Swain’s Landing, Santa Catalina Island
LARSEN, Sven Petter (1823- )[Swayne Lawson]
Swain’s Landing, Santa Catalina Island [Swayne’s, Swain’s Valley, Swain’s Canyon [» White’s Landing] named with poor spelling for Sven Larsen, Norweigan who immigrated to California at age 30 and soon thereafter made his way to Santa Catalina Island. In 1864 when Civil War troops arrived at the Isthmus, Larsen had already been squatting on the island for almost a decade, and he owned ten head of cattle. Divorced and alone, he became well-known as the hermit of Santa Catalina Island. For more than 45 years, Larsen lived up the coast from Avalon in Swain’s Valley—a misspelling of his first name, Sven. Before the turn of the century, Swain’s Landing became the site of the Whittier Boys and Girls Camp. It now is known as White’s Landing.
According to Windle's History, Swayne Lawson [sic] owned three small ships in the fishing and whaling trade in the northern waters around Alaska. His boats were seized by the Russians at the time of the controversies between Russia and America. He went to live on Santa Catalina Island in 1859 and operated a small 35-foot sailing boat.
Sven Petter Larsen is listed in the California Voter Register for 1892 as a resident of Los Angeles.
In the News~
[1859] June 2, 1938 [TI/Avalon]: “Swayne Lawson owned three small ships in the fishing and whaling trade in the northern waters around Alaska. His boats were seized by the Russians at the time of the controversy between Russia and America. Lawson came to live at Swayne’s Landing, now called Camp Toyon, in 1859, and operated a small 35-foot sailing boat around the island. Widle’s History.”
November 26, 1863 [Henry Hancock to Lieut. Col. James F. Curtis]: “Sir: I have the honor to report that at 8 P.M. of the 22nd instant I arrived at Fisherman’s Harbor, Island of Catalina, with two enlisted men of Company C… having sailed from the port of San Pedro on the sloop Ned Beal, burden 17 28/100 tons, owned by Spencer W. Wilson of Wilson’s Harbor, Island of Catalina… The population of the island is about 100, one-half of whom are miners… The present number of sheep is about 15,000, nine thousand of which belong to Mr. Spencer W. Wilson. Of goats there are some 7,000 or 8,000. Of cattle and horses there are not many… John Johnson, ten years a resident, 200 head of cattle… Spencer H. Wilson, five years a resident; 10 head of cattle… Juan Cota, 400 head cattle… Swain Lawson, 10 head cattle…”
1878 San Francisco Directory: “Swain Lawson, Captain schooner Sport On The Wave, office 32 Clay.”
July 28, 1882 [LT/SCat]: “Santa Ana, July 25. A trip replete with pleasure, incident and adventure… Early on the morning of the 22nd, a goat hunting party was inaugurated… We armed ourselves with double-barreled shotguns, procured a boat, and rowed northward along the coast of the island until we reached Swain’s Valley, a distance of two miles. Here we went ashore, tied up our boat, and started up the canyon after the wild goats. A more rugged, bushy place can scarcely be imagined than is that canyon…”
July 13, 1883 [LAT/SCat]: “Timms’ Landing, Catalina Island… A party of select company, invited by Mr. Hancock Banning, started up the coast to Swain’s Valley, a distance of seven miles, in Mr. Hancock’s new yacht. This valley contains the establishment of Messrs. Howland, Whittley and Harris for shearing sheep. We found Messrs. Howland and Whittley very kind and obliging. After enjoying the hospitality of Messrs. Howland and Whittley, we started for Timms’ Landing…”
August 4, 1889 [LAH]: “The following people of this city were included in a yachting party which left Avalon on La Paloma, last Sunday morning, and returned after a cruise to Swan's [Sven's] Valley and Goat Harbor: Mrs. Wm. Lacy, Miss Susie Patton, Miss Annie Smith, Miss Lulu Glassell, Mrs. King, Miss Sophie Lacy, Miss Maud Sullivan, Miss Molly Lacy, Hancock Banning, William Lacy, Dick Lacy, Guy Barham, Fritz Lacy, Dennis Longstreet, Phillip Glassell, Lucien Glassell and Messrs. Latham, Baldwin and Buckner.“
August 17, 1890 [LT/SCAT]: “Avalon, August 16… The Congregational Church picnic to Swain’s valley was a grand success, the captains of the different yachts offering their services gratis for the conveyance of the people. A luncheon was served, island watermelons being among the fruits.”
August 11, 1892 [LAT/SCat]: “A 300-pound jewfish was caught at Swain’s Landing.”
September 1, 1892 [LAT/SCat]: “The Whittier Cadets arrived Tuesday and camp at Swain’s Valley.”
September 6, 1892 [LAT/SCat]: “One of the Whittier Industrial School cadets has escaped from Camp Banning at Swain’s Valley, which is ocated four miles northwest of Avalon. A reward of $10 has been offered for the escapee. He is thought to be in this town.”
August 16, 1893 [LAT/SCat]: “The Hermosa brought over to the island the boys of the Whittier Reform School, and after making the port of Avalon, went to Swain’s Landing, and put ashore the boys. The camp will be under strict military discipline, and already excursions are being planned thither.”
August 18, 1893 [LAT/SCat]: “The Falcon left San Pedro twenty minutes after the Hermosa and made a fast trip to Swain’s Landing with 120 Whittiers and five regular passengers. After landing them she came over to Avalon.”
August 24, 1893 [LAT/SCat]: “Dr. Lindley was in town Wednesday. He remains very close to the Whittier boys in Swain’s Landing, where good conduct has won for them the esteem and admiration of everybody on the island.”
August 31, 1893 [LAT/SCat]: “Dr. Lindley is preparing to break up the Whittier Cadet camp at Swain’s Landing, 200 boys having left already on Wednesday’s steamers for home. The doctor is entitled to much praise for the excellent management of the Camp Banning. There have been no complaints made against the boys, and their conduct has been exemplary. It is much to be doubted whether the same number of boys from any college in the world would have behaved themselves in so orderly and decorous a manner.”
September 3, 1893 [LAT/SCat]: “The Hermosa brought over about ninety, all told, of officers and girls of the Whittier State School, on Friday’s boat. They were at once taken down to Swain’s Landing and went into camp. Their outing will probably last a week.”
August 26, 1894 [LAT/SCat]: “… Swain’s Landing, now famous as the camping ground of the Whittier boys and girls… all the charming characteristic features of this bit of the island coast are familiar and endeared to the annual visitor…”
September 11, 1898 [LAT/SCat]: “In company with some residents of Avalon, [the boatmen] went on the Fleetwing to Swain’s Valley, about seven miles up the coast, so named after an old hermit of that name, who has resided there for thirty-five years.”
August 14, 1899 [LT/SCat]: “Avalon. A party of picnickers left Avalon early this morning for Swain’s Landing, where they spent the day. The trip was made in rowboats towed by the launch Catalina.”
August 4, 1901 [LAT/SCat]: “Avalon. Mr. and Mrs. F. T. Sutherland… chartered the Avalon yesterday for a picnic excursion to Long Point. They stopped at Moonstone Beach, paid a visit to the hermit at Swayne’s…”
August 14, 1903 [LAT]: “Catalina revisited by woman pioneer... Among the visitors to Catalina at present is one of the pioneers of the island, Mrs. S. A. Howland, the widow of Captain Howland, who, almost half a century ago, gave his name to the place now known as Howland’s Landing… There were six families on the island at that time… Those living here were located at what is now Johnson’s Landing, and which was then known as John Benz’a Landing. At Swayne’s, now known as White’s Landing, at the Isthmus, at Cherry Valley, and at Fourth of July Valley…”
August 14, 1903 [LAT]: “Avalon. Catalina revisited by woman pioneer. Mother of first white child born on the island. Widow of Captain Howland sees again the scenes of many years of her life, when six families comprised population. Among the visitors to Catalina at present is one of the pioneers of the island, Mrs. S. A. Howland, the widow of Captain Howland, who, almost half a century ago, gave his name to the place now known as Howland’s Landing. In company with her husband, Mrs. Howland landed on the isthmus at a little beach three miles above the Isthmus, where he had a band of sheep. The island was then supposed to be government land, and they, as well as others on the place, took up land on what was known as ‘squatters’ rights.’ There were six families on the island at that time, and nearly all continued to live here until they could not acquire the land under the ‘squatters’ rights,’ and when James Lick gained control of the whole island, most of the families went across to the mainland. Those living here were located at… Swayne’s, now known as White’s Landing, at the Isthmus… Howland, L. Harris and Whittley, their territory reaching to Swayne’s...”
July 12, 1905 Catherine MacLean Loud diary: “The hermit, Swayne Larsen, at White’s Landing, was presented with clothing and supplies by Mrs. C. Strong of Bisbee, Arizona.“
March 12, 1918 [TI/Avalon]: “White’s Landing—four miles westerly from Avalon. The only purely sand beach about the island. The former home of the island hermit, Swayne Larsen, since 1862, living alone almost all the time, with only a few tame goats as his companions.”
July 20, 1904 [LAT/SCat]: “Avalon. To camp at White’s Landing. The Pasadena Y.M.C.A. boys are coming to Catalina again in augmented numbers… This year they will have more elbow room, the only resident in the canyon where they are established being the old island hermit, Swayne Larsen.”
September 20, 1905 Catherine MacLean Loud diary: “The old hermit of Catalina, Swayne Larsen, lives alone at White’s Landing. He came to Avalon today, Sept. 20 for provisions. His boat is old and leaky. Chris Ringsin, seeing the hermit's plight, got Mexican Joe to help and they started a subscription paper and received $51 in an hour. A new boat will be purchased and presented to the old man. It will have a sail and the dollars left will be used for stocking his larder.“
