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Mabel Sans Childhood at Mill Creek Sawmill
Mabel's childhood ran on sawdust and creek water at her father's mill among the redwoods.
Stories
True stories of the Plasketts and their neighbors — bears and gold, shipwrecks and weddings — drawn from letters, newspapers, and family memory.
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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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Abandoned Piano on Mill Creek Trail
A repossession man got a piano halfway down the Mill Creek trail, gave up, and left it to the forest.
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Lawrence Cardoza Absconds with Gold
After the best run of the mill, miner Lawrence Cardoza vanished — and so did the gold.
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William Brainard Post - From Whaling Station to Empire
W.B. Post started at a whaling station near Lucia in 1850 and ended with a ranch that carried his name.
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Julia Pfeiffer Burns - Pioneer Rancher
Julia Pfeiffer shod horses, plowed, hayed, roped and rode with any man on the coast — and better than most.
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Plaskett Mail Carriers Swimming Icy Rivers
The mail went through: Plaskett boys swimming icy rivers with the pack mule rolling in the current.
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Phillip Dolan Leaves $1000 in Coat
Phillip Dolan trusted no bank. When he died, they found a thousand dollars sewn in his old coat.
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Captain Joseph Clark and the San Simeon Whaling Station
Captain Joseph Clark's whaling station made San Simeon a town of 200 before the Hearsts ever came.
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Tony Vasquez - Legendary Horseman of the Coast
Burned out at five, expert by eight — Tony Vasquez was born to the saddle in the Palo Corona hills.
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Lopez Family Tragedy - Four Deaths from Consumption
Consumption came to the Lopez house by the sea and took four of them, one after another.
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Marie Lopez - Rodeo Champion
Marie Lopez rode against the best at Salinas Big Week and carried home the trophies.