John Vonderlin: Pescadero’s First Flag was a Blue Flannel Shirt
Story by John Vonderlin
Email John: benloudman@sbcglobal.net
Hi June,
I happened to run into this small article about Pescadero’s first United States flag while researching something else. It is from the December 17th, 1881 issue of the Sacramento Daily Record-Union. President Gardield had died just two months before, on September 19th, two months after being shot and only 199 days after being inaugurated. Enjoy. John
Another historic relic has been brought forth at Pescadero in the shape of the first
United States flag ever hoisted here. Some twenty odd years ago the citizens erected a
flag-staff and decided to have a flag, which in those days was not such an easy matter.
In order to get the blue cloth necessary, they had to buy a blue flannel shirt, and all the work had to be done by hand. So when it was finished the ladies felt not a little proud of the fine appearance their flag made. Mr. O’Brien, the blacksmith, was the custodian of the flag during his lifetime, and at his death he gave it in charge of Mrs. B. Weeks, in whose possession it was till a few years ago, when it disappeared, to again appear on the occasion of the Garfield memorial services. That old flag won’t be lost again so long as Mrs. Weeks lives. — San Mateo Gazette.
United States flag ever hoisted here. Some twenty odd years ago the citizens erected a
flag-staff and decided to have a flag, which in those days was not such an easy matter.
In order to get the blue cloth necessary, they had to buy a blue flannel shirt, and all the work had to be done by hand. So when it was finished the ladies felt not a little proud of the fine appearance their flag made. Mr. O’Brien, the blacksmith, was the custodian of the flag during his lifetime, and at his death he gave it in charge of Mrs. B. Weeks, in whose possession it was till a few years ago, when it disappeared, to again appear on the occasion of the Garfield memorial services. That old flag won’t be lost again so long as Mrs. Weeks lives. — San Mateo Gazette.