E. G.'s 1916 Visit to Mr. Tognazzini

 Mr. Lewis wrote about the Colony's beach property (currently a Morro Bay housing development known as the Cloisters) in the following excerpt copied from one of his monthly letters to his many readers.  The Colony Holding Company built a beach hotel and restaurant for persons taking a holiday at the beach but also sold small beach lots to Colony residents to build their own cottage or bungalow for regular visits. The article in its entirety may be found in the December, 1916 edition of  Woman's National Magazine..  

The Monthly Letter From Atascadero

By E. G. Lewis

ATASCADERO, California, Nov. 6, 1916.

   Today I drove by auto down to Morro beach to visit Mr. Peter Tognazzini, the Supervisor of that district, who lives a few miles above the beach in one of the canyons running in from the seashore.  In his yard were oranges, lemons, grapefruit, limes and other tropical fruits ripening on the trees in great abundance.  Mr. Tognazzini has lived there for forty years and told me that geraniums blossom the year round.  In discussing the matter with him, he saw no reason why we should not plant the streets of Morro, particularly the seed farms back of the beach, with lemons, grapefruit and lime trees with great success.  This is something worth thinking about in the subdivision of our Morro beach property.

   Here at Atascadero, although it is the 6^th of November, we still have the roses in full bloom, every kind of vegetable and berry in the garden while a new crop of radishes, the ninth this year, is just getting large enough to be enjoyed.  Coming home tonight by moonlight, along the road that skirts the beach for miles, with the moon shining over the sea waves and breakers, and old Morro Rock looming up out at sea.  I could see this same scene a few short years from now with hundreds of pretty seaside cottages, of Atascadero's people, the great pavilion and pier lighted brilliantly, and the soft balmy air stirring the leaves of  the palms, lemon, lime and grapefruit trees along the streets of Atascadero's seaside resort.

   Back over the mountains a few miles, but a thousand feet above the beach, the Colony itself will nestle in its beautiful valleys, while Morro road will connect its every part with the seashore.  The Automobile Club of Southern California has already placed a steel post and sign pointing from the beach road up the Morro road which we have built, with the single word on it “Atascadero” and an arrow pointing the way.

James Wilkins is the president of the Atascadero Historical Society.  The Colony Museum is located at 6600 Lewis Avenue, mailing address: P.O. Box 1047, Atascadero CA 93423.  For more information, visit the website, www.atascaderohistoricalsociety.org or call 805-466-8341