PAGE TEN THE CATALINA
SANTA CATALINA ISLAND july 1887, the trustees of the James Lick POINTS OF INTEREST Valley. Every fOOt of ground from
estate sold Santa Catalina Island to Mr. Gee. to the summit of the hills--and evesI
HISTORICALLY REVIEWED a. Shatto for the sum of $200,000. An out under the hill .... s filed on ~s
English mining syndicate later took an option MT. BLACK JACK--2000 feet above the claims. Recently extensive
on the property, and in 1892t after conside?- sea. and silver ores have been
Santa Catalina Island has many other able litigation with the syndicate, Mr. Shat- MT. ORIZABA--The highest point on the BIRD ISLAND, off the entrance
names that have been given to it by writers to sold the property directly to the Ban- Island, 2109 feet. mug bay is a huge rock. It is cote
of fame "The Isle of Enchantment," "The ning Brothers. Mr. Shatto planned the town SILVER CANYON--Almost opposite Av- ly level and is about one acre in ex
Magic Isle," "Avalon the Beautiful," "The of Avalon, sold parcels of land for from $150 alon. ReachedviatheSummit and Hay took its name from the vast number
Isle of Silence," "The Fisherman's Pars- to $1000, according to the location, and er- Press canyon, which made it their home. When
dise," "The Glorious Gem in the Opaline acted the first hotel of importance at Avalon. PARSON'S BEACH--A romantic spot, ning Company began improving the
Crown of the Golden State." It is one ofPrevious to the opening of the Hotel Met- the last beach before reaching the westerly it became apparent what a coign of
the most famous pleasure islands of the Pa- ropole, visitors camped in tents on the beach, end of the Island. Bird Island might become in the l
cific coast, twenty-five miles from Los An- then known as "Ttmm's Landing." October LITTLE HARBOR--A picturesque spot, unscrupulous persons as a "Monte C
geles Harbor, and politically it is in Los 13, 1887, the possibilities of Avalon as a one of the three landing places on the sou- for other evil purposes, and the
Angeles county. It was first discovered in pleasure resort--"A Fisherman's Paradise," therly shore of the Island. forestalled any such contingency bY
1542, then "re-discovered" in 1602. Later his- became known, and since that day it has GOVERNMENT QUARRIES--Where ira- possession of the little island.
tory records private grants to 1892, when it been widely advertised.
manse quantities of stone for the San Pedro SEAL ROCKS--The home of the
was acquired by the Santa Catalina Island More than 200,000 tourists visit this an- breakwater were first obtaind, of sea-lions which inhabit the Isl
Company, the corporation which still owns it, chanting isle each year. From 1892 to 1915,
although the ownership of the company has many hotels, apartment houses and private WIIITE'S LANDING--Four miles west- colony consists of several hundred i
cottages were erected. Then followed a dis- erly from Avalon. A beautiful sand beach and they are nearly always in e~
changed, for baithers and picnic parties, the rocks. They do not bear fu:
In 1919, Mr. William Wrigley, Jr., acquir- astrous fire that caused a loss of almost
ed ownership of the Island and the boat $1,000,000. The historic "Metropole Hotel" SHIP ROCK lies off t~e Isthmusabout covered with a growth of coarse ]
equipment, comprising the Wilmington Trans- was completely destroyed as were many oth- two miles. It takes its name from its great varies in color from a very light b
portation Company. er buildings located on the northwesterly resemblance to a ship under full sail. deep black. These sea-lions attalt
a large size some of them weigh
Immediately after the reorganization of the side of the crescent-shaped "Bay of Moons." AVALON HILIc--In the center of Avalon or more. They are very partial
Santa Catalina Island Company (February "Greater Avalon," more heautiful, charm- from the top of which a comprehensive view home, and are seldom found asho
1919), real estate in Avalon was placed on ing and attractive, is now a reality, of the little city and its surroundings may be
A charming feature of Avalon is the board obtained, other point. This is one of the m
the market and during the first year prac- walk along the sea shore, extendin~ from FISHERMAN'S COVE--A little inlet on tive spots about the Island for the
tically one million dollars worth of real as- the Hotel St. Catherine to Pebbly Beach, a the eastern side of the Isthmus Bay, forming THE 1STHMUS--Narrowest pol
tare was sold to year.round or summer res- distance of two miles, a perfect shelter forsmallboatsin any Island, where it is less than ha
idents. Under the stately eucalyptus trees in That Catalina is rapidl~r becnmlng the kind of a storm, from water to water. Great prepat
the territory formerly used by summer camp- "Garden Spot of the World' is a fact. It is EAGLE'S NEST--On the stage road, 11 making to beautify, this locality,
did boulevards, villa sits and a
ers, the new real estate owners outrivaled each predicted that in five years the Isthmus, now miles from Avalon and located in a wild are under contemplation. Several
other in the construction of artistic bungs- an "Hawaiian Village" will bid very prom- section of the interior. It is a capital place trees have been tdanted and are
lows. For weeks house-movers were busy. Daily isingly to become a sister rival to Avalon as for camping parties to visit.
some ancient landmark dissappeared, and in the"QueenPleasure Resort of thePacif.c." fine growth.
its place was commenced a permanent home. MIDDLE RANCH--Ten miles in the in- On February 5, 1864, Captain R.
In front of the dancing pavilion a new block terior, the only cultivated land onthe is. "
of stores extended the business section of the land, and headquarters for the menlooking
water front. Still greater improvements have
since been made in various parts of the town.
In 1920 the reorganized Wilmington
Transportation Company added to its cross-
channel fleet then consisting of the steamers
"Hermosa" and Cabrillo," the splendid
steamship "Avalon," carrying 2000 passen-
gers, at a cost of half a million dollars.
This ~ear another new steamship, the "Cat-
alina,' costing $1,000,000, and with accomo-
dations for 3000 passengers, will be added
to the fleet. The vessel was launched May
3rd, and will be placed in commission in
time to handle the summer travel.
" During 1919 and every summer since, many
visitors have come to Avalon in flying boats,
which are now operated by the Pacific Mar-
ine Airways. The trip from San Pedro to
Avalon is frequently made in less than 20
minutes.
Both the Island Villa and Villa Park have
recently been enlarged by the addition
of
several hundred bungalettes, which have ta-
ken the place of the canvas tents formerly
used.
In 1920 the Hotel Atwater was opened by
the Santa Catalina Island Compan~t. It is
located on Sumner avenue, near the water
front. It is a very complete modem hostelry.
In 1919 the Hotel St. Catherine was open-
ed, This beautiful place, on the ocean front,
in Descanso Canyon, one-half mile west of
Avalon, is a veritable dream of loveliness,
with service fully in keeping with its delight-
ful location. The hotel has just been an-
large& (See illustration on page two.)
That the coming years will witness an
even more extensive development of Avalon
---the queen of Pacific coast pleasure resorts
~is certain, for it is rapidly taking its place
as an all-the-year-round resort.
Catalina Island's baseball park, the train-
ing grounds for the Chicago Cubs is consid-
ered by experts to be the most unique of all
baseball grounds.
With the introduction of steam shovels,
trucks, etc., many of the old trails have been
widened and made excellent.roads. The road
to Pebbly Beach, the site of Grahom Bros.,
rock quarry is a picturesque tho,'oughfare
along the shoreline toward Seal Rocks.
Since 1919 the Santa Catalina Islanit Com-
pany has spent nearly a million dollars de-
veloping water for Avalon. It oas just com-
~aleted a system which takes water from the
rge springs in Middle Ranch canyon and
pumps it to the Summit, whence it is sent
Into the water mains of ~X.valml, and may
be piped to any other point on the Island
where needed. This new supply of good
Island water does away with the necessity for
bringing drinking water from the mainland.
Almost 75,000,000 gallons of fresh water
were used in Avaloa duriag 1922.
Topographically, the Island is a series of
high, precltpitous mountains and deep can-
~ons---dangerous gorges that have a scenic
eauty almost indescribable. It is sixty miles
in circumference, superficially 48,438 acres.
The volcanic origin provided many inlets
and bays that later collected silt and mnall
pebbles, that now form the various beaches
so popular among the visitors, anglers and
campers. The great charm and attractive-
ness of the Island is its ideal setting in the
semi-tropical waters of the ~acific ocean; its
mild and invigoratifig atmosphere; its almost
daily sunshine, and the soft and gentle bree-
zes that fan into restful quietude the weary
and exhausted wayfarer from the haunts of
commercial activity
The adjacent waters lurnish many wonders.
Fish and marine vegetation, the marine gar-
dens, seen through glass-bottom boats, are
the delight and bewilderment of many thou-
~ands of tourists from all over the world.
From 1602 to 1863, practically no histori-
cal data is available that is of interest. It
was "just an island m the Pacific ocean,"
visited occasionally by vessels passing up and
down the coast. Captain Phineas Banning,
Mr. Harris Newmark, and a party of friends
visited the Island in 1859, and the outin'g
was considered a memorable one. The gold
mining boom commenced in 1863, when Mr.
James Lick bought the property for $80,000,
the title being a Mexican grant to Jose
Maria Covarrubias, confirmed by United
States patent. Hundreds of mining claims
were staked out near the Isthmus. At John-
son's Cove streets were laid out for a town
to be called Queen City. Then trouble com-
menced: Catalina Harbor became famous for
smugglers, and for its easy accessibility to
California and Mexican lawbreakers. On
February 5th, 1864, Captain R. B. West,
commanding the Fourth California Infahtry,
stationed at the Isthmus, gave orders for all
miners and prospectors to leave. September
1864, the troops were withdrawn, and the
barracks at the Isthmus still stand to the
memory of those thrilling days.
A BILL THAT IS NEVER PAID
m
A ten-year-old lad overheard a con-
versation about certain bills to be paid
and conceived the idea of making out
a bill for his own services. So the
next morning he laid this statement of
account on his mother's breakfast
plate:
"Mother owes Willie for carrying
coal six times, 20 cents; for bringing
after the sheep on the island.
HOWLAND'S---Here also were many min-
ing claims, and here yet may be found "pros-
pects" which would turn the head of many
a mining prospector. Here is the well from
which water is pumped to the Isthmus.
LONG POINT--The widest point in the
Island, 7½ miles. The interest attaching
to Long Point, asside from that mentioned
is a cave which extends through the point of
rocks about 100 feet from its extremity, from
side to side.
"ITALIAN GARDENS"--A favorite fish-
irvg point. In the earlier days of Catalina
Catalina Country Club Clubhouse
water lots of times, 30 cents; for going
ten errands, 25 cents."
His mother read the bill, but said
nothing about It. That evening Willie
found on his plate the 75 cents, and
also another bill, which read as fol-
lows: "Willie owes mother for his
happy home for ten years, nothing;
for nursing him through a long illness,
nothing; total, nothing."
When Willie saw the seventy-five
cents he was pleased; but when he
read his mother's bill his eyes grew
dim and his lips quivered. Then he
took the money to his mother, threw
his arms around her neck and begged
that she would let him do lots of
things for: her.
Mother's bill is rarely presented,
but it will pay each person to think it
out and over for himself, and then pay
it in love and service.
GAME FISH OF CATALINA
Yellowtail (Seriola dorsalis).
Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus).
Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus macrop-
terus).
Albacore (Thunnus alalonga).
California Bonito (Sarda Chiliensis)
White Sea Bass (Cynoscion noblis).
Ocean Bonito (Gymnosarda pelamys).
Dolphin (Coryphaenus hippurus).
Giant Bass (Stereolepis gigas).
Marlin Swordfish (Tetrapturus mitsu-
kurii).
Broadbill Swordfish (Xiphias gladius).
Catalina will give you the rest of
your life, Come to Catalina.
Renew your subscription to The
Catalina Islander, $2 per year.
the San Pedro fishermen found the waters
here so prolific with fish that they called it
their garden, and gradually it came to be
known as "Italian Gardens."
THE SUMMIT--A magnificent horseback
ride of three miles from Avalon up the stage
road or by the trail. No more _picturesque
ride can be imagined than this affords. The
stage road is built on a ten percent grade.
This trip is made daily by auto stage.
CATALINA HARBOR--The bay putting
in from the south of the Isthmus, and the
best harbor on the Island. This harbor is
nearly a mile in length, and affords perfectly
safe anchorage in any weather. It was once
a port for smuggling operations on the Cal-
ifornia coast.
MOONSTONE BEACH--Half a mile be-
yound Camp Banning, where moonstones,
agates, water opals and many other forms of
semi-precious stones are found. These stones
make beautiful souvenirs of the Island Cohen
cut and polished. This beach is one of the
points of interest most visited by tourists.
EMPIRE--The serpentine marble quarries
are located a mile and half inland. Here
were located the factories of the aboriginal
Indians, who inhabited Santa Catalina. Num-
erous rocks in this vicinity show how the
ancient inhabitant procured his culinary out-
fit--from rock locally known as "soapstone."
GOAT HARBOR--Formerly a favorie
landing place for wild goat hunters, as the
hills and valleys in this vicinity abounded in
goats. Here also, was the first trail acrbss
the Island to Middle Ranch, and the lumber
for the first buildings erected there was
packed from this point across the hills on
the backs of hurros.
THE BLUE CAVERN--At the entrance
to Isthmus bay. The formation at this point
is purely volcanic and caves abound. On
the hi Is may be seen the remnants of the
lava waves as they flowed down the moun-
tainand cooled, and thus they remain to
thisday, mutely testifying to the hot time
"they once had on Catalina.
AVALON BAY--On which the town of
Avalon is situated, is a perfect crescent, with
a sentinel rock eighty feet in height, called
"Sugar Loaf," at its northwest entrance.
The village of Avalon, laid out in 1888, is
situated on the bay. It is a sheltered spot,
protected from the wind from every quarter
with the exception of the northeast, from
which direction winds are rare.
CHERRY VALDEY--The seat of an early
mining excitement, where the hillsides are
honeycombed with tunnels. From 1862 to
1864 the Island was swarming with prospec-
tors for precious metals. The seat of the
excitement seems to have been at Cherry
commanding the Fourth California
stationed at the Isthmus, gave
miners to leave the Island.
ment barracks is still intact at the
CAMP BANNING--Three miles
westward of Avalon. A beautiful
the Y. M. C. A. boys of the
are given a few weeks' outing
usually spending a portion of the
August and September in camp.
ins outfit cons.fating of more than
tents, comprising officers' quarterS~
company tents, quartermaster's
tentlon, etc., are maintained.
quarters, where they have a hug,
bake oven, soup boilers, etc.,
sufficient to feed an army, are
features of the camp. The boys are
given three weeks.
August Carlson, who conducts
of Avalon's fine string of
has returned for the summer.
On page eight you will find
for the Windle News Stand.
have pipes that are reinforced
aluminum and unbreakable on sale
week. Frank Burgess says that
are a big value for fifty cents•
"KEEP ON KEEPING ON"
When a traveling companion
marked to William Wrigley that
could "save money" by cutting
his advertising, Mr. Wrigley
aponded: "We're making a fine
on this train. How much
do you think we should make
they took off the locomotive?"
Catalina--"in all the world no
like " "
thts.
Magazines, newspapers, candies,
at WINDLE'S NEWS STAND.
BOATMEN AND BOAT5
Any of the following Catalina
men will furnish amateur anglers
light tackle if they so desire:
Boatmen Launches
Jsohn Edmundson Adelaide
• J. Goulding Ruth
Smith Warren Fortuna
Hugh MacKay Manana
Parker Pence Sh'orty
"Yellowtail John" Dragon
Tad Grey Swastika
Harry E. Nichols Vera
J. J. Bates Helen B.
L. Mott Mable F.
M. Foster Sunbeam
Enos Vera Carrie
Fred Arce Ethel
O. I. Danielson Letta D.
A. E. Eaton Leona
Capt. Nordquist Vampire
O. W. Cole Myrtle
F. Ashbridge Grace IL
C. Wickman Maitland
B. D. Halstead Barney
John Wegmann Dixie
Elmer E. Anderson Andy
Alex Adargo Keywe
Watch the world come to
