HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIssion Plaza San Luis Obispo 1772-1979 The latest addition to the Plaza, built in 1979, is an arbor,designed by Cal
Poly architecture student Richard Rich, a gift of the estate of Mary Jane
Duvall The lace San Luis Obispo resident left $55,000 for beautification
projects, former Mayor Kenneth F Schwartz being executor of the estate ,
In November 1976 the City established an official Mission Plaza office,
in the Murray Adobe, with Lmnaea Phillips as Mission Plaza Coordinator of -
Events Since that time there have been increasingly frequent celebrations
and craft shows On July 3, 1979, the City Council adopted a set of guidelines
for the use of the Plaza, limiting arts and crafts shows to six per year,
excluding the annual La Fiesta All events must be sponsored by non-profit
groups, organized by residents or persons who have headquarters in the ir:7'• ;;`• - _ - _• s; r't r, ^ati,�%101,11_, 11r` Tr, ,.ke:County . ::{,�_ � 1c.ti�r%.+"r.: 'i- i_rn Csk?aF-4f;%,�,..�� f gq��".% T;:'"�• `.
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No rant monies have ever been teemed for the Mission Plaza,-i�ft�='v;�, "� �,,�}y•''ti' q;" i ���',�` }', •.: `
grant , L'� �i:}p/r ,f-i ,-••:.j�,"n' , ,�SS.�T-a'l:o'.�yWFy. u ,��,5[, r .
although they have been sought by the City at various times Financing has q; k• - , r .r '"`.'`:� u p °�'t
been entirely from local tax funds and private donations �??,::�i �= :",i,,:�; -,'�[`�q�-r-t �. :.�Y � ''=��!'r.�.�
The City's Plaza Development Committee, established in November t•i i- ,c xy J r Fa, `F i` s `'E�` r 4'i �, z`•`7`�
1973, in January 1974 adopted the following statement y' F Y . err }`\ i;l •h !!t�' «�"a. i 7 .
The purpose of the Mission Plaza Project is to provide a •+, ��* �' ��� q� t - t �� i 4)•place to present the Ciry's heritage, history, culture and way _ `'y t/ rr ��fyyS�t �1t t4 ` ffj` ^ •
of life in an interesting and educational manner which will - „ ,a v Pir~„k[c;rk et h!� t Sti`iF+s (kx•
serve and please the City s citizens and its visitors _ rs r ,. \ r 1 ti 4 �
P �irS ``tA ,� i, •*'yc kiNi-1 tnj4j t +x"[i
The objective is to make Mission Plaza a lace that in itself 1� �A
will speak of the life and people of San Luis Obis ?+ n i,; " °i - �-r � Lx»J � lt•
P P P Obispo r 231 z/1 `L t�'_— t �" "with this concept, Cornersationn the Plaza have been held each ' 7 w• s.?.r'�t,+�< ;..` °5-/k ,.rtyY'%"`• - ES ' 3 ,e Fil?%tu _t h s ,a, ,F. .r " _CF�r i erwSew jt%-
outgrowth of the former SLO Tales, the Conversations center about inch- "or !^•w"7,,' ty, u�, -- ,, r- s•jr:r4 '�
vrduals and events of local historic interest and feature people who have ^% ' - •.{-��a:�';, .t '�"`•'S'
either lived in the area for many years or who are connected with County i �-pS,S+ '.,q,(,ry.'� t. 4441,4
^• fie-r'te. ..�A�,:i]a�:' Yi°^"1 .,1 y ..+- .. ;��; �7 + ';_.;,{4
history Cassette tapes of these informal discussions are in the San Luis
Obispo City-County Library's local histoy collection - ", Kids''Day in the Pia May 1975
Picture courtesy d Tdep' n-T.+bune
The San Luis Obispo County Historical Museum, at the northwest corner
of Monterey' and Broad Streets, while technically outside the Plaza area, is a
center of information on exactly those aspects of community life mentioned
in the Plaza Development Committees statement above Formerly the Public
Library, given to the City by Andrew Carnegie in 1905,the building itself is a
museum piece
As the tenth anniversary of Mission Plaza is celebrated, a seems
appropriate to quote former Mayor Kenneth F Schwartz, who summarized
in a January 1977 speech " the Plaza is a people place and that's what
cities are all about—people"
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i
s tit 2 r�c:.", The City provided funds for the res- • The City's 200th anniversaI ry,i •+ . ty' rya in r is +• �° f4,'.''+,"^s•. ,•K�
. � : k > • ?1 r, i, torsion, patio and trellis An award September 1972, was a memorable �'" tat` � { �'•r
kjx Y ..s 4.q for the completed restoration was r d9 ¢
-S,�Fn r T• • , � occasion In 1976 the City held a large r.f r yid' i ^
Re 0% given to the City bt Obispo Beautiful g — cw
and very successful Bicentennial cele- •'— •`� •
" ra it? P. in 1975 ` d� §' t`
a . � , a bration in the Plaza, with many spe- •� �1�1•� j t{'i"'Y r tin
it.ir`S h cal features A permanent add•uon V �� �• - 4'.'••`-�'r'
cal h(. t : Almost from [he beginning,there p !
4•11i1-1 >.a i� I
llllll )" i i was the Court of Flags, an octagonal ,+ ,u i .,!. .`� `t '
• had been su„ esuons char the Plaza i + r'+�j .
1y;;.r:yr- t� _. 'g monument with ceramic re hiss of �!! � ¢3'It :1 �s. •.�L .
9 '�� include a[ least one sculpture as a p K�"4 t'''. `
focal point In 1972 a Sculpture Com- i eight historic American flags, which •,fir w Ip 3 y
The Murray Adobe on Muntere) Street, 1967 P was dedicated on July 4, 1976 The '+ "S' �� _i- �! 'Ye',
find-
Picture courtesy of Telegr,m.Tnbane mittee was assigned the task of find- - +�"� ' j -��,r.
idea was suggested by Robert Johnson, -- . ,,a. •.• '�
,- ing a suitable piece and a fund was I s r '�_��•
of San Luis Obispo, the pedestal and '::-:9 qq�� _+ • .,,- ■ i••',
ry •�y� '? lr„".�^ • established for prisate donations to • ; r1 '4 S`crytf v-R
'' 9yfl„fr ' . I surrounding pano designed b}' Cal �• rt �,-•.F y �s: v i ',`
I seKS I`^'"1 as # pay for the sculpture By March of Poly architecture student Greg i '` t.7 r F•�+il� .}° -t
,.k A] (u K 1974 the field had been narrowed to S b by fir-- t” is +•^'ter
�`3-ic®e,1 r�i ,q^+�j; t I and the ceramic flags executed b '7} A�,i '[y'
4 'ti`_ two, the choice ro be left to the
uw6 .•r a•;
'. .-e- ' '',' Robert Nichols The nations Bicen- s•114 t: $21,'r .e,..{.,
"-' arc public Both designs were modern in tennial was also marked by a celebra- !,,jdl'.t' •" , tit-.5 .
"� "s" styli., and there was considerable dis- w.•'-4ffi1:4f i v.;i. l
-•-".tFS'!t4Ve-' -+A IS -w . non of religious freedom organized by gin.a •. l`• ,;- :Leer •
may on the part of many citizens p � t �r•;�+ ;,'J .- i'•"s`:,..
The Murray Adobe restored as tt appears who beliesed neither was in keeping
i the San Luis Obispo Ministerial Asso- , .� , ;T, kZ
today P S canon A short time later,on ul• 30, P '-y�'•,F' r',^. F" _y r :ti.
Picture courtesy- of Telegram-Tnbune with the historical theme of the Plaza July PI P:7,', ,• 7F- ' `� •Y�''
a moon tree was planted near the I �4` .E ; `�sit "'' y" f
During the 1974 Old Fashioned Fourth ,> it..?y '1' `tu'''b.: ;'i�?i': ;�' ie'
of July celebration in the Plaza, the public was asked to vote on the issue Court of Flags The origin was the >.. ,c Y- } II r?i "'" 1';t =
1 r P r,,,41.:_ Iii n It k,,...„y , ..: •
seed of a coastal redwood, carried to ��> ?+ 'i -. ,
Models of the two sculptures were on exhibition,and there was an opporrumry ;;. 4 •y v • $t .� �'''
the moon by Astronaut Stuart Roosa +:''r.•,+~-, .< ''-.° 'a'
to indicate a preference for neither of them,but rather a different piece,either
w:,,,,.,-_f, ?tL,'
on
modern or an historical subject The straw vote resulted in an overwhelming
Apollo's r Apollo mini the eeds were 1971
planted `�,E' �'r: -, i,�", IBC' i•
defeat for both of the two proposed sculptures, the majority of voters favoring • P ra.,L., � � •
an historical piece No proposals have been made since that time and nurtured by the U S Forest Ser- 111,t ?n •_w•71 "=“45.i• '. -.•
• vice, and one of the resulnn trees �',1p�'.� _+ ?:”. •i ` '-' .3yr'
S --;fla• 6,
was presented to the City r"r ''„ i:'4 -`•
Projects to improve the creek and prevent floods and erosion of its e s ." i •; '
banks have been undertaken during the development of the Plaza Three -e-z' r 1 •-
retaining walls were completed in November 1974, and in subsequent years '-^ `a,, y!fj' ,.4:?""••,.^ y '
work has been done on the area between Broad and Nipomo Streets In 1977, after concluding eight r-' - `%- .'7 ?v7.:,•
years of service on the City Council, ry[ ;PP' —4,4 i i A'..;.4.,.-f.:;:7.•u- yZ
There have been private proposals for development of the block bounded Myron J Graham donated to the k•,� :p.N ' y ;�. .i 4,
by Monterey, Broad, Higuera and Nipomo Streets, as well as City plans for Plaza a metal sculpture by local crust •_,.i $.4-t.•• i r:
expansion of the Plaza At this writing, a private development, the Phoenix John Augsburger Representing a fish, it «:nr 8 11 �/ ,-li \i
Budding, is under construction on Higuera Street The City has acquired the � it is suspended over the creek just rn-r Vi. ,,.?ref -f' j,}, cT .• •
southwest corner of Broad and Monterey Streets, but the Cit•s expansion r west of the Warden Bridge Another "X j ;i ; � •"• ,,,r' ti?
plan has not yet been realized Money for additional land acquisition is work of art connected with the Plaza +.,1:yJ-y �+•�" hvj. $ �''
budgeted for the current fiscal year is a mural by Marian Kay, depicting ' t�''f-'& t t "",' y', •
the histo of San Luis Obispo The .�y 7a'z . �T • .,, ffysz,i,� •
' history p 'dn.. je` t J•• r n'1.
Festivities Galore Neighborhood Arts Council sponsored ,1'C„ tkarCTi a t1r tr, p , .
t.,ETI. p 4'r' i•a contest for such work, Mrs Kay was P r 'i-4a' .H?' A,.r
Many special public events have been held in the Mission Plaza,some of ..�- }
them in the original park on the Frederick property before the existence of the winner, and their building Toys do- i' it.,.,,P0:•�S S • ,
the present Plaza The first regular event held in the present Plaza was an oared a side of their building next to �" t17-a. „r�(-a•i r •
the Mission Mall for the mural Mrs v}et ?�N, i tF s� w I '�"
Old Fashioned Fourth of July in 1972, planned and directed by Linnaea to y to ?�.a e -t
Kay began the completed a the Sum-
Phillips This was such a success that a Christmas fair was held the same met of 1978 and completed it in May Sculpture by john Augsburger, a gift to the
year Both have become annual rs ents 1979 • Plaza from Myron ) Graham, July 1977
Pirrure courtesy of Telegram Tnbune
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t •Terraces & Trees—Benches & Bricks "' ?,,'a,, �" �T� r 'r q ,• s °"k �r� v '^aa �
Things moved rapidly after that A newly-elected City Council, with � r``t yY3 : gar;` ` _1.4,A,b.", *�zs,,,,wcink,-. va' ^11,c• '
Y Taylor P - N'ir � - -z r Cff:+ Avte " -- ' a ii� l`,61.• Pi.::::.i:"rj}`
Kenneth E Schwartz as new Mayor, asked Richard Ta for to revise his lad .+-x t}y'
b deleting Monterey Street Temporary landscaping of the closed sweet was ` ¢.,_ t� •i4 e 'a x ,r 1-" r r1'1`-{+t .r, t-
Y 8 Y P° rY P 8 1 G`�'i`E¢ ,y�3 --� six rr„�"r y t S,1`t - �_ s r rte' "' `ar,,
accomplished through the generosity of Scarab Architectural Fraternity, the ' r� s ta,,,7 't 4,+ '- v 3� atc
Cal Poly Ornamental Horticulture Department, a local nursery and vate I ae Pia- t *t° Y' 4rp n i�i a�-� ^+ .: , ;`'
Y P p 1 e"" `a tr ,..t�x,nt i ,.0A,.-k.� -k,!,- pp
citizens Some trees were moved from Santa Rosa Park, and old Monterey '^'i=i%'-,-,.J �+,- �gII°'-n=' ;yyi!r„'''-�1" '<_Cr- • -grit ------s ,i tit';.:
Street soon had an inviting new look By midsummer the Council approved I ix« y t 1. it"r ri 1" iii `3F} ft ^3`t
Taylor's preliminary plan for the first phase of the Plaza protect, and on .,'re"-.'t I., ' r`_ ' r-'.-t'8 Si•;: [-:.pill,' s..� 5.ei.
weekends assorted citizens, City staff, councilmen and the mayor could be I ;..x. '{ter ` 111-`'r��� - `e v ^+ai, ,,,,,- "Q__ tin`'
found laying a brick walkway along the south side of the creek After much li � a L° ,- ksiet'i z....L" L S Es - L m iu c. � � ?� '.•discussion, a committee of the Old Mission Parish agreed to the architects '' i k +?, 'zs-=3. y
plans for three terraces, a pool, tall trees and landscaping from the church to 1 AT ` 'c a As zer_ c y' + '%! '�
P 8 ft
the creek The remainder of the total plan was deferred for future years I �" a,, x -f �. k�SYi�s� �4�� t+^ ¢ aF stiti
r ♦ F tag >N:lij
dr IEzy'ttA lL w .!r t;u` rw4
In March 1970 the last major easement was obtained, enabling the City '4"1121" �re}( e[9i' .�•+ V.-2:4•1C x' ' ` i
'“:")::4,0-- it i'" gl Y -4a' r- -I , ,1es; iP'a—Vrti ','re.-.
to continue its landscaping all the way down to the creek on the commercial I . r. -a.1 y-;7r. -ys •'x••415,1 ., sr?. -:urn; „,'f, „r:' '�,? „xJ4isir Y:+'
side This easement also allowed for larger patios on the Mission side /i - s ' �' �w -yam ri .1 F; is A. -' ••Construction of the first phase of the Plaza began in May All of the ,x, � f..,s,?,,,,._ �+p tir'�,iir�aks..-�""i rr,is t�jf,,7�,.j;tyt� �'�M,
landscaping in the first phase was donated by civic organizations and .ice-« y,=,ii#-e rf y ySY4t2gg' err s" �„ '!,--,s.„f ,,14'`:K s f4V;It.e,,s
individuals Dedication ceremonies were held on Sunday,November 22, 1970, - '*'t "�-'-"'�"'°""° •M'� �t^- u
• Councilmen Myron J Graham and Donald Q Miller,rather Joseph Saeger of the Old Mission.
with suitable festivities, a fitting culmination of more than twenty years of Mayor Kenneth E Schwarz and contractor Alex Madonna around the pavement smashe• as
work and planning by officials and citizens alike - work began on the Mission Plaza, May iii 1970
1 Picture courtesy of Teter-a.i-(o5uve
Early in 1971 the second phase was begun, which completed the Plaza Honors, Awards -
from Chorro to Broad Street on both sides of the creek Public restrooms
were constructed in this segment Landscaping was an important feature, 1
with j Honors began to accrue to the Plaza early in 1972, when the Southern
[he two small parking lots across from the Museum replaced by grassy I California chapter of the American Institute of Planners gave it first place in
areas Two old olive trees, which had once been part of the Mission's grove, a competition for citizen participation in a city project The Mission Plaza
were moved from San Luis Coastal Unified School District property to the also receded the first annual Award of Merit from Obispo Beautiful Associa-
Plaza, where they were transplanted next to the Murray Adobe The Sorop- 1 non in April 1972 The American-Association of Nurserymen in 1974 gave
timist Club gave money for a small stage to be constructed at the base of the 8
its Certificate of Merit for contributions to environmental improvement to
amphitheater the City of San Luis Obispo as owner, Richard Taylor and Associates as
} landscape architect, and Karleskint-Crum Landscape Contractors as landscape
I firm for the Mission Plaza project Presentation of these awards was made
The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo donated three flagpoles for the at the White House, Washington, DC There have been many other awards
Plaza, which were dedicated with suitable ceremony on July 4, 1971 There 1 for the Plaza
had never been an official City flag, so the City sponsored a contest in the 1
summer, there were more than forty entries The winning flag, by Marian The ultimate fate of the Murray Adobe had not been settled during the
Kay, joined the national and state flags on the Plaza at the Phase II • first and second phases of Plaza development, due to the condition of the
dedication September 11, 1971 The ceremonies also marked the beginning of building It had been decided to remove its wooden siding, raze the frame
the City's bicentennial year In his dedication speech, Mayor Schwartz referred 1 parts of the structure, and leave only the original adobe However, when this
to the Plaza as a project which had given the downtown area new confidence i was done it became apparent that time had taken too great a toll and the
for the future 'It has taught us new respect for the creek What we have i adobe was crumbling badly In October 1972 local members of the American
now is only the skeleton of the project It will mellow with age" Institute of Architects began restoration measures to prevent further damage
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City was still negotiating acquisition of the parcel, and could not guarantee I. several hundred dollars had been raised by early 1968 This had been given to
that the adobe would be saved until title had passed to the City and careful the City, and was used for planting along the creek Thus the area began to
inspection could be made However, the mill was demolished January. 30, - take on a park-like appearance, and the public could envision what the Plaza
1968, by order of the Council, as a hazard to health and safety might ultimately become
On September 5, 1967, the Council decided to proceed with widening ,4 iy,u,A *ye a a4u•-^-s:a c? -aq
and re-routing Montere• Street, but with a change in route to save the t ifY'l4 . i';'-'..VI& -^i Y-
S Y g In March the City hired land- rN„.,,a'j r. t
Murray Adobe Later that month the Cornet building was sold to a private I scape architect Richard B Taylor, of .'*•-• 1'. ':��-; "t^lar`"- .I
purchaser for development of an arcade In October another important -6 +t i7=s -'•- 1-- .,
P P P Santa Barbara, to prepare a master "'='� ;r{�•• +i . •?+"
Higuera Street property, the National Dollar Store, was sold, and the new I plan for the Plaza, with the project P i k t; ;..%, r• ;.7-43771
owners announced their intention of cooperating with the Mission Plaza to be built in several stages In June 1'p ."`-i5;+ 7° , r••'Yc . ' r- ,
project Earlier in the year the former Woolworth building had been sold and the Council approved Taylor's plan, a "'-' :_i_-r.' l�'t 1 • �'. re •'-y` 3'
was then bung remodeled to become the new home of the National Dollar design Monterey realigned r!fi_r`Y-,4 ��•,'," , '- v+•!,{ i. i'•b and n en with Montere• it policy reab tied
Store Thus three large properties on Higuera Street, two of which had been '
b P F'e b and open, per Council pohq• y�; ":.::;1 - rfr .�. +�`
vacant at the end of 1966, were becoming part of the Mission Plaza plan I rsi_�a 4 A°r is 1`i.:•a.-g i•'
Throughout the discussions of the various Mission Plaza proposals, the But the question of whether to r?, -.4, ?,,;� - r yw .t.'• - +\
realign or close Monterey Street was ' i;"'; i l .,[4 ',
Telegram-Tribune had vigorously supported the concept of a park-like plaza Y ,.„., ;, • W- y, „
■
setting for the Mission There had been extensive coverage of the discussions still an issue In April 1968 Robert c-�-,}y. �. ,. ,,. e rs'. g:_ •,
Leitcher and five other prominent
tea.
-,,e:'y�:0 <.+ �i/4•44.,-
and proposals in the newspaper, and many editorials in favor of the Plaza, as P G•.,�;.- -a. r 4' •
well as generous space for the subject in the Letters to the Editor On citizens (George Andre, former City ga -"f' . . °- ^• t t'. �a
December 28, 1967, the Telegram-Tribune featured a year-end summary, a Attorney,Kenneth E Schwartz,form- •A•:F0. a" *VP'„ ram n, h
review proving that 1967 was indeed a turning point for the Plaza The I er chairman of the City Planning i a '*' i .�Sl
greatest accomplishment for the downtown area that year, and also the i Commission, Margaret McNeil and - '� t*i }+i
8 P Y tics-gbuey',�w. fyr,fr�y.
'greatest progress in twenty years of talking and planning, was the Mission I R L Graves, both former Council v
8 P 8 Y' Y g P g. i ' 't" °i. -�',
Plaza situation as it then stood members, and attorney Richard *-r- tL f- • , '�e,-, ''
Wood) announced that they would W�-+�r"�t--'`''lltt?i -„ '� '
I circulate petitions calling for an ' c'•y 'FA-... ;'tom
Utility Poles Down; Landscaping Up P s S,.^,.. ; :. '''. .° •.;•
1 initiative election to close Monterey :a::•s:r:'c:' ,'''t#'y ,.
Remodeling activities by property owners on Higuera Street started Street in front of the Mission On Mayor Kenneth E Schwartz laying bricks for
what the newspaper termed an aaalanche•' effect on local investors and June 14, 1968, the City Clerk re- the pathway on the south side of the creek,
business people Not all the changes were restricted to the Mission Plaza • ceived the petitions, with 2,265 August e co courtesy of Telegram Tnbuee
block, some being on the opposite side of Higuera Street But the greatest signatures, almost double the number
change was behind the buildings, where utility poles had been removed and t legally required But the same week a counter-petition signed by 169 mer-
ocher unsightly elements were being replaced with tasteful landscaping chants, property owners and citizens, favoring the realignment project, also
was filed The Telegram-Tribune editorially supported closing the street On
The creek was always a difficult problem in any design for Mission July 1 the Council decided to put the issue on the November 1968 general
Plaza, since it flows on private property- In several locations the creek had election ballot, allowing the citizens to decide the issue
been covered because the property owner held land on both sides Until
recent years there was no City. ordinance prohibiting building over major The campaign became very heated, with proponents of realignment
creeks If San Luis Creek were to remain open in the Mission Plaza, it was attempting to convince voters that there would be undue delay in achieving a
essential that the City acquire the creek lands by outright purchase or l plaza if the street were closed, and those favoring the closing of the street
negotiate perpetual public easements with the property owners Since ease- pointing out that there would be a four-lane highway bisecting the Plaza if
ments were cheaper, in the Spring of 1968 the City undertook negotiations to the street were not closed At the suggestion of Monterey Street merchant
secure easements along the Higuera Street side of the creek of sufficient Myron J Graham, Ciry Engineers crews staked the area where the realigned
width to allow a public pathway eight feet wide back from the shoulder of the street would run,so that the public could see exactly what the result would be
creekbank I
. On November 5. 1968, the voters approved closing Monterey Street by a
Robert Leacher, owner/resident of the Hays-L•itimer Adobe on Mon- two-to-one margin, and the issue was finally settled On November 29 the
Carey Street west of the Plaza area, had been a staunch supporter of the Plaza i street was closed with temporary barriers, a step hailed by many as the most
for many years He had started a public subscription of funds in 1967, and important yet taken toward creating the Mission Plaza
_12_ ! • —13—
recently-formed Downtown Association This plan differed significantly from lighted entrance to the Plaza, or perhaps as an arcade of small shops (which
the City's plan in that it included an underground parking lot for two is ultimately what happened when it was developed as Mission Mall)
hundred cars and kept Monterey Street open from Chorro to Broad Again
reaction was quick, with citizens and groups which had long fought for the • Among those who spoke at this meeting were Walt Conwell and Ralph
Mission Plaza now opposing the newest proposal There was debate on the Taylor, Cal Poly architecture students Together with their cohort, Jack
merits of centering parking in the heart of downtown, rather than leaving Remeck, they had been working on the idea of updating the Chapman
the Mission itself as the chief attraction, and of diverting and covering the i Mission Plaza plan They already had obtained considerable public support
creek instead of leaving it exposed as a focal point of natural beauty and the cooperation of many downtown businesses and property owners in
the Plaza area The young men had applied for a grant from America the
One devastatingly satirical suggestion appeared as a Letter to the Editor i Beautiful Fund for the project, and had tentative assurance that they would
of the Telegram-Tribune on May 3, 1965 The writer, Alex Gough,stated that i .. receive $1,000 from that source But the money had to be matched by an
the obvious need was for a massive parking area in the heart of the city, and 1 equal amount of local funds That became a reality when the Council voted in•
that some old, substandard building could be torn down to provide the space April 1967 to provide 5750 for the proposed new planning project,-to be
He pointed out that the Mission was a perfect choice, since it was the oldest added to private donations already received or promised The Couhal also
building in town and did not meet current building standards To satisfy deferred final decision_on the fate of the Cornet building until the student
tourists and displaced•paashioners, a replica could be constructed at some plan was presented in June The students, who had started to clean up the
convenient location on the outskirts of town, and miniature replicas could be creek, now embarked on redesigning the core block of the city
produced on a commercial scale for individual gardens Gough further
suggested that the parking meters in the resulting lot could be shaped like
gg P g g jae The three students prepared two plans one was designed with Monterey
mission bells, to preserve the historic flavor Street realigned, the other with the street closed On June 7, 1967, Reineck,
Conwell and Taylor made a presentation of their ideas before the City Council
and over a hundred interested citizens The students opened the meeting by '
Footbridge to Cross Creek introducing their street closed' design, which they favored This caused -
At this same time John Sues, owner of the Cigar Factory, renovated the considerable turmoil, since it was in opposition to the Council s previously -
area to the rear of his Higuera Street restaurant, thus spearheading a adopted policy of realigning Monterey Street Their plan with Monterey
movement by private businesses to develop their own properties in keeping Street realigned was never presented at this meeting Many people in the
with the Mission Plaza idea The Soroptimist Club already had offered to audience became persuaded that the street should be closed Among them _
donate a tree whenever the Plaza area was ready for it, and the Junior was George Andre, former City Attorney, who later played a key role in the
Chamber of Commerce proposed to move a footbridge from the Sinsheimer i initiative petition which led to the closing of Monterey Street
School site to the Plaza area, providing one of the creek crossings envisioned
in the City's plan The "Cigar Factory' bridge was set in place in Sep- At a public hearing before an overflow crowd on July 10, 1967, the three
tember 1965 I students officially presented their plan to the Council The audience sup-
ported the students enthusiastically, with an overwhelming majority in favor
In October 1965 the City-Council and Planning Commission held a joint 8 1 ty
of
study session, which was attended by many citizens Ultimately the Council closing Monterey Street Many property owners affected also supported the
rejected the Downtown Associations plan, which was to have been financed new plan, some of them announcing their intention to remodel and improve
largely by the City, perhaps by a bond issue Again the Council considered their Higuera Street businesses in keeping with the students' recom•
realignment of Monterey Street, which had been a prime concern throughout mendations
discussions of Plaza development In February 1966 the Council took an Murray dobe Is Rescued
• important and positive step by authorizing negotiations for the acquisition of y
remaining property,needed for the realignment and widening of Monterey One of the students' arguments for closing Monterey Street was that it
Street It was more than two years later that these negotiations were _ preserved the Murray Adobe, which would have been in the direct path of
completed realignment of Monterey Street There had been official discussion of the fare
Arcade Proposed of the adobe in March of that year, when the San Luis Obispo County
Historical Society presented a petition with 170 signatures to the Council,
In January 1967 the Chamber of Commerce sponsored a lively Town requesting that the City preserve the adobe, the old grist mill building behind
Hall discussion of the future of the downtown area The City had purchased it, and the beautiful large jacaranda tree on the property Many citizens
the Cornet Store building on Higuera Street for the purpose of razing the believed these should be included in the Plaza, since the adobe home and
building and using the site for park,ng But at the Town Hall meeting, it was f office of Walter Murray was one of the oldest in San Luis Obispo and of
suggested that the structure might be saved, modified and used as a gas- prime importance because of his prominence in local history At that time the
—10— —ll -
The Public Reacts! The Smith and Williams plan centered about the area bounded by
Monterey, Chorro, Higuera and Broad Streets But in 1964 some members of
Reaction by.the public was immediate and strong Many of the pro- the Committee proposed a plan which would change the boundaries to
ponents of Plaza development endorsed the Smith and Williams plan Chorro, Palm and Broad Streets and the area behind the buildings facing
enthusiastically Others, who supported the idea of a Plaza wholeheartedly, Higuera Street Greater emphasis would have been placed on property of the
believed that the Smith and Williams design was too expensive, too extensive Catholic Church, including the convent and the schools, the latter being
outside of this restricted area It was proposed that the buildings involved be
and not in .keeping with the historical nature of the area, especially the
modern architecture proposed Some even suggested that the Mission, which renovated in Spanish-style architecture The Council accepted this major
should have been the key element in the plan, had been ignored Smith and - deviation from the Smith and Williams plan and announced its intention of
Williams' plan closed Monterey, Broad and Palm Streets at the Plaza, but itl acquiring all the private land necessary for this development Application for
made no provision for re-routing traffic or for necessary accommodation of an interest-free federal loan for planning also was considered
weddings and funerals at the Mission II
Mayor Clay P Davidson and Councilman R L Graves began an intensive Project Is Off the Ground
tour of civic organizations, explaining the plan and enlisting support for its By midsummer the Council had ordered an extensive clean-up of San
adoption Letters co the editor of the Telegram-Tribune appeared almost Luis Creek and requested a flood control study by the County, and demolition
daily, expressing views on both sides of the controversy A large crowd of two old houses on City-owned property was authorized. To quote an
attended a public meeting on October 30, 1963, at which time the Smith and editorial in the Telegram-Tribune for July 10, 1964 •It appears that the cry's
Williams plan and an alternative,developed by Councilman Donald Q Miller, Mission Plaza project is going to get off the ground
were presented Both plans were applauded and there was much discussion by
the audience Although the decision was not unanimous, on November I1, To overcome some of the criticism made of the Smith and Williams
1963, the Smith and Williams proposal was officiIlly adopted by the Council plan, primarily its extensiveness and cost, the Council instructed the City
A thirteen-member Mission Plaza Citizens Study Committee was appointed Planning Director, Peter Chapman, to prepare a modified development plan
to explore means for actual development of the project,with Mayor Davidson for the Mission Plaza Cal Poly students were employed to assist in producing
as chairman The Committee was later increased to fourteen members the plan and sketches, and the -Chapman Plan- was presented to the Council
on September 8, 1964 It was based on the Smith and Williams design, but
Revitalize the Downtown Core was much less elaborate and less extensive in area Chapman s idea was to
emphasize the Mission and relate it to the creek with a park and landscaped
The new committee began its work immediately, and public input was walkways The plan also called for enhancement of the creek and adjacent
extensive Many people believed the emphasis should be on improvement of areas on both sides, with cooperation of Higuera Street businessmen in
what already existed and cleaning and maintaining the creek, rather than improving and beautifying the areas behind their establishments The natural
expenditure of money on expansion of the area Others questioned the cost, element of the area would be a key feature Vital to this plan was the closing
which was undetermined, since the Smith and Williams plan consisted of a of Monterey Street between Broad and Chorro, with provision for access to
number of smaller projects, each of which would be priced individually as the front of the Mission only for weddings, funerals and emergency vehicles
developed But there was one common belief—that something must be done
to revitalize the downtown area to present the death of the city s core, and The Chapman plan was unanimously adopted by the City Planning
that some sort of Mission Plaza should be developed as an integral element of Commission, and on September 29, 1964, the Council decided it should be
this proposal An interesting by-product of the discussions was the suggestion used as a guide, with specific details to be resolved as various elements were
of establishing an architectural review board, which ultimately came about as 11 Implemented Several immediate steps were taken as the first phase develop-
the City's Design Review Board ment of the Plaza, one being a parking lot on Monterey Street opposite the
DCounty Historical Museum Parking was still a major issue, with Planning
During this period when the Smith and Williams plan was the center of Commission chairman Kenneth E Schwartz agreeing with this initial step
public controversy, the City began to acquire land for the Plaza Two parcels and suggesting that other lots be developed nearby, but that the Plaza area be
fronting on Monterey Street were purchased from private owners in 1963, kept free from parking as much as possible
and the following year a smaller, but essential, lot at the southeast corner of
Broad and Monterey was acquired This eventually became the site of the Art In November 1964 the Council decided that no more money should be
Center, which is on land owned by the City but leased to the San Luis Obispo spent on Plaza development until the downtown business interests evidenced
Art Association In September 1963 a twelve thousand square-foot lot their cooperation and participation The result was a new Mission Plaza plan,
adjacenti to the County Historical Museum was purchased for a parking lot produced by local architect John Ross and presented in June 1965 by the
—8—
ii
from the County The Councils response was to announce plans to cover the As the expiration date of the original lease of the Mission Gardens land
creek and convert the area to a parking lot, financing the project from off- i approached, the City contemplated development of the parking lot originally
street parking reserve funds proposed for the site and realignment of Monterey Street An assessment
district was proposed for the improvement of the Mission Plaza Parking Lot
This action created such a public furor that the Council decided in The members of the original Citizens Committee for Mission Gardens
December 1955, to poll the registered voters as to disposition of the site, had never given up hope for a permanent and enlarged plaza Many of them
provided it could be acquired by the City The Mission Gardens Plaza met on March 1, 1961, to form a new organization, the Mission Gardens
committees campaigned vigorously for a vote in favor of the park, and Association, with Robert H Peters as president This association, formed to
collected money to advertise their views However, the proposed poll never preserve the existing Mission Gardens City Park, quickly presented to the
took place, the money was returned to the contributors, and the Council '
disbanded both Mission Gardens Plaza committees
front Council plans for an alternative la landscaped development, including the streets restricted traffic e
fro of the Mission, a landscaped strip between the streets in front of the
Mission and the proposed realignment of Monterey, establishment of a park
By this time the Council had concluded that legal complications made on the creek, and more parking than was contemplated in the City's plan
purchase of the Frederick property impossible, but that a lease might be Citizen input was again considerable and many suggestions were made for the
negotiated On March 19, 1956, the Council approved a resolution authorizing ultimate development of the plaza As a result, the parking assessment
a five-year lease for the Mission Garage property,and for the development of district was never formed
a small park on that site Thus the City finally took its first official step In April 1961 the Council, on recommendation of the Planning Com-
toward the actual development of the Mission Plaza Less than a month later mission, adopted the City's first comprehensive General Plan This contained
the City Engineer called for bids on the excavation and filling necessary to an important, but little noted, policy that eventually affected the Mission
prepare the site Plaza greatly The General Plan designated the creek system as future park
and stated a major objective of the Plan was -to protect and preserve natural
Enchiladas for a Park amenities—scenic hills, creeks, view areas and other open space—by indi-
All during the years of investigation and negotiation for a park, the I eating areas that are to be withheld from private development"
Soroptimis[ Club had been in the vanguard and had provided many of the The Mission Gardens Association continued to campaign for a real
leaders who persevered in the project Many of the service clubs, women's plaza, and many specific proposals were made by local individuals and
organizations In the Fall of 1962, a Cal Poly architectural design class,under
and professional organizations also actively participated in the community
campaign for a park Among those most involved were the American Kenneth E Schwartz (then Chairman of the City Planning Commission),
Association of University Women, the Business and Professional Women, took Mission Plaza as a design problem One student team proposed closing
Kiwanis and Lions Clubs The Soroptimists had raised $1,000 from an Monterey Street and restricting the site to a plaza and landscaped areas
enchilada dinner and bazaar in December 1955, which was presented to the completely free of streets and parking. another proposed a subterranean
City on April 10, 1956, to be added to the City's budgeted $3,000 for the parking garage over which a plaza would exist City officials were invited to
development of the park These monies were spent for lease payments, see and hear the ideas of the students, who urged the Council to seek
improvements to the grounds and County taxes on the property The City professional assistance
donated all the labor involved In late 1962 the Council authorized invitations to various architectural
i firms to submit proposals for a Mission Plaza On January' 10, 1963, the City
Over the succeeding five years, there were repeated efforts to purchase chose Smith and Williams,of South Pasadena, as the architects and Stone and
the Frederick property, which was not possible until the death of the Youngberg as financial consultants
beneficiary of the Frederick Trust In the meantime, in March 1960, the Old It was not until September 12, 1963 that the Smith and Williams plan
Mission Church and the Catholic Diocese acquired the vacant northwest was finally presented to the Council and a group of civic and business leaders.
corner land at Monterey and Chorro Streets from the Lewin Estate by virtue The plan centered about the Mission Plaza, which was to be developed first,
of a gift from J J Donovan This historic event marked the return of the with the complete renovation of the historic area into a garden center of the
property to the Church, having been in private hands since 1843 It was also community This was to include recreational facilities, parking for four
an important step in the development of the Plaza,even though the property hundred cars, a water conduit system to raise the creek level, small shops and
did not and would not belong to the City Again Cal Poly architecture other features to enhance the downtown business district The first develop-
students contributed plans for beautification of the area, that of Joyce meat of the Plaza was to be followed by a general renovation of the entire
-Mickey' Dolman being the one accepted by the Church and its architect, I downtown area and other parts of the city Preservation of the downtown
John Ross, in June 1960 The vacant land,which abutted the Church grounds, I business area was a major goal One of the keys to accomplishment of this
was soon landscaped according to the Dolman plan and the corner became an end was the involvement and complete cooperation of the citizens of San
integral part of the enhanced park-like area Luis Obispo
—6—
Gec ge Hasslem, then head of the Architectural Engineering Department at , '(o ; `tit'1. ;%jr1-_ir,ep. 'g : �""' _ j'Mail California State Polytechnic College, and a design competition was an- ,- i_ .F -„ 4"--444. ';s,; a - yr1,�t, e;0;N{Pw...~ tikws
nounced On March 8, 1955, „,;, .�-•�f- - z r.♦ .-..A , 4ii-i y _
955, the Soro timis[s awarded architecture student erg d +Sit b. a,•James A Zisch a prize of seventy-five dollars for his drawing Zisch's ideas ?.*� �• !I ''t" '%`F°U"'^t �
S E?i1� ',• �.� 4i iii 5_.w#``ry.„,_.?. ..: .. ` ,I.
included closing Monterey Street from Chorro to Broad, at what is now the k‘ "eylrf SO•k rila''P =^yace.-• !i '"'e<��j 1 71%,W".,m"•[,.y'",- 5�'-
Art Center corner, and re-routing Broad Street between Monterey and Palms; ;�v' �" /_ ,,,.._ •tiyaw.•o.,,,.�t ��l' ••rjl'i4„..
to the west of the County Historical Museum Off-street parking was to be
III :
, ti,provided behind the Museum He also envisioned landscaping the area Jbrbetween the Mission and the rear of the businesses facing Higuera Street and proposed a lay a fountain m front of the Mission r 5 „ 4- .c ef�1,=_�,-,; _•`:p I
B .1 ...p,�, t1� n,", e, y k
i ri.� :its: a rFi"4:A",:yrr.'Vy'-T -i = ''i\ '..: ,- rA- • . 4 rc:--
��;wt` rn. 'V v
'VeV4�4 1{\ll` 0m•J,s ..• ', Sd,sit Y...� ' i1�, "vet
Citizen Committees Created - �, vii,! `r4,4tr '_":l` �,.. 1'::,,1�:�rr^p£ '; 1.- ', 'g al
udUt� ,n 'l Yi
ny •y ir;t k VI :te:Cf. .= K— .
„ 0ti t,,klir , ry ,> �t'C. -0; i.••P 4,. , i,x Runaway Egg Truck Hits Mission Garage
�a ° ,” y s 3'+ a�' a' The key property for the realization of such a plaza was the Mission
,' y7 I. d i t mod^ "'u , ur+,.. '`'"a 2 '`,V 4. r` ace- Y P PC 4' P
y;3. �i ,, �>,•y ...A.7.:3.> t, "t "'*„ '-FS'0 ` rc eat Garage The building had been constructed to the 1870s as an adjunct to the
14 ltll' 1i I '•$' tin' +r - -,:->`sz t I French Hotel, which had burned to the round in 1908 About this time
r'� I 1 d e '1t.'.F4y, ' m' ,2V� iy�tH 're" ' g 4 aa � Y?a , w (1953) an egg truck went out of control on the Cuesta, continued to race
r ' li a'-�'i 1i• ? ss` `�`?i`t " ' through town, and finally crashed to a halt inside the Mission Garage In
=v l 31 as�-, ' y`�wl .�- �'"� =' January 1954 the Guy of San Luis Obispo declared the badly damaged building
�ty� ,... J ry' ty' Po Y B B
f 'I'�'.1""-L—Vr + t .�„i 9 J,� 1 ' unsafe and notified the attorney for the owner (the Mary S Frederick Trust)
\'1I.:.?.;-,1:;.‘„:•....i:I `u� 's l'�r•-fe' L
1. y q' to begin demolition within thirty days and to complete the job within ninety
•.yvy. i� s `a`. LTig l4 days Legal delays prevented accomplishment of the order until late August,
1$ h -r.. ,-`T` '--, - ° Nor S v t :.n-q.-yS:.<
_��'� 'v ,y-,,,� when the creek became visible from Monterey Street, probably for the firs[
Y` }� ' -��y��- -�'= F ` • '"'"'° ® time in nearly a century, and the mountains beyond the a could be seen
384 F1�,ytab i, - : �+ rq� Y t', ty'
e .t,,y}t t 4. ,Iyay - qty i, .:, from that corner—the result of the accident and the subsequent removal of•
Q'�F ilk 14 irae, ••'• - t ({y l i r i ''' 1" Ic. - what remained of the Mission Garage •
9
' it II:l'T a) ' (r - i r to'"Is at”1--2 B
tt�ep�l lTr-.`g;+'Wb+' �:a'hv""3 } 3 .err,ia `� of the Frederick biro erry uIn January 1955 they held a public meeting to surge
,[F #,.,,,-+�'.7•iJ d. 1~i? n- ,,, f, P P J they public meeting B 1
i-Cr zs y y --a +�•,'. ,,., R 'ti action for a Mission Gardens community park Assistance was sought from
�'.�..,�-lnU . � .-Aa t"^p"'�,".,M, ...;...t. ' .:-::, - r ,p7�'tt�
Corner of Chorro and Monterey Streets about 1900 Clapboard covered the Mission from -' je 'a° k�r�7 �p 'r B'+try I `5• kIC 'I'ita c�F':'i-rs' 'gyp c,li Tg"//'n
1865 to 1935 Building at left later housed the Mission Garage Lewin property is the f !� ; � t 99£- °;.t...•-olz-"ie..; 1.'7_'.'.••• v ''y11_.
building at right Picture courtesy of Telegram m-Tnbcne E, - I. c,:-.-'f+t' kaeL�:- --4v` -•••••• vest---1
V t ref:er*,41'.• mtrfr;Si , ytA'�L;NI':mow..> 'iS 41r.py 1 'C7 •7,
".� .. rr•e eu'<y, ,}4444,%'-,: s w `, i' 1" t ._ t I
In the late 1940s, many residents and visitors were distressed at the t s y..V r-•i. z � 'az y ° �e� r It
ugliness of the area surrounding the Mission,and one of chose most unhappy ' •�.9� ^x.,. "177..-- 4;_€1, •'sit 4.*'r,-0 ` 4 . , - � '=� :i•was Margaret Maxwell, art teacher at San Luis Obispo Junior College In 1950 I ' i'�'"� ` t"?'t..�S2 a -r" to '�- t'F'� ^'1� ' a ^.,fit-'
B P J b ,• cdrt Y' ' y+:.u`t`i y: a,. 4414 ,1 ,t�,..-
Miss Maxwell assigned her art appreciation class a project on planned growth r �7 a •' ,_ ejaj VI.18 f -`�r ay 1.,,a,-;•
for San Luis Obispo, then a cit• of a little over fourteen thousand population sy'; C7•;,42,-11 -atzr r y f. `e" i •- I e4:41 t✓4•, '
P Y P P 1 .-r
The class was divided into several groups,each working on ideas for a specific .'-l� ��akj , ��: 3tyra ;,i t•.;..*Y• �� ,, a� .�T t r(y
area or function of the city One of the objectives was to revitalize the center k ti ` 'X)i — .: d Y` s•a.yyS,fYj,
of town and make it more attractive Two students, Ray Juarez and Pete r. •� 'ty v tar: s r e . cso..
Colombo, surveyed the creek and developed a plan for a plaza in front of the - r, 'r .. ui ∎ , tt; a jtr;�nM :it t •J s ,reti t We.-� ),
P b i' +�,, tt f a'x7„ $a .,.Yt' V $t�x1tiS} }•Mission Their work is believed to be the first definitive plan for a Mission Y .Al z ti'",i+ 5
Plaza Unfortunately, their drawings have been lost The complete plans {i� r, ` .r,y`- -"`�i .r� '%' Y --�t L.�'t a,
developed by the class were displayed in various downtown business win- \ `•'-"'�P. '--'i' }'• :` 1. i.,1..1.--..` ' i ''"`:- '- tea; ,;`�,:
at MaS; ..A 'a I } t ' y'
dow•s, creati S much comment pro and con About this time members of the ji ^„-te r+ pl r� `0' ly..st' ! „•rte 'I i:5.1,!641:;`,. ,
San Luis Obispo Soroptimist Club became concerned about preserving and / ;449-4,I,-,...%�. ° �. Au$ ,r. `1 qtr+ -"•
enhancing the city s historical core, thus improving the downtown business '�r*i .J r'y IJ:P�R i �_ ! �� t!-/;'.*, �i,;_-41,:;1,4,''� 14;°.1.".7
area as well as providing a pleasant prospect for tourists and residents alike ,�, _ 'yr• �t r t$ , rkr r ''-M, S's< "° .
By 1953 there v.as a move by some downtown businessmen to remove t.z,' ;')�L-r ,*t( �'x=•R-�'�c tg. J- :IMF 44. 9s t�_ ; ,,I
several of the old buildings, widen Monterey Street in front of the Mission to c A. t ' �P 11-;L r a ,s ' .,i4` .c. ^a ... ' t A ',• .I a`'nl '?,•
provide for Increased traffic, tear out the natural growth on the creek banks 'h'4.' -. •` t r n y wire.-t''''.1.4..""'41-•a Y r, aY„-,a` .y„Fn.:- ra v, '” �`,;L q.fa
and cover the creek for parking An off-street parking committee appointed �sv�,,,��y'f4,,-,V[,e•'}tt.. t" t . • `,. ' J`a ' vi^r,`ftV
by the Cit• Council recommended that the Cit• acquire the Mission Garage 5 ■ _!.rt -L.:' a '�' p '�'�, ;
Y Y } Q B y e(., 1+S'+ rj ,. �a v g,} 4 , a , '�, �'J "nJ .yet•
site at the intersection of Monterey and Chorro Streets for a parking lot The '"> d?„''Y'�fl .. -,tJ,,,n, ; !:,!!f i'„+a+ a. ' ,�','s vs`'�,�.: '!
Soropcimists opposed this plan and adopted the development of a Mission
San Luis Obispo Junior College an appreciation c'ass, 1950,Margaret Maxwell,instructor
Gardens as their civic project They enlisted the support of other service I Back row. standing, left to right Jim Mullis Jim Evans, Ray Juarez, Pete Colombo,
clubs and civic organizations in an effort to clean up the unsightly area and Evelyn Dory Sewed,left to right Lillie Tiessen Strasser,Bdh Williams,Rovta Hoffman,
interest the City in the establishment of a real Mission Plaza Frank Lindsay, Tom Gerst, Eselyn Joughin In foreground John Mace, Edith Wddholtz
ty' Picture courtesy of Margaret Maxwell and Kenneth E Schwartz
—9_ _v_
A Bell and a Bullfight
According to traditional accounts,on September 1, 1772,Father Junipero
Serra hung a bell in a sycamore tree on the bank of San Luis Creek, rang it
• numerous times to attract the Chumash inhabitants of the area,and proceeded
to conduct the founding mass at Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa This also
marked the beginning of the community of San Luis Obispo, with the Mission
at its geographical, cultural and recreational center
Two of the original streets in San Luis Obispo were Monterey and Chorro
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Monterey Street was so named because early travelers coming from the south
passed in front of the Mission and continued north up La Cuesta on the road to
Monterey Those who chose to travel up the coast passed through El Chorro,
Grateful thanks to all of the following for their courteous cooperation in the hence Chorro Street
preparation of this booklet
..�st tkJ t'ai i r "*S r y,='a L 4, • ,,, r iy `ry,c h - Y+ ists�;a 71w:: F- -,1:
Diane Cook, Telegram-Tribune, for assistance and access to the newspapers files and r• t apli� 14,./'ifs I'Sly` , i-yr r ,s• " ,r ts� Y,y '
pictures }hc + '' 'rl r 'r ' ..+ r '.,�.i.,
Virginia Crook, Reference Librarian,San Lou Obispo Gtr-County Library.,for assistance art p ` - '` r�i eaNti i �1 g"I ' 4.• ,Y� } f F'•
with use of the Library s local history collection '14-`4,46A'.in/••••°i,u :s�r,14r'e..A 1,+ 1 e.1:1'4'1Z 1 r+"F got _ .�' te,F �?e-
Louisiana Clayton Dart, Curator,San Lou Obispo County Hutonei/Museum,for advice �, rr °" '3k •iYit s .ri '' 4-k•r'°%lx $°-lr k � .�` e '•and information on early history, and for reviewing the manuscript �' yn - ¢�' � 4+iv � s �4'�y'.��p, f;?yr.. ' '*
J H Fitzpatrick, City Clerk,City of San bar Obispo, and his staff,for advice,encoura e- y a Y '"+ ' xi1 1 ° t. t.
ment, access to the City's archives, and for reviewing the manuscript 8 �8 flier.
' 'w t r(t r r - a � x Air.: '
Blanche Fredman,my wonderful neighbor.for the emergency loan of a "�� 1t ,a3{m-. a}C i•gg ry typewriter,without �� }' t r -y-
which the manuscript could not have been completed 'r'•r r♦ag as m . tE S' n ~ .J` n " ■t
George J Hasslein, Dean, School of Architecture and Environmental Design, California S L�� i '` fir' y `++����{{-.r"-t ('�ahf�`=~ •• s �• F t�l
Polytechnic State University, San Liu Obispo, for access to his records and for e• f 4 t'i „ea '-•�L.it:"�' ,I 1 is ^'`^X' ''t°ia s. d4 tp you i
reviewing the manuscript _ /1 y-�1�
s «ary_�: '4 �n p.-. D }-,.i : / . t-4,i :,:;(.:t.
Rose McKeen, for invaluable information, especially relating to the Soroptimist Clubs Ir: r�. i! - l ��-�4
early efforts to establish the Plaza, and for reviewing the manuscript r+': 9 {t'1- F°+ w'rrY+'"? +'"• -- -tc rlannaea Phill ips, Mission Plaza Coordinate• o/ Rictus for information relann ro I. 7 y_•`"3 e�'fi ` - firil:1 Plaza events 8 -1F':ea.e r f ,, ri^^'.;:a-'' --� +i.wf .Margaret Price, former Reference Lbranan, San Luis Obispo City-Count y Libra i+t'`'•'+' '�gr"' "g w4'�J 7 I s �'-,•r(or advice vnd for reviewmg the manuscnpe r4.-" eft., 1 • '• -_ 3 -litL.- Yr -w!' its
t Ira spa"%2+ '`f"i a,._'rt?ta_. yy y'y ,'t'-ti,, .,1tYr a r ': tea•ve a
Eugene Reis, Reis Chapel, for access to his extensive historical collection *IiitO.11e� Kam,. 'e i, „lea µ'ms °
San Luis Obispo Couny' Historical Society, for permission to reproduce the Vischer i; {.;�� rvN'" "e.;.�+1,rr��^,,.."��"' f+ '4.-F;�,e��. _
print P -- 'It $.T'- "-;:Yt "�':•LtYei�+.�.lrr... .n,r.- i a!
Betty and Jay Scheirer, for advice, criticism and review of the manuscript and for Sketch made in the 1860s by Edward Vischer,showing bullfight in front of the Mission
•
involving me in a fascinating Proles Picture from the Pierce Collection, Los Angeles Public Library, reproduced by courtesy
Kenneth E Schwartz,former Mayor of San Lau Obispo,for advice,access to his records, of the San Lou Obispo County Historical Society
loan of valuable source material and criticism of the manuscript
Telegram Tribune, for permission to reproduce pictures from the newspapers files A sketch made in the 1860s by the famous painter of the missions,Edward
Vischer, shows a bullfight in front of the church, the site of Mission Plaza
Contemporary accounts of the nmty-fifth anniversary (in 1867) of the
Mission's founding say the plaza area was fenced for bullfights, and at least
one other occurred in the plaza the following year There is evidence this form
Mission Plaza Birthday Committee of public entertainment was fairly common in the 1850s and 1860s,though the
300 Longview Lane bullfights probably took place in other locations, especially since there was
San Luis Obispo, California another open area on Monterey Street which also was known as 'the Plaza"
The Plaza was used for public gatherings of various sorts from the earliest
days An 1850 drawing by William Hutton shows it open, but soon afterward
the area was filled with adobe homes of prominent citizens The 1870 Harris
and Ward map of San Luis Obispo shows Monterey Street open in front of the
Mission, much as it was until recent years, with the present Plaza land claimed
Printed By in large part by Walter Murray Over the years,various commercial enterprises
Litho An Shop located around the Plaza, including the French Hotel, an extension of the
San Luis Obispo, California original barracks for the Mission soldiers, across the plaza from the church
MISSION PLAZA
- _ , • San Luis Obispo
.
1772-1979
- By ..
• .
Patricia J Clark
-
• Prepared for
:��;'', - - • ' Mission Plaza Birthday Party•
•• - - `c; September 16, 1979
. I
1
.
1i
•'
r ,, Compliments of
-' ; ' • .. - ` I I Neal-Truesdale Insurance
• • and
;t
• Morris & Dee Insurance
•
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