the BO1~~LW ~° BATTEN Newsletter of the Pacific Grove Heritage Society AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 198G LOVER'S POINT Lover's Point "Coney Island" period--circa 1914 This issue features an article on the official (?) name of Lover's Point. The article was researched and written by Jeanne McCombs, one of our Board members. Other photos and information on Lover's Point may be found in our June/July 1985 issue of the Board and Batten. r "LOVER'S POINT" -- BY ANY OTHER NAME by Jeanne McCombs On July 22, 1909, William R "Bathhouse" Smith put an end to a year of speculation as to why he had erected two twenty-foot concrete columns on the Pacific Grove beach at Lover's Point. Using a 50-ton hydraulic jack, he toppled one of the towers into the bay. One week later, a crowd gathered to watch as the second pile was pitched into the bay, alongside the first, splashing thirty feet of water into the air as it fell. The gap between the structures was later filled with some of the rock that had been blasted away from the nearby , bluff, and served as a foundation for part of the concrete pier that remains today. This was one of the more dramatic moments at Lover's Point, where generations of Pacific Grovians have washed, waded, sun- bathed, and sailed. Since the appearance of the first bath house around 1875, the general vicinity has been home to a marine biology laboratory, Japanese Tea Room, commercial dahlia garden, concert band stand, a variety of boat concessions, and a series of upgraded bath houses. Over the years, Lover's Point has been a popular host to both religious worshippers and amorous young people. As a result, there have evolved two widely differing versions of its etymology. Over the past thirty years, the popular variation has held that Lover's Point was once known as "Lovers of Jesus Point" owing to the outdoor religious services held there. The story goes on to say that for unknown reasons the name was abbreviated to "Lover's Point" sometime before the turn of the century. While this account holds great charm, it is probably not true. There is no question that "Seaside Services," as they were called, were occasionally held at Lover's Point. The combined effect of nature's beauty and religious fervor must have been truly awe- inspiring for the Grove's Victorian retreaters. But, no doubt, human comfort was a consideration when selecting the official site for the outdoor "Preacher's Stand," located near what is now Jewell Park at Central and Forest Avenues. Nestled in the pines and- protected from the wind, the covered platform faced the congregation's seating of benches, arranged in asemi-circular pattern. Out-of-doors 3 , OCR Text: the BO1~~LW ~° BATTEN Newsletter of the Pacific Grove Heritage Society AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 198G LOVER'S POINT Lover's Point "Coney Island" period--circa 1914 This issue features an article on the official (?) name of Lover's Point. The article was researched and written by Jeanne McCombs, one of our Board members. Other photos and information on Lover's Point may be found in our June/July 1985 issue of the Board and Batten. r "LOVER'S POINT" -- BY ANY OTHER NAME by Jeanne McCombs On July 22, 1909, William R "Bathhouse" Smith put an end to a year of speculation as to why he had erected two twenty-foot concrete columns on the Pacific Grove beach at Lover's Point. Using a 50-ton hydraulic jack, he toppled one of the towers into the bay. One week later, a crowd gathered to watch as the second pile was pitched into the bay, alongside the first, splashing thirty feet of water into the air as it fell. The gap between the structures was later filled with some of the rock that had been blasted away from the nearby , bluff, and served as a foundation for part of the concrete pier that remains today. This was one of the more dramatic moments at Lover's Point, where generations of Pacific Grovians have washed, waded, sun- bathed, and sailed. Since the appearance of the first bath house around 1875, the general vicinity has been home to a marine biology laboratory, Japanese Tea Room, commercial dahlia garden, concert band stand, a variety of boat concessions, and a series of upgraded bath houses. Over the years, Lover's Point has been a popular host to both religious worshippers and amorous young people. As a result, there have evolved two widely differing versions of its etymology. Over the past thirty years, the popular variation has held that Lover's Point was once known as "Lovers of Jesus Point" owing to the outdoor religious services held there. The story goes on to say that for unknown reasons the name was abbreviated to "Lover's Point" sometime before the turn of the century. While this account holds great charm, it is probably not true. There is no question that "Seaside Services," as they were called, were occasionally held at Lover's Point. The combined effect of nature's beauty and religious fervor must have been truly awe- inspiring for the Grove's Victorian retreaters. But, no doubt, human comfort was a consideration when selecting the official site for the outdoor "Preacher's Stand," located near what is now Jewell Park at Central and Forest Avenues. Nestled in the pines and- protected from the wind, the covered platform faced the congregation's seating of benches, arranged in asemi-circular pattern. Out-of-doors 3 , Heritage Society of Pacific Grove,Historical Collections,Barn Books and Binder Material,Barn Books and Binder Material,Lovers Point History and Naming_redacted.pdf,Lovers Point History and Naming_redacted.pdf 1 Page 8, Tags: LOVERS POINT HISTORY AND NAMING_REDACTED.PDF, Lovers Point History and Naming_redacted.pdf 1 Page 8