By CONSEULO MACEDO
Fernando Castillo fascinated a full house of members and guests of the Cambria Historical Society at the Annual Recognitions Banquet. The local businessman had become enamored of the little-known history of the Cambria Airport when he found the signage that had identified it. After consulting CHS Archivist Melody Coe, they delved into the newspaper records in the organization’s archives and unearthed a wealth of information to share at the dinner, which will be bound and displayed in the museum exhibit room along with the sign he is now donating to its new home.
The Cambria Pines Lodge was established by the Jones Brothers some time after its earliest inception as the “Auto Court”. After 1929, the flat area nearby afforded just enough length for small aircraft to take off and land, so it became a regular stopping off point for very small airliners traveling up and down the coast.
On one occasion a flying club from King City changed their destination to Cambria and astonished a nearby Swiss Italian rancher who observed17 two-passenger planes from his pasture as they landed. On another occasion, a Rajah arrived to purchase a selection of world-famous begonias that were propagated and cultivated at the Lodge to grace his home in India.
Commerce operated for about 20 years through the licensed field until the “new” highway was cut through. Rides in hot air balloons were featured, and ultimately the site was transformed to a speedway for car races on what is now Wood Drive.
President Melody Coe introduced current Board members, with the newest being Membership Chairman Diana Clark, Events Assistant Cheryl Raiter, and Webmaster Neil Carolan. Vice President Consuelo Macedo presented bouquets of tulips to Volunteers of the Year, Debbie and Doug Carolan and Doug Koerper.
Debbie was a part time resident when she turned her energies to volunteer as a CHS docent, Board Secretary, and Business member enlister. She is also active in Cambria Rotary, and the Shaver Lake Historical Museum where she met Doug.
Doug was a long-time resident in Shaver with vast experience in the construction of its infrastructure. His interest in the Shaver Museum extended to Debbie there, and they married a few years ago. Little did he know he was also marrying the Historical Society, as we immediately tapped his experience in Fresno County to deal with San Luis Obispo County regulations and construction companies, as he adopted the 1881 Schoolhouse Restoration Project as Project Manager.
Cambria Historical Society is blessed with dedicated members and seeks additional volunteers to join in the fun. Check out the CHS website, and contact Melody Coe at: 805-448-5652; Penny Church at: 805-927-1442; or Consuelo Macedo at: 805-748-8651.
Please follow CHS on Facebook and NextDoor, now that the cambriaca’s run has ended. We sincerely appreciate John Rohrbach for his vision to establish this online newsletter, and especially Kris Fox for choosing to continue this means of communication in and about our community. Both served as volunteers and were devoted to providing this means of interacting. We will miss the cambriaca so much. Thank you is not sufficient to express our appreciation.
