Jolon
Auto-extracted. Context: …ated a commercial mill at the little town west of Jolon, sawing up redwood lumber. He ■ continued in that…
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The Baronettes: An Acadian Origin, and a Signer Who Was Not Ours
The family says Sarah Barnes came of French Acadians expelled in 1755, and that her mother was first cousin to a signer of the Declaration. One of those is likely; the other does not survive checking.
place history
The Schoolteacher Brides of Pacific Valley
The county kept sending young women to teach the coast's children — and the Plaskett boys kept marrying them. How two brothers married two sisters, and the schoolhouse became the town.
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Riding with Ed Culver: When the Mailman Was the Coast
Mabel wrote him up in 1961: the mailman who filled grocery orders and played bass viol in the symphony. Her grandson rode in his van to Monterey — back when the coast ran on trust.
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The Rattlesnake on the Mail Trail
A rattlesnake struck Ed Plaskett's horse on the mountain mail trail. The horse left the county. The story has a happy ending — eventually.
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Mother Saves Reason from the Indians
Warpaint at the door, her son hidden in the attic — and Sarah met a war party with gentleness, baby clothes, sugar, and nerve.
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The Buckboard Proposal — A Fifteen-Year-Old Bride
'Well Mabel, isn't it about time we got married?' She said her father would never allow it. She was wrong — and the family got its chronicler.
gold mines
The Los Burros Mining District and the Lost Town of Manchester
Organized 1876, transformed by Willey Cruikshank's Last Chance strike in 1887 — and gone by 1897, burned and grown over. The rise and fall of the coast's gold district, and the lost town of Manchester.
mabel article
Dani Family History Is Told
A shelf of level land a thousand feet above the sea: the Dani place, where Gabriel Dani built a one-armed empire and Lucia got her name.
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Dolan Creek Named After Early Coast Homesteader
Eccentric Phillip Dolan trusted no bank, drove his cattle to Monterey alone, and left a thousand dollars sewn in an old coat.
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ER Sans Nevada History
Her father in full: Edward R. Sans, farmer, lumberman, explorer — Nevada's 'Coyote Man,' the government's legendary predator hunter.
mabel article
Few Drives as Scenic as Coast’s Cabrillo Highway
Where does Big Sur begin and end? Mabel settles it, then takes you the whole way — San Simeon to Point Lobos, stop by stop. Now with our interactive map and free PDF drive guide.
mabel article
History of Coast Schools
Part one of her history of the coast schools — starting with the Redwood School of 1878, built of notched logs without a single nail.
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History of Coast Schools Concluded
Part two: Pacific Valley School — kept since 1880 on the east side of the highway at Plaskett Creek — and the teachers who came to the edge of the world.
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Jolon Remembered as Thriving Community on Camino Real
Portolá camped there in 1769; a century later Jolon was the thriving crossroads of the Camino Real — saloons, hotels, and fiestas three days long.
mabel article
Lopez Point Perpetuates Name of Early Settlers
Manuel Lopez came from Mexico about 1870 and built by the sea at the point that keeps his name — through fortune, rodeo trophies, and terrible loss.
mabel article
Lumber Mills Once Buzzed in the Lucias
Where the Nacimiento road tops the divide, Mill Creek springs to life — and once powered the sawmills of the Lucias, including her father's.
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Mabel Relives Days of Her Youth Spent on Mill Creek
'Mill Creek is my favorite, filled with memories of my childhood' — Mabel returns to her father's sawmill country. Companion to our Return to Mill Creek photo story.
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Mailmen Are Important Link In Coast Country History
Before 1890 the mail came by horseback from Jolon. Seventy years of coast mail carriers — including the Plaskett boys swimming icy rivers with the pack mule.
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Mansfields Were Pacific Valley Pioneers
From Indian shell beds to a 4,000-acre cattle empire — the Mansfields, who came to Pacific Valley when the lilac grew as tall as trees.
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Mother Krenkel- A Coast Legend
City-bred Margaret Krenkel rode a mule to her own wedding at Los Burros and dug her well by hand — the real-life 'Hannah' of the coast.
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Nacimiento Homesteaders Picked Real “Beauty Spot”
Up the Nacimiento from the old McKern place, the homesteaders of the 1890s picked the prettiest valley in the Lucias.
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Name of George Ames Is Etched in Coast History
George Ames rode down from Santa Cruz at fourteen to work for Jim Prewitt — and rode straight into coast legend.
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One of Few Remaining Jolon Indians Resides in Lockwood
In an old adobe near Lockwood lives Joe Moro, one of the last of the Jolon Indians — his mother born of the mission people under the great oaks.
mabel article
Parishioners’ Labor Has Built St. Luke’s
In 1884 three Plaskett brothers rode horseback from Pacific Valley to Jolon to raise a church — St. Luke's, built by its parishioners, standing yet.
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Plaskett Creek Campground Is Popular Vacation Spot
The campground at Plaskett Creek sits on the family's first homesite — Mabel tells how the pioneers came over the Indian trails from Jolon.
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Plasketts Among Early Coast Settlers
How the valley was settled: William Lucas Plaskett's family clearing lilac 'grown to the dimension of small trees' — her classic account of the family's beginning.
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South Monterey County Writers Part II
A 2007 appreciation of Mabel herself — 'Belle' Sans Plaskett with her horse Cleo — by historian Susan Raycraft.
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Story of an ‘Empire’ Symbolized by Chimney
A lone stone chimney above Lime Kiln Canyon is all that remains of Victor Girard's redwood-pole mansion — an empire that lasted barely a decade.
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Tony Fontes – The Story of a Rugged, Fun-Loving Horseman
His forefathers heard the first Padres sing at San Antonio Mission; Tony Fontes grew up to be the coast's rugged, fun-loving horseman.
mabel article
Tony Vasquez – Story of a Horseman
Born in the Palo Corona hills, burned out at five, an expert rider by eight — Tony Vasquez, the coast's legendary horseman.
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Willey Cruikshank - Mining Was His Life
The boy who watched Chinese miners pan Salmon Creek struck the Last Chance mine — and vanished into the Lucias in 1937. His life, told by a woman who knew him.
mabel article
“Old Rocky” – A Tale of the Mighty Hunter of the Lucias
Absolam Beasley — 'Old Rocky,' raised with an Indian tribe in the Rockies — the mighty hunter who kept the Lucias' lions honest.
mabel poem
Poems by Mabel Plaskett
A small gathering of Mabel's verse, opening with her poem for Mary Kirwan.
place history
History of Coast Schools Part 1
place history
History of Coast Schools Part 2
place history
Poem To The Ladies of St. Luke’s Guild – In Memory of Olive
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E.R. Sans, “Coyote Man”, Mill Creek Saw Mill Operator Father of Mabel Plaskett
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Olive Plaskett Dies During Pregnancy
Olive Sans married at fifteen, dark-eyed and sun-browned from the coast — and died carrying her child.
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The Sans Divorce Scandal
A courtroom divorce was almost unheard of. Ed Sans got one, then left for Reno to start over.
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Byron Plaskett the Postmaster
From 1890 Byron Plaskett carried the mail from Jolon Road twice a week, rain or shine, with a string of up to ten horses.
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Building St. Lukes Church
Three Plaskett brothers built St. Luke's at Jolon in 1884 — and it still stands.
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The Jolon Indians - Joe and Dave Moro
Joe and Dave Moro of Chalk Peak worked the Sans sawmill for ten years — two of the last Jolon Indians.
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Mabel Childhood Adventures on Mill Creek
'A happier more carefree childhood cannot be imagined' — Mabel on growing up wild on Mill Creek.
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Hunter Liggett Military Reservation
The Army took the Jolon country in 1941 — but the church the Plasketts built still holds services for soldiers.
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Coast Road Opens - 1937
In 1937 the pavement finally reached the coast the Plasketts had settled 68 years earlier.
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Henry Rich Marries Jolon Indian Woman
Mabel's uncle Henry Rich married a Jolon Indian woman — one of the frontier's quiet unions of two worlds.
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Reason Plaskett - Church Builder and Plant Collector
Born in a mining camp, Reason Plaskett built churches with one hand and collected rare plants with the other.
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Kermit Plaskett - Bombardier Lost in English Channel
Bombardier Kermit Plaskett's bomber went into the English Channel and never came out.
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Twin Dies at Birth - Murton and Winston Plaskett
Murton lasted one day. His twin Winston lasted a year. Lawson and Olive lost them both.
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Willey Cruikshank Jilted Twice
Willey Cruikshank bought the ring twice. He never married.
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Asa Jim Mansfield Killed by Runaway Team
A runaway team in Pine Canyon killed Jim Mansfield; his widow Carmen never left the homestead.
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Joe Moro - Last of the Jolon Indians
Joe Moro, born at Morro Bay in 1881, carried the blood of the San Antonio Mission people to the end.
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Reil Dani First to Operate Automobile on Stage Route
Reil Dani drove the Jolon stage for years — and was the first to drive the route with an automobile.
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Tony Fontes - Mission Indian Horseman
Tony Fontes's people heard the first Padres sing at San Antonio Mission. He became the coast's great horseman.
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Jack Dempsey Breaks Cast Iron Skillet Over Mans Head
The Mill Creek rough named Jack Dempsey once settled an argument with a cast-iron skillet.
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Reason and Robert Plaskett Build St Lukes Church
The Plaskett brothers crossed the mountains to raise St. Luke's at Jolon, stained glass and all, in 1879.
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Mexican Independence Day Fiestas at Jolon
For three days every September, Jolon filled with music, horses and lace for Mexican Independence Day.
Everyone the family archive records in the story of this place. Descendants: if one of these is yours, we’d love to hear from you.
- Mabel Eva Sans Plaskett 1896–1964 · 11 stories
- Ed Dutton · 8 stories
- Henry Kilsdonk · 7 stories
- Alice Dutton · 6 stories
- Dave Moro · 6 stories
- Edward Abbott Plaskett 1881–1973 · 6 stories
- Alvis Davis · 5 stories
- Joe Moro · 5 stories
- Billy Plaskett 1890–1961 · 4 stories
- Dudley Plaskett 1869–1949 · 4 stories
- Gabriel Fontes 1850– · 4 stories
- George Harlan 1885– · 4 stories
- Jasper Mansfield 1860– · 4 stories
- Paul Harlan · 4 stories
- Reason Alpha Plaskett 1852–1933 · 4 stories
- Wilbur Harlan 1882–1881 · 4 stories
- William D. "Willey" Cruikshank 1862–1937 · 4 stories
- William Lucas Plaskett 1818–1909 · 4 stories
- Albert Sans 1908– · 3 stories
- Alice Stewart Harlan · 3 stories
- Bob Digges · 3 stories
- Byron Plaskett 1835–1906 · 3 stories
- Clarence Plaskett 1888–1916 · 3 stories
- Edward Robert Sans 1875–1958 · 3 stories
- Esther Smith · 3 stories
- Frank Digges · 3 stories
- Henry Rich · 3 stories
- James M. Krenkel 1862–1943 · 3 stories
- Jessie Anderson · 3 stories
- Jim Prewitt · 3 stories
- Linwood Mitchell 1860– · 3 stories
- Margaret Voss Krenkel 1874–1964 · 3 stories
- Marion Smith · 3 stories
- Olive Hyacinth Sans Plaskett 1898–1936 · 3 stories
- Olive Plaskett 1882–1939 · 3 stories
- Robert Plaskett 1835–1908 · 3 stories
- Roy Mitchell · 3 stories
- Roy Plaskett · 3 stories
- Sarah May Barnes Plaskett 1827–1923 · 3 stories
- William Nicholas Alderson 1956– · 3 stories
- Abraham Yates · 2 stories
- Alfred Davis 1912– · 2 stories
- Alice Eastwood 1859–1953 · 2 stories
- Angie Potter · 2 stories
- Bessie Robinson · 2 stories
- Camp Lewis · 2 stories
- Charles Sans Sr 1838– · 2 stories
- Charley Digges · 2 stories
- Charley Krenkel 1906–1989 · 2 stories
- Charley Plaskett 1872– · 2 stories
- Corrine Harris · 2 stories
- Esther Harlan · 2 stories
- Geneva Evans · 2 stories
- George Dutton · 2 stories
- Jean Thomas · 2 stories
- Jimmy Smith · 2 stories
- Jolon Indian · 2 stories
- Leta Burton · 2 stories
- Lucy Plaskett Davis 1886–1975 · 2 stories
- Lynna Mitchell · 2 stories
- Byron Gianavil Plaskett 1846–1911 · died here
- Lawrence Plaskett 1848–2006 · born here
- Charles H. Plaskett 1852–1921 · died here
- Martha Corrine Bennett Plaskett 1852–1931 · lived or worked here
- Reason Alpha Plaskett 1852–1933 · lived or worked here
- Olive Flavilla Plaskett McLean 1860–1936 · died here
- William Dudley Plaskett 1869–1949 · lived or worked here
- Charles Henry Plaskett 1872–1921 · lived or worked here
- Edward Abbott Plaskett 1881–1973 · lived or worked here
- Olive Plaskett 1882–1939 · lived or worked here
- Lawson McKern Plaskett 1883–1966 · died here
- Olive H. Plaskett 1898–1936 · lived or worked here
- Olive Hyacinth Sans Plaskett 1898–1936 · lived or worked here
- Gordon Laurence Plaskett Sr 1913–1953 · born here
- Cyril Edward Plaskett 1915–1967 · born here
- Virginia Claire Plaskett Merritt 1915–1988 · born here
- Fred John Merritt 1915–1985 · born here
- Ethyl Margarette Plaskett Horn 1916–2001 · born here
- Clifford Keith Plaskett 1919–1991 · lived or worked here
- Shirley Joyce Plaskett Merritt 1922–2012 · died here
- Mary Louise Loudermilk Plaskett 1923–2018 · lived or worked here
- Jean Marie Hughes Plaskett 1923–2014 · lived or worked here
- Lawrence Monroe Plaskett 1929–2006 · born here
- Gordon William Plaskett 1935–2013 · born here
- William Merritt 1937–2013 · died here
- Lawrence Monroe Plaskett Jr 1954–2020 · born here
- Mark Aaron Knott Lafferty –2008 · lived or worked here
- Oliver H. Plaskett · lived or worked here