A Window to the Past

One of the artifacts at the lighthouse, although not yet on display, is the station’s “Register of Visitors.” While there are major gaps — as though the guestbook had been tucked away for some reason and then forgotten about for many years — it’s a treasure for anyone interested in local history.

The register was apparently put in play by the station’s first principal keeper, Captain Henry Wilson Young. It doesn’t appear to be an official record required by the Lighthouse Service, as daily logbooks would have been. One can only conclude, absent evidence to the contrary, that Captain Young initiated its use for his own purposes and invited those who came to the lighthouse to sign it.

The book contains the signatures of many of the county’s prominent citizens — a “Who’s Who,” so to speak, of early pioneers and settlers in Avila, Sycamore Springs, Pismo, San Luis Obispo, and beyond. It’s a window into the Central Coast’s early history. Why folks came — whether on business, to visit family or friends, or just to sightsee and enjoy the scenery — is mostly lost to time, although this doesn’t stop researchers from trying to discern what occasioned their visits.

The register’s first page, which covers just a few months, includes a few names any long-time resident would likely know. But other names on the page might take more investigation. This article takes a brief look at eight of those who came to the lighthouse between March 23 and July 4, 1893.

Albert Alexander Polhamus

Although the light station began operation in June 1890, the first signature in the register wasn’t entered until March 23, 1893. And it wasn’t a local resident who signed. On that date, “A. A. Polhamus” from “Coronado” paid a call.

Who was Polhamus (sometimes, incorrectly, spelled “Polhemus”)? Turns out that on April 22, 1893, Capt. Albert Polhamus (1837–1913) was awarded a contract to extend the breakwater at Port Harford. No doubt his visit from San Diego to the light station was in connection with the work he was doing to develop a bid to lay 15,000 tons of rock and extend the breakwater by 400 feet. The boulders were to be obtained from Morro Rock and transported to the breakwater on barges. Work started later that year but didn’t last long. Unfortunately, an unusually severe October storm “stirred the sea into a rage.”

The San Luis Obispo Morning Tribune reported:

At Port Harford there was a heavy swell, but the protection afforded by the partly completed breakwater has shut out dangerous seas, and vessels ride at the dock in safety. Outside the breakwater, however, the roar of the ocean is appalling, and the contractor on that work, Mr. Polhemus [sic], has suffered much loss … the donkey engine and derrick used in handling the rock were washed away and will probably never be recovered. The work has stopped and all the men discharged.

(Work did resume in the spring of 1894 and, although there were more accidents, the contract was finally completed in August 1894.)

According to his obituary, Polhamus was a well-respected San Diego pioneer, ship’s captain, and marine engineer who had superintended the construction of jetties and breakwaters in half a dozen West Coast ports.

Juan V. Avila

Avilones will, of course, recognize the name of Juan de los Lagos Vidal Avila (1845-1930). His father was Miguel Antonio Avila (1796-1874). His mother, Maria de la Encarnacion Inocenta Avila (1810-1886), was a niece of Pio Pico, the last governor of California under Mexican rule. Juan, who also went by “John,” helped lay out the town of Avila, named for his father, and sold off part of the San Miguelito rancho, to which he was heir, in lots.

Avila came to visit at least twice in 1893. One visit, on Sunday, April 23, 1893, was with J. C. Castro.

J. C. Castro

Jose C. Castro (1836–1914) was “once about the most prominent figure in San Luis Obispo,” according to the Morning Tribune. His father was General Jose Antonio Castro (1808–1860), a Californio politician, statesmen, and general who served as interim governor of Alta California and later governor of Baja California. Like Avila, Castro was a Democrat. In 1894, he was his party’s (unsuccessful) nominee for state treasurer. He owned a couple of saloons in San Luis Obispo, including the Novelty Saloon on Monterey Street, advertised as the “Finest Saloon South of Frisco,” and the Olive Branch Saloon on the corner of Chorro and Higuera. In 1895, Castro left the county and opened a saloon in San Francisco.

M. de la Guerra

Another visit Avila made, on June 18, 1893, was in the company of Mr. and Mrs. M. de la Guerra. The day marked the beginning of the new Pacific Coast Railway Sunday excursion trains and rates between San Luis Obispo and Port Harford. Passengers could ride round trip for just 50 cents. It was hot in town. Perhaps the de la Guerras took advantage of this chance to get away for the day. Perhaps their friend Juan Avila met them at Port Harford and took them out to see the lighthouse.

Emanuel “Manuel” de la Guerra (18561957) was a fellow Democrat with an impressive pedigree. His great-grandfather, (“El Capitan”) Don José Antonio de la Guerra y Noriega (1979-1858), was commandant of the Santa Barbara Presidio and patriarch of the large and prominent de la Guerra family. His mother was the daughter of William Benjamin Foxen (1796–1874), another Santa Barbara pioneer who owned a ranch in what is now called Foxen Canyon. (Perhaps readers have visited his resting place in the cemetery by the San Ramon Chapel on Foxen Canyon Road in Sisquoc.) Manuel was at one-time chief engineer for the San Luis Obispo Fire Department; he later became a police officer in San Francisco.

Gertrude and Fred B. Jack

Members of the Jack family spent Independence Day in 1893 at Port Harford. At least two of them visited Point San Luis that day. Robert Edgar Jack’s daughter Gertrude (1873-1944 ) and her uncle Fred (1858-1942), R. E. Jack’s brother, signed the guest book on July 4, 1893. No doubt they took the special excursion train from San Luis Obispo to the port, where boats could be hired to take them over to the lighthouse for a look around.

Josie Forrester and Lizzie Bunce

Josie Forrester (1869-1963?) signed the lighthouse guestbook April 26, 1893, along with Elizabeth “Lizzie” Bunce (1864-1934). Josie and Lizzie were cousins. Perhaps Josie was visiting Lizzie at the Bunce home near the San Luis Hot Sulphur Springs (the Pacific Coast Railway stopped right across the street) and they decided to hike out to the lighthouse to take in the views.

Josephine “Josie” Forrester was the daughter of prominent attorney Peter Aloysius Forrester (1836-1885) and Maria Josefa Pico Forrester (1838-1895). Her grandfather was Don Jose de Jesus Pico (1807-1892), and her great aunt was Maria de la Encarnacion Inocenta Avila, Don Miguel Avila’s wife. Lizzie’s mother was Juan Avila’s sister and Miguel Avila’s daughter. Both girls could trace their lineage back to Pio Pico.

It is worth noting that, while her signature is not in the guest register, Lizzie’s sister Martha Bunce (1875–1925) became an assistant lighthouse keeper (although the title the Lighthouse Service gave her was “laborer”). She married William Lewis Austin (1875-1925) in 1898 and was stationed with him at Point Conception, Point Arena, and Point Fermin.

Readers glancing at the signatures on the guest register’s first page may recognize other names. Those who do are encouraged to share what they know with the author by emailing

Author’s note: “The Lighthouse at Point San Luis,” published by the United States Lighthouse Society, is now available on Amazon and at pointsanluislighthouse.org. All proceeds benefit the United States Lighthouse Society and the Point San Luis Light Station, two nonprofits dedicated to preserving lighthouse history.