This month’s History is a feature of PB Monthly, highlighting local events from long ago. John Fry is an author, publisher, historian, and co-founder and president of the Pacific Beach Historical Society. He is also the author of “Images of America: Pacific Beach” and “Pacific Beach Through Time.” He can be reached at mail@johnfry.com.
125 Years Ago – July 1899
From the San Diego Union: The hotel is now open to the public again, run by brother Gregg and his mother, Mrs. Greenwood, and several guests currently staying at the hotel have praised the excellent food and service provided by the new management.
The bay is a popular resort destination for people of all ages, and almost every afternoon beach dwellers in their horse-drawn carriages and wagons descend on this charming spot for swimming and boating.
100 Years Ago – July 1924
Major repairs to the Mission Beach bridge have been made possible by the City Council appropriating $6,000 for the work. The Mission Beach bridge spans an inlet of Mission Bay and was built at great expense by Mission Beach developers some years ago as a recreation and entertainment area, and turned over to the city for maintenance.
It is 1,400 feet long. The roadway is 24 feet wide, allowing for three lanes of traffic. This plank roadway has been in a worn and torn state for many months, but drivers will be very grateful for the asphalt pavement.
75 Years Ago – July 1949
Building plans for the new Pacific Beach Middle School have been approved by the city Board of Education. If the plans are approved by the state, bids will be solicited early this fall. Construction is expected to be completed by the fall of 1950.
The Pacific Beach project is estimated to cost $400,000 and will involve adding to the current elementary school and converting it into a middle school.
50 Years Ago – July 1974
While Steve Cairncross was away camping, his sister Elizabeth borrowed his new bike, left it on the beach for a few minutes, and returned to find it gone. A neighbour witnessed three boys abandoning the yellow bike on the Mission Beach jetty. Elizabeth gathered some friends and headed to the jetty, only to be chased away by fishermen.
Scuba divers pulled the bike from the water and said they would take it to the police, but instead took it home, at which point Steve’s mother intervened and took everyone to PB Fire Station, where ownership of the Cairncross was proven by a bicycle licence.
25 Years Ago – July 1999
“Dr. Beach” Stephen Leatherman, 51, was soaking up the sun at Tourmaline Surfing Park and telling people how good it felt to escape the muggy Miami heat.
But the author of “America’s Best Beaches” didn’t include Tourmaline on his list: he found the sand there to be brownish; Leatherman preferred white sand, or better yet, pink sand; and the water was “a little cold” for visitors from the east.
