THE OARD AND

...,,�TTEN of The Pacific Grove Heritage Society

April/May 2003

571 Pine Avenue at the corner of Forest (photo date March 2, 1909)

HATS! HATS! SPRING HATS!

Come and see the attractive display now being shown at Mrs Andersons. Clever styles, reasonable prices.

Comer of Pine and Forest Apprentice wanted.

From an advertisement in the Daily Review of April 11, 1911. (The house is

still there at 571 Pine Avenue)

THE CHINA BARREL by Dex Rivett

This is the story of six year old Irving Rivett who lived with his grandparents at 310 5th Street on Trimmer Hill in 1897. The story was repeated in Rivett family circles and is documented here by his son Dex who lives in Sacramento and reads Board and Batten to remind him of earlier days in Pacific Grove. Irving is shown in the class of J5f and 2nd Grades of Pacific Grove School in 1898. Irving appears in the standing row of students, the sixth child from the right wearing the white collar and plaid neck scarf

·- PA�IFIG 6fWifl:.-

'; . /99.£' ;sr JNtJ '). 4 Gt?.).l)f:S ·�

.l

··············-·--·------· '.

Captain Mac had spotted the empty china barrel outside Will Wright's hardware store. He told Will, 'That barrel ain't worth a go! durn-its top's even missing, --I might give you a nickel for it."

"It's worth two bits if it's worth a copper penny," Will said, "but I'd be a fool ifl tried to put china back into the thing. If you'll haul it off my front stoop, you can have it for nuthin."

Captain Mac hoisted the barrel onto his wagon alongside eight or ten valises and trunks he'd put aboard at the El Carmelo Hotel. "Much obliged," he said to Will, and climbed onto the wagon seat, a motion

2

that told his old horse Barney to giddyup. Barney automatically headed for the horse trough at the comer of Lighthouse and Grand. The Captain didn't bother to rein in the horse who knew his route as well as the Captain himself.

Fifteen minutes later they hove to at the S.P. depot. The baggage was put aboard the Shore Line Limited for its departure at 5 :25 for San Francisco. The Captain once again mounted the wagon seat and let Barney take them and the china barrel up the hill to home near the top of Doc Trimmer Hill and supper.

The next day Buzz Rivett sat on the back step whittling on a willow stick and wiggling his toes in the warm dirt. He watched his dog, 'Donny dog', practice pointing. He glanced from time to time at the china barrel that his grandpa, Captain Mac, had hauled home from Will Wrights hardware store. Captain Mac warned Buzz that Grandma Mac wanted to plant tomatoes in it. Buzz knew there had to be a better use for that old china barrel than planting tomatoes.

Two neighborhood boys dawdled towards him kicking up dust clouds. "Hey there, Buzz," hollered Elmer, "Whatcha gonna do with that barrel?"

"Yeah," puffed Harry, "It looks like my Aunt Bertha!"

Buzz kept on whittling "I'm thinking maybe we can make a crows nest out of the barrel. Captain Mac told me that there's a crows nest on top of every ship's mast," Buzz said, "so a sailor can climb into it and look for whales or maybe another ship. Let's put the barrel back up on the wagon and play that we are looking for pirates out on the bay."

They rounded up a sturdy plank and rolled the barrel onto the wagon. After they spotted a pirate galleon or two in the bay, and a skillion sharks, the game grew old.

"I got a new idea," Harry declared "and I get to be first. We'll roll it down that plank, with me in it." Looking down Trimmer hill he bragged "I betcha I can roll more'n a hundred feet." Arguments continued about who could go the farthest.

"It's my Grandma Mac's barrel," said Buzz "so I get to take the first

ride." Then they discovered that two boys could curl up and squeeze in so Elmer joined Buzz in the barrel and Harry was the pusher and ringmaster.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Harry barked, "These two daredevils will embark on the most spectacular barrel ride of the decade! Are you ready gents?"

Two muffled voices as one said, "Ready."

"Have a go, bully boys!" Harry shouted as he gave the barrel a shove. The barrel hurdled down the plank like a stone from a slingshot. Harry leapt off the wagon to pursue but stumbled and fell flat. The barrel picked up speed and only Donny dog could keep up the chase. Soon barrel and yipping dog disappeared down 61h Street in a cloud of dust.

Inside, Buzz and Elmer were sure they were plunging into purgatory. The barrel hit every rock, clod and gopher hole but it missed every tree that could have stopped it. It rolled as if it had eyes of its own.

Workman were digging a ditch for the new storm drain on Lighthouse A venue at the foot of 61h Street. The boys had played around the ditch and had been chased off the huge mounds of dirt piled along side of the ditch. Buzz and Elmer had no way of knowing that now the barrel was headed for the mounds.

The boys felt a lurch as the barrel ran up the mound, then an ominous quiet as it flew over the heads of the workmen in the ditch and then crashed into the mound on the far side.

4

Workmen gathered around the boys. "This one don't look too good." "Maybe he's broke his bones." "Are we in heaven, Elmer?" whispered Buzz. "I hear angels talkin' ."

"I'm gonna lose my lunch,' said Elmer.

Elmer couldn't stand without staggering. "I wanna go home," he wailed. He was still moaning like a lonely harbor seal without its mama as he wove his way back up Trimmer hill.

Harry arrived out of breath. "Is Buzz gonna make it?" he gasped. " If

he doesn't I get first dibs on his pocket knife."

Well, Harry didn't inherit the pocket knife. That night Buzz went to bed without dinner. It wasn't his idea but Captain Mac's. It was also the Captain's idea to paddle Buzz's bottom with a split stave from the busted barrel.

In bed Buzz could hear the Captain in the parlor with Grandma Mac. "You know what that laddie needs?" he asked, "He needs a good keel haulin'!"

The last sounds Buzz heard before falling asleep were the rhythmic creaks of the Captain's rocking chair and the contented chuckles of Captain Mac.

Returned To Home In Oregon From the Daily Review of January 6, 1927

G. P. Morden, who has been spending a few days in Pacific Grove with his sister, Mirna Morden, left Wednesday afternoon for his home in Eugene, Oregon. Mr. Morden was called here to attend the funeral of his sister, Miss Lulu Morden.

A plaque was requested for the house at 216 1 ih street. The tax records shows a Hannah Morden as the original owner in 1904. The city directory for 1926 shows a Morden.

5

6

Car Contest by J. Billstrom.

In a contest to boost number of subscriptions, any newspaper buyer could clip out a vote for their favorite candidate. The candidates were those who sold new subscriptions and renewals. One of the three cars would be awarded to District 1, Pacific Grove.

· Purchued from'·� on Display at ,

� . , ,

PENINSULA: Gh,.RAGE, · PACIFIC GitqVE ,t

• ' �·

Banner Day From The Peninsular Review and Pacific Grove Daily Review of January 6, 1927

SATURDAY JANUARY 8----0FFICE OPEN UNTIL 8

Several New Leaders are coming to the Front in the Last Few Days. No Candidate has any lead to Boast of. Banner Week, which Ends Saturday Night at 8, bringing exceptional activity.

Mrs. Primus Bennett, 119 12th St Mrs. L.B. Freeman, 192 Alder St. John D. Orchard, Jr., 392 Gibson Mrs. Mary Perry, 19th and Pine Miss A. Sherwood, 420 Monterey Mrs. Elizabeth Snyder, 147 11th St.

)

)

. I

, · NEW OVERLAND WHIPPET SEDAN . . I

CHRYSLER6�9SEDAN

Purchased fro� and on Display at

RAMSEY MOTOR CO., MONTEREY Value $1450

7

8

News from the Grove News from old Pacific Grove from The Daily Review of April I, 1911

Selected by J. D. Billstrom • Mrs. Frances Mildred Spencer is visiting with her sister, Mrs. Barr,

in Cucumonga, near Angeles. She will be her guest for several weeks.

• Phillips and Lawrey have just received a large stock of goods that will interest those who are improving their homes. Wall paper, all designs. Also all late designs in sanitas. Alabastine in popular shades. The best paints on the market.

• David Moore is over from Santa Cruz for a short visit.

• WANTED - a Japanese boy wants a position as a school boy.

• Keep in mind the date of the entertainment by Mrs. Chilton under the auspices of the Civic Club. April 11 is the date and Polly of the circus is the entertainment.

• WEATHER SIGNAL - The weather sign als displayed upon the Post Office have meanings as follows:

White flag - fair weather. Black flag - rain. Black flag over a white flag - warmer. Black flag below a white flag - colder.

• Miss Grace Leese is occupying the cottage she recently purchased from Mrs. L. B. Crawford.

• Roy Learned, who has been quite sick, is able to attend school.

Bootlegger From The Peninsular Review of January 6, 1927

Charley Hicks was caught with the goods-19 gallons of it. He was fined $5 00 or 180 days in jail. If he pays, the liquor will cost him $26.84 per gallon. If he goes to jail, he will serve 9 1/2 days per gallon. Certainly a lesson.

Steamship Schedule From the Review of January 8, 1906

Leaving Monterey

For San Francisco

For Los Angeles

Coos Bay 7 a.m. Jan 6, 14, 22, 30, Feb 7

Bonita 7 a.m. Jan 2, 10, 18, 26, Feb 3.

Calling at San Simeon, Ca yucca, Port Harford(San Luis Obispo), Santa Barbara, Ventura, Hueneme, East San Pedro, San Pedro

and Newport.

The steamer Santa Cruz, carrying freight and combustibles only, to and from San Francisco arrives and leaves every

Wednesday.

Steamers connect at San Francisco with Company's steamers for ports in British Columbia, Puget Sound, South-Eastern Alaska,

Nome, St Michael, Humboldt Bay and Mexico.

TICKET AND FREIGHT OFFICES Monterey-At Company's Wharf

C.D. DUNANN, General Passenger Agent

9

Clyde Seavey Speaks To People Of Grove On Municipal Government From The Peninsular Review and Pacific Grove Daily Review of January 6, 1927

The Civic Clubhouse in the Grove was the scene last night of a large gathering of interested citizens when Clyde L. Seavey gave a talk on the merits of the city manager form of government. The speaker was given a warm introduction by Mr. Jeb Wood, Jr. Seavey is a member of the railroad commission and was for three years successful manager of the city of Sacramento, previous to which time he served as a member of the board of control.

In the course of his talk he stressed the impossibility of the successful mixing of the legislative and executive departments of any government, pointing out that both state and nation keep these departments distinct, while the municipal forms of government everywhere in the United States have been struggling for years with a form of government which unsuccessfully mixes the two. By the old form a great deal of interlapping of responsibility is allowed, resulting in unfair criticism of well-meaning officials.

In the managership form of government the council is the legislative body, drawing up ordinances and apportioning tax moneys and any city income, while the manager, as the executive head, carries out the orders of the council, managing the business of the city they represent.

Mr. Seavey stated that no business representing as much as $50,000 is run without a business manager, while cities handling far more money are allowed to operate without any one person being responsible for their entire business interests.

He added that the manager is far too busy running his business to the best advantage to be able to have anything to do with politics.

After touching on the various forms of city government and naming some of the accomplishments of managership government in the past few years. Mr. Seavey asked for questions regarding the subject.

Several influential citizens arose to the call with questions pertinent

10

to the forming of a managership government in the Grove, resulting in an interesting debate of the subject, and the unearthing of humorous situations.

It is reported that another community gathering is being planned for the near future when Mr. May of the University of California will address the people.

Transients To Pay For Going Around Drive From The Daily Review of April 1, 1911

Commencing from this date transient visitors to the Grove will be required to pay twenty-five cents for the trip around the Seventeen Mile Drive whether traveling on horseback or in vehicles.

Guests at the Del Monte Hotel and Pacific Grove Hotel, residents of the Grove or Monterey and visitors here for the season will be given passes without charge, the same as heretofore.

Dog Taxes Are Due And Payable From The Daily Review of April 11, 1911

Pay your dog tax. Male one dollar, female two dollars. If your dog is placed in the pound it will cost you one dollar in addition to the tax. It is cheaper to pay up and avoid trouble.

E. B. Rich Tax Collector

Publisher's Corner Questions for Research

Question: I bought this cup with an inkstamped "Wheelock made in Germany for Gilman's Curio Store Pacific Grove, Cal." Do you have any idea of where the Gilman's Curio Shop was located or when it was in business? Bob, Pacific Grove

Answer: The 1907 city directory shows a Gilman's Curio and Novelty Emporium at 5 47 Lighthouse Ave. The proprietor is listed as Mrs. Florence N Gilman. No such entry was in the 1926 directory so the shop must have gone out of business. Today 5 47 Lighthouse Ave. is the home of Orlando's shoe store.

11

Tlie Heritage Society of Pacific Grove

P.O. Box I 007 Pacific Grove, CA 93950

Board of Directors President: Vice-President: Secretary: Treasurer:

Jean Anton John Billstrom Ken Hinshaw Bob Davis Craig Riddell Bobbie Hall

Paul Finnegan Darlene Billstrom Carrol Patterson Don Beals

Marilyn Arioto Kathleen O'Brien Steve Honegger Muriel Pyburn Jan & Ted Rose Linda Smith-Bailey

The Board and Batten Staff Publisher: John Billstrom Typesetting: Gary Sprader

The Barn Laurel & 17th Street (831) 372-2898 Hours: Saturday I - 4 pm

�w �TION

61.IRi, -r"umiDI Up tbe Volu.m• 011 Volu.ot.eenam•

Jn.lernet: www.com.munityJinU.net Toll F, .. �- l-388-21-UNKS

Nonprofit Org. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID Permit No. 30 Pacific Grove,