. Gallatin.
At first, about 100 acres were laid off in lots, including the present town site; water was brought in pipes from "Dairy Springs," about a mile away; some twelve or fifteen cottages, and a considerable number of tents were put up the first year, sufficient to ac- commodate 350 to 400 people. A camp-meet- ing was held that year, commencing August 9th, and continuing about three weeks. Some 29,000 or $30,000 were expended in im- provements during the year 1875. Summer religious meetings were held annually there- after. In later years, other features were added, such as the meeting here of the Chau- tauquans, the State Sabbath-school conven - tions, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, etc.
The annual conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Central California has met at Pacific Grove the last six years; and in the summer of 1892 both the California State University and the Stanford University established here experimental stations for the study of marine life. In the early years of the town's existence, the Monterey and Salinas narrow-gange railroad facilitated the coming hither of people from the interior; excursion steamers also brought large numbers from San Francisco. Afterward the Southern
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MONTEREY COUNTY.
Pacific Railway Company brought, and con- tinues to bring, thousands from many points, far and near. And as the temperature of Pacific Grove in winter differs but little com- paratively from its temperature in summer, people from the East and from Europe, who visit California in winter, find this a delight- ful winter resort. Northern people who visit Florida in winter must flee that section in summer. Here, the climate is bracing and healthful and charming all the year round.
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees, June 21, 1883, it was announced that the land including the site of Pacific Grove had been sold by Mr. Jacks to the "Pacific Im- provement Company," subject to the con- ditions which had been previously agreed upon between the Board and Mr. Jacks, with some modifications; and that an understand- ing with the Pacific Improvement Com- pany had been reached March 31, 1883, whereby the latter should retain the financial management, and the Pacific Grove Associa- tion should continue to have the moral and prudential control of the grounds, and that this control should extend to the distance of one mile from the geographical center of the original survey. Later the Pacific Improve- ment Company put up at the Grove, the large, fine hotel, " El Carmelo," which has over 100 rooms.
As indicating the good faith with which the Pacific Improvement Company has car- ried out its agreement with Grove Association, the following incident is related. When the Hotel del Monte was burned, representatives
of the Pacific Improvement Company pro- posed to the Grove people that with their consent they would like to have the privilege of supplying their guests, transferred from del Monto to El Carmelo, with wine, etc. The Grove people did not see how they could consent to a violation of the conditions on which the tenure of title to their grounds depended, and they declined to assent to the proposition-to which declination the Pa- cific Improvement Company cheerfully and in good faith assented.
The population of the town of Pacific Grove, according to the census of 1890, was 1,336. Probably 10,000 transient visitors come here every summer. Its location among the pines and on the shore of the ocean, its all-the-year-round equable climate, and its quiet, wholesome moral atmosphere, com- bine to make it one of the most desirable health resorts in the world. The balm of its pine forests, and the coolness of its sum- mer sea breezes, are wonderfully invigorating, as thousands on thousands of its visitors can testify.
In 1883 or '84 the Pacific Improvement Company brought water in pipes, at a cost of several hundred thousand dollars, from a point some twenty-two miles up the Carmel river, for the supply of Pacific Grove, Monterey, and Hotel del Monte and grounds of seventy acres. The water is brought to two immense reservoirs, of a capacity of 140,000,000, and 16,000,000 gallons, respectively; one of these is located on the hill back of Pacific Grove, whence it is distributed to consumers. The
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MONTEREY COUNTY.
supply is abundant and the quality of the water excellent. The consumption is from 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 gallons daily.
The following is a list of civil officers of the town of Pacific Grove:
B. A. Eardley, O. S. Trimmer, C. Johnson, C. K. Tuttle, and W. V. Jubb, trustees; E. C. Smith, clerk; E. P. Wilbur, treasurer; W. C. Little, engineer; J. R. Patrick, recorder; E. B. Rich, marshal; William Quintel, street superintendent.
The Pacific Grove Review is a weekly journal, published and edited by Anna A. Gallanar, a bright newspaper woman, who makes a paper that is a credit to the com- munity in which it is published.
The Review was first started under its present name, but merely as a real-estate advertising sheet for gratuitous distribution by B. A. Eardley. It was neatly printed, took in outside advertisements, and also gave the local news in condensed form. It was a fonr-column, eight-page paper, and was well conducted.
Afterward G. W. Gallanar took charge of it, and enlarged it to a seven-column folio, and published it as a Republican journal, at a subscription price of $2 per annum.
Latterly the Review has been entirely under the control of Mrs. Gallanar, who makes it a worthy local organ of Pacific Grove.
PACIFIC GROVE SCHOOLS.
The public schools of Pacific Grove are divided into four classes, taught by four teachers. There are about 150 pupils in at-
tendance. There is a high-school class, where pupils are prepared for the university. The Chinese colony of 400 or 500, within the dis- trict, includes some thirty-five native-born Chinese children, for whose education in En- glish provision was made by theschool trus- tees; but the parents of these children seemed to be averse to sending them to school. A kindergarten class is also maintained. Prof. G. W. Gretter is the principal of the Pacific Grove schools.
The trustees of the school district, are: H. W. Briggs, clerk, A. J. Painter, S. B. Gor- don.
The district has a fine school building, with six rooms, and a large hall, capable of being divided into two more rooms when the occa- sion requires. The schoolhouse is thor- oughly furnished with all the modern ap- pliances for heating, seating and ventilation; and the plumbing is of the best. The assist- ant teachers are: Mrs. J. D. Rogers, Mrs. M. G. Hood, Miss Nettie Waring. Ten months' school are maintained. Value of schoolhouse and lot, $14,000.
DONATIONS.
The Pacific Improvement Company has donated to the University of the Pacific a fine tract of about six acres, in a desirable locality, for the purpose of establishing at the " Grove " a branch of that institution.
Mrs. L. G. Waterhouse, a former resident but now deceased, donated eight lots in the town of Pacific Grove, for an " old ladies' home."
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MONTEREY COUNTY.
Dr. Helen W. Webster, a visitor from Boston, lately bought a tract at the Grove, on which she intends to erect a "home for invalids " from Boston and vicinity, who are seeking a milder climate.
CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE.
The thirty-ninth annual session of the California Conference of the Methodist Epis- copal Church was held at Pacific Grove, September 9 to 15, 1891, Bishop W. F. Mallalieu, president. Members in full con- nection, 180; on trial, 28; total, 208; local preachers, 140; church membership,-in full connection, 12,855; on probation, 1,673; total, 14,528; number of churches, 188; value of same, $1,173,470; number of parsonages, 98; value of same, $141,675; ministerial sup- port, $136,360; number of Sunday-schools, 227; number of scholars, 19,587; number of volumes in libraries, 19,252. The confer- ence, which includes Sacramento, Napa, San Francisco and Oakland districts, has met at Pacific Grove since 1884 (with one ex- ception).
The fortieth session was held at the Grove from September 7 to 12, 1892, with Bishop John H. Vincent of Buffalo, New York, as president of the conference, and M. D. Buck, of Modesto, California, as secre- tary, and Thomas Filben, treasurer. The trustees of the conference are: Wesley Dennett, president; John Coyle, secretary; J. D. Hammond, treasurer; George Clifford, H. C. Benson, J. W. Ross, E. R. Dille, H. B. Heacock, W. W. Case. Conference mem-
bers in full connection, 190; on trial, 23; total, 213. Of these, there are effective, 180; supernumeraries, 9; superanuated, 24; total, 213. Local preachers, 150. Church mem- bership, in full connection, 13,893; on pro- bation, 3,168; total, 17,061. Number of churches, 191; value of church building, $1,233,321; number of parsonages, 107; value of parsonages, $153,200. Ministerial support: Pastors, presiding elders and bish- ops, $143,363; conference claimants, 4,889; number of Sunday-schools, 230; number of schol ars, 19,919; number of volumes in libraries, 20,960; money raised for all pur- poses, $318,189.
The Women's Christian Temperance Union of
the State held its annual; Summer School of Method for 1892, at Pacific Grove, from July 14 to 20, and was largely attended; and a very elaborate and interest- ing programme was discussed.
The State officers of the Union are: Mrs. Sturtevant-Peet, president; Mrs. Dorcas J. Spencer, corresponding secretary; Mrs. H. E. Brown, recording secretary; Mrs. Emily Hoppin, treasurer. Instructor, Mrs. Mary Allen West, of Chicago. Musical conductor, Mrs. A. M. Hilliker. Official reporter, Mrs. M. G. C. Edholm.
Pacific Ensign: Editor, Mrs. Ada Van Pelt; manager, Mrs. D. J. Spencer; secre- tary, Miss Jnlia French.
There are three church organizations in Pacific Grove, namely: Methodist, Congre- gational and Episcopalian. Assembly Hall, the place of worship of the Methodists, was
ASSEMBLY HALL AND CHURCH, Pacific Grove, California.
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MONTEREY COUNTY.
built by the Pacific Grove Retreat Associa- tion, at a cost of $25,000. The Pacific Im- provement Company donated $10,000 in cash, and, besides, eight central lots, upon which the hall is located. Several individuals gave large amounts, and the citizens of Pacific Grove and its property owners, some of whom lived elsewhere, gave the balance to make up the above sum total. These amounts were given with the express understanding that this edifice was to be owned by the association and used for the meeting of all religious and educational as- semblies which come to the Grove, free of charge. It is so owned and used, and is an ornament to the town. It is, however, dedi- cated as a Methodist Church, and is so used by the local Methodist Episcopal Church organization of Pacific Grove. Yet it is the property of the Pacific Grove Retreat As- sociation.
It was dedicated as a church by Bishop Vincent, in 1888. It was erected in the spring and summer of that year, by W. H. Hoyt, as contractor, and a Mr. Price, of Philadelphia, as church architect.
Rev. T. H. Sinnex, D. D., first pastor; Rev. M. C. Briggs, D. D., second pastor; Rev. S. G. Gale, present pastor.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Pacific Grove has erected a fine new parsonage, adjoining the church, or Assembly Hall, at an expense of about $2,200.
The Assembly Hall is situated three blocks west of El Carmelo Hotel, fronting on Light- honse avenue. It is in Gothic style, having
two towers of equal height. The auditorium is 56 x 78 feet, with galleries. On each side is a chapel 24 x 48 feet, and in the rear an organ gallery 16 x 25 feet. The extreme di- mensions of the building are 95 x 105 feet. The chapels are separated from the main room by glazed partitions, which are mov- able; and the whole may be thus thrown into one large anditorium. This beautiful and commodious temple is a great public conven - ience, where many large religious and edu- cational bodies meet annually; and it is a credit to the town of Pacific Grove.
The Episcopalians have a church, St. Mary's-by-the-Sea, at Pacific Grove. An account of this church, appears elsewhere and of the churches at Monterey, and the Hotel del Monte, all of which belong to - one parish, of which Rev. C. S. Fackenthall is the rector. He resides at Pacific Grove.
MAYFLOWER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF PACIFIC GROVE
was organized with twenty-four charter mem- bers. It was incorporated January 26, 1892. E. Snell, M. D., Mrs. C. D. Dresser, deacons; Mrs. S. A. Virgin, Mrs. Fox, E. Snell, trustees.
The church owns a lot 100 x 225 feet, which was donated by the Pacific Improve- ment Company. The foundation is laid for the entire structure, which is intended to seat 500 persons. A modest chapel has al- ready been put up. The church proper is to be of Gothic architecture, and to cost between $5,000 and $6,000. The present
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