Story from John Vonderlin
Email John ([email protected])
Hi June,
Here’s an interesting fork in the road
in the history of Half Moon Bay’s development.
This story is from the May 11th, 1905 issue of
the “San Francisco Call.” It sounds like San
Gregorio’s chance to be a thriving town was
crushed by agitators in HalfMoon Bay intent
on maintaining their coastal primacy. They’re
probably still thankful.
Is this the eventual Highway 92? Enjoy. John
MAY CONSTRUCT A WAGON ROAD
Residents of HalfMoon Bay
Discuss Advisability of
Tapping La Honda District
WOULD INCREASE TRADE
Funds To Carry Out Work
Could Be Easily Raised
By Private Subscriptions
HALFMOON. BAY, May. 10.—An im –
portant agitation has been started here
for the construction of a wagon road
which will tap the rich La Honda
district and divert to this town much
of the valuable traffic and trade that is
portant agitation has been started here
for the construction of a wagon road
which will tap the rich La Honda
district and divert to this town much
of the valuable traffic and trade that is
now monopolized by Redwood City and
Palo Alto. In and around La Honda a
very profitable trade has developed
from the presence of many hundreds
of summer visitors and the prospect
of a coastwise railroad has made the
Palo Alto. In and around La Honda a
very profitable trade has developed
from the presence of many hundreds
of summer visitors and the prospect
of a coastwise railroad has made the
possibilities for traffic many times
greater. It is to take advantage of’ this
traffic that the construction of a wagon
road is being urged.
greater. It is to take advantage of’ this
traffic that the construction of a wagon
road is being urged.
A wagon road constructed from Half –
moon .Bay five miles to the east, to
connect with the county road would
make all of the traffic tributary to this
town. Such a road was surveyed many
years ago and can be built on a 4.per
cent grade. It is argued that if the
county road funds be not sufficient or
available, private subscriptions should
be raised at once to begin the highway.
At present Redwood City and Palo
Alto on the north and San Gregorio on
the south have good roads into La
Honda and reap the natural fruits of
such an advantage. When the railroad
becomes a reality it is feared that San
Gregorio will not only obtain its share
of the resulting traffic, but will absorb
that which should belong to Halfmoon
Bay. Such an event would be a very
serious one for Halfmoon Bay, as at a
single stroke it would lose its primacy
among the coast towns of San Mateo
County. A wagon road such as that
now being discussed would prevent any
change of existing conditions.
moon .Bay five miles to the east, to
connect with the county road would
make all of the traffic tributary to this
town. Such a road was surveyed many
years ago and can be built on a 4.per
cent grade. It is argued that if the
county road funds be not sufficient or
available, private subscriptions should
be raised at once to begin the highway.
At present Redwood City and Palo
Alto on the north and San Gregorio on
the south have good roads into La
Honda and reap the natural fruits of
such an advantage. When the railroad
becomes a reality it is feared that San
Gregorio will not only obtain its share
of the resulting traffic, but will absorb
that which should belong to Halfmoon
Bay. Such an event would be a very
serious one for Halfmoon Bay, as at a
single stroke it would lose its primacy
among the coast towns of San Mateo
County. A wagon road such as that
now being discussed would prevent any
change of existing conditions.