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REDWOOD CITY THROUGH THE YEARS Ghosts on Wheels By John Edmonds and the Archives Board of the Redwood City Public Library John Poole, Civil War veteran, driver for Knights Stage Line, member Grand Army of the Republic, Redwood City chapter Knights stage at Cavello’s, formerly Sears, store in La Honda The Knights family moved into their new residence on Sausal Creek in the town of Searsville in the early 1850s. Abel Knights worked in the lumber industry, which was the primary employment in that area at the time. Abel and Elizabeth Knights had a son they named Simon, who grew up to be one of the best-known men in Redwood City and throughout southern San Mateo County. Simon worked, when he became of age, in the lumber business as so many of his neighbors did, but rather than going west when the timber ran out on the east side of the mountain, he chose a different business. The San Mateo County Gazette wrote about Simon Knights’ first efforts on June 29, 1869: “S. L. Knights has put on a stage between Redwood City and the Summit House on the San Gregorio Turnpike. The stage leaves www.SpectrumMagazine.net Redwood City every afternoon on the arrival of the first train from San Francisco and returns from the Summit House in the morning, arriving in Redwood City in time for the 9 o’clock train for San Francisco. By this arrangement passengers can make the trip from the Summit House and Woodside to the city and back on the same day.” Simon and his family were still living in their home at Searsville when his new career began. He established an office in the American Hotel at the foot of Bridge Street, now called Broadway. A Street stopped at Redwood Creek and Bridge Street continued on the eastern side to dead end at the American House. Soon Mound Street, or Main Street, was added in front of the hotel. The Summit Springs Hotel opened in 1868 and became something of a small city about a half mile east of the ridge on what we now call King’s Mountain Road. The hotel originally opened because it took all day to cut and mill the lumber and haul it up from west of the ridge to the top. The only way down was on the established logging road where the hotel was established. It had a stable, a Chinese laundry, a saloon and very nice accommodations. Simon Knights purchased lots 1, 2 and 3 in the block bounded by Phelps (Middlefield), Beech, Heller and Cedar Streets in Redwood City. It was here that he constructed his stables and kept a substantial number of horses and wagons. Simon Knights’ stage line was not the first stage line that traveled from San Francisco to San Jose. The first was the Whistman, Hall and Crandall stage line. It drove and established the route, overcoming the difficulties of the large number of creeks that had to be crossed. The first line started in January 1855, five years after California was admitted into the union. This route continued with several different companies running it until the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad was established in 1864. A poem written by a passenger describes, to some extent, the experience that many felt in riding the stage coach. It doesn’t compare well with the description of the experience on Simon Knights’ stage coaches. Creeping through the valley, crawling o’er the hill, Splashing through the branches, rumbling o’er the mill; Putting nervous gentlemen in a towering rage, What is so provoking as riding in a stage? Spinsters fair and forty, maids in youthful charms, Suddenly are cast into their neighbors’ arms: Children shoot like squirrels darting through a cage — Isn’t it delightful, riding in a stage? Feet are interlacing, heads severely bumped, Friend and foe together get their noses thumped; Dresses act as carpets — listen to the sage: “Life is but a journey taken in a stage.” (continues on page 34)
Parties Around Town Thank you for being supportive of our restaurant. Please be our guest to celebrate New Kapadokia’s fifth anniversary. Cocktails at 6 p.m. Dinner at 7:30 p.m. P.S. Please let us know if you can attend. August 17, 2008 Owners: Meral Güvenç & Celal Alpay 2399 Broadway St. Redwood City Telephone 650-368-5500 www.newkapadokia.com Public Will Give Input Into Redwood City Jail Site County staff expect to have a short list of possible sites for a new jail by the end of the year and hold at least three different forums in the fall to hear from the public, many of whom have made it quite clear they do not want such a facility in Redwood City. The Board of Supervisors’ recent opposition to a Redwood City initiative crimping development on land deemed open space threw a new wrench into the debate over location. If the county can’t unload the current jail site on Maple Street in Redwood City, the supervisors surmised at their last meeting, the jail will undoubtedly be rebuilt on the land. The parcel is untouchable as county land but if sold to another party would be affected by the initiative if it passes. As a result, the county fears the land would not bring in the bids, or the profit, needed to relocate the jail to a new location. The argument over the jail location turned into a public war of words between Redwood City and San Mateo County. Other issues — particularly the charter change initiative — have since pushed it out of public view, but the discussion is very much alive. County staff are currently outlining objective criteria to rank the options and should head back to the Board of Supervisors later this year with a winnowed list, Board President Adrienne Tissier wrote in an Aug. 5 update to the Redwood City Council. Specific dates aren’t yet set, but the goal is to set the meeting up in the north, central and south county, said county spokesman Marshall Wilson. Any public hearing is expected to be particularly watched in the southern portion of the county because that is where the current women’s and men’s facilities are currently located. Coupled with the possibility of the Redwood City land initiative passing, the discussion over the new jail location could ask residents to prioritize the issues. Timing is critical to building a new jail because of rising construction costs. The current $140 million price tag could balloon to $180 million by 2012 if the county doesn’t act quickly for the planned five-story building. The state denied the county’s application for up to $100 million in funding toward a new facility, leaving the county faced with traditional financing options like bonds. Purchasing land rather than reusing the Maple Street site increases the price tag. The push for a jail is not a new issue but took on new life earlier this year when the supervisors considered buying the former Cemex parcel near the current facility. The land, at 1402–1450 Maple St., is less than 1,000 feet away from the already-approved 800-unit Peninsula Park mixed-use development. The developer reportedly grew incensed at the idea of a new multi-story jail so near and threatened to pull out of the project. The council in turn directed its wrath at the county, accusing officials of jeopardizing its hard-earned redevelopment plans and making decisions without input from either the council or the community. A grassroots group of opponents established www.nonewjails.com and continues pushing back at the idea of a new or bigger facility in their backyard. Ultimately, the negotiations fell through and Cemex came off the table. The county has since said it was not trying to make deals without public consideration. The Spectrum 17
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Page 5 and 6: P.S. The People Speak: Letters to t
Page 7 and 8: RCSD Corner: News From the Redwood
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Page 19 and 20: Frames by Vera Wang We’ll Pay for
Page 21 and 22: done by Continental Caterers; there
Page 23 and 24: Nonprofits in the News Rotary Pays
Page 25 and 26: Redwood City Pride Meets Redwood Ci
Page 27 and 28: Job #08-01727 proof 2 Qty: 1 banner
Page 29 and 30: Half page 8.25 x 5.25 inches DO YOU
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Page 33 and 34: Cultural Events: Continued “Here
Page 35 and 36: As I Was Saying… (continued from
Page 37 and 38: Finance: Strike a Balance Between S
Page 39 and 40: So much more than tires since 1957.

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