USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches > Part 19
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The club is now determined to put the place in good shape and hopes to keep it so. New seats, a drinking fountain and better care are to be at once attended to. As it has been, under the care of the club, it has fur- nished a pleasant resting place for weary men, and on sunny days its seats are usually all occupied. A place of sufficient size and equipment to be a really worth-while municipal park has been the one continuous aim of the club, and they are still working for it. They aim also to purchase or build a Chamber of Commerce Building and Woman's Civic Club House, to aug- ment the city water supply and to maintain a beautiful plaza opposite the Mission.
The past presidents of the club are Mrs. Ella Ridle, Mrs. C. E. Ferrel, Mrs. Jennie W. Johnson, Mrs. Eliza Miller, Mrs. Queenie Warden. Mrs. Warden is serving her second term as president, and is a woman of great un rey and executive ability, able and willing to spend generously both time and money to further the attainment of the club's aims. Under her able lenkership the Civic Club has rapidly advanced along all lines. It now has one hundrel and two life members, each of whom pays one dollar per month for than yours. From the year-book we quote the following :
Wile object of this Club shall be to provide entertainment and civic oluodhunand training for its members, to foster and to cultivate the inter- al woomer in civic affairs, and to promote the general culture, welfare col vin ten atol comfort of the inhabitants of the community.
"Hw Skou : "Ditt screw your courage to the sticking place, and we'll not
NETUR Elver : Marguerite.
NOME Coders : Gold. White and Green.
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"Branches of Work: Music. History and Landmarks. Parliamentary study. Literature. Philanthropy. Civics. Household Economics.
"Officers: President, Mrs. H. M. Warden, Sr. ; First Vice-President, Mrs. Eliza Miller ; Second Vice-President, Mrs. Mary Ella Ridle; Secretary, Mrs. Josephine Pratt Hughston; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Josephine Pratt Hughston ; Treasurer, Mrs. Alida McIntyre.
"Board of Directors : Mrs. Eliza D. Miller, Mrs. Jennie W. Johnson, Mrs. Paul M. Gregg, Mrs. R. R. Muscio, Mrs. Queenie Warden Norton."
Thus far the club has held its meetings in the basement of the Carnegie Library. The room, while comfortable enough for business purposes, admits of no social life, and the sooner the club can own a proper building the sooner will it become a large factor in the civic and social life of the com- munity. Since Mrs. Warden has been president she has freely offered the use of Warden Court in the Warden block for social meetings. During 1915-16 the club gave a number of excellent entertainments ; a musicale with Mr. Pratt, lyric tenor, as the leading attraction, a Shakespearian concert and a comic opera, "Oscar's Awful Uncle," were put on at Elmo theater. Under the department of philanthropy sixty dollars has been given to the Belgian relief fund and five dollars towards lifting the mortgage on the Longfellow birthplace. The treasurer's report at the close of the year shows life mem- berships payable, $3,672; receipts, $1,514.47 ; disbursements, $863.23.
Climate
The climate of San Luis Obispo is beyond compare. The writer has lived in many parts of the state, some famed for climate, and nowhere are there such beautiful sunny days in winter as here at the foot of the Santa Lucia mountains, ten miles from the balmy blue Pacific. Bishop's Peak and San Luis Mountain guard the town northwest; at her back rises the Santa Lucia range ; opening south and west are wide valleys; over all bends a sky of deepest azure, flecked with softly sailing, fleecy little clouds. Sometimes a fog rolls in, but it comes from the sea and its salty tang adds a zest to living. Sometimes the west wind romps in and bends low the heads of the tall eucalyptus trees, or a north wind comes over the range, bringing pure air from the mountains. The flowers, and palms, and pepper trees lend beauty to the landscape; while blossoms of orange and lemon send out a fragrance sweet as dreams of heaven.
PASO ROBLES
The city of Paso Robles came into existence as a city when the election for incorporation was carried, February 25, 1889. A city government was at once organized, the board of trustees being D. W. James (president). Dr. J H. Glass, W. E. Grant, John M. Van Wormer, F. B. Jack (treasurer). W. R. Stokes was appointed city attorney. A little later the name of George R. Adams appears as a trustee also. The nucleus of the present beautiful little city of 2,000 population was the old wooden hotel, bath- house, and group of cottages, not forgetting "Patsy Dunn's store," wherein mail, express and telegrams were handled, as well as a general supply of groceries, dry goods, and shoes; nor was it impossible to get a "drink" in this very accommodating establishment. The old building is still stand- ing at the back of the present magnificent Hotel de Paso Robles. In a 9
SEE THE TIMEPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS
Donner bopler to . hu h mention is made of the Blackburn brothers and D. W. James, le fald ibe -bit of the purchase of the Rancho Paso Robles, 25,000 peres of the Som wewel Mission lands, and the wonderful group of sulphur springs th fles spangs the padres and the Indians bathed and found healing In tore the Mismo came. Also, it is vouched for in an old record that the wild animals o pecially the bears, bathed in the waters and the warm mud. Thee Indime Tral rudely walled the main spring with logs. A big tree grew by the spring, and a stout branch grew out low over it. One old grizzly was in the habit of coming to the spring on moonlight nights. Grasping the branch with his fore paws, he would swing and souse himself up and down in the warm water and mud for an hour or more at a time.
When D. W. James, as previously related, became the owner of that portion of the ranch, and the spring, he erected a hotel, cottages and bath- house and opened a resort to which people gladly came from all directions, even when getting here entailed a stage ride from Gilroy, Salinas or Soledad. Hundreds of people came by rail and stage or drove from San Francisco or Los Angeles in their own conveyances. Some few, as Banker Ralston of San Francisco, were allowed to put up private cottages, but the general pub- lic could not buy land here until after the Southern Pacific Railroad came, in the fall of 1886. Then Blackburn Bros. and James had a town site surveyed. The great auctioneer. Ferguson, was engaged, as also a brass band; and in October or November of 1886 a land sale took place. (Right here we wish to say that getting data for this history of Paso Robles has been very difficult, as no files of the Leader, the first paper established in the town and still being issued, are avilable. We have set on foot a plan to get the files of the Leader placed in the public library, which, if carried out, will be of great value, not only to the historian, but also to the general public. )
People flocked to the new town and many ranches were also sold. H. G. Wright, editor and owner of the Santa Clara Journal, sold out and came to the new town. He started the Paso Robles Leader, issuing his first paper November 15, 1886. Every Wednesday since the Leader has greeted the people. When the Wylie local option law was tried out by the people here, Mr. Wright stood with the "drys." The election was held August 29, 1911, and carried. Paso Robles was the first town to take advantage of the Wylie act. It has been difficult to enforce the law, but for five years the adoons have been closed and the majority of the business men agree that the ian not only has greatly benefited the people who used to frequent the adeonis, but also has increased the volume of business in the banks and stores. "The fire man to open a store in Paso Robles, exclusive of the Honorable Paula Fish wit is still handed down to regale visitors, was George 16 DE Thil a little room on Pine, between Twelfth and Thirteenth what he enlarged this, and later still he conducted business in a 100. pirk, between Pine and Park streets. Nathan Elliot erected auce on the corner of Thirteenth and Pine. A company How opened business in it on a large scale, but eventually Mal & Co. bought out the hardware department; ry department ; and Bell, the dry goods ; later There. Today the George F. Bell Co. has the tremendous business. They sell everything Or Bell says he started business in Paso
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Robles, November 16, 1886, with a capital of $5,000. Now he is a wealthy man, but one much liked and trusted in the community where he has made his money. As he gained money for himself he lent a helping hand to hun- dreds of farmers struggling with a mortgage. He never refused credit to an honest man ; but carried accounts, loaned money, and so helped those who showed themselves honest and willing to help themselves. In the dry years of 1888-89, Claus Spreckels sent carloads of hay to Paso Robles and placed Mr. Bell in charge of its distribution; Spreckels also empowered Mr. Bell to furnish needed food to those in want, and bore the expense himself so far as we have ever been able to learn. It meant $25,000 to ease the suffering in this end of the county; and the notes the self-respecting people gave in payment were never taken up. The beauty of this act was shown in first allowing the people to give their notes, and so avoiding the sting of charity, when they were burdened with so many other ills, and later announcing that the notes were canceled.
Another pioneer was Will Lewis, whose little stock of tobacco, cigars and fruit came down on the first train that brought freight to Paso Robles. Later he went into the implement business, and, in 1911, erected a fine building on the corner of Pine and Thirteenth streets. His brother Dan joined in the business, and they have a big stock of machinery which is sold off in satisfactory lots. We also noted that they sold "Fords" faster than they could get them in.
W. C. Henderson had the first blacksmith shop. He bought out the old stage stand where the stage horses were shod. This building stood on the southeast corner of Pine and Thirteenth streets. About 1904, he built the Pio- neer Garage on the same lot, and in 1912 built the fine garage on the southeast corner of Spring and Thirteenth streets, where he still conducts business. P. Lundbeck was also one of the pioneer blacksmiths of the town. Tom Hood had the first harness shop on the corner of Pine and Twelfth streets. Mr. Booth had the first drug store, the "Eagle Pharmacy" starting business where it still is conducted at the corner of Spring and Twelfth. W. C. Ben- nett was also a pioneer druggist.
Dr. J. H. Glass was the first physician to locate in the new town. He had his house and office in a little four-room cottage on Spring street in the summer of 1887. He was a splendid doctor. His practice grew rapidly and he prospered accordingly. For many years Dr. Glass was the leading physician of the northern section of the county. He never refused to go any distance in any sort of weather. He saved many lives in those days; and though in the end trouble and misfortune broke this man, who in the beginning promised to become so much, the writer who saw him pull from "the jaws of death" the life of a beautiful little girl and shed tears when he said to the mother, "Your child will live," wishes in the history of Paso Robles to pay tribute to the memory of its pioneer physician, Dr. J. H. Glass.
Among the doctors practicing their profession in the community are Dr. W. O. Dresser, Dr. Wilmer, and Dr. Soby.
Alex Webster and Charles Putnam have represented the bar in Paso Robles for many years.
F. M. Bennett was for four years in charge of the express office in Patsy Dunn's store before the railroad came. He has always been identified with the town's interests and has handled a great deal of real estate.
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It is impossible to give space to all the pioneer business men of Paso Robles. We have tried to write of a few who still do business in the town, but no doubt there are others whose names we have failed to notice. The town now has a fine array of well-kept stores and shops of every sort, pre- sided over by courteous owners and assistants.
The Sperry Milling Co. has a large mill at Paso Robles, and the surrounding country is devoted largely to raising grains. The acreage set out to mixed fruits and nuts is said to be about 4.665, of which 1,000 acres are in bearing almond trees, while 1,500 acres are being set out this winter ( 1916), mainly to almonds.
In 1899 the Hotel de Paso Robles was begun. It was two years in building. The Western Realty Co. built and owns the hotel. Later the archi- tect. Weeks, was engaged to plan the bath house. He was sent to Europe for a year to study the finest bath houses of the famous spas there, and this wonderfully beautiful and splendidly equipped bath house is the restilt. Previous to building the present bath house a large wooden structure was built across the street which later burned down. The grounds of the hotel are beautifully laid out and well kept. (. A. Babb is the present manager.
Churches
The Methodist Church was the first church built in Paso Robles. There are now other churches of the following denominations: Congregational, Baptist, Christian, Catholic, and Episcopal; and a new building where a sect calling themselves the "Church of God" worship.
Banks
The Citizens Bank of Paso Robles was organized and opened for busi- ness June 1. 1892; Adolph Horstman was cashier, and Lyman Brewer, assist- ant cashier. A few years later the business was in bad shape, but the bank was reorganized, every dollar of indebtedness paid and the bank placed on a firm, safe basis. The present board of directors is composed of W. C. Bennett, Alex Webster, M. Shimmin, W. O. Dresser, D. S. Lewis, Paul Pfister and .1. Pfister.
The First National Bank of Paso Robles took over the business of the old Paso Robles Bank, reorganized the management and in October, 1910. logan doing business. The present board of directors includes George F. Bell. W. S. Lewis and R. C. Heaton.
Upper Salinas Valley Fair
Jord Lipper Salinas Valley Fair is held at Paso Robles about every two yair and is a revelation of the resources of the section that certainly prom- ar Thuch oof the future. The one held in October, 1816, was very good. kypure the unique exhibits was a large American flag made of almonds on a wwwden lecheround. The whole was designed and executed by Miss Bernice Folie She dyed the nuts for the red stripes and blue field. The stars and un strine were of bleached almonds. She designed the wooden back- of ond glitt the flag seemed floating in the breeze. The almond growers, to show thier appreciation, presented Miss Exline with a beautifully engraved
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Paso Robles was the first town in the county to secure a Chautauqua, and has held at least four successful ones.
A beautiful park lends enchantment to the place. In its center stands the fine $10,000 Carnegie Library, presided over by the efficient librarian, Mrs. Satira A. Gano. The shelves hold 2,500 volumes and more are con- stantly being added. The streets of the city are well-kept and shaded by rows of fine trees. It is well lighted by electricity, has a good water supply pumped from wells across the river and carried in an iron pipe across the fine iron bridge that here spans the Salinas river. The new $40,000 grammar school has been mentioned in the chapter on schools. Three newspapers are published in the town, The Leader, Paso Robles Record (started in 1907, into which the Moon and Independent were merged, owned by a company), and the Paso Robles Press, owned and edited by Mrs. Dorothy Lawrence. This paper was started July 11, 1915.
In April, 1905, the fine municipal bath house was opened, the citizens first boring for water and getting a great flow of hot sulphur water. There seems to be an underground lake of the water, for R. C. Heaton has an artesian well of hot sulphur water. He is a pioneer business man dealing in real estate and furniture, has been very successful and is still doing business.
A fine new bath house at the mud springs was built three years ago. The business blocks of the city are mainly of brick and concrete. Every- where things show prosperity and up-to-date methods. Paso Robles, the little city built at the Pass of the Oaks, now just thirty years old, is one of the prettiest, busiest towns in the state. Long may she flourish, amid her almond-crowned hills and bubbling hot sulphur springs.
TEMPLETON
Templeton came into existence along with the Southern Pacific in the fall of 1886. The West Coast Land Co., with C. H. Phillips, manager, bought the Blackburn (Paso Robles) ranch, or most of it, laid out the town site, sur- veyed the rest into small ranches; and things began moving. A. J. Hudson, who owned a fine ranch in the Oakdale district, became a real estate agent and for about a month a hotel man, running the first Templeton hotel that was under a roof. The first one was conducted under the great oak that stood just west of the big building the Land Company erected in the early part of 1887 and which burned down in the fall of 1897. This hotel was on the corner of Main and Fourth streets, facing east, a two-story building. It had a number of different managers, but Cook was in charge during the "boom" of 1887 and cared for the crowd of people seeking real estate or health ; for a number of Easterners were so charmed with the climate and lovely scenery that they just went into winter quarters and stayed. Among them were a delightful old gentleman, Rev. York from New York, and his charm- ing daughter.
There were a few men hovering around from the time the first stakes were driven down on the right of way : but the first man to arrive and stay through all the vicissitudes of a "boom" and a "dead town," and be present at the awakening to a more healthful career, was Albert Crum, who still stays with Templeton. Early in October, 1886, the first construction trains reached the town site, and the "boom" was on and in full swing. Mr. Crum was on
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hmmik and off Of her 16. 1886, bought a lot on the southeast corner of Main ated Sitthi Steers, and erected a two-story building. The lower floor was renbod to Jau bowitz & Golliber for a store, and the upper story was used for a hall mitdl July, 1888, when Mr. Crum married Miss Eunice Wright and converted the upper story into living rooms for his family. Jacobowitz & Gialliber got all the goods they could from the wholesale man, sold them, pocketed the money and "failed." They then went to Nipomo and "Central City," now Santa Maria, and failed some more. Mrs. Wengren put in a stock of goods in this store building, and was there for a while. In 1897 Mr. Crum put in a stock of goods and conducted a general store until 1900, when he sold out the stock to George F. Bell and retired from business. He took off the upper story, used the lumber in building a pretty home, and sold the lower story and the roof, we suppose to Joel Pate, who moved it up the street into the next block, where it is still used as a store. We have followed up this building because it was the very first building erected in the town and, like the man who built it, has stayed with the town and escaped the fire that burned down all the other very early buildings.
H. C. Whitney bought a lot on the northeast corner of Main and Fourth streets ; his deed antedated Crum's deed by a day or so, but Crum's building was up first. Mr. Whitney put up a building and conducted a meat market in front, while there were living rooms back. Later Mr. Whitney and son Frank had a store in the building. H. C. Whitney was postmaster and had the office in his own building. Mr. and Mrs. Whitney and sons, Frank and Eugene, were very much liked in business and social life. Mr. Whitney was a sergeant in the Civil War and a sufferer from a terrible wound in the side, but was always a pleasant, cheerful man. Frank died and was buried in Templeton about 1898. In 1900 the family left Templeton, going to Pied- mont, where they lived until moving to San Jose, where they now reside.
Lyman Brewer, the first Southern Pacific agent in Templeton, came down on a "construction limited," November 15, 1886, and opened up the box-car sta- tion. In this he and his pretty bride lived until the depot was built with liv- ing rooms above. Mr. Brewer was agent until June 1, 1892, when he left to go into the newly-opened Citizens Bank at Paso Robles as assistant cashier.
Frank Hansen, and his wife and daughter Etta, came to Templeton, he in October, 1886, and Mrs. Hansen and Etta in December. Mrs. Hansen was the third woman to come to live in Templeton. Mrs. Whitney and Mrs. Harry Scheele were already there. Mr. Hansen built a hotel and livery stable; he ich the hotel and stable until 1904, then quit the business, but still lives in his bail for. \ son, Grant, was born in Templeton soon after the family came. Mr Od Mis. Harry Scheele and daughter Mabel came to the town site lafildings were up except Crum's, which was under way. Mr. 5716 10. 1 . painter and decorator and did about all that sort of work in the In clerked in Quarnstrom's store, and about 1900 removed to To I pou has a good business and employs several men. Mr. 4.os Iwere very much missed when they left, as they were
Witte lo wo 0ist drug store in town in a building on the south- 00 1 110: streets, where Petersen's store now stands.
to suphysician to settle in town, and Dr. Glass of
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Paso Robles was often called for consultation. Later, Dr. J. H. Heath came and was there until, in the 1900 exodus, he left and went to Oakland.
Dr. S. Helgesen, who had been a medical missionary in China, came early in 1897. She was a splendid doctor, a remarkable woman in many ways, and was an angel of mercy to that town and community until August, 1915. when she was killed on Cuesta Grade. She loved animals almost as much as humanity. She was driving her car up the grade and. in trying not to run down some loose horses, she swung her car too far over, and was hurled to her death. She was buried in the Templeton cemetery, August 15, 1915.
G. H. Fisher, wife and twin daughters, came to Templeton in the fall of 1886 or spring of 1887. They lived there until a few years ago, when the daughters were employed as teachers in the bay city and they removed to Berkeley. In December, 1915, Mr. Fisher died and his body was brought back to Templeton for burial.
Eben Ward had the first blacksmith shop in town. In January, 1887. H. B. Morrison bought a lot on South Main street and put up a shop ; later he added farm machinery, bought for cash but sold on credit. He managed to keep this system up until 1899, when in broken health and after a loss of five thousand dollars' worth of property, he left the town. In April, 1887, he was married to a young lady teacher at Winters. He built a four-room house on his lot in town, and Mrs. Morrison bought eight acres west of town. In 1893 they built a nice home on the land, set out a prune orchard and lived there until, in April, 1900, Mrs. Morrison and the four children left to join Mr. Morrison at Nipomo. This property, that cost $3000 all told, was sold for about $700. This alone tells the story of conditions there in 1900. The prop- erty now belongs to Mr. McVicar. Jean Donelson worked for Ward awhile; and about 1889 Rainey and Donelson built a shop just north of the Morrison shop, on the lot south of the Reading Room, where Donelson ran a shop for years, until he went into the garage business.
In the fall of 1886, William Horstman came, bringing about $40,000. Ile bought land, built a fine big home, set out orchards, built the first brick blocks in town and engaged in store-keeping. He lost heavily, as did other pioneers. One venture was a bank. His son Adolph, with A. P. Seeman. John Quarnstrom and H. Wessel, engaged in the banking business. In the end the bank failed and H. Wessel's money was no more, for by some means, . Mrs. Wessel says, he was left to pay notes and other obligations. Maybe this was because he came there with over $50,000 and the other parties in the business had little cash at that time, for William Horstman had drawn out of the concern before the crash came.
Hans Petersen, a brother-in-law of Mr. Horstman, came in 1888 with about $30,000. He bought out Griffith, who had the first hardware store, and went into the hardware business, buying the Lawton building. He also bought land and set out orchards, and met the same fate as the rest of the pioneers-lost money. In October, 1898, a fire started in a saloon next to Whitney's and swept the entire side of the block, which was all filled in with wooden buildings. As soon as possible Petersen rebuilt, using brick, and stocked up again, also adding groceries. In 1908 he turned the business over to his sons and went to reside in Pismo, where he kept a small store. In May, 1913, Mr. and Mrs. Petersen celebrated their golden wedding in Templeton at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Joseph Eddy, entertaining over
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