Historical Stories by
Lynne Schmitz

List of historical stories by Lynne Schmitz, courtesy of Paso Robles Magazine. Click on a link or scroll below to read each historical story.

• Hoffmann Electric Plant - March 2009
• San Miguel Flouring Mill - April 2009
• Memoirs from the 1970s - May 2009
• Rios-Caledonia Adobe - June 2009
• San Miguel School - July 2009
• San Miguel Organizations - August 2009

Hoffmann Electric Plant

San Miguel was one of the first towns in the county to be ‘electrified’, due to the lively and inventive mind of an early resident, C F (Christian Frederich) Hoffmann.  Born in Germany in 1866, he came to America in 1882.  He was an accomplished musician and a lifelong student.  His studies included engineering and electricity, and he was keenly interested in politics and current events.  
In 1887, he became a naturalized citizen, moved to California and to San Miguel, where he bought and farmed land east of town between Lowe’s and Mahoney Canyons.  He built a house and outbuildings, and planted a family orchard.  In 1890, he and Frieda Krauter were married in San Miguel.  At the time, raising livestock was the primary enterprise for local ranchers.  Hoffmann was one of the first to plant grain. He built a stationary thresher and a steam engine to power it.
Severe drought in the late 1890’s dried up wells and in 1899, the family of nine decided to move to Oregon.  Hoffmann built an original “house-on-wheels” which was pulled by four horses.  It caused quite a stir as they traveled, stopping to work along the way.  The family got as far as Anderson, near Redding, where they farmed successfully for a couple of years.  Around 1901, they returned to San Miguel and he purchased the Maxwell Hotel, including 11 lots.  He covered the walls and ceilings with decorative hammered metal which is still in excellent condition. 
The historic building perches on the hill at the top of 13th Street, between L and K Streets, along with a couple of the outbuildings where Hoffmann worked. It was built in the late 1800s in what is now called San Lawrence Terrace, to accommodate passengers on the new railroad which was expected to be built along the bluffs east of the Salinas River.  However, Southern Pacific crossed the river at Bradley and brought the tracks through on the west side.  The building was then moved in two pieces across the river to its present site. 
In 1910, Hoffmann designed, personally funded, and built a power plant to replace the gaslights.  One of several innovations was using incandescent bulbs in the streetlights.  Initially, power was run to the businesses downtown and turned on from 4 am until daylight, then from sundown to 10 pm.  Eventually he sold the company to Midland Counties Public Service Corporation which became San Joaquin Light and Power Co. They later became Pacific Gas & Electric.
Early in the 1920’s, he and his son, Bill, rebuilt the San Miguel Water Works.  C F became the superintendent at a minimal salary, doing repairs, installations, and maintenance, reading meters, keeping books, and collecting the bills.  It was the only self-supporting water district in the county at the time and paid off all the bonds in less than nine years.  
In 1915, Hoffmann was the Secretary of the Board of the independent San Miguel Interurban Telephone Company.  He urged the directors to put in an automated system he had in mind, but was voted down. 
C F Hoffmann passed away in 1941.  Their youngest son Ben, who had moved away, returned with his wife, Esther, and purchased the property from his mother, Frieda.  He opened an auto repair business there and served the people of the area honestly and fairly as an excellent mechanic for many years while raising his family.  His sons, Dick and wife Jean Thacker Hoffmann and Don and JoAnn Joy Hoffmann maintain the interior in original style, giving a glimpse into its past life. 
Thanks to the Hoffmann family for the information. 

San Miguel Flouring Mill

Memoirs From the 1970s

Just for fun, I delved into my musty files and dusted off a sheaf of old columns written by my good friend Gay Walker Garrison and me as “Lynne & Gay” back when “green” was only a color, and the net was something with which to catch butterflies.
Gay and I got the writing bug in the 1970s.  We would get together one evening each week at either house, and pound out our columns on an old typewriter, finishing up around 1 or 2 am.  Both of us being word-phreaks (coined, I believe, by Herb Caen of San Francisco), we endeavored to make it interesting.  As the hours grew late, we would sometimes dissolve into the hysteria of borrowed energy when some mundane phrase seemed just too funny. We tried not to wake the children, whom, we later found out, would be listening to us type and whisper and giggle.  Some things were not for publication, but we would speculate about how they might be written.  Our column appeared in several different local newspapers through the years.
As I browsed through columns written in 1975, I was picturing the faces of so many good friends and neighbors who are no longer here, some living in other places and others we will never be able to see again.  The Witcosky family owned Witcosky’s Grocery.  Larry and Shirley Upton owned the Chevron Station.  Both families could be counted on when there was an event or need in town. 
The columns were liberally sprinkled with the doings of families, such as entertaining out of town guests or where they went on their vacations.  A lot of space was dedicated to the school news and the doings of the Parent-Teacher Organization.  Our children were attending Lillian Larsen School and we were both busy ‘room mothers’. 
In February, 1975, the San Miguel Advisory Committee was formed with the blessing of the county.  Manuel Cisneros and Art Robinson were part of the Formulating Committee.  Both were also very active members of the San Miguel Lions Club.  That same month, two buildings on Mission Street north of 12th burned.  The Weekend Gardener now occupies the place that was then Turner’s Tavern.  Over the years, fires destroyed several buildings that have not been replaced.
That spring, building was begun on the new waste water disposal plant. 
The San Miguel Youth Association was formed to sponsor activities for the town’s children.  It was quite successful, with a gratifying number of parents involved.  The old USO building behind the Mission had been purchased by the Franciscans for the Old Mission parish and renamed the Padre Martin Hall.  The SMYA held dances there and a memorable haunted house one Halloween.  It was the venue for the school Christmas program that year.  Unfortunately, the hall was eventually torn down after being ruined by a rainstorm during some repair work.  Today, a new, much anticipated Parish Community Center is rising on the site. 
In September, there was a big ruckus over a rise in water rates (some things never change).  The Mission Fiesta Princess was Juli Krolak, with attendants Teri Rambo and Belinda Martin.  A Bicentennial Committee was formed by the Lillian Larsen PTO to prepare for the 1976 celebration.  Lillian Larsen school children still paraded through town in their Halloween finery, a custom of many years which fell by the wayside some time ago. 
Thirty years ago our lives were different as they will be thirty years hence.  “Memories are made of this…” sings the old song.  Enjoy your memories. 

Rios-Caledonia Adobe

Approaching San Miguel on Highway 101 from the south, the first building you see is the historic Rios-Caledonia Adobe. The two-story adobe was built around 1835 by Petronillo Rios with Indian labor on land claimed by Mission San Miguel.  In 1846, Rios, William Reed, & Miguel Garcia purchased the mission and land around it from Governor Pio Pico, who illegally sold several missions.  In 1846, Garcia gave up all of his interest in the property to Rios. 
The Reed family lived in the mission until they were viciously murdered in 1848 by two outlaws and four sailors who had deserted their ship. That left Rios solely in charge of the property.  In the 1850s, he was able to obtain a clear title from US Land Commission.  In 1861, Petronillo and Esteban Rios transferred their interest in San Miguel Mission to the Catholic Church. 
Petronillo and Caterina Avila Rios had twelve children, of which nine survived.   The family lived in the adobe for a time in the 1850s.  There were six rooms inside and several outbuildings. 
Guests at the hotel were treated with great hospitality. In 1861, it became a stop for stage coaches running between San Francisco and Los Angeles. 
In 1868, Scotsman George Butchart purchased property, naming it ‘Caledonia’ for his native land.  Over the next few years, he remodeled the stage stop, including installation of doors and windows for the saloon, store, and hotel.   In 1878, Mr. Butchart sold the property. 
That year, a severe drought devastated the area.  The property changed hands three times.   At the end of the 1800s, three businesses being conducted in the adobe were a doctor’s office, a Mattress and Upholstery Shop, and a Dressmaker and Tailor Shop. In 1886, a Wells, Fargo & Co agent moved his office into the adobe. 
The railroad had arrived in San Miguel.  The town, which had originally been built south of the mission and had suffered some fires, was rebuilt north of the mission where the new train depot was located.   In 1887, school classes were held in two of the rooms. 
In 1903, Swedish immigrants Alfred and Anna Nygren bought the adobe, the last family to live there.  Two daughters were born in the adobe, Lillian in 1904 and Anna in 1907.  In 1910, they built a new home on the property.  Over the years, portions of the Caledonia property were being gradually sold.  The adobe became abandoned and neglected. 
In 1923, Charles and Sarah Dorries, from southern CA, purchased the relic. They enthusiastically restored and improved it, building an extension on the north side, an almond stand, and installing a gasoline pump.  The grounds were landscaped, with a wishing well, an aviary of canaries, and a large fruit orchard.  They displayed artifacts and antiques to their visitors. 
In the early 1930s, Mr. Dorries saved the adobe from being destroyed by State of CA to realign the highway, which was relocated to the west side of the building.  In 1954, he was seriously injured and hospitalized for the rest of his life.  The adobe was again abandoned, vandalized severely, and left in ruins. 
In 1964, San Luis Obispo County bought the adobe to restore it. With help from the Native Daughters of the Golden West, money was raised for the restoration. 
In 1968, local San Miguel women formed Friends of the Adobes to assist in fund-raising.  The historic building was again opened to the public in 1978.  Today, the adobe rooms have been appointed to show various uses from the past.  The Dorries’ addition houses a gift shop. 

History of San Miguel School

In San Miguel, one of the oldest townships in San Luis Obispo County, the history of the school also goes back a long way.  One might say that the very first school here was Franciscan missionaries teaching the Indians in 1798. The first official school ‘building’ was a large circle of sagebrush just north of town in 1870.
Probably the first inside school rooms were those used in the Old Mission and the Rios-Caledonia Adobe.  The San Miguel Joint Union School District was formed in 1871.  Soon after, a small schoolhouse was built in the area of 14th and N Streets, made of adobe bricks gleaned from crumbled Old Mission walls. A beautiful two-story red brick schoolhouse with four rooms and a belfry was erected in 1888 near the intersection of 13th and K Streets, on property between 11th and 13th Streets which was donated by the Pacific Improvement Company.  The bricks were made of local clay and burned in a new kiln on the Salinas River near the Caledonia Adobe.  It was one of the first brick buildings built here after the kiln was established.  Two wooden outhouses, one for boys and one for girls, were built in back (replaced with modern facilities in the 1940s). As enrollment increased, individual classrooms built of wood were added, situated along a sidewalk which still meanders through the park. A long building housing two classrooms was built at the south end of the school property. Across K Street was the ball field.  In the late 1940s, a building was moved in from Camp Roberts and made into a cafeteria.  In 1950, when the present Highway 101 was built on the west side of town, the school was relocated to its present site on 16th Street and dedicated to Mrs. Lillian Larsen, who taught there for 27 years.  The brick schoolhouse was torn down.  The old cafeteria building was moved across the ball field to the other side of the alley to be used as community center.  The wood classrooms were resituated at the new school site and renovated with stucco siding and windows sealed to eliminate highway traffic noise.  In the 1980s, a new administration building was built, including a cafeteria, a teacher’s lounge, and a small library.  Later, the building of a new, larger cafeteria with a teacher’s lounge enabled expansion of the library in the administration building, and addition of a computer lab. In 2002, the Don Wolf Memorial Recreation Center was built, adding a much-needed gymnasium to the school. 
Part of Heritage Ranch and all of Oak Shores were incorporated into the District following the building of Lake Nacimiento.  The number of children attending school from those outlying areas became an impetus to build a school nearby.  Cappy Culver School, built just north of Heritage Ranch, was dedicated in 2006 and named for an outstanding sixth grade teacher.  San Miguel schools have always served grades K-8.  The area is included in the Paso Robles Joint High School District. Some years ago, efforts to unify the districts were voted down by the independent people from San Miguel. The old school site on K Street was made into a county park with a swimming pool.  The original school bell, which was cast in San Francisco in 1870, is showcased there in a monument reminiscent of the belfry.  It was designed by Dolly Awalt’s brother, Bunn Turnbow. But the sturdy metal bars, rings, merry-go-round, and slides on which school children played happily for many years were removed a few years ago by the county because they were considered dangerous. 

San Miguel Organizations

San Miguel has a long history of organizations and can-do people who have been instrumental in adding to our quality of life.  Looking at the list of organizations on the community calendar each month gives a sense of energy and viability in the community.  
The San Miguel Lions Club has been a fixture in the town for many busy and productive years. Thanks to their efforts, San Miguel children have been swimming free of charge for several years.  Over the years, they have seen needs and dependably filled them, including building a nice barbecue area in our park.  As part of the national organization, they provide vision care and glasses for those in need.  Meetings are held at 7 pm on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at the Community Building in the park.  For information, call Jeff Clark at 423-7952.  
Men and women born in California or of California-born parents on military assignments outside of the state are invited to be members of the Native Sons and the Native Daughters of the Golden West.  Both organizations work to restore and preserve California’s history and historical sites.  The Native Daughters have given funds individually and as an organization to help with the restoration of our own Mission San Miguel. As part of the state organization, the Native Sons help children with cranial/facial abnormalities.  They meet on the third Thursday of the month at the Senior Center.  The Children’s Foundation Committee of Native Daughters aids children with medical/dental needs not covered by insurance.  They meet on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 pm at the Senior Center. For information, call Judi or Fred Thacker at 467-0093. 
The Friends of the Adobes was founded when restoration of the long-neglected Rios-Caledonia was undertaken. They are active in maintaining the Adobe and preserving local history.  Meetings are at noon on the fourth Wednesday of the month at the Rios-Caledonia. 
The San Miguel Resource Connection is a new group, formed about five years ago to provide art and music at Lillian Larsen School and to form partnerships (connections) with other groups and individuals to help improve the town and community.  Their innovative and successful school program, Masters at Their Trade, provides professional artists, artisans, and musicians who teach classes during the after-school programs. A well-attended business fair last year acquainted people with the opportunities in San Miguel.  Their web site is Discoversanmiguel.com, where you can check the Community Calendar for events and information about the town.  Meetings are held at 7 pm each month at Lillian Larsen School. For information, call Jean Hoffmann at 467-0194. 
Lighthouse Community Church (467-3636) and Mission San Miguel (467-2131) both have active groups whose members work to sustain them and help those in need. 
The San Miguel Senior Citizens maintain the Senior Center, which is available to the community for events.  To raise funds, they hold a Dinner and Bingo night on the second and fourth Fridays and a Pancake Breakfast on the last Sunday of the month.  A sewing and craft group, Twisted Stitchers, meets there on Thursdays from 9 am to 2 pm.  For information, call Bette at 467-3445 or 674-2965. 
San Miguel has always had a Volunteer Fire Department (467-3300).  They provide training and gear for the firefighters. 
More opportunities include the School Board, Cemetery Board, San Miguel Advisory Council, Friends of the Library, and San Miguel Community Services District Board. For youth, there are 4-H Clubs and scouting.  Interest and involvement of citizens can make a happy and successful community.  Volunteers are welcome and needed everywhere.  Call today.