|
The lot at the corner of Nineteenth Street and Lighthouse Avenue covers approximately 4,900 square feet, bears the address, 649 Lighthouse Avenue, and is identified on survey maps as Lot 1, Block 43 of the Second Addition to the Pacific Grove Retreat.
By 1884, all of the property comprising the Second Addition was in the hands of the Pacific Improvement Company, which operated out of a small building on the corner of ________. Pacific Improvement was actively engaged in marketing the property for sale when several lots in the Second Addition caught the attention of a Monterey resident.
Reverend Horace Seaver Snodgrass, a native of Ohio, was pastor of the Monterey Presbyterian Church—known also as “David Jacks’s Church.” No doubt David Jacks was an aficionado of Reverend Snodgrass’s sermons.
What we know of Reverend Snodgrass is found in a few newspaper accounts of the time. On December 15, 1883, the Monterey Argus reported,
Rev. H. S. SNODGRASS will preach at Colton Hall, Sabbath. The subjects will be “Paul's Object of Glory,” and “Queen Esther's Decision.” All are invited to attend.
A few years later, Reverend Snodgrass got entangled in some highly-publicized escapades arising from his ceremonial duties as pastor. Judging from these accounts, the pastor may have seemed to many young lovers at the time like [the pastor in Shakespeares’ Romeo & Juliet].
For example, in November, 1887, Monterey Argus reported,
On Thanksgiving Day, a young couple arrived from Salinas, and after hunting up one of our divines, they explained to him that they had gone to Salinas from San Francisco to get married, forgetting that the day was a holiday and were therefore unable to procure a license. Determined, nevertheless, to get married anyhow, they got a carriage and came over here to be married out at sea. Everything seemed to be on the square. Rev. H.S. SNODGRASS consented to accompany them the necessary 3 miles out on the bay. After arriving at about the desired distance, the couple—D.B. MANNING, of Santa Cruz, and Miss Annie STONE, of San Francisco—were united in marriage, a friend by the name of BAKER being a witness."
The happy event would have otherwise seemed routine, except that on December 1, 1887, another local newspaper at that time, the Salinas Weekly Index, republished the story—in the form it was written in the Argus—but then added the following startling revelation:
There are several inaccuracies in the above
paragraph. Miss Annie STONE was a Salinas schoolgirl, not over 16 years of age and resided here with her mother. Her father is ex-Constable W.W. STONE, who is at present somewhere in the East. It is understood that MANNING is from San Francisco, instead of Santa Cruz. “All is well that ends well,” and we hope the affair will end well.
Well, all didn’t end as well as expected. On February 23, 1888, the Salinas Weekly Index published the following update:
MANNING/STONE—The romantic marriage of Miss Annie STONE, of Salinas, and C.B. MANNING, of Santa Cruz, out at sea off Monterey, on the 24th of last November was only chronicled in the 'Index' at the time. They went to San Francisco to live and were divorced a few days ago in that city. The next day after the divorce, Annie married C.H. COLBURN, the “mutual friend” who assisted at the elopement and first marriage and afterwards lived in the same house with MANNING and his bride.”
Reverend Snodgrass proved himself the friend of young lovers once again. On September 19, 1889, the Salinas Weekly Index reported another affair which would have made Shakespeare smile:
Amateur Theatricals - Matrimony -- It will be remembered that, on the 2nd of last March, the Monterey Amateur Dramatic Company produced at Central Hall, in Salinas, “Nevada, or the Lost Mine.” In the cast was Miss Gussie TIBBETTS, who personated “Moselle, a Waif,” and accompanying the party was Grant TOWLE. On March 8th, Grant TOWLE appeared at the Clerk’s office and procured a marriage license, in the affidavit for which TOWLE was set down as 24 years old and Miss TIBBETS 20, both native Californians and resident of Monterey. It is stated that up to the time of the preparations for the theatricals, it was generally thought that Miss TIBBETTS was engaged to another party. Whatever may have been the cause, her parents successfully opposed her marriage with TOWLE for over 6 months.
Last Tuesday, about midnight, they appeared before Rev. H.S. SNODGRASS and were married, and immediately took a carriage for Salinas, arriving at the Jeffery House early in the morning and taking the morning train to San Francisco. Young TOWLE is a son of Capt. TOWLE of the Pacific Coast Steamship Company and kept a cigar store in Monterey. Miss TIBBETS is daughter of the proprietor of the Central Hotel in Monterey. Both are estimable young people and among the first society people of Monterey and it is the wish of their acquaintances in Salinas that their matrimonial voyage may be prosperous.
Reverend Snodgrass must have gotten caught up in the real estate boom [started practicing what David Jacks may have been preaching to him!) when, on April 28, 1884, the Reverend purchased three lots in the Second Addition: [Hart lot, Gosbey lot, and one other – get deed]. The total price for the three lots was [$1,030].
The form of deed under which Reverend Snodgrass took possession of the property was on a form used by the Pacific Improvement Company for the sale of lots in the Pacific Grove Retreat, a form virtually identical to the form David Jacks [Pacific Grove Retreat Association] had used to sell land in the Retreat. The deed is set forth below in its entirety:
This Indenture, Made the 16th day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty four (1884) Between the PACIFIC IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, a corporation duly incorporated and organized under the laws of the State of California, the party of the first part, and H.S. Snodgrass of the County of Monterey and the State of California, the party of the second part,
Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part for and in consideration of the acceptance of this conveyance by the said party of the second part, subject to the provisos, and upon the condition to the conditions herein and expressed, and for and in further consideration of One Thousand thirty Dollars, gold coin of the United States of America, to it in hand paid by the said party of the second part the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, has granted and conveyed does grand bargain sale and convey all its right title on to the said party of the second part and to his heirs and assigns forever, but subject to the said in provisos, and upon the said conditions, in end to these certain lots, pieces or parcels of land at situate, lighting and being in the County of Monterey, State of California, known and designated as Lot No. One (1) and Two (2) of Block No. Forty Three (43), Lot No. Two (2) of Block No. Forty Five (45) and Lot No. One (1) Block No. Forty Four (44) in Second Addition to Pacific Grove Retreat Grounds, as surveyed by L. D. Norton, assistant engineer P. I Co. October 1883 and duly recorded in the office of the County recorder of said county of Monterey.
To Have and to Hold, all and singular the above mentioned described premises, together with the appurtenances, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever.
Provided, However, and this conveyance is made and accepted upon the following express conditions:
First. That the said party of the second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, tenants, or persons claiming or occupying under them or either of them, said land or premises or any part thereof, shall not use or employee, nor directly or indirectly suffer, allow, or permit any other person or persons whatever to use or employ the said land or premises or any part thereof, for the purpose of carrying on, or conducting any business, trade, employment, profession, calling or vocation or as a place of public entertainment, amusement, show or exhibition, without the written consent of the Pacific Grove Retreat Association, a corporation duly organized under the laws of the State of California, or as a place of any species of card or dice playing, gaming or gambling, or for any other purpose whatever accept solely and exclusively for the purpose of a private dwelling or residence.
Second. That the said party of the second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, tenants, sub-tenants, lessees, or assigns, or any person or persons, claiming or occupying under them or either of them, said land or premises, or any part thereof, will not use or employ, nor directly or indirectly suffer, allow or permit any other person or persons whatever, to use or employ said land or premises, or any part thereof, for the purpose of selling, exchanging, bartering, delivering or giving a way of any spirit of spirituous or malt intoxicating lecture liquors, wine or cider.
Third. That he said party of the second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, tenants, sub-tenants, lessees, or assigns, or any person or persons, claiming or occupying under them or either of them, said land or premises, or any part thereof, will hold, use and occupy the same subject to the by-laws, rules and regulations of the Pacific Grove Retreat Association, a corporation duly organized under the laws of the State of California, which are now or may hereafter be adopted by said corporation, provided that nothing in such by-laws, rules or regulations contained, shall interfere with the quiet and proper use of said premises for the purposes of a private dwelling or residence, and should the said party of the second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, tenants, sub-tenants, lessees, or assigns, or any person or persons claiming or occupying under them, or either of them, said land or premises, or any part thereof, use or employ the said land and premises, or any part thereof , for any purpose whatsoever, except the said purpose of a private dwelling, or as hereinbefore stipulated, or shall neglect or refuse to obey the by-laws, rules and regulations of said corporation the Pacific Grove Retreat Association, or shall hold, use or occupy, said land and premises, or any part thereof, or end ever to do so, contrary to the bylaws, rules and regulations of said corporation, then in that case, this conveyance shall immediately thereupon become null and void and of no effect what ever; and the whole of the estate above granted and conveyed, and any and all of proved improvements thereon shall immediately revert to and become the property of the said party of the first part, its successors and assigns forever, to be held and enjoyed by its end them for ever; and the said party of the first part hereby expressly reserves to itself, its successors and assigns, the right to enter upon said land and premises, and to take absolute possession thereof, and of any and all improvements thereon for and upon the breach of the aforesaid conditions or any of them.
In Witness Whereof, the said party of the first part has caused these presents to be signed by its President pro tem Secretary, and its corporate seal to be hereunto fixed, and the said party of the second part has hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year first above written.
W. E. Brown
President Pro tem Pacific Improvement Company
F. S. Douty
Secretary Pacific Improvement Company
H.S. Snodgrass
Recorded at the request of C.W. Gates July 16, 1884 at 25 minutes past 8 a.m.
F.S. Douty, who signed in his capacity of Secretary of the Pacific Improvement Company, was also on the Board of Directors of the Central Pacific Railroad, Pacific Improvement Company, and other operating companies controlled by the Big Four.
As indicated in the deed, Reverand Snodgrass purchased four lots: Lots 1 & 2 of Block 43, Lot 2 of Block 45, and Lot 1 of Block 44, all of the Second Addition. The first of three of these are among the largest lots in the entire Pacific Grove Retreat at that time.
Lot 1 of Block 43, of course, is the land upon which the Hart Mansion would later be built. Lot 2 of Block 43 is adjacent to the East, where the Gosby House would be built in 1888. Lot 2 of Block 45 is the lot located across the street on the corner of Nineteenth Street and Lighthouse Avenue, just to the West of the Hart Mansion lot. It is now the site of a commercial building, containing various businesses above and La Dolce Vita Italian restaurant at ground level. Lot 1 of Block 44 is a small lot on the corner of Nineteenth Street and Laurel Avenue [where….].
Reverend Snodgrass did not have to wait long to realize a profit on his land investment in Pacific Grove. On May 3, 1887, he sold Lot 1 in Block 43 alone for $600.00. He sold two of the other lots—Lots 2 of Block 43 (the future Gosby House lot) and Lot 3 of Block 44—to the same buyer for a total of $480. [What about the others?]
The buyer of all three lots was listed as Mrs. Esther M. Fales, M.D., a doctor who once practiced in Marysville (Yuba County), California. She and her husband, Dr. N. W. Fales, operated the Marysville Remedial & Hygienic Institute, which placed regular advertisements for its “water cures” in regional newspapers. One such advertisement appeared on July 10, 1861 in the Sacramento Union.
The deed by which Esther M. Fales acquired the future Hart property from Reverend Snodgrass indicates that she was a resident of Contra Costa County at the time. An N.W. Fales was listed in the Monterey Directory of 1875, a “farmer” residing in Peachtree Valley (Monterey County). It is not known whether this is the N.W. Fales as Eshter’s husband.
Apparently, the Fales, after having visited the retreat some recent summer, decided to purchase two lots in the original Pacific Grove Retreat, Lot 2 of Block 43 [on the corner of Lighthouse and Forest, where the ____ currently is] and Lot 3 of Block 44 [find out where these are].
We do know that when Esther M. Fales sold the future Hart property a few months later, the deed listed her residence as Monterey County. She apparently moved into a house in the retreat for her retirement. [check].
The Fales purchased these lots, both from H.S. Snodgrass, on September 20, 1886 for a total of $480. They purchased the 649 Lighthouse property from Reverend Snodgrass the following May, and we can only speculate that they did so for investment purposes. Whatever their intent, they soon sold the property for a handsome profit.
On September 6, 1887, less then four months after their grant deed from Reverend Snodgrass was recorded, Mrs. Fales sold the lot to Thomas B. Hopkins of Placer County, California. The price was $1,000, a $400 or 67% profit over their purchase price.
Little is known about Thomas B. Hopkins. A Reverend T.B. Hopkins was listed in the Monterey Directory of 1875, living on California Street (now, Lighthouse Avenue in new Monterey). His place of business was listed as “Methodist Church.” It is not clear that this Reverend T. B. Hopkins was the same as Thomas B. Hopkins who by the fall of 1887 was a resident of Placer County.
While Dr. Fales realized a 67 percent profit on her investment in just four months, it could not be said that Thomas B. Hopkins overpaid for the lot.
On September 3, 1889, just under one year after he purchased it, Thomas B. Hopkins sold the lot to Andrew Jackson Hart for $1,500. The deed described the seller as, “T. B. Hopkins & Lillie F. Hopkins his wife, of the County of Linn in the State of Oregon.”
According to the deed, when Andrew J. Hart acquired the property in the fall of 1889, he was still a resident of Modesto in Stanislaus County.
|