This Month in History is a feature in PB Monthly highlighting local happenings from yesteryear. John Fry is a writer, publisher, historian plus co-founder and president of the Pacific Beach Historical Society. He also is the author of “Images of America: Pacific Beach” and “Pacific Beach Through Time.” He can be reached at [email protected].
The Board of Education, at its meeting on April 3, granted the request of the teacher at Pacific Beach school, that the janitorship of the school be changed from the name of Samuel Gibbs to that of his mother. It turns out that Samuel’s sisters had been doing the work and mom was collecting the pay.
Over 200 friends and relatives gathered at the San Diego Army & Navy Academy, where Pacific Plaza is today, to witness a review and exhibition drill given in honor of iral Robert E. Coontz, commander-in-chief of the United States Fleet. A “pleasant incident” occurred when Coontz discovered a young cousin of his, Eugene Cook, among the assembled cadets.
Rattlesnakes made the news on three occasions during April. An article in the San Diego Union stated “A 3-foot rattlesnake, complete with nine rattles, a button, and a grudge against meddling motorists, was killed by police yesterday afternoon on Pacific Highway, about a half-mile south of Balboa.”
Police Patrolman William Southwell shot the snake when it jumped at him. Baby rattlesnakes were dispatched in the 1200 block of Turquoise Street and in Navy Housing in the 2700 block of Camino Pradero.
San Diego Police, acting on an anonymous tip, raided a bingo game in the recreation room of the Oakwood Apartments at 3883 Ingraham Street. Bingo equipment and about $55 in cash was confiscated by the authorities.
Swan Song, a new restaurant from the team that owned Krishna Mulvaney’s and the Rib Cage, opened on Mission Boulevard in a location that began as Ye Billiard Den. Said one reviewer, “You’re walking into Rick’s in Casablanca. It’s all there except Sam.”
Chief Jerry Sanders, on his last day in office after 26 years with the San Diego Police Department, returned to the mean streets of Pacific Beach, where he began his career as a 22-year-old rookie.
Lt. Bill Nelson, one of his closest friends, was his partner on this last patrol. Their first call was to handle two drunks who were disturbing employees at Jack-in-the-Box. Sanders recalled his first day on the job when he got lost on the way back to Northern Division and had to stop and ask for directions.
