Indian Population in Southern California Coastal Plain

From pages 4-5 of the 1952 book " The Irvine Ranch" by Robert Glass Cleland:

"At the time of the Spanish occupation of California , there were approximately 250,000 Indians living in the province, a figure that represented about a fourth of the entire native population of what is now continental United States when Columbus discovered the New World . The southern California coastal plain, including present-day Orange County , was one of the major centers of Indian population."

"According to Alfred L. Kroeber, a distinguished authority on the Indians of California, because the Gabrielinos held "the great bulk of the most fertile lowland portion of Southern California " and thus enjoyed a more abundant food supply and easier living conditions than their neighbors, they attained a higher cultural level than any other Indian group south of the Tehachapi and communicated elements of that culture to other villages."

Pyne Castle
"I grew up in Laguna Beach and lived not far from the Pyne Castle, but never knew anything about its history. Is there information available about it?" This question was asked by Georgette viewing a photograph of Pyne Castle at www.laguna-historical-society.smugmug.com which now has 475 historic photographs.

According to Karen Wilson Turnbull in her book 1987 book "Cottages and Castles of Laguna", "The foremost Norman style estate in Laguna is what is now known as Pyne Castle. Originally called Broad View Villa, this 62 room castle was built by Walter E. Pyne. He was originally the owner of a piano company who owned some land in Olive. The land was rich in oil and he soon became a millionaire, earning about $1,000 a day."
Merle and Mabel Ramsey provide details in their 1967 book "Pioneer Days of Laguna Beach" and their 1976 book "The First 100 Years in Laguna Beach 1876 - 1976":
WALTER ESTEL PYNE AND THE PYNE CASTLE
• "Walter Pyne came to Los Angeles as a boy of 18. He later became a guitar player on the passenger ship 'Yale' that plied between San Pedro and San Francisco. In the early 1900's he was the owner of the Pyne Piano Company in Santa Ana"… "selling 'the player piano' the piano that played with a paper roll. Estel [Walter or Walter Estel] had the exclusive agency for Orange County"
• "Walter Estel Pyne was considered a 'loner'." "Mr. Pyne was married once for three months. It was reported that his wife returned to Colorado and never came back."
• Pyne "decided to invest in the going thing of the day. That of orange land, upon which he planted to the golden fruit. His choice of land was in the Santa Ana Canyon near the Olinda and Richfield territory"…[where later] "oil was being discovered in the district of Yorba Linda and Richfield".
• "He began to search for property to build the mansion upon, and soon chose Laguna Beach, California. This was about the middle of the second decade. It is said he purchased about 100 lots near the north side of the village."
• It "took seven years in the building of the huge structure containing twelve bedrooms. … the beginning of the construction, [was] February, 1927"
• "Mrs. Lucretia Pyne, the mother of Estel W. Pyne, had lived with him in the palatial home for a number of years and died in 1936 at the age of 90."
• "Mr. Pyne lived in Laguna Beach for 23 years and died on July 22, 1945, of cancer"
• "In his will, the property went to his housekeeper, Marie Hannon. At her death the property was to go to the Christian Science Church and to be used as a rest home. At the passing of Miss Hannon, the church inspected the property and decided it would be too expensive to convert it into a rest home."
• Pyne Castle "stood for a number of years almost vacant"
• "David Young, a contractor, purchased the property in 1960, and developed it into an apartment house
• "The Pyne Castle is now owned by Thomas Merrick [1967] and operated as an apartment house."

The Laguna Beach Historical Society scanned in a copy of the 1960s brochure for the apartments. There appears to be dollar amounts, which we assume to be monthly rents, on the brochure which range from $125 to $315. Requests for the brochure be emailed or asking questions should be emailed to info@LagunaHistory.org. Only comments can be made at www.laguna-historical-society.smugmug.com.

Photographs are courtesy of the Laguna Beach Historical Society from the Merle Ramsey collection and from the Tom Pulley Postcard Collection.

Rain and Snow in Laguna Beach

I was downtown Laguna Beach on Tuesday, August 4, 2009 when it began to rain. Not much of a rain, but with big drops it was not just misting.

I wondered, when has it rained in Laguna Beach in August? Certainly, not often.

I do know that the Laguna Beach Historical Society has a photograph dated July 4, 1928 showing a rain soaked South Coast Highway looking at The Broiler Restaurant and the Do Nut Kettle when they were on Main Beach.

At www.Laguna-History-Society.SmugMug.com one can view this and many other historic Laguna Beach photographs.

Of course, it has even snowed in Laguna Beach. According to Merle and Mabel Ramsey in their 1967 book "Pioneer Days of Laguna Beach" on page 175 "LAGUNA'S GREATEST SURPRISE: In January of 1949, the people of the city went to bed as usual. What a difference when they arose in the morning. Oh! No! It can't happen here in Laguna Beach !-but it did. There was one inch of snow on the ground. It was melted away by noon."