This photo of phase one of the PG&E power plant with just one stack was taken by Al Jorge from on top of the Rock, when it was still legal to climb, in about 1956. The power plant that was a critical part of Morro Bay’s economy for 60 years (it closed in 2014). When it was operating, it provided significant funds to the City, the school district and the county. The full plant was not completed until 1963. Photo courtesy Dolores Jorge.
Collectors of old photographs and folks with family photo albums and history dating back locally to the 1960s, your help is requested.
The Historical Society of Morro Bay is looking for photographs and personal stories capturing the time of the City’s incorporation.
After meetings and public debate, Morro Bay citizens voted by a 2 to 1 margin in favor of incorporation on July 7, 1964.
“The incorporation vote in 1964 was pivotal in Morro Bay’s history,” said Glenn Silloway, president of the Historical Society of Morro Bay. “It’s hard to imagine the excitement it created among residents, but you can get a glimpse of it in the fact that 23 people ran to be elected to the first City Council of five [seats].”
The 2 to 1 vote is a significant margin, but it took a lot of work to get to that point in 1964.
“It’s important context to know that MB went through an incorporation attempt in 1955, while the first stack was under final construction,” said Silloway referring to the PG&E generating plant critical economic impact. “Iit failed for lack of support, and citizens’ concerns were about the ability to financially sustain the requirements of incorporation. Up until 1964, the city was part of the County much as it was in the 1860s when F. Riley moved here and slowly started developing the town. By 1963, when the plant was completed, revenues were sufficient to give people confidence they could sustain independent police, fire and municipal service—and the independence was important to them for the control it allowed.”
The Historical Society wants to create a public display of images and stories from 1964 to complement the other anniversary events. They are looking for old photos, copies of newspapers or advertisements from the time, personal stories and histories, anything that helps illuminate what it was like to live in Morro Bay at the time it grew up to be an independent City.
“We are looking for photos that illustrate life in Morro Bay in 1964, for example the vibrant fishing community, how the Embarcadero was used, the businesses that existed along Morro Bay Boulevard —some are the same, like Bay Theater, but many are different — how people dressed, and more,” Silloway told Estero Bay News.
Photos will be returned to the people who submitted them after digital copies are made. Digital files are easier to store, maintain and organize.
Readers who don’t have old photographs are also welcome to participate by sharing stories about the incorporation. Those memories can be shared via a written account or a possible interview with the Historical Society could be arranged.
“We need the support of people to do history—their stories and photos and memories are the stuff that keeps our history alive, one little chunk at a time,” said Silloway. “We do not seek lots of items, stuff, artifacts, though photos, maps, newspapers, and so forth that are information-based are welcome and valuable. Mostly we want to copy what people have into digital files and share those.”
The goal of a historical society is pretty clear, but what makes the collections gathered so important goes beyond cool photographs and voices from the past.
“History provides the context you need to understand what’s happening today, and this is true for city, state, nation and all the functions we share in life,” Silloway said. “In present time, Morro Bay is experiencing shock, dread and excitement about possible large scale energy developments in the battery plant and offshore wind. These new things can be scary, but they can also be opportunities. In this situation it helps to know about and understand what we went through in the first major industrial development with PG&E in the early 1950s through 1963.”
Silloway said the City plans to celebrate the 60th anniversary with public events Sept. 5, 6 and 7, but details have not been released yet.
All are welcome to join the Historical Society.
“Our members come from all walks of life and contribute in different ways,” Silloway said. “In general, we are a collective memory repository that helps people remember, understand and respect what went before, again always in the context of today.
“We always welcome people’s projects and mementos and are always looking for people to join the board to help with the work.”
For mor information about then Historical Society of Morro Bay, go to historicalmorrobay.org. Anyone can join via the website or send mail to HSMB, PO Box 921, Morro Bay CA 93443. They can be reached at 805-225-6057.
