Stearn’s Wharf, Santa Barbara
Stearn's Wharf, Santa Barbara
In the News~
July 3, 1873 [SBDP]: “Excursion to the island tomorrow. The committee is informed by M. Ohlmeyer that there is an abundance of good water at the Santa Cruz wharf. Persons going should if possible procure tickets before going on board the steamer. The Ventura can accommodate one thousand persons. Let it be understood that we take with us our lunch or dinner. The Ventura will leave Stearn’s Wharf at eight o’clock. A.M. sharp. Family tickets may be had at Miss Plummer’s.”
September 8, 1881 [SBDP]: “John P. Stearns has just made arrangements to put 200 new piles under the end of the wharf. These are to replace those piles, which have been injured the most by the teredo [shipworms]. He intends to dip the new piles into asphaltum, and then while still warm roll them in sand. Thus he expects to put on a coating that will guard against the teredo.”
November 12, 1881 [SBDP]: “Mr. Stearns is pushing the repairs on the wharf as rapidly as possible.”
November 15, 1881 [SBDP]: “John P. Stearns is actively engaged in repairing his wharf. About two hundred piles will be removed.”
September 22, 1883 [SBDP]: “There are 170 sacks of abalone piled up on Stearn’s Wharf. These shells are gathered by Chinamen at Santa Cruz Island and are brought here in large quantities by schooners.”
December 18, 1904 [SBMP]: “The schooner Santa Rosa Island came in from the islands on Friday and took a cargo of cattle at Stearn's Wharf yesterday. These will be taken to Santa Rosa Island where they will be grazed and fattened for market.”
March 15, 1905 [SBMP]: “The gasoline launch of Henry Short, which went down to the bottom of the channel in Sunday's storm, has been located near the end of Stearn's Wharf. An effort was made yesterday afternoon to raise it, but the effort proved unsuccessful. As far as could be ascertained by Mr. Short, the boat appears to be intact.”
March 18, 1905 [SBMP]: “Henry Short's launch Chispa, which went down on Sunday and was located on the bottom of the ocean near Stern's Wharf, is still under water. Several attempts have been made to bring her up, but high waves on the ocean make it a very hard task.”
December 3, 1905 [SBMP]: “The steam schooner Santa Cruz came in yesterday morning with twelve head of cattle for Sherman & Ealand. The stock was unloaded east of Stearn’s Wharf, being thrown overboard and forced to swim ashore.”
December 22, 1905 [SBMP]: “The steam schooner Santa Rosa Island returned from its home port yesterday afternoon in order to take another load of cattle which are waiting in the stock yards adjoining Stearn’s Wharf...”
August 3, 1906 [SBMP]: “The schooner Santa Cruz came over from Santa Cruz Island yesterday afternoon and discharged a cargo of sheep at Stearn’s Wharf. She also carried some wine for San Francisco markets. The sheep were delivered to William Ealand of this city.”
June 12, 1909 [SBMP]: “...Before shipping the seals, Captain McGuire must fill out a certificate showing that the animal had not been injured while being caught, and at the time of shipping was in excellent physical condition. At present he has twelve such specimens at his house on Stearn’s Wharf ready for shipment…”
October 23, 1909 [SBMP]: “The Santa Cruz Island schooner discharged a cargo of 220 head of sheep yesterday at Stearn’s Wharf. The sheep have been purchased by Ealand Packing Company. The sheep from Santa Cruz Island are considered desirable stock on account of being free from all disease.”
July 24, 1910 [SBMP]: “Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. yesterday opened the rod and reel fishing season in the Santa Barbara channel by capturing the first... The Charm left its distinguished passengers at Stearn’s Wharf late in the afternoon, all of them expressing pleasure with the cruise, and none of them having been the least bit seasick.”
November 9, 1910 [SBMP]: “Repairs on the commercial wharf are in progress, about sixty eucalyptus piles being driven to take the place of those whose usefulness has ceased.”
November 29, 1910 [SBMP]: “The repairs on Stearn's Wharf were completed yesterday, about 100 eucalyptus piles being driven, and the outer corners strengthened.”
September 12, 1911 [SBMP]: “Without even a creak of warning, 3000 square feet of the Stearn’s Wharf collapsed under the weight of 300,000 pounds of ties yesterday afternoon…”
June 23, 1912 [SBMP]: “Ten thousand sheep from Santa Cruz Island are expected in Santa Barbara today via steam schooner and Stearn’s Wharf. The schooner will make three trips across the channel, carrying 3000 or more sheep each trip. From the pier the animals will be driven along the railroad wharf to the corrals on the beach, east of the lumberyard. They will be shipped by rail to various destinations. Further shipments from the island are expected here within a few days.”
July 6, 1912 [SBMP]: “Resumption in the movement of Santa Cruz Island sheep to the mainland will begin Monday or Tuesday according to advices received by President Frank Smith of Stearn's Wharf Company from W. H. Roche, who purchased the 50,000 head of sheep from the Caire estate. From 12,000 to 15,000 sheep will be transported across the channel next week.”
August 22, 1913 [SBMP]: “The launch Charm, Captain Henry Short, with Charles Davis, who recently exposed the slaughter of seals on the Channel Islands, and S. E. Lewis, wharfinger at the Stearn’s company dock, will leave this week for a cruise of indefinite length about the channel.”
July 19, 1914 [SBMP]: “Today the Sea Wolf will take an excursion party on a usual island trip… Today’s party will start at 7 o’clock from Stearn’s Wharf for a trip clear around the island, stopping at Willow Harbor on the south side, for dinner. The party will number about 25, and Captain Eaton promises the excursionists an enjoyable day.”
May 6, 1915 [SBDN]: “Scrambling along, climbing over every ditch and sand pile along the road, instead of following the center of the street, nearly 100 sheep from Santa Cruz were unloaded from the Caire Ranch Company’s boat, Santa Cruz, this morning and driven to Gehl Packing Company’s stockyards on the west side. The sheep, gray from the dust and range of the island, were brought over yesterday, but could not be unloaded at Stearn’s Wharf because of the high tide and heavy swell at that time...”
July 2, 1915 [SBMP]: “Holiday excursion to Santa Cruz Island by fast power schooner Otter, Captain R. Vasquez, master, Saturday July 3rd leaving Stearn’s Wharf at 7 P.M., Sunday, July 4th leaving Stearn’s Wharf at 8 A.M. Round trip fare $2. Good for return either July 4th or July 5th.”
July 19, 1916 [SBMP]: “Yesterday shortly before noon, George E. Voorhees’ fine new speed launch, the Snooks, was consigned to the waters of the bay on the beach at Stearn’s Wharf, and a more nearly perfect launching has never occurred in these waters…”
September 21, 1923 [SBMP]: “Sea Wolf skipper clears fortune. Captain Eaton expects to clear $20,000 from Cuba salvage. Loaded to the gunwales with salvage of all kinds, the launch Sea Wolf, Captain Ira Eaton, returned yesterday from the scene of the wreck of the Pacific Mail liner Cuba, on the northern end of San Miguel Island. Captain Eaton spent several days at the scene of the disaster, taking off all salable articles, following the admission of the Pacific Mail Company that no attempt would be made to salvage the contents of the steamer. The powerboat, Marcella, of Los Angeles, has been at the scene of the wreck for the past week, and daily brings salvage to Stearn’s Wharf, where it is sold for whatever it will bring...”
May 28, 1925 [SBMP]: “Eighteen members of the Santa Barbara Yacht Club will leave Stearn’s Wharf at 6:15 o’clock tomorrow night for a week-end cruise to Santa Cruz Island…”
January 3, 1928 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira Eaton yesterday succeeded in raising the sunken hull of his powerboat, the Sea Wolf, which went down during the Christmas day storm, and salvaged one of the two diesel engines, each of which is valued at $4000… The Sea Wolf was sunk after it had dragged its anchor and had been blown against the eastern side of Stearn’s Wharf where it pounded against the wharf. The boat was valued at $15,000 by Captain Eaton, and carried no insurance. It was used for trips to Santa Cruz Island.”
January 4, 1928 [SBMP]: “With the aid of the powerful derrick barge used in the construction of the breakwater, Captain Ira Eaton’s powerboat, the Sea Wolf, was raised from the bottom of the ocean and placed on Stearn’s Wharf yesterday morning…The hull of the craft was badly battered where it had pounded against the wharf during the Christmas day storm, and it is probable that no attempt to repair it will be made...”
June 10, 1928 [SBMP]: “Mr. and Mrs. Bay Webster reached Summerland yesterday in their cruiser, the Corliss, after a four day cruise from Balboa Island with a party of friends. During the trip they visited Anacapa Island and Santa Barbara. Today they will hold open house for their friends. Their boar is anchored near Summerland which will be their headquarters during the summer season, while Stearn’s Wharf is being reconstructed.”
June 17, 1930 [SBMP]: “The escape of a wild cow from a shipment being taken off the schooner Santa Cruz on Stearn’s Wharf created a panic yesterday among bathers on Cabrillo Boulevard.”
