HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/06/1992, 1 - - ME�� ��VG AGENDA
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❑ MGMT.TE.3.h:1 D P.EC.DL^ San Luis Obispo, California 93401
1Tt EYF jqL°.... April 4, 1992
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To The Honorable Mayor APR s 002
CITY COUNCIL
Dear Mr. Ron Dunint SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA
My family has had a deep respect and especially my Mother,
Pauline Bray Martin. I have read with complete horror the
article in the Telegram Tribune for today, April 4, 19929 on
page 6 of section A. It states the Downtown Design
Committee will unveil its vision of the future of downtown
San Luis Obispo on Monday in a special joint meeting of the
Planning Commission and City Council. The poster map prepared
allows the city to share with private landowners in the
development of downtown properties according to City Administrator
John Dunn.
It further states that "some landowners might be surprised
with the plans for their property. " "A mid-block promenade
with a generous expanse of grass is planned for the area
bounded by Nipomo, Carmel, Marsh, and Higuera streets. " Then
some streets would be closed. There would be built an
arched entryway into town by the intersection of Marsh and Carmel
streets.
It concludes by saying that "the Design Committee hopes
the city will adopt the poster as a specific plan for the
downtown area, according to Dunn. Its ideas will then be
used to determine the success or failure of future development
applications in the downtown. "
This is why I am writing in that my historic home is located
right where the plan would have a promenade. My Mother, Pauline
Bray Martin came to this home in..,.1915. She bought this home
in 1917 when she was the first girl to work in any bank which
was the Commercial Bank and then Pacific Southwest and then
Security First National and then Security Pacific on the corner
of Higuera and Chorro Streets. She married Eugene Martin-,
(Alford Eugene Martin) in 1927 and I was born on April 14 , 1934.
2
This has been my only home down through the years. I am 58 years
young this month, and I pray God that I will live my
entire life in this my beloved home with my roots and history. _.
I have dedicated my life to the education of young children
in the elementary schools of the San Luis Coastal Unified
School District for 33 years and pray God that I will be able to
continue for years ahead as I love teaching my Second Graders
at Sunnyside in the Los Osos. I have taught at Fremont School on
Peach Street and Quintana School in the Eer-ft-fint.hHeghts.
I have seen much history take place on my higuera Street
in the 500 block. When I was a little girl we had the gas
street lights which the high school boys turned on and off.
Also, I went every week to the Creamery for milk products when
it was the Golden State and later Foremost Dairy with Mother.
There were glass gallons of milk we carried home and we could
get ice cream cones for a nickel with generous portions.
I remember when the trailer park across the street was
a beautiful home with landscaped gardens and. peacocks roaming
throughout with wonderful walnut trees and a beautiful
fence in front. I remember when the Campbell family (John and
Thera now 80 years)bought the p1bperty across the street and
started Campbells Refrigeration. They worked 'so hard.
The apartment house (Logan Apartments) used to be a barn for
race horses and Mother remembered when they sold hay,, grain,
and feed with a scales there in front. As a child one could
read the sign on the side of the building. My Grandfather,
E.D. Bray,drew the plans to change the barn to apartments.
The Logan boys built the apartments.
As a girl growing up we had a good number of homes in
this block. Mother and Daddy and I have all loved our home
and we have decided that this was our only home, please God.
I want to die right here. We have enjoyed telling the history
of San Luis Obispo to tourists going by who enjoy looking at
our garden and home. We love San Luis Obispo
dearly.
3
Pauling Martin, my Mother, has always been active in affairs of
our city, county, state, and national governments and communicated
with all levels. I have that same government interest, but
I give my days completely to teaching the children and doing a
good work with the families.
!his historic home was built by Robert Pollard in September
1876. He is mentioned in the famous San Luis Obispo County
History Book by Myron Angel, and he worked in the County
Government under Nathan king. Mother kept in touch with
the Vwo daughters of Robert Pollard for years until they both
pelssed on. They were related to the famous Dana Family. They would
visit our home in the summers, and love to talk about how it was
when theyV ived here. They were Frankie and Josie and worked
for the paper and did special sewing. Mother, Daddy, and I
have kept our home historical and kept it always neat and
beautiful on our street. My Father was Superintendent for the
Shell Oil Company for 25 years when the plant was by Cal Poly
near the railroad tracks on Foothill Blvd. . He helped the
Poly students with their projects concerning oil, and he was
friends with the faculty.
I was among the historic coeds that returned to Cal Poly
in the Fall of 1956 and graduated with honors in the top 2%
in 1958. I continued in the summers and received my M.A.
Degree and credentials in Administration and Supervision.
I am a Life Member of the Alumni.
The home at the corner of Marsh and Carmel (the Wilkinson
Home) which is now a law office was built by my Grandfather,
E.D. Bray. He built some of the most beautiful homes at that
time in this area, and many are still today standing and very very
beautiful. He also built the Santa Maria Club as the Martin
Home for my Grandmother, Henrietta Louise Newlove Martin.
It was very famous and it is still standing as the Landmark
Square across from 'the Santa Maria Inn. in Santa Maria.
My Grandmother, my Mother, and I attended the Emerson
School and we are a strong part of history here, and my Father's
people were Pioneers in Santa Maria and important members of
the community. Timewise I would be here 5 generations in S.L.O.
if I had married and had children because. I am old .enough to
be a grandmother.