HomeMy WebLinkAboutSept14SLOWhatThe small settlement of San Luis Obispo was not helpless or hopeless
while waiting for the politicians in Sacramento to define the community. Life
continued regardless the real and perceived threats to personal and corporate
existence. Indeed, other critical issues occupied the times other than the
major realignment of property ownership as has been reviewed previously.
The new Town of San Luis Obispo continued to pursue the often mundane
responsibilities of daily life and civic business.
Certainly, a major example of civic pride was the celebration of the Town’s centennial. The
problem was deciding just when San Luis Obispo was founded. There are several choices
as to an anniversary/birthday date for the community. Thus far, no official record has been
found nor any signage at the City’s entrance informing drivers and pedestrians as to the City’s
founding date as is popular elsewhere. However, in 1872, there were two celebrations: one for
a saint and one for the rest of the community. A major celebration was planned for Monday,
August 19 called San Luis Day and was to be “conjointly celebrated with the citizens of the
Town” and the Catholic Church. Father Peter Sastre, the Mission’s pastor, chose the feast
day of St. Louis who died in 1297; not the mission’s founding date.
By Sunday, the influx of visitors astonished the editor. He wondered if all the arrivals assumed
the small crossroads “could distend itself ad libitum, so as to provide accommodations to all
those who sought it.” There were pitifully few places to lodge in the community. The Sunday
service in the Mission in English followed the next day, August 19, with a sermon this time in
Spanish. While there had been talk of a procession, none was held and the “usual attempts at
bull fighting” in the community plaza near Monterey and Court Streets was a “fiasco”…much
to the pleasure of the newspaper editor.
Unfortunately, the specially invited guests from San
Francisco were not present. It seems the steam
ship owners were unwilling to sail without a certain
amount of fare paying passengers and – once
underway – were planning to stop in San Diego
before docking in Avila. The length of the trip was
prohibitive for the guests.
Charles H. Johnson had prepared an “oration”
entitled “The Establishment of Missions in California”
for the guests. Instead, he delivered the speech on
September 3 closer to the “real date” of the Mission’s founding. Delivered for the benefit of
the San Luis Obispo Library Association, the admission fee was fifty cents. Over 7000 words
are devoted only slightly to the mission founding but encompass a mini-history of the great
movements of mankind from the Egyptians to the Greeks to the Romans to the Iberian empires.
To Johnson, the pageant of the past simply complimented the Spanish expedition in 1769
characterized as the “patriarchal age” of California and was published in a 16 page booklet.
Wouldn’t it be a grand idea to continue remembering our founding 242 years ago with a
Community Birthday Party! A fuller review of the celebration is found in this month’s Journal
Plus magazine. Do you have a question about the pioneers or historical San Luis Obispo?
Contact: jacarotenuti@gmail.com
History of San Luis Obispo By: Joseph A. Carotenuti
City Historian/Archivist, Volunteer