By Ernest W. Jackson and Larry Clinton, Sausalito Historical Society
One of the leading authorities on historical landmarks and buildings in Sausalito, Ernest Jackson, was born in San Francisco in 1878, but lived most of his life in Sausalito. In the 1930s he wrote a series of historical essays for the Sausalito News, which were filled with warm and witty recollections. I’ll be sharing some of these over the next few weeks.
ILLUSTRATION BY J. C. (PATSY) CARROLL
Boys on horseback carried farm produce on their way to school
Introducing the first installment, in October 1936, News editor Frank Anderson noted, “Ernest W. Jackson, former Councilman of twenty years ago and recently a more or less pinch-hitter as a Councilman tor some few months, has written his ‘Recollections’ of Sausalito since the time he was a youngster. Oldtimers will revel in the tales of the earlier days of Sausalito. Newcomers will enjoy studying the background of their village. And of special interest are the sketches drawn by another Marin resident—in the summertime, J. C. (Patsy) Carroll—and staff artist of the Sausalito News.”
In that installment, Jackson recalled an early attempt to sell lots in Old Town. Jackson’s original spelling, punctuation and grammar have been preserved, even when they don’t meet contemporary standards:
WHEN first I remember South Sausalito, there were three or four houses in the valley, and one dirt road which lead as far as the old Pacific Yacht Club. From there on was a trail along what is now South Street and thence to about the site of Alexander Avenue where it entered the military reservation. Along this trail and on horseback the Broderick boys and the Healey boys used to come to school. The pursuit of knowledge was not the only object of these daily trips. They carried with them, tied to their saddles, one to three boxes of butter and some tubs of cheese.
It was only by saddle horse that the ranches just back of the reservation could get their produce to market, because at that time the only wagon road to them, lead out through Tennessee Valley, which meant an all day trip.
Lots and Roads
However, Shelter Cove hillsides were about to be converted into lots and roads. Mr. Henry C. Campbell, and Major O. C. Miller and Mr. Hickman and Judge D. P. Belknap, were planning towards that end. I well remember attending the first auction sale of the Sausalito Bay Land Company’s lots. Perhaps I should not use the word "attending,” that word hardy pictures a kid loitering on the skirts of the crowd just to be on hand for excitement, if any.
The scene of the auction was about where Mrs. Koster’s property now is. Of tables and chairs and maps there were plenty. Then the crowd and the wind arrived. It was a real good old summer wind that blew precisely in those old days as it does now. Many a nickel or dime did the kids get for capturing escaping hats or maps that gaily sailed off toward the bay.
Record the Tides
To put that sale over, something had to be done to offset the wind, as even the Shelter Cove folks today will admit. Now at that time there lived in Sausalito a Mr. Gray. His home was just where the Sausalito Woman’s Club now is, and twice a day he rode a fat little brown mare down as far as the tide gauge and back. It was this tide gauge that gave the name to tide gauge beach. If you swim you know it.
Mr. Gray's job was to measure and record the tides. He has long since been replaced by clock work, though at that time he was quite a prominent man. A sort of Government factotum. He wore gold braid and brass buttons on his blue suit. To offset the summer wind, Mr. Gray was put up on the platform, and in his more or less official capacity, he told that crowd of wind-blown buyers, how long he had lived in Sausalito, etc., and that in all those years he had never before seen such a windy day. King Canute had the laugh on his flatterers when the tide wouldn’t stop. [Canute was a Viking King who supposedly sat on his throne ordering the sea to turn back.] Well, Mr. Tidegauge Gray did much better. He couldn’t any more stop the tide than this wind, but he did a lot of blowing and seemingly the buyers believed his blowing more than the blowing of the wind, for I think about sixty lots were sold on that day.
Next: Jackson recalls Sausalito’s first ferry and the street named after her.