Yesteryears Renters
By June MacLeod, CHA Volunteer
Studying the digitized editions of the Coronado Journal/Eagle gives the reader a glimpse of the past in Coronado. Immediately, similarity with the present day becomes obvious. For example, short-term rentals and summer visitors are not a new concept to Coronado. The title of a May 17, 1924 column reads: “Marked Actitivity (sp) Shown In Coronado Real Estate Many Sales and Rentals for Week. Inquiries for Reservations for Summer Season Point to Heavy Influx of Visitors.” The “heavy influx” of visitors wasn’t just in May of 1924. Every decade seemed to have people from all over the country recognize the special qualities of Coronado Island. Below are just a few instances of folks who had decided to sojourn in Coronado.
Even as early as 1912, people recognized the charm of our village atmosphere. In a May issue, it was reported that a Dr. and Mrs. Niles from Michigan who had been staying at the Greycourt Inn for several weeks were about to build a house in Beverly Hills. As the editor reported, “Dr. Niles is greatly charmed with Coronado, but had already purchased his Los Angeles property. It is his intention to spend a portion of each year in Coronado.”
The November 24, 1917 issue mentioned that “C. W. Green, a prosperous farmer of Oregon, has taken apartments here for the winter, thus escaping the rigors of the Oregon mist.” Also listed in the November 24th issue is the news that Mr. Lee and niece, Miss Cramer, from Chicago, have leased the Jennings home at 1025 E avenue for six months. “It is hoped that this climate will benefit Mr. Lee’s health.”
Mr. and. Mrs. Lloyd Spencer, of San Diego, rented a cottage at 636 1/2 G Avenue for the summer, according to the June 11, 1930 issue of the Coronado Journal. In the January 28,1931 issue, it was noted that Mrs. Kingston Douglass, her three sons and two maids arrived from Illinois and were living on 1021 Olive Avenue enjoying the warmer weather until April.
According to the May 30, 1946 issue, a few people staying at the Hotel del had decided to rent houses in Coronado. The Chew family from Arizona who had been at Hotel del Coronado rented the house at 1022 Olive Ave. for five weeks, after which they moved to another house in Coronado for the rest of the summer. Another Hotel del resident transitioned to house renting around the same time. Mrs. Dorothy DeWitt from Pasadena had been staying at the Del since the beginning of the year. She decided to rent a house for the summer while her son was stationed at the 11th Naval District headquarters. However, in the June 18, 1942 edition, it was mentioned that Capt. and Mrs. Henry R. Oster had transitioned from their home on Cajon Place to the Hotel del. Their home was now occupied by Ensign George Vanderbilt and his wife. One wonders if that was George Vanderbilt III, of the famous family?
Lastly, there was another renter who enjoyed great comfort by summering in Coronado. In the June 28, 1919 issue, there was mention of P.J. Piepenbrink of the Standard Iron Works. He lived in San Diego and had trouble sleeping. As the author of the article wrote, poor Mr. Piepenbrink “hears the cars run as long as they ramble, and the milkman on his rounds, and all sounds that a city gives forth after dark…” (by 1920, the population of the city of San Diego was 74,361). So, when Tent City opened during the summertime, he would cross the bay and rent a tent. In 1919, he rented tent 804, just across the street from his place the previous summer. There, according to the paper, Mr. Piepenbrink “sleeps like a baby, and after a dip in the surf is ready for breakfast and the days’ troubles.” It seems that Coronado worked its magic yet again!
