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On account of the natural
barrier of mountains and hills separating the Coastside from the
other districts, this particular part of the county was somewhat
retarded in its growth until the coming of the Ocean Shore Railroad.
This portion of the peninsula possesses a romantic interest, in that
it was the first place in the county to be discovered by the Spanish
people when taking possession of the seacoast of Central California.
In the beginning there were only a few settlements and
large ranches for dairying, grain and farming purposes.
All this is being changed, as there has been a great development in
this section during the last few years, marked by the growth of a
number of promising communities which have taken the place of much
of the territory formerly devoted to farming and grazing.
The soil in this district has always been known for its
splendid fertility. All the lowlands and many of the side hills
along the coast, clear to Pescadero, having been given over entirely
to the. raising of vegetables. Here, that dainty aristocrat among
vegetables, the artichoke, planted in great fields develops a flavor
that it attains nowhere else.
The winters are so mild that the plant is at its best during the
Christmas holidays and early spring, just when it is needed and
appreciated the most, on account of the lack of other fresh
vegetables. Early peas, lettuce, cauliflowers, potatoes, sweet corn,
string beans, brussels sprouts, horse beans and many other
vegetables do equally well.
Among the county's most important products are
cabbages. Cabbage gardeners in the vicinity of Colma and Baden make
large shipments,-one of these sending eight carloads to the city '
in his busy week. Cauliflowers are also shipped out in carload
consignments.
Grain is another important crop, particularly red oats,
which is raised quite extensively.
The coast climate is well adapted to the perfect
ripening and fine flavor of such fruit as apples and pears.
Strawberries and huckleberries grow in abundance farther back upon
the hills. Poultry raising is also assuming an important rank as a
paying industry.
Nevertheless it is general truck gardening that pays
best in this region, having proved so successful, that lands
suitable for this purpose will now rent for as much each year, as
they were considered to be worth per acre ten years ago. The best of
this land averages $500 per acre although three times this figure is
not an unusual price to pay for the most productive f a r m s.
Figures taken from the United States Census of 1910 show the total
value of all farm property in San Mateo County to have been over
twenty million dollars. Most of this is located on the coastside.
One phase of the coast climate deserves special mention
at this point: it is what might be called a "second spring." This
phenomenon takes place in the autumn, and somewhat resembles the
Indian Summer of the eastern states. At this time many crops may be
planted again, as they were in the original Spring of the year. The
weather at this time is particularly balmy and pleasant.
Another interesting and important industry that has
been located upon the coastside of the county since its earliest
days, and still maintains noteworthy proportions, is the lumber
business. It is an interesting and little known-fact that a large
body of untouched redwood lumber-the largest south of Mendocino
County, lies along Pescadero Creek ; while upon the shores of Butano
and Gazos Creeks to the south, are also millions of feet of
untouched redwood lumber. Lumbering operations are still in progress
in this latter section where the timber is being turned into
shingles and railroad ties. Pescadero is the nearest town to the
scene of these activities.
The entire coast as far down as Tunitas Glen, the
present terminal of the Ocean Shore Railroad, is rapidly attaining
prominence, not only as a satisfactory suburban home community, but
as a holiday resort that is easily accessible from San Francisco.
New towns have sprung tip along the coast from San
Francisco, where homeseekers from all parts of the country are
selecting sites.
It is to such districts as these that people l migrate
each summer from the enervating climate of the interior.
The greatest thing next to the coming of the Ocean Shore Railroad,
that has yet taken place to open up this coastal section and
advertise it to the world, was the building of the Coastside
Boulevard. This high class road not only branches out to all
other parts of the county, but makes direct connections with San
Francisco. It is one of the most popular and beautiful trips for
pleasure seekers, as well as a quick and direct commercial route to
the metropolis.
The beaches along this fifty-five mile strip of
seashore are ideal recreation grounds for holiday or week-end trips,
when business cares arc forgotten in the pleasures of the seashore.
Here is a variety of sport to meet the whims of everyone-strolling
or resting in the clean white sands, or bathing in the surf. There
are shell fish to be gathered, or fishing can be indulged in from
beach or rocks. The redwoods which are only a short distance back of
the beach, invite the picnic party.
The beaches at nearly every station along the line of the Ocean
Shore Railroad, are sheltered from sweeping winds by high bluffs and
protected from treacherous undertow, so characteristic of many ocean
bathing places, by the natural formation of the coast line into
rocky reefs and inland curves. The temperature of the water is
modified by the warm Japan currents which skirt the coast of central
California and make bathing delightful.
Surf bathing is indulged in to a great extent at Salada
Beach, Brighton Beach, Moss Beach, Marine V Princeton, Granada, the
town of Halfmoon Bay and Tunitas Glen. Beautiful bath houses have
been erected at Salada, Moss Beach, Princeton and Granada, where
crowds go daily, in summer, to enjoy the snow-white sands, the
invigorating salt air and a clip in the surf.
These towns and resorts are strung out along the coast in a line
similar to the formation of the bayside cities. The entire
population, although growing rapidly, is yet small as compared to
that of the sister community across the mountains.
There are two good sized towns, Halfmoon Bay and
Pescadero. The remainder of the settlements arc in the nature of
summer resorts, around each of which cluster the summer homes of
many San Franciscans as well as the year 'round residences of
commuters.
The towns located on the coastside along the line of
the Ocean Shore Railroad between San Francisco and Pescadero are
Edgemar, Salada, Brighton Beach, Rockaway, Pedro Valley, Farallone,
Moss Beach, Montara, Princeton, Granada, Miramar, Halfmoon Bay,
Lobitas, Tunitas, Purissima, San Gregorio, and the world-famous
Pebble Beach.
Halfmoon Bay, originally called Spanishtown, is the
largest and oldest town upon the coastside of San Mateo County. It
is located in a very fertile valley which flares out upon the shores
of the Bay of Halfmoon.
Here indeed is a bit of Old Spain a little village that
might have been transported from the land of the Dons, when the
Spanish nation was at the height of its colonizing era in the new
world.
The situation of the town is one of the most
picturesque on the coast, where the wild beauty of bay, mountain and
plain arc at their best. At this point, the mountains have fallen
back from the sea, leaving a highly fertile plain of several
thousand acres stretching along the shores of the bay. Here the
waters seem particularly blue, and the sand of an extraordinary
whiteness.
Upon this plain grow the artichoke and brussels sprout. Halfmoon Bay
artichokes are known from San Francisco to New York and have made
the name of Halfmoon Bay famous.
Here also is located the largest mushroom farm west of
Chicago, the output of which is shipped to the markets of San
Francisco and other bay cities.
There is a high school, grammar school, two churches,
and, several fraternal orders, clubs and organizations.
Halfmoon Bay is served by the Ocean Shore Railroad. The Coastside
Boulevard from San Francisco passes through Halfmoon Bay, with
branches to Redwood City and San Mateo. A line of automobile busses
over these roads connect Halfmoon Bay with these cities.
The estimated population is 1,100.
Hidden away in a nook of the mountains and surrounded
by one of the richest farming regions of the entire state, is the
town of Pescadcro,-second in size among the coast towns of the
county.
In the old Spanish days, Pescadcro was one of the most
important stopping places upon the Camino Real. As far back as the
early seventies it was a famous resort for honeymoons and parties,
and rendezvous for sportsmen from San Francisco. Before this, it was
the center of a great cattle district from which hides were shipped
to Monterey. An old adobe or two yet remains to remind the
historically inclined of the pioneer days of Alta California.
When San Francisco was being expanded into a city, the
level land around Pescadero became one vast potato patch, the
product being shipped from Pigeon Point, six miles below.
The romantic charm of this little town with its famous
pebble beach, bracing climate, scenic beauties and lagoon three
miles to the south, where there is unexcelled fishing for striped
bass, steelhead and salmon, exerts a magical attraction upon the
modern day motorists.
The Ocean Shore Railroad extends only to Tunitas Glen,
although its right-of-way has been graded to Pescadero. An
automobile stage is operated from here through Pescadero to Santa
Cruz and intermediate points, affording train connection to people
along the route.
In the town there are two churches, a grammar school,
fraternal organizations and clubs.
Pescadero gives the impression of contentment and
industry, and above all of cleanliness. Many writers describe the
place as a sort of "Spotless Town," because of its well kept streets
and predominance of white-painted cottages.
Few people who have not actually enjoyed the
stimulating climate on the ocean shore can realize its attractions.
Foggy clays are in the extreme minority. Here the hot summer clays
are tempered by ocean breezes, and winter days are at their best and
are surprisingly warm. In fact the coastside is warmer in winter
than the bayside, and cooler in summer, maintaining a more equable
temperature the year around.
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