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Through the Years (continued from page 16) The east–west route was a different matter. Since most of the people lived in Redwood City and Searsville, and there was substantial demand for a mail system, the post office chose the stage company as their postman. The stage company decided to purchase two larger stage coaches and to run to Woodside and Searsville in addition. They then decided to extend their route even farther. The new route went from Redwood City to Whiskey Hill in Woodside, then to Searsville. Over Old La Honda Road to the Weeks ranch on the La Honda Road, then west to La Honda, where they changed horses at the Sears Stables. Then on to Bell, west of La Honda, and San Gregorio, then over Stage Road to Pescadero. The coach stopped at each of the points listed and people were able to get out, stretch and visit the saloon briefly. Leonard Fisher and Samuel Murch were expert wagon builders who had a wide reputation for their highly competent work. They had a building on Cassia Street between Heller and Mound Streets. The stages were constructed on the second floor of this large building, and they were very large coaches carrying nine passengers inside and eight passengers outside, behind the driver. The coaches worked with four horses in good weather and six horses in poor weather. The coaches weighed 1,600 pounds, considerably less than the burdensome Concord stages, which weighed 2,200 pounds. The only mishap on record occurred as one of the coaches caught a rear wheel over the side. It was immediately pulled up and nobody was injured, but people were a bit shaken by the incident. There are no holdups or robberies or any other incidents on record. The new coaches were built by Fisher and Murch in 1873 and were used until the motor vehicle came into existence. When the two new coaches were put in service, the Gazette was lavish in its praises: “Daily connection with Pescadero will commence on the 26th May.” John Poole was the regular driver for the Knights stage line, although Simon Knights himself often took the reins. Passengers described the experience on Knights’ coaches as “exceptionally comfortable, very competent drivers and very reasonable fares when compared to other stage coaches.” (Redwood City Democrat, Jan. 28, 1892.) In 1874 the stage line was turned into a joint stock company with a capital stock of $12,000 divided into 120 shares of $100 each, all of which were taken up by the new board of directors including Simon Knights, E. M. Armstrong, Hugh Kelly and Dr. A. T. McClure. In November 1875 the entire stage line went up for auction and was purchased by a new partnership of Simon Knights and George Wentworth. Times and Gazette, June 2, 1877: “Redwood City and Pescadero Stage Co, Simon L. Knights Proprietor. Stage leaves the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot every morning at 10 o’clock for Pescadero via San Gregorio Creek Road. The stage leaves Pescadero at 9 AM connecting with the 3:49 PM train for San Francisco. Fare from Redwood City to Pescadero is $2.50.” This was the ad that the stage company placed in the paper. One of the interesting stories that comes from the days of competition between Knights Stages and the Levy Brothers Stages in San Mateo is the anxiety that was created when the passengers from the two stage lines met in Pescadero, usually at the Swanton Hotel. It seems that many passengers got off the train in San Mateo when the Levy brothers announced “the quickest and most reliable route to Pescadero.” The folks who traveled from Redwood City spoke of the “beautiful redwoods, the pleasant stage stops and the beautiful grassy hills from La Honda to the coast.” There was often a very pleasant picnic lunch prepared in La Honda, and the passengers were very impressed with John Sears’ service. Many returned just to La Honda to stay in the hotel there several days to enjoy the fishing and hunting and the pleasant time in the redwoods. In the early 1880s the Knights Stages received the Wells Fargo contract as well as the mail service, so the profit margin increased. The number of passengers increased again substantially after oil was discovered in Bell, at the Bell Ranch, and engineers and others came over to that location by droves. The early 1890s were profitable years, but toward the end of the century, things were changing. More people were living on the coast in places like Purisima, Lobitas, Pigeon Point and Tunitas. The Ocean Shore Railroad was being built. The business of the stage line dropped off and Simon was getting older, so he retired. He turned the stage line over to his son Walter, who operated it to fewer and fewer customers before the First World War. Simon Knights, Leonard Fisher and Samuel Murch are buried in Union Cemetery on Woodside Road in Redwood City, along with many other pioneers from the decades discussed in this article. Top left: Knights stage with Simon Knights driving in Redwood City. Middle: The American House at the foot of Bridge Street, Redwood City, c1860s. Above: Fisher and Murch shop on Cassia Street, where the stage coaches where built. www.SpectrumMagazine.net
As I Was Saying… (continued from page 6) issue. I, and we, would have no credibility with you if we did. Our stories by our writers have always reflected balanced coverage and will for this November’s election as well. In my column, I just try to be candid and give some opinions so you can make up your own mind. I have felt comfortable in that role, as I hope you have. Other local county publications do endorse candidates and take sides on most issues in our community. The fact that those doing so usually do not live in our community and yet try to tell us what is best for us when they do not actually know because they do not experience it on a day-to-day basis, I think is wrong. If we don’t like outsiders coming into our community and telling us what to do, why is that acceptable? The reason I feel conflicted now is that this election is so vital to the future of our community that I feel I cannot do that anymore — not taking a position and not voicing my opinion. I am a lifelong resident of this community. Thus I am going to take an active role in one of the campaign groups and work as hard as I can to inform my neighbors and friends of my opinions and how I feel Measure W will affect our community. I am not saying whether that will be positive or negative, or if I will be encouraging a Yes or No vote. I am just getting involved. Therefore, I will not be writing in my column on either Measure W or Measure V until after the Nov. 4 election. I strongly feel that if I continued to do so, giving my opinions and then campaigning for one side, that I would lose all credibility with you, my readers. You can, however, expect The Spectrum and our writers and editors to provide fair coverage of both measures and to inform you of how both sides state their cases. We will have special election issues for the next two months, and I hope you will tell your neighbors about them because you will not be able to gather the extensive information we will be offering from any other source. I encourage all my neighbors, friends and readers to get the facts on these measures. The possible outcomes of the vote going either way will have dramatic effects in our community for years and even decades to come. Take the time to inform yourselves! Most of all, vote on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Now I have to find some others things to write about. This will be fun. As I was saying… .… Advertise with The Spectrum 650.368.2434 CIVIL SPLIT, LLC 1000 Park Place, Suite S San Mateo, CA 94403-7113 Ph: 650.212.4845 Fax: 650.212.4844 Civil Split is a licensed company that services uncontested Divorce, Legal Separations, and Annulments. Our goal is to allow you to act on your own behalf “pro per” so you can have more time and peace of mind. We work for you. You are our employer. Scope: “My support and service will be devoted to you so that you are able to move on with your life.” -Sandy Rivers • • • • • • • Fill out & file documents Serve & Process Notarize Inform client of all court postings & updates Daily tracking of court calendar Follow through petition/response until “Entry of Judgment” final Civil Split provides all the tools to do-it-yourself; published material, documents, links, etc. “Mortgage services best, as clients attest” California Secretary Of State File: # 200701010052 CALDA (California Legal Document Assistant) Member NALDP (National Legal Document Preparer) Member Get ready! In August: “Show Your Redwood City Pride” Photo & Writing Contest – prizes for K-12 + adults! The Spectrum 35
Page 1 and 2: Service League “The average perso
Page 3 and 4: The Spectrum.AUG.08 Steve Penna Own
Page 5 and 6: P.S. The People Speak: Letters to t
Page 7 and 8: RCSD Corner: News From the Redwood
Page 9 and 10: The Spectrum
Page 11 and 12: pavers had to be cleaned from car o
Page 13 and 14: News Briefs Escapee Kills Redwood C
Page 15 and 16: Never late for the Theatre when you
Page 17 and 18: Parties Around Town Thank you for b
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
Page 31 and 32: Volunteer Coaches Needed! Redwood C
Page 33: Cultural Events: Continued “Here
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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