By Colleen O’Connor
Just in time for Halloween, the ghosts of old Point Loma have arrived.
Some of these early Point Loma dwellers have been around for more than 10,000 years.
Traces of the Kumeyaay Indians, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Spaniards and Mexicans—who celebrate Halloween as El Dia de Muertos, the Day of the Dead—can still be found.
These ghostly residents traveled by ships, carriages, trains, on foot, horseback, alone or en mass.
Sailors, captains of industry, fishermen, military men, philosophers, explorers, bootleggers, smugglers, all here.
Most arrived by water. And stayed. They came around Ballast Point and often moored off Kellogg’s Beach.
They lived in places like Lomaland, Roseville, Tunaville, Loma Portal, La Playa and the wooded area. These centuries’ old settlers sheltered in huts, mansions, caves, model homes and Temples of Peace. They named streets after themselves and pioneered major industries.
Each deserves to be remembered.
And that is just what the La Playa Trail Association has done—completed a fine collection of images, photographs, trail markings and stories worthy of any history collection.
The present day descendants of these “ghosts of Point Loma” secured a map, discovered the contemporary coordinates, and have placed markers on historical spots along the La Playa Trail—the oldest commercial trail west of the Mississippi.
All of this — the map, the history and over a hundred exemplary photographs with fun captions — is compiled in a single book modestly titled “Point Loma.”
Any adventurer can reference the book and follow the trail, which includes 80 significant historical site markings and winds from Point Loma’s Cabrillo monument through Old Town, Presidio Park, across Mission Valley, and then on to Mission San Diego de Alcala.
Some trail markers have been lost, others are being refurbished and two new ones are in place:
- Roseville Marker — at Rosecrans and Avenida de Portugal
- Chinese Fishermen’s Marker — at the north end of La Playa Cove on Talbot Street
The guardians of these markers and the authors of the book’s chapters are intrepid scholars, historians, intellectuals, enthusiasts and even native San Diegans. But, also selfless folks. No pay, no credits (other than to the La Playa Trail Association as a group) and no individual recognition adorns the pages of their book.
Even the copyright belongs to the association.
However, last year, the La Playa Trail Association’s work was finally recognized by the City of San Diego’s Historical Resources Board for dedication to saving Point Loma history from oblivion.
How appropriate, then, that the official launching of their book, Point Loma, is the day after Halloween on Nov. 1, All Saints’ Day in the Catholic calendar.
Bravo to each of the team members for salvaging, protecting and sharing their work—and inviting the public to hear their stories on how they assembled the chapters for this book.
They, too, deserve to be recognized:
- “Beginnings on Ballast Point and La Playa” — Dr. Rick Kennedy
- “Neighborhoods of Point Loma” — Kitty McDaniel and Patti Adams
- “The Military Arrives” — Alan Ziter and Karen Scanlon
- “Lomaland” — Eric DuVall
- “A Nautical Window to Sea and Bay” — Dr. Iris Engstrand
- “Life on the Point” — Linda Fox
- “Business by the Bay” — Linda Canada and Dorothea Laub
- “Monuments and Parks” — Joanne Hickey, Karen Scanlon and Charles Best
- And the back cover art — Cecelia Carrick
But, the great spirit behind the book and a veritable icon in Point Loma lore is the association’s president, and former San Diego Historical Society president, Klonie Kunzel. Without her prodding, prompting, and producing funds, scholars and spreadsheets, this gem would never have been published.
Anyone wishing to listen to the first hand accounts of these scholars is invited to join the team at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 1, in the Point Loma Assembly Hall, 3035 Talbot Street, for the official launch for the Point Loma book.
And what attracted those ghosts to come so long ago? The same appeal keeps them around this Halloween. Wonderful spirits and the water!
The cover says it all.
Colleen O’Connor is a native San Diegan and a retired college professor.
