SENATOR BENJAMIN LANGFORD A native of Tennessee, Benjamin Langford joined the rush for California gold in 1850. He settled in the San Joaquin Valley and became a successful rancher, industrialist and capitalist. He represented that area in the California State Senate for four terms beginning in 1879. He also served briefly as a judge in Nevada and is often referred to as "Judge" Langford. Like many others from the San Joaquin Valley, he owned a summer home in Pacific Grove which he and his family used for summer vacations to escape the valley heat. This house, which was built in 1884, still stands in its original location at 225 Central Avenue. During the 1880s, no horses or wagons were allowed within the Retreat, other than to load or unload goods and passengers. In order to enter through the gate, the driver needed to walk thru a foot gate and walk one mile to the Superintendent€ office located at the corner of Lighthouse and Grand, pick up the key and walk back to the gate. After unloading, the driver had to stable his horse outside the Retreat and return the key to the Superintendent's office on foot. Senator Langford grew weary of contending with this involved procedure. He decided that since he owned his own house within the Retreat, this was an imposition. Late one evening as he arrived at the locked gate, he took an axe from his carriage and openly chopped down the gate and a small part of the fence. Apparently his actions were popular with the local citizens, as the gate was never replaced. , OCR Text: SENATOR BENJAMIN LANGFORD A native of Tennessee, Benjamin Langford joined the rush for California gold in 1850. He settled in the San Joaquin Valley and became a successful rancher, industrialist and capitalist. He represented that area in the California State Senate for four terms beginning in 1879. He also served briefly as a judge in Nevada and is often referred to as "Judge" Langford. Like many others from the San Joaquin Valley, he owned a summer home in Pacific Grove which he and his family used for summer vacations to escape the valley heat. This house, which was built in 1884, still stands in its original location at 225 Central Avenue. During the 1880s, no horses or wagons were allowed within the Retreat, other than to load or unload goods and passengers. In order to enter through the gate, the driver needed to walk thru a foot gate and walk one mile to the Superintendent€ office located at the corner of Lighthouse and Grand, pick up the key and walk back to the gate. After unloading, the driver had to stable his horse outside the Retreat and return the key to the Superintendent's office on foot. Senator Langford grew weary of contending with this involved procedure. He decided that since he owned his own house within the Retreat, this was an imposition. Late one evening as he arrived at the locked gate, he took an axe from his carriage and openly chopped down the gate and a small part of the fence. Apparently his actions were popular with the local citizens, as the gate was never replaced. , Heritage Society of Pacific Grove,Historical Collections,Names of People about town,L through M File Names,Langford,LANGFORD_017.pdf,LANGFORD_017.pdf 1 Page 1, Tags: LANGFORD_017.PDF, LANGFORD_017.pdf 1 Page 1