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Price Historical Park
Pismo Beach, California

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Dedicated to preserving and sharing
the bountiful history of Pismo Beach.

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Share the Heritage -and win prizes, too! See below.

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Prepared by
Friends of Price House, Inc.
P. O. Box 1418
Pismo Beach,CA 93448-1418

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Proceed to bottom of page for information on our organization
and the annual drawing at our
Ice Cream Social
First Sunday in November
where we always give away lots of great prizes
donated by local merchants and residents who
generously support us,
and to whom we are very grateful!

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E-mail not available FeedBack!

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Price Historical Park Plan, Draft, Sept. 1999

Purpose and Objectives of Master Plan

Price Historical Park was conceived as a means of preserving, highlighting and sharing the unique history of Pismo Beach, "The Clam Capital of the World."

Price Historic Park will serve as a physical site for public enjoyment of the deep and interesting history of Pismo Beach and its environs.

The Historic Park Master Plan serves to identify the layout, acreage and structural needs to accomodate historical display, ambiance and experience for our community.

The purpose behind the preparation of this Master Plan is to

1) Consolidate the considerable history of Pismo Rancho, John Michael Price and his pioneering family.

2) Present this history as a cultural baseline of Southern San Luis Obispo County and the earliest days of the City of Pismo Beach, and

3) Guide the restoration and expansion of the full Price Anniversary House and Site and accompanying Historical Park and local settings.

The Master Plan is organized into various sections that describe or document the historical significance of this region of California. The plan presents a context for the various proposed elements of the Master Plan.

History of the Master Plan

In the 1970's, the South County Historical Society brought to light the historical importance of the Price Adobes and the Price Anniversary House on the old ranch in Price Canyon.

In 1981 the city recognized the unique historical values of the old Price rancho and adopted the first protective measures to implement a program to save and preserve the historic buildings and site in Price Canyon.

In 1982 the first component of the historic park was acquired. A four-acre parcel containing the Anniversary House was required by the city to be dedicated by a subdivider. Also an onsite parking lot was required of the subdivider, as was a re-locatable road from Highland Drive to the Anniversary House parcel, but neither were built.

The Parks, Recreation and Beautification Commission initially assumed responsibility for restoration and preservation of the Price Anniversary House.

In 1984 a park plan entitled Price Historical Park was drawn up by architectural students at California State Polytechnic University, Lachlin Loud and Daniel Wu.

In the late 1980's, Friends of Price House, Inc., was formed as a non-profit, public benefit corporation for the purpose of preservation and maintenance of the of the Anniversary House and immediate grounds.

Through the 1990's, Friends of Price House, Inc., organized volunteer workers and professional tradespersons in the restoration of the Anniversary House. In addition, workshops were held and concepts drafted for restoration and preservation of the historical aspects of the site.

In 1998 Cottonwood Development proposed enhancement of the historic site and dedication of the adobe site in conjunction with a golf course and housing development.

In 1999 Friends of Price House, Inc., solicited proposals and expertise in stabilization and preservation of the adobes, and initiated a comprehensive historic park plan.

September 1999, Friends of Price House, Inc., offers the accompanying proposal for Price Historical Park Master Plan.

Historical Components

Chumash Historical Village

Description:

The Chumash Historical Village is located in the southern expansion of the site, encompassing approximately 2.0 acres.

History:

The Chumash and their predecessors occupied Pismo Beach and the Price Canyon area, with Pismo Creek serving as a fresh water source for their use. Chumash Chief El Buchon had a complex of villages and camps from about present day Avila to the town of Guadalupe. This village network was called Pismo "rancheria" by the Spanish. The rancheria village of note was called Pismu', the Chumash word for tar. It was so named for the tar seeps east of Pismo Beach. Tar was a valuable commodity to the Chumash.

Recent archaeological finds east of Pismo Beach (1996) unearthed some of the oldest grinding tools in western North America, dating occupation of this area to over 10,000 years ago. It is notable that these artifacts are not displayed locally. They are at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.

Master Plan:

The site proposed for the Chumash Historical Village will provide a venue to showcase Indigenous Peoples and Native American local history.

The design and layout of the village and interpretive exhibits will be a cooperative effort with the Chumash of our area.

Description:

The Portola/Anza/Mission Trail - Creek Trail contain a pathway approximately fifteen feet wide that meanders along Pismo Creek adjacent to the riparian woodland. It will connect downstream to a trail to the beach and upstream to a trail up Price Canyon.

History:

Spanish ships charted the coastline in 1602 and earlier.

The Portola expedition, en route to and from Monterey, camped in and walked through the seaward section of Price Canyon in 1769 and 1770. Explorers met with Pismu Chumash each trip through.

The Anza expedition, en route to and from San Francisco, camped in and walked through the seaward section of Price Canyon in 1775.

With the establishment of Monterey (1769), Mission San Luis Obispo to our north (1772) and Mission La Purisima to our south (1787), the footpath between missions from Baja to Santa Rosa was well traveled. It was the Royal Road, designated and protected by the King of Spain. It passed through the seaward section of Price Canyon, in Pismo Beach.

Master Plan:

An interpretive Creek Trail and interpretive site are planned. An area near the creek may serve as a campground for tent camping and overnight educational visits.

Description:

An area will contain a replica of one or two circular rock corrals in conjunction with a stylized historic plaque display feature, the Stone Henge Circle and Fire Ring.

History:

Mission San Luis Obispo used mission lands for a variety of agricultural purposes, including fields of crops on the Arroyo Grande, an orchard and port at Avila, and cattle in the Edna Valley and at Pismo. Stone corrals, constructed by the mission Indians, were located near Edna and in Price Canyon at Pismo. Rancho Corral de Piedra was named for the stone corral near Edna.

The stone corral in Pismo was unique, in that it was a "double ring" or "figure 8" shape. It was built alongside El Camino Real in Price Canyon and survived until 1894, when Southern Pacific Railroad demolished it in order to lay track alongside Pismo Creek through the seaward section of Price Canyon. The Pismo Stone Corral may have measured 150' across one ring.

The stone corral was shown in an 1882 sketch of Pismo Rancho with one of the circular corrals filled with hay. Some accounts of round corrals in California indicate that they were sometimes used for threshing grain. This was done by scattering the cut stalks in the corral and running stock in circles, first in one direction then the other, to thresh the grain.

Master Plan:

A replica of the double ring stone corral is planned. A stylized stone henge circle of historic plaques and displays may be combined with or stand in place of the larger of the two circular stone corrals.

Description:

An area containing the existing adobes and ample grounds will be designated for the stabilization, preservation and possible future restoration of the adobes.

History:

Adobe construction with hand-hewn wooden features was introduced by the Spanish. It continued until supplanted by construction of lumber and nails. Adobes first had dirt floors and tule roofs. Tile roofs, nails, wood flooring and wood structural elements came along later.

The adobes in Price Canyon reflect the progress in adobe construction and use. They appear to have begun with a primitive one-room adobe with hand-hewn lintels, next to which an adjacent larger adobe was added. Then the two were combined into a larger dwelling, using wood, square nails and the more modern construction of the American Rancho era.

The adobes consist of three identifiable adobe structures.

Adobe #1 is likely the Ortega Adobe constructed in c1840 by or for Jose Ortega, his family, and/or his employees.

Adobe #2, adjacent to above, was likely constructed shortly after the above. It may have been constructed during the Ortega occupation, or it may have been constructed by Isaac Sparks, or it may have been constructed by John Price c1850-1852 for his occupation.

"Tri-Gable Adobe": The above adobes were combined under one roof with a wooden superstructure, likely by John Price. The combined structure was called the "Tri-Gable Adobe" and was occupied by John and Andrea Price and their children from c1852 to 1893, after which it was occupied by Price's grown children and their families until it passed from family ownership in 1912. It was occupied through the 1960's, then fell into abandonment. A fire in August 1989 burned away the wood superstructure, exposing the original adobe walls.

Adobe #3, called "the schoolhouse," was a two-story adobe, believed built by John Price in 1857. It was used for a variety of purposes, said to include family lodging, guest lodging, schooling the children, and storage of ammunition when Price was alcalde. It was reroofed by a later owner Mrs. Irene Carpenter in about 1955. It collapsed under its own weight in the 1980s. It is currently a pile of rubble consisting of identifiable adobe bricks and wood structural members of the windows, doors and roof.

Master Plan:

An Adobe Exhibit Area is planned which would include the protected adobe ruins and a sufficient area around them to conduct studies, stabilization and restoration work. Clearing, sorting, architectural analysis and adobe brick-making during restoration will require a good-sized area. An area adjacent to the adobes will include a learning exhibit and display, including a hands-on exhibit for children to make adobe mud bricks.

An initial Assessment Study is urgently needed in order to begin stabilizing the adobe remains. Stabilization will be required to prevent total loss of this extremely valuable historic asset.

Description:

Price Anniversary House and its grounds are the central feature of Price Historical Park.

History:

This home was constructed in 1893 by John and Andrea Price. The Prices occupied the home until their deaths in 1902 and 1912. It was subdivided onto a separate parcel from the adobe site and willed to daughter Mary Ann Price Meherin. It remained in family ownership until the 1950s, was rented to farm families and was used for agricultural uses including a cow-calf operation. The house and a four-acre historic park site were acquired by the city in 1982. Restoration in process under Friends of Price House, Inc. It is funded primarily by donations and grants.

Master Plan:

Price Anniversary House is to be restored with manicured grounds and a white picket fence. The restored home is to be displayed as a museum of the pioneer Price family.

Description:

An area will feature a rustic outdoor stage area combined with an orchard.

History:

John Michael Price planted and maintained an orchard. A sketch of the rancho in 1882 shows an orchard between the creek and the barn. Orchards were a vital component of rancho life.

Master Plan:

An orchard will be established with an outdoor stage and seating area, to be used for ceremonies, plays and festivals.

Description:

The Michael and Mary Ann Price Meherin house is to be moved from Shell Beach and placed near the main entrance of Price Historical Park.

History:

Mary Ann Price, a daughter of John and Andrea Price, married Michael Meherin a merchant in Arroyo Grande who was originally of Ireland. The Meherin House was built early in the century by Mary Ann and Michael Meherin. It is located at 1920 Mattie Road in Shell Beach. The house is designated in the General Plan to be saved for historical purposes and relocated to an appropriate display location.

The Meherins occupy a significant place in Pismo Beach history. At about the same time as his 1881 marriage to Mary Ann Price, Michael Meherin received a lease from John Price for an oceanfront site for the purpose of construction of a wharf for Pismo Beach. The Pismo Beach wharf was completed in 1883.

The Meherin House is currently owned by Raye Fleming, who resides in it, but it is in escrow to Rick Loughead, who has development plans for the land. Both Ms. Fleming and Mr. Loughead have indicated an interest in donating the house for historical purposes, providing it is moved to an appropriate site and is preserved.

Master Plan:

The Meherin House is planned to be situated near the entry of the historic park to be utilized for display as well as having a caretaker studio upstairs.

Description:

A barn style building is to be constructed adjacent to the entry parking lot. This building is to be the main entrance to the park. It will contain the museum and complimentary functions and features, such as information, tours, restrooms, gift shop, snacks or other components.

History:

The primary museum building of the historic park is to be a barn replica in the approximate location of the Price Rancho Barn.

The museum will contain exhibits and teaching displays for each historic era of the site, including Chumash/Indigenous Peoples, Spanish/Portola/Anza/Mission, Mexican Rancho, American Rancho, Oil and Railroad. These exhibits and displays will highlight local historical perspectives of each era and what occurred in Pismo Beach and Price Canyon during each historical era.

Master Plan:

A main entry and museum building is to be constructed in the style of a barn. The immediate grounds will be of farm and ranch theme. The interior will contain various exhibits and education displays featuring the historical eras of the park.