Monterey County CA Archives History - Books .....Chapter XXII Pacific Grove - The Genesis Of Pacific Grove Retreat 1893
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Book Title: Memorial And Biographical History Of The Coast Counties Of Central California.

CHAPTER XXII.
PACIFIC GROVE.-THE GENESIS OF PACIFIC GROVE RETREAT.

IN 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 research, it was at last decided that
Monterey was the most likely place to supply those requirements. 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 Improvement Company, they were induced to try a
residence amongst the pines as being beneficial and conducive to the restoration
of health.

  They accordingly came here and located on what it now known as Grand avenue,
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 former 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
miraculous, 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 resembled 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 spiritual 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 beyond all doubt that so far as they were concerned, 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 articles, for which the corporation was formed,
were the purchasing or leasing, and improvement of lands in Monterey county, for
a sea-side resort, and for holding camp-meetings, etc. The original corporators
were the following 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 m 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 accommodate 350 to 400 people. A camp-meeting was held
that year, commencing August 9th, and continuing about three weeks. Some 29,000
or $30,000 were expended in improvements during the year 1875. Summer religious
meetings were held annually thereafter. In later years, other features were
added, such as the meeting here of the Chautauquans, the State Sabbath-school
conventions, 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-gauge railroad facilitated the
coming hither of people from the interior; excursion steamers also brought large
numbers from San Francisco. Afterward the Southern Pacific Railway Company
brought, and continues to bring, thousands from many points, far and near. And
as the temperature of Pacific Grove in winter differs but little comparatively
from its temperature in summer, people from the East and from Europe, who visit
California in winter, find this a delightful 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 Improvement Company,"
subject to the conditions which had been previously agreed upon between the
Board and Mr. Jacks, with some modifications; and that an understanding with the
Pacific Improvement Company had been reached March 31, 1883, whereby the latter
should retain the financial management, and the Pacific Grove Association 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 Improvement 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
carried out its agreement with Grove Association, the following incident is
related. When the Hotel del Monte was burned, representatives of the Pacific
Improvement Company proposed to the Grove people that with their consent they
would like to have the privilege of supplying their guests, transferred from del
Monto [sic] 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 Pacific 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, combine to make it
one of the most desirable health resorts in the world. The balm of its pine
forests, and the coolness of its summer 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 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
community 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 four-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 attendance. There is a high-school
class, where pupils are prepared for the university. The Chinese colony of 400
or 500, within the district, includes some thirty-five native-born Chinese
children, for whose education in English provision was made by the school
trustees; 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. Gordon.

  The district has a fine school building, with six rooms, and a large hall,
capable of being divided into two more rooms when the occasion requires. The
schoolhouse is thoroughly furnished with all the modern appliances for heating,
seating and ventilation; and the plumbing is of the best. The assistant 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."

  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
Episcopal Church was held at Pacific Grove, September 9 to 15, 1891, Bishop W.
F. Mallalieu, president. Members in full connection, 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
support, $136,360; number of Sunday-schools, 227; number of scholars, 19,587;
number of volumes in libraries, 19,252. The conference, which includes
Sacramento, Napa, San Francisco and Oakland districts, has met at Pacific Grove
since 1884 (with one exception).

  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 secretary, 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 members 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
membership, in full connection, 13,893; on probation, 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 bishops, $143,363; conference claimants, 4,889; number of
Sunday-schools, 230; number of schohrs, 19,919; number of volumes in libraries,
20.960; money raised for all purposes, $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 interesting 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;
secretary, Miss Julia French.

  There are three church organizations in Pacific Grove, namely: Methodist,
Congregational and Episcopalian. Assembly Hall, the place of worship of the
Methodists, was built by the Pacific Grove Retreat Association, at a cost of
$25,000. The Pacific Improvement 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 assemblies which come to the Grove, free of charge. It is so owned
and used, and is an ornament to the town. It is, however, dedicated 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 Association.

  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 Lighthouse 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 dimensions of
the building are 95 x 105 feet. The chapels are separated from the main room by
glazed partitions, which are movable; and the whole may be thus thrown into one
large auditorium. This beautiful and commodious temple is a great public
convenience, where many large religious and educational 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 members. 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
Improvement Company. The foundation is laid for the entire structure, which is
intended to seat 500 persons. A modest chapel has already been put up. The
church proper is to be of Gothic architecture, and to cost between $5,000 and
$6,000. The present attendance is from forty to fifty persons.

  Monterey and Pacific Grove are connected by a street railroad, which gives the
public good service, and which is really a great public convenience; for the
passenger traffic between the two towns, or between the Hotel del Monte and the
Grove, is quite extensive.

  The track of the Southern Pacific railroad extends to and beyond the Pacific
Grove, or to lake Majella in the pine forest beyond Point Pinos lighthouse. Both
roads pass the Junipero cross and monument, New Monterey, and the Chinese town,
and close along the shore of beautiful Monterey bay.

  A large portion of the 7,000-acre tract, adjoining Pacific Grove, is kept by
the Pacific Improvement Company as a park. The "seventeen mile drive" winding
around this park is one of the finest of its kind in the United States. It is
graded, piked and graveled, and passes through a most picturesque region. A ride
over it is something to be remembered for a lifetime.

MONTEREY CYPRESS.

  On the Pacific Grove tract, at Point Cypress, near Carmel bay, is to be found
in its native habitat, the beautiful, ornamental tree, the Monterey cypress.
Prof. Sargent, of the United States Botanical Department, at Washington, asserts
that this tree is indigenous to no other part of the world. But great numbers
have been propagated, and introduced all over the State and to many parts of the
East. It is a beautiful evergreen, susceptible of being trained into many unique
forms; it grows rapidly, is thick, hardy and graceful, attaining a height of
thirty to sixty feet. The largest trunk in the grove at Point Cypress three feet
above the ground measured over nineteen feet in circumference, or above six feet
and a quarter in diameter. Its timber is very durable. The cones or globules are
produced annually, and are about the size of a large filbert. The seed, in shape
and size, is like onion seed, and may be sown in the same way and in the same
sort of soil. The cones do not fall from the trees, and the seed is retained in
them. It is said also, that a species of pine grows at Point Cypress that is
found nowhere else in the world.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California.

Illustrated.

Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the
Earliest Period of its Discovery to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of
its Auspicious Future; Illustrations and Full-Page Portraits of some of its
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers, and Prominent
Citizens of To-day.



HENRY D. BARROWS,
Editor of the Historical Department.

LUTHER A. INGERSOLL,
Editor of the Biographical Department.

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendants."-Macaulay.


CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1893.


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