Tag Archive: Construction

May 17

Cuesta College builds a campus

Cuesta College was moving to new buildings in 1976 after  early years in World War II surplus buildings.

Cuesta College celebrates 50 years this year and the first major milestone was when voters approved bonds to finance building a brand new facility to replace the 30-year-old wood frame military barracks. This story is from June 5, 1976. Story by Kay Ready Buildings—once whitewashed enlisted men’s quarters for Camp San Luis Obispo, now paint-chipped …

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Apr 10

Freeway construction begins in San Luis Obispo, 1952

Construction began in Spring of 1952 on the 101 freeway in San Luis Obispo.

It takes less time to travel this section of freeway than it takes to read about it. If you want to see the before picture click here. The Telegram-Tribune of March 25, 1952 carried the story: WORK STARTS ON S.L.O. FREEWAY Big Crossing Structures Come First Construction started today on the first of several freeway …

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Apr 09

1940ish San Luis Obispo Highway

Highway 101 enters San Luis Obispo from the south in this view from the 1930s or 40s.

This undated photo shows what appears to be a new highway entry in to San Luis Obispo as Highway 101 makes a turn onto Marsh Street. My guess is this is from the 40s as the highway was improved at least once in that decade. It may be from the late 30s, I can’t find …

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Jan 03

Blasting Highway 101 near Pismo Beach

MOUNTAIN MOVERS...Giant explosion rips away outcropping of stubborn rock during fill operations at the new Avila Beach road undercrossing site adjacent to U.S. Highway 101 on Wednesday afternoon. The charge, biggest shot in the project so far, scattered huge boulders for hundreds of feet. Traffic was backed up for more than a mile as workers took 15 minutes to clear the rubble from the roadway. ©The Tribune

We take it for granted, passing by at 65 miles per hour. The notch in the hill between San Luis Creek and Pismo Beach is not a natural feature, it been shaped and carved. On Sept. 26, 1963 Telegram-Tribune staff writer Tom Harris wrote about the work: New Route for 101 The face-lifting job freeway …

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Nov 02

Boom town, San Miguel

Ernest Simon and the old San Miguel building—built in 1897—he's tearing down for scrap.  ©The Tribune

San Miguel is one of the boom and bust towns of the region. Founded July 25, 1797, it is 16th of the 21 California missions. Another significant moment came October 8, 1886 when Southern Pacific built rails into town from the north, then kept right on going to Paso Robles and Templeton where construction paused …

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Oct 29

Camp Roberts bought, World War II week by week

Camp Roberts was purchased for the U.S. Army in this Oct. 8, 1942 story in the Telegram-Tribune.

Camp Roberts land was about to be purchased according to a story in the October 8, 1942 Telegram-Tribune. The property, 47,500 acres was under lease to the War Department from Wells Fargo Bank and Union Trust Company. Though the government had the right to lease the property year to year through 1946 it was deemed …

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Sep 23

Gas Rationing, Amphitheater Construction- World War II week by week

Nationwide gasoline rationing coming was the headline in the Telegram-Tribune September 10, 1942.

Sept. 10, 1942 Gas rationing was the recommendation of committee charged with managing the nation’s rubber supply. They reported to President Roosevelt that a national speed limit of 35 miles an hour was needed and they wanted to reduce the annual national average driving distance from 6,700 to 5,000 miles. According to 2011 statistics from …

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Sep 21

Bridge to the past, the ghost of Highway 1

Built in 1912-13 the Bello Street Bridge immediately pressed into service as part of the original Coast Route. ©Mark Hall-Patton/Telegram-Tribune

You may occasionally see Mark Hall-Patton on the TV show Pawnstars. Before he became administrator of three county museums in the Las Vegas area he administered the San Luis Obispo County Historical Society and wrote a south county history column for the Telegram-Tribune. Though the clipping was undated the photo is stamped Jan. 28, 1988. …

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Sep 11

Abalone relocated from Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant

Divers on the Lot'a Fun prepare to move abalone off of Diablo Canyon before construction of the breakwater. ©David Ranns/Telegram-Tribune

Man outsmarts nature. It is a storyline that mankind has been working ever since the first tool was made from a stick, stalk or stone. Currently Pacific Gas & Electric is attempting to study the underwater fault lines offshore from their nuclear power plant at Diablo Canyon. Whale and fishing advocates say the study will …

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Aug 17

Masonic Temple in San Luis Obispo dedicated

Apron used at dedications of several significant San Luis Obispo buildings including a courthouse, library and temple. Now framed at the Masonic Lodge in San Luis Obispo..

The Masons have a deep sense of history. This apron was used in many ceremonies. It dedicated cornerstones of three court houses including Stockton and Visalia then later San Luis Obispo in 1872. Tribune founder, judge and freemason Walter Murray wore it during the San Luis Obispo courthouse dedication ceremony. The apron outlasted the old …

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