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Biplane races car

Daily Telegram July 10, 1911

Aviation pioneers had a strong attraction to the soft landings provided by sand dunes. The Wright Brothers had Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Fred Wiseman had Pismo Beach.
Thanks to Paso Robles blogger, Dave Skinner, for sharing the link to more Wiseman information.
In December 1903 Orville and Wilbur first took to the sky.
Inspired by a visit to the Wright Brothers home in Dayton, Ohio — Fred Wiseman and his partner Gene Peters built an aircraft in 1910. They based it on careful study of photographs of Farman, Curtis and Wright models. Early in 1911 Wiseman delivered mail from Petaluma to Santa Rosa giving him the honor of the earliest air mail flight. It took two days, since the engine gave out in mid-flight. He also tossed a copy of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat to a farmhouse on the route. No word if he was able to hit the porch.
During barnstorming that year he spent six weeks in Pismo Beach. The craft was hard to fly and many aviation pioneers, like Harriet Quimby, paid with their lives. Wiseman was in his mid-30s, at least two birth dates are given, after a little more than a year as a daredevil flyer he gave up the sky for safer earthly pursuits.
The restored aircraft is on display in the National Postal Museum.

Click to see Wiseman biplane image from National Postal Museum.

If someone has information or photos of I.A. Tomasini’s Buick race car please post a comment.

Now as advertised here is the article from the July 10, 1911 Daily Telegram.

CROWDS LARGE AT EL PISMO

Aviator Wiseman in sensational flight, beaten by auto.

Another splendid testimonial of the popularity of the aerial demonstrations of Aviator Fred Wiseman was given at El Pizmo beach yesterday, when the crowds fell but little short of what they were on July Fourth. Hundreds went from San Luis Obispo, land large crowds came also from the southern section over the S.P., beside the many who went in autos and rigs.
Aviator Wiseman treated all to another fine exhibition of flying, making several successful flights in his biplane. On one flight he circled the entire length of the beach to the mouth of the Arroyo Grande creek. In coming back from this trip he raced with I.A. Tomasini, the well known automobile man, who beat the aeroplane, making the speed of a mile a minute in his Buick car. The race was in plain sight of the watching thousands on the beach, and was a thriller which was keenly enjoyed by all.
There were other attractions at the beach which helped to make the day a successful one, and thoroughly enjoyed the day’s outing.

The paper apparently did not have a style book and had two spellings on the page for Pismo.

In other news on the page, there were three stories promoting the work of the Anti-Saloon League. The temperance newspaper rarely took a day off from  the cause. Yawn….and there was this item…

$4200 AUTO DESTROYED YESTERDAY

A fine Apperson automobile belonging to Henry Tognazzini was destroyed by fire yesterday a short distance from town on the way to Morro at the foot of what is known as Smith’s hill.
The car, a 55 horse power machine, was completely ruined and there is no explanation as to how it caught fire. This is the second misfortune in this line that has overtaken Mr. Tognazzini, he having lost a valuable car recently in the same manner.

The US Inflation calculator puts the value at about $92,500 in 2010 dollars. [1913 to 2010 closest conversion available.]

Posted in 1910s, News, Popular Culture | No Comments »

Great Biplane and Automobile Race at Pizmo Beach

July 6, 1911 Daily Telegram

Have you heard? Big doings Sunday in Pizmo Beach.
Mix gasoline with testosterone and you get racing blood.
We see it all the time today, cars on the beach, a yellow biplane flying overhead but this story-line is almost a century old. Turn the calendar back to 1911 when both modes of transportation were in their infancy. The Orville and Wilbur Wright had only ushered in the era of powered flight less than 8 years earlier. The Buick Auto-Vim and Power Company had been founded in 1899 but it wasn’t until 1904 that the bugs had been worked out of the prototypes and a model was offered to the public.
Bug, funny you should mention that name, the Buick Bug was the race car produced in 1910 to promote the brand. Bug is a name now indelibly associated with Volkswagen. The first  Indianapolis 500 would be held in 1911 though the speedway had hosted racing for two years.
Ad from the July 6, 1911 Daily Telegram

Great Biplane and Automobile Race at
PIZMO BEACH
Sunday, July 9
I.A. Tomassini Will Run With a Buick Racer Against Wiseman’s Biplane.
Come and See the Most Sensational Contest Ever Held on any Beach in the World
S.P. Excursion Trains Will Leave San Luis Obispo at 9 a.m.
MUSIC BY BRASS BAND, DANCING ETC.

The ETC. may be a veiled reference to alcohol since the temperance minded Daily Telegram would not accept liquor advertising.

Who won? Revealed in the next post, until then no wagering.

Posted in 1910s, Advertising, Popular Culture, sports | 1 Comment »

Play it twice Freddie, We Are the Champions

A crowd gathers in San Luis Obispo's Mission Plaza to celebrate college and high school football championships. Telegram-Tribune/Wayne Nicholls

Unprecedented in the state and perhaps the nation, one city simultaneously celebrated university and high school football championships. The magical season began thirty years ago for Cal Poly and San Luis Obispo High School.
San Luis had lost to Lompoc earlier in the season 15-11. The Tigers finished the season with a 7-0 upset win over the Braves before 7,000 fans at Mustang Stadium. The storybook season finished with a 9-4-1 Tiger record.
Why wasn’t Cal Poly playing at Mustang Stadium?
They were in Albuquerque, New Mexico playing the frigid conditions of the Zia Bowl. Poly upset favorite Eastern Illinois 21-13 for their first and only national football championship. The Mustang’s final record that year was 10-3
This front page story is from the then Telegram-Tribune December 15, 1980.

Football champs honored

By Eric Burdick
Sports Editor

Citizens of San Luis Obispo paused today for a noontime parade and rally honoring the city’s two championship football teams.
San Luis Obispo Senior High School’s California Interscholastic Federation Northwestern Conference title-winning team and Cal Polly’s NCAA Division II national champions paraded through downtown San Luis Obispo to the cheers of hundreds of people.
Following the parade, the players were feted at a rally organized by former Cal Poly Mustang Boosters Club President John Kerr at Mission Plaza.
San Luis Obispo County’s Board of Supervisors adjourned its regular meeting to attend the rally. San Luis Obispo City Council members also were present.
Before a sun-splashed crowd estimated at 1,000 people, San Luis Obispo Mayor Lynn Cooper welcomed the players saying, “What an exciting day. After some research, I found out that we’re the only city in the state of California with two championship teams, and probably in the United States as well.
“The City of San Luis Obispo is behind you 100 per cent,” added the mayor.
“Today is your day, and special congratulations to you from the city.”
Both San Luis Obispo High School head coach Leon Criner and Cal Poly’s Joe Harper said they were overwhelmed by the support from the community ant the turnout for the parade and rally.
Said Criner, “I’m simply overwhelmed and very thankful.” Added Harper, “I feel very inadequate to express my feelings I have at this time. I’m completely overwhelmed by the response of the community to both of our football teams.”
San Luis Obispo High School students were excused from classes early to view the parade and rally. Cal Poly students are in the midst of a three-week quarter break.

Time to break out the 1977 Queen album, News of the World. The first single? You guessed it, “We Are the Champions.” Unfortunately that song wasn’t a champion. It only reached #4 on the U.S. Billboard chart. Though it never reached the top, writer Freddie Mercury would earn a platinum record and the band eternal fame when it was adopted as a sports anthem.

Posted in 1980s, Cal Poly, Popular Culture, Schools, sports | 1 Comment »

Limited outlook

Even on a calm day this sheep dog would have a hairy problem viewing the world so it's doubtful the animal saw much of this countryside along Highway 46 east of Paso Robles. ©2010 Mark Aronoff/The Tribune Originally published March 9, 1979

Posted in 1970s, Popular Culture | 2 Comments »

I am a Cougar and I Ain’t Lion

Referee Joe Brudage, first casualty Juanita Booth, college nursing program director, brought him back quickly. Faculty/student basketball game featuring FATS (Faculty Athletic Training Society) against the varsity in the old Camp San Luis Obispo gym. ©Michael Raphael/The Tribune

Cuesta had a band?
A theme song?
Why did this tradition die out?
Paging Cuesta Cougar, Cuesta Cougar to the white courtesy phone.

From the March 13, 1969 then Telegram-Tribune

Annual game
FATS (faculty) wins at Cuesta

By Mike Raphael
Staff Writer

Capitalizing on a slam-bang attack, Cuesta College’s “FATS” (Faculty Athletic Training Society) thoroughly demolished an obviously outclassed varsity basketball team in the second annual faculty – varsity game Wednesday.
FATS coach Wayne Anderson, of business office fame, vowed before the game that he intended to extend his one – game winning streak.
The elderly team jumped to an early 1-0 lead after three or so minutes of the first quarter of three – quarter game, that was sort of played in three-quarter time.
The biggest crowd of the season—if you include the band, faculty wives, children and several dozen county high school students — watched as varsity players got their entire team into foul trouble.
But the younger set seemed bent on defeating the oldsters and at halftime (the end of the second quarter), held an 18-16 lead.
But in the final quarter, FATS surged to a 25-20 lead.
The debacle ended minutes later with the final score 25-23 for the still unbeaten faculty five.
Campus officer Grover Miller led the special team of referees, and often was compelled to use his gun to stop severe attacks by Cougars on the FATS team.
The game ball went to somebody, possibly a band trumpeter, who also may have been the person who set the game records on fire. The scoring is unknown, but it is believed that either Don Hansen, regular Cougar basketball coach, adorned in a hula skirt, or Del Crystal, of plaid skirt fame, led all the scorers.

"Coach" Wayne Anderson (right) cheers, Glover Miller in referee regalia. © Michael Raphel/The Tribune

The game was played under the most rigid of conditions, with only one time out called. That was to allow the band to play a medley of tunes that included the school theme, “I am a Cougar and I Ain’t Lion.”
The varsity crew set several records, including(1) most shots called back, and (2) Most fouls committed in a single game, and (3) most fouls committed after a game.
FATS shot 92.345 per cent, missing only two shots. Both were by Carmen Mauro while flat on his back with referee Joe Brundage standing on his good hand.
One FATS tactic, in the interests of justice and objectivity must be condemned.
That was the old faculty-cheerleader-Jay-Basseri-on-the-ladder-pushing-the-ball-thrown-to-him-through-the-net trick.

[Full disclosure, the author of this blog is not in fact a Cougar but a Mustang. I'd still like to hear their theme song played by a full band.]

Posted in 1960s, Find by Decade, Popular Culture, Schools, sports | 6 Comments »

Early days of the San Luis Obispo post office

June 27, 1890 Morning Tribune

Civilization arrives with the post office. When you can send and receive mail your town is no longer howling wilderness, it is on the map. The 1890 Tribune took a moment to review the American history of the San Luis Obispo Post Office as it moved to a new building on Higuera Street. The town was still so small they don’t bother to give a specific address but you’ll find it next to Crocker’s Department store.
Included here are a few images of stamps from the era. Letters cost two cents, to deliver, cards one cent.
Follow the link and you will see the range of men worthy to be on postage stamps presidents, admirals, generals and senators. The exception is Benjamin Franklin, newspaper editor, best selling author, inventor, founding father and successful early postmaster.
Reminds me of a lyric from at Timbuk3 song

“Everyone want to be on a postage stamp. But nobody wants to die.”

Tribune founding editor Walter Murray was postmaster after the death of his brother but he gave up the office about the time he founded the newspaper in his effort to become a judge. In 1869 he was District Attorney, newspaper editor, notary public and postmaster. It was hard to provide for a wife and six children and he had ambitions to become a judge.

June 27, 1890 Morning Tribune

POSTOFFICE REMOVAL
The Boxes, Books, and Mail To Be Removed This Morning

This morning at 8 o’clock sharp Postmaster Cannon will pack his official duds into a wagon, and remove the postoffice belongings to the new brick building on Higuera street, next door to Crocker’s. Thee finishing touches were given to the new house last night, and everything is now in complete readiness for the transfer.
The mail that is in the boxes will be taken out, the contents of each box separately tied up, the racks, pigeon-holes, mail bags, everything bundled into the truck and hauled to new quarters. Mr. Canon has so arranged matters that practically no delay will be felt by the public, and by 9 o’clock mail will be delivered from the Higuera street office with as little friction as if no removal had taken place.
San Luis Obispo during all the years since 1849 has had but five postmasters, including the present incumbent, but the business has occupied many different stands.
The first mail which came to San Luis Obispo was brought by a sergeant and two soldiers in 1849, thee American government, with headquarters at Monterey having established a monthly service in that year. The route was from Monterey to San Diego, and every station for a relay of horses was considered a postoffice, and on arriving at the sable or corral the sergeant would unlock the mail bag if so requested. It was not an unusual thing to keep the mail here overnight by liberal doses of spiritus frumenti [Latin for alcohol] to the couriers in order that the two or three white persons hearabouts could read the newspapers.
In 1850 the government let a contract for carrying the mail along the coast country, and the soldiers were succeeded by private carriers. Maj. S.A. Pollard was appointed postmaster of this place. He prepared for business by knocking out the side of a shoe box and putting in two or three pigeon holes. When mail was wanted the applicant went to the shoe box, and looked over the letters each for himself. Thee building in which this primitive postoffice was conducted is still standing, being the adobe at the corner of Monterey and Chorro streets. Maj. Pollard acted as the postal representative of Uncle Sam for some two years, when he turned the business over to a blacksmith, whose name cannot now be recalled, who continued in the same capacity until 1856 when Alexander Murray, under President Buchannan’s adminstration was regularly appointed. Mr. Murray conducted the affairs of the office in an adobe building where the Quintana block now stands. In the same year the business was remove to a log house next to the Swiss Hotel. About the year 1860 it was again taken to the Quintana building, and in 1862 Murray bought an unfinished house — now known as the Dallidet house — on Monterey street, finished it and removed the keys of the mail bags to it. There the postoffice remained until after the death of Alex. Murray, which occurred in 1869. His brother, the late Walter S. Murray, succeed to the keys, which up to this time were the principal piece of furniture connected with the San Luis postoffice. Up to the time of the removal of the Dallidet building a soap or candlebox was  usually used in which to put all the mail each inquirer helping himself.
By this time, a few white-shirts had found their way into the county, and a general desire to put on a little style pervaded the community, so regulation boxes and a peephole were introduced—an innovation, by the why, which was not entirely satisfactory to the independent patrons.
Walter S. Murray appointed Judge Simmler as deputy and he practically had full charge of the office. In 1870 Simmler was made postmaster and shortly thereafter removed the business to the old Swiss Hotel building. It was kept there about ten months, and then moved into a little frame house between the Swiss hotel and the French, where the public library was also kept from thence the business was taken to the building now occupied by Dennis Harrington, corner of Morro and Monterey streets. The next move was into a building erected by the Bank of San Luis Obispo, on Court street. Increasing business in a few years more again drove the the office into larger quarters, and this time it went to the Quintana Block, in the room now occupied by Sheehy. Thence it was removed to a building on the site of the present Wells-Fargo office, and it was there when the Andrews burned down, the postoffice building sharing the same fate as the big hotel All the records and mail matter, however were saved although Postmaster Simmler lost all thee personal effects he had there. The government then, as far as this town was concerned, had no home, and for two days the mail was distributed under a tree on Osos street, near the Chinese laundry. Temporary quarters were quickly secured in the Rogers building where the people assembled for their mail for about a month when the postoffice was located in the house back of the Quintana Block, where it remained until this morning.
In all these various removals the office has been on Monterey street and each removal was in order to get larger and better quarters and meet the growing demands of the business.

Other news on the page:
Ten dollars reward will be paid for the arrest and conviction of any persons purloining the Morning Tribune from the doorways of subscribers.

Lost.
On the 17th, a blue iron crank, about 18 inches in length. The crank belongs to the extension ladder of the hook and ladder co No.1 of the Fire Department. The finder will please return it to the city hall.

Posted in 1890s, News, post office | 2 Comments »