THE OARD AND

�.�TTEN Newsl.etter of the Pacific Grove Heritage Society

June I July 1999

Chaplain Joseph Clemens (1862 - 1936)

This issue of the Board and Batten features Joseph and Mary Clemens. All the photos and nearly all the information comes to us from Mrs. Nelda B. Ikenberry of McPherson, Kansas. Nelda's mother- in-law, who died in 1996 at the age of 103, was the niece of Joseph Clemens. During the past few years, Nelda has tran­scribed Joseph's diaries from 1892 through I 921. In addition she has tran­scribed a group of Mary's diaries also. Nelda has graciously sent us copies of her transcriptions of the diaries from 1902 through 1905 as well as November 1918 through October 1919. These are the periods during which Joseph and Mary visited and/or lived in Pacific Grove.

October 2: October 3: December 7:

1999 Calendar of Events

Butterfly Parade Victorian Home Tour Christmas At The Inns

Joseph and Mary Clemens

Chaplain Joseph Clemens and his wife Mary Strong Clemens were intrepid plant collectors/evangelists in the Pacific areas of China, Indo-China, Borneo, Java, Philippine Islands, Territory of New Guinea (where Joseph died in 1936 from eating contaminated wild boar), and finally Brisbane, Australia, where Mary died in 1966 at the age of 95. Mary's name is well-known among bota­nists today who are trying to reconstruct the flora of these areas which are now quite decimated by deforestation. Her collections are still being studied in her­baria around the world.

Mary's interest in collecting plants and birds began during her college days in Pennsylvania. She married Joseph, a horse and buggy Methodist Episcopal min­ister, in 1896. He encouraged her and participated in her natural history studies. Prior to their first residence in the Grove, they had collected hundreds of speci­mens, many of which are still archived at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. and the Academy of Science in San Francisco.

Joseph and Mary first came to Pacific Grove in September 1902 when the Army assigned him as the chaplain for the Presidio of Monterey. They first took a room at the Centrella Hotel, then lived in a tent on the Presidio grounds and eventually moved into a house on the Presidio. According to his diaries, he spent his days visiting soldiers in the Guard House, often interceding with the Colonel on their behalf, visiting the sick soldiers in the hospital and holding weekday school and prayer sessions in addition to his weekend services. He held services at Mariposa Hall for the colored soldiers. He married soldiers and buried soldiers, many of them suicides brought on by alcohol addiction, or so he thought. Most of his evenings and other free time, however, he spent in Pacific Grove. He knew and visited with many of the early, well- known people of the Grove, including David Jacks, William Adam, Margaret Tennant, Miss M.E.B. Norton, Edward Berwick and George Bodfish. He also spent much time at Pine­hurst (now referred to as the LaPorte mansion) at the corner of Lighthouse and Seventeen Mile Drive where he played tennis often with Mr. Cowan, the owner.

Joseph and Mary also loved to hike throughout the Carmel Valley and Big Sur areas bird-watching and flower collecting. Joseph made his own ammunition and often went hunting, after which he would skin whatever he shot and tan or mount them accordingly and present them to museums. They were dues-paying members of the Sierra Club and participated in some of their activities.

They stayed at the Presidio until November 1905, when the army sent them to the Philippines. When he retired from the army, they returned to Pacific Grove in September of 1918, intending to spend their retirement here. They bought the house at 4 12 Park Street and lived there. They purchased houses for rentals at 567-569-571 Ocean View, 140 17th and 106 18th. But the call to missionary service was too strong and they left in October 1919 never to return again to live here. Following are excerpts from the diaries.

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Mary Clemens · 1901.

Joseph Clemens - 1901 - Fort Drum. New York.

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Joseph Clemens- Diary Excerpts From 1902-1905.

1902: Monday Sept 22: "Arrived about 3: I 0, came to Centrella House and took a room at $25 each per month. Was not very favorably impressed. Was tired. Walked with wife after supper. Retired early after a good bath." Thursday Nov. 6: "To Camp. Major is unwilling to interfere about the stealing of my church tents. Am not well pleased and told him so. Home and played tennis." Thurs Nov. 13: "To Camp, visited Guard House and reading room. Went with wife through the wonderful Del Monte grounds. Saw many orchids an other rare flow­ers. Went through the maze to the lake, etc. Home to lunch. Rested, at 5:00 took lessons in body-building." Wednesday Dec. 10: "Rained in night, so rode in buggy to Camp."

1903: Thursday Apr. 30: "Went to Camp to muster. They had a regimental for­mation. I looked at it. Went to Prof. Adam's studio. Saw many paintings. He gave Mrs. Clemens a watercolor." Sunday, May 10:"After service, saw Presi­dent Roosevelt's party coming through town (Monterey). Stood on bank and saw them pass. Went to camp on wheel (bicycle) having notice of President's re­ception of officers. From Camp went over in wagon. Met his honor (a poor tired man) at 8:45. I pity a man with no time to rest. I more pity so many of my fellow officers who constantly drink even at home." Friday July 31: "After lunch went to Pacific Grove. Had some short words with Elliott who sold me a $9 cot on pretense it was a $15 one. To Pinehurst and played a reasonable game of tennis." Thursday Sep. 24: "Went to see Athletic sports. Was a good deal interested but disgusted at the fact that much betting was done especially on one event. Rested and at 2:30 umpired a game of baseball between officers and men. It was quite satisfactory." Tuesday Nov.24: "Went to pacific Grove and played tennis, sprained a muscle in leg not badly. Received permission to collect specimens on P.I. Co. property. Home and wife read to me out of Ladies' Home Journal."

1904: Monday Feb. 8: "Dr. Rand and I went to Pacific Grove museum to see it. Went to beach and laboratory (Hopkins)." Wednesday June 1: "A pleasant day. Cool. To Centrella House to breakfast with my friends. Went to station and Lov­ers Point. At 1:00 team came and we went with Dr. E. and wife around 17 mile drive. Saw Sea Lions etc." Monday Sep. 12: "Skinned a buzzard. A hard one. (In the evening) to Pacific Grove and heard a lecture. What time is it and where are we? by T.A. Boyer. Very good. Optimistic. Walked home, wifey and I, my good angel. The best of wishes."

1905: Friday Jan. 20: "Went to Pacific Grove museum to hear Capt. Benson lec­ture on Yosemite National Park." Tuesday Feb. 28: "Wife and I took bicycles, went to Seaside then on Salinas road to road over hill into Carmel Valley, about 35 plus miles. Home at 7:00. 7:30 married Paul Cecil Kohn, age 25 and Adah Palmer, age 16, at our quarters. Too bad." Saturday Aug. 12: "Shave and go to Laying of Cornerstone of 15th Inf. in Sloat Monument." Thursday Sep. 5: "To Pacific Grove and enjoy the Museum meeting. Hear Mr. Cowan on the Anatomy of a bee. Very good. Home and to rest. God is very good to me." (Ed. note: They left the area on Nov. 5, 1905)

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Mary Strong Clemens - Diary Excerpts From 1903.

1903: Tuesday April 21: "Prepared room for housecleaning and went with Joseph to Pinehurst with the camera. Found Mr. Cowan about to leave town so could not develop our pictures." Thursday April 23: "After several errands Joseph and I went on our wheel (bicycle) in the birdy grove behind Pinehurst where we read and saw the flock of pigeons, flycatchers, warblers, vireos, etc. etc. He climbed trees for a couple nests, one a rat's, the other debris. Went to Museum, Miss Norton returned from city and took supper with us." Friday April 24: "Spent evening at Berwicks, met the sprightly 82 year Miss Tennant and the Quaker and aged couple McBean's." Saturday April 25: "Dr. T., Miss Vivian, 0. Lewis, Miss Berwick and ourselves with lunch went about 17 mile drive. Ate at the Lone Cypress and snoozed on the sunny rocks." Sunday April 26: "Rode to the (morning) service without wrap, in the dusty dust."

Tuesday July 14: "After breakfast went to Miss Norton's and walked to museum with her. Wrote Aunt Cora and went to office, picked a corn flower from Miss Bennets and waited at the court for Joseph. Went to Miss Laurence's wedding, deep pink geraniums and huckleberry decorations. Very military, officers in full dress. In evening attended the excellent Chautauqua concert." Wednesday July 15: "Wrote to Mrs. Newell. Went to church and museum where Chautauqua classes were being formed." Thursday the 16th: "Sewed then went to Prof. Keep's shell class. The crowd was too great and the standing too slippery and wet to get near him and I became much exhausted." Monday July 20: "Went with Joseph to museum to Prof. Keep's shell lecture. Was sleepy. Returned, wrote Mama and darned some time. Wrote 5 postals for a chain to petition against cigarette habit. In (the afternoon) heard E.O. Tade lecture on "Whitman ride to save Oregon." He had poor delivery which was most distracting. In the evening we heard an excellent lecture by Congressman C. Clark of Missouri on "Picturesque Public Men." I have heard few lectures as good. A very able man." Thursday July 23: "Spent a lazying morning resting from the many lectures etc. In evening Angelus Recital, Mrs. Birmingham, a contralto singer of power, sang. Many left before it was out."

Sunday August 2: "We had been to sleep but a short while when we were awak­ened by quite a hard earth quake which shook the doors and windows a min. or two it seemed." Thursday August 13: "I spent much of the day mending an old white skirt." Friday August 14: "I was working at my cheese cloth curtains and Jos. had just stretched himself out with a paper after sawing off my flower kegs when we saw a three-seated carriage stop at the door and a lady hastened up the steps. I hurried Jos. to the door and in came my most enthusiastic flower lover, Mrs. Glenn from near our last parsonage in Pa.". Monday Oct. 5: "In bed most of day with a miserable stomach, ate nothing but some fruit and a bite or two of shredded wheat. Jos. read to me. I washed his socks. In evening while he and Dr. played checkers, I sat wrapped up on porch watching light of full moon on the bay. It was glorious. Cricket music. The color of bay today was a peacock blue."

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Joseph and Mary visiting in South Bend, Indiana in 1909

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Joseph and Mary on one of their Sierra Club outings in 1904 or 1905.

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Joseph Clemens - Diary Excerpts From 1918 -1919.

1918: Monday Nov. 4: "After prayers I take my trunk etc. to 412 Park Ave. and settle to work at papers and search for papers re shipment Household goods." Thursday Nov. 7: "Bells & whistles at noon at report of peace. May God grant it." Monday Nov. 1 1: "Morning awakened about 5:00 by bells and whistles to announce the hope of peace." Tuesday Nov. 12: "Afternoon to Carmel and take dinner, look at little bungalow. Walk home (to Pacific Grove) with wife on Pipe­line 6 miles." Saturday Nov. 16: "Up at 7:30, prayers. Take tools and go to re­pair house on Ocean (View) Ave. Tear down partitions and make new ones. Old Mr. Bowman helps." Tuesday Dec. 17: "Repair canvass and paint floor of 4 12 (Park) in Kitchen. Evening practice Christmas songs." Wednesday Dec. 18: "Take down and wheel parts of tent house from lot on 18th Street to Corner For­est & Ocean View."

1919: Wednesday Jan. I : "A cold day, I inch ice. Write to Missionary Society offering my services in China." Wednesday Jan. 8: "Very pleasant. With wife on our 23rd wedding anniversary through hills to Carmel. Wife finds important rusts. See 3 deer and enjoy the walk. I take lunch at Pine Inn." Saturday Jan. I I : "Sweep small house (57 1 Ocean View) and move frame for the partition to equalize rooms. Home to separate piano box for lumber for partition. Eat a lovely supper." Tuesday Jan. 14: "Dr. Baker comes and we go for abalones near Cypress Point. Get plenty." Saturday Mar. I : "Pleasant. After prayers to Plane Mill and get bathroom window. To houses and cut weeds, help Mr. Weigh (Mr. Way?) take down a chimney. Fasten screen door etc., finish roof of bathroom and place window in new bathroom. Wife brings lunch and we eat it on coast of Lover's Point." Monday Mar. 3: "Make offer for a house $900.00." Tuesday Apr. 8: "After prayers I go to Holman's Jot and get tin for roof of cupola at 571. Cut to fit and fasten part of it.. Lunch at home. To 571 and finish and paint tin roof ... "

Monday May 12: 'To work and start 106 18th St. Take down porch railings and level the floor. Move window from hall wall to outside and stop up the opening. Edward separates and piles lumber. We do quite a good job. I decide to lighten the work by reducing a room to a bathroom." Wednesday Aug. 20: "Home to shave and change clothes and go to Mayor Berwick to talk athletics for fleet, as he appoints me in charge." Monday Aug. 25: "Hear bell to announce the com­ing of the fleet. After prayers I spend A.M. folding 500 papers and placing in en­velopes for sailors." Monday Sep. 8: "Study and prayers and then spend A.M. in Arithmetic on Tables, Time and Interest and Percentage." Wednesday Sep. 10: "Up at 6: 15. Prayers. At 7:00 start to New Monterey, too late for milk truck. Walk and catch rides to Carmel. Walk to San Jose Canyon, eat lunch."

Saturday Oct 4: "Take 3:05 train to Frisco. Enjoy ride and sing with wife. Fare to Frisco $6.10, fare baggage $ 1.00." Tuesday Oct. 7: "Reach Crescent Mills I 0:00, get an auto to Greenville and find key to the parsonage, our new home. Get provisions and feel lonely. Meet and introduce myself to many people."

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Down The Piney Path: News From Old Pacific Grove

From the Pacific Grove REVIEW: August - November 1895

+ by E. C. Davis

+ Prof. McDonald of San Francisco and Berkeley, but recently of Watson­ville, has spent the week sizing us up here, phrenologically speaking, and according to our best knowledge will stay another week. He lectured to a good house several evenings, taking for his subjects "Phrenology and the Law of Life and Self-Improvement", "Love, Courtship and Marriage", and the way to live successfully generally.

+ Will the person who took the parasol from the post office leave it at Mrs. Greeley's restaurant and save further trouble?

+ All persons interested in the Chautauqua (Reading) Circle are requested to attend the September meeting at the museum.

+ We gratefully return thanks for the lovely cake and the elephantine quantity of ice cream for which we were remembered.

+ The Workmen have ornamented the front of their lodge rooms above the REVIEW office with the mystic letters A.O.U.W., measuring ten inches in length and beautifully done in gold. (Ed. note: The social events sponsored by the Ancient Order of the United Workers lodge attracted all of Pacific Grove.)

+ The manner in which the streetcar company safely and timely carried to and fro the squirming wiggling mass of humanity all day at the Country Club concert and fireworks passeth understanding.

+ We are going to haul hay next week. Last chance for winter supply at bot­tom prices. T. R. Work.

+ Harry Scott had a knock-down and drag-out with his fiery, untamed bike this week, in consequence of which he carries his noble brow in a winding sheet.

+ Try Coney's $8.00 suits. They are stunning. Home dresses, $4.00.

+ Monterey Bay is literally alive with gamey fish, hundreds being taken daily.

Historic Dinner A Success!

Our Historic four-course, three-wine dinner at Gernot's Victoria House Restau­rant in the Hart Mansion on June 25th was a wonderful gastronomical and finan­cial success. The food was great, the wine, courtesy of Monterey County Bank, was special, and, best of all, there was a nice, friendly crowd. Susan Cantrell of the Herald attended the pre-dinner reception and reported on the event in her So­cial Scene column. Thanks to Paul Finnegan for the idea, and thanks to the atten­dees. Perhaps we will do it again next year.

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Ken's Comer

by Ken Hinshaw

Ghost In The Kitchen

Among those who stopped by our booth during Good Old Days was Andrea Lit­tle, who related the story of the peculiar type of ghostly situation she encoun­tered when she lived at 420 1 1th Street some years ago. It seems that on many occasions when Andrea would return home, there would be the smell of wonder­fully cooked food. She tried in vain to duplicate the smells with various recipes for bread or roast beef.

Good Old Days

Thanks to Irene Keil, Guy & Linda Chaney and Geoff & Joy Welch for helping the usual assortment of board members at the booth on Saturday. Unfortunately Sunday was rained out. See you next year.

History Takes A Walk

I knew that past board member Esther Trosow was leading regular walking tours of our fair city, but only recently participated. There was a nice size group gath­ered at I 0:00 that perfect June Saturday morning in front of the Chamber of Commerce. I was the only local as everyone else was from the Pacific North­west. As we strolled around the Retreat, Esther told us the stories of our Carnegie Library, the gates and fences around the Retreat, the early Methodists with their rules and regulations, and the Chautauqua meetings. I knew parts of most of these stories, but this helped me fill in the many gaps of my under­standing. Esther supplements the stories with photos from the Pat Hathaway Col­lection. If you're interested, reserve a space by calling the Chamber at 373-3304. The charge is reasonable.

House Added To List Under New Rules

I'd like to call attention to an action by the Historic Resources Committee that I feel is significant. The HRC has added the first house (1066 17 Mile Drive) un­der the new rules to the historic home inventory. Barbara and Terrence Zito asked back in May that their white Cape Cod Colonial, built in 1939, be in­cluded on the list of homes that this community recognizes as part of our archi­tectural and/or historical heritage. The Zita's home is beautifully situated on a corner lot, one of two Cape Cod style homes that I have noticed in the Beach Tract, and has been the site of two television commercials. The home was used as an assisted care facility back in the 1970s. The Zito's bought their dream home in the mid 1980s. They added the garage with an upstairs art studio follow­ing the design of the main house.

If you would like more information about adding homes to the list, please con­tact Barbara Oldfield at the Community Development Department at 648-3 190. Or call me, Ken, at 375-0816.

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Scholarship Awarded

The Heritage Society of Pacific Grove has announced the awarding of the Phi­loma Goldsworthy Scholarship to Katie Segura Wright of P.O., a senior at Santa Catalina School. The $600 cash scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating high school senior who has maintained an outstanding record in academic achievement and whose personal interests or career goals are consistent with the Heritage Society's objectives regarding the preservation of Pacific Grove's cul­tural heritage. Katie was graduated from Santa Catalina this June with a 3.27 GPA. During her high school years she has been involved with the California Historical Parks Service whose goals include the preservation of local historical homes. Katie intends to pursue an architectural degree at Auburn University.

Historic Home Resource Directory

Bill Derowski of Pacific Grove Hardware and Joy Welch of the real estate firm Coldwell Banker have each pledged $100 towards the next edition of the His­toric Home Resource Directory. We greatly appreciate their generous support. There is still time to get the name of your favorite carpenter, plumber or other tradesperson in the next edition. Especially helpful to owners of historic homes are competent and reliable trade people who will take on that small maintenance job that needs attention before it gets out of hand.

Betsy Sutton Marjorie McCarthy Chris & Don Roloff

New Members

Doris Davis Don & Martha Mills Bill & Linda Guy

Bruce Hamilton & Marilyn Guerrier

Share The Heritage With A Friend Annual Family Membership $10.00

Members receive The Boord and Batten newsletter of the Heritage Society of Pacific Grove.

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$ Please return to The Pacific Grove Heritage Society Box 1007 •:• Pacific Grove, CA 93950 •:• Telephone 372-2898

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Tfie Herit�e Socieiy of Pacific Grove

P.O Box 1007 Pacific Grove, CA 93950

Board of Directors

President: Vice-President: Secretary: Treasurer:

Jean Anton Darlene Billstrom Pam Cain Ken Hinshaw Rosemary Houser Muriel Pyburn Adam Weiland

Bobbie Hall Paul Finnegan Carrol Patterson Don Beals

Marilyn Arioto John Billstrom Sonia Cook Pete Houser Lisa Nickerson Beverly Wallace

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