History Capistrano beach:
Dana Point
An early line in the sand
BY CARLOS N. OLVERA, PRESIDENT, DANA POINT HISTORICAL SOCIETY
San Juan depot circa 1890. Photo: Dana Point Historical Society E
very community looks at the evidence of its historical existence—that first “line in the sand” so to speak. Of course, we have Richard Henry Dana’s visit in 1835 and his
description of Capistrano Bay, but where is the footprint he left? We also have Capistrano Beach, first called San Juan-by-the Sea. Announced in 1887, it was known to Californians as exceeding anything on this coast. A hotel was to be built on the nearby bluff at a cost of “not less than $50,000,” with the most costly project winning the bid. The means of travel to the lush valley with views of mountains and sea was made by a daily stage from Santa Ana. This coincided with the California Central
Railway, coming through in November 1887 with the building of the San Juan depot opening on January 1, 1888. Incidentally, in San Juan Capistrano, the depot was called Capistrano. This was a combination freight and passenger stop and was popular for the beach-goers. The village consisted of about 15 houses and as many as 30 or 40 tents for family camping. Small tents were available for those in period dress who wished to change into their long, single-piece bath- ing suits of the era. There was a large pavilion that provided shade and an area to dance with a band that provided music every Sunday. Two restaurants were on the beach to provide lunch. On the bluffs near Dana Cove, a writer in 1888 made note of an adventurous climber who left his mark: “R. B. 84.” This footprint is now long gone by the eroding winds and rains. This community only lasted about two years, and the station closed in 1898. There is a photo from 1890 of this station, which was subsequently torn down.
14 DESTINATION Dana Point
During the building of the rail line, as reported in July 1887, a huge Mastodon was unearthed three miles north of San Juan-by-the Sea. Its tusks were sixteen feet long. A similar specimen was unearthed during the Doheny era up on the bluff in November 1929. These are some big footprints left behind.
Subsequently, the community was called Serra
in 1905. The platted area and the paved streets, and their names, remained. A new station was built in 1912. That station was later razed, and a new stucco, two-room passenger depot was built in 1932. With the influence of the Doheny family, the area became known as Doheny Park. The office was closed in 1944, retired as a
maintenance building in 1964 and demolished in 1965. During those later years, the simple sign “SERRA” marked the now long gone depot. But the area experienced a short rebirth in
1932 when S. H. Woodruff wanted to make the area a railroad village, with plans to organize a group of railway people and construct a clubhouse. Woodruff was touting the area as an ideal place on the California Riviera coast for building one of the greatest cities because of its location as a waterway, railway, airway and highway center. Plans were also underway to build a breakwater beneath the newly opened Dana Point Inn.
All this ambition, energy and planning went
for not, a result of the long-lasting depression of the 1930s. Not until we became a city in 1989 were we able to start over. Dana Point has now become the jewel of the coast. And our footprint in the sand remains in Capistrano Beach—on Las Vegas, Domingo and Victoria Streets, to name a few—that today celebrates its 125-year founding.
Serra Depot circa 1950. Photo: Bancroft Library, “Coast Lines Depots” by Lee Gustafson © 1992 DANA POINT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52