KING CITY — A Friday morning walk along Broadway attracted 50 people from near and far to King City’s Downtown on May 1 for an event called “History, Food and Fun.”
This was the first major event sponsored by the recently opened King City History Center. Restaurants visited included the Cork and Plough, LaPlaza Bakery, Tacos La Potranca de Jalisco and Pozzi’s Stampede. In addition, restaurants providing treats were Hestia Coffee, Castros Bakery and ice cream from Paleteria y Neveria La Michoacana.
Special guest at the event was David “Andy” King from Oakland. He is the great-great-grandson of city founder Charles H. King. Also in attendance were Glen McGowan of Salinas and Bruce McGowan of Solvang. The McGowan brothers are great-great-grandsons of the Reverend James Shannon McGowan, the founder of St. Mark’s Church in King City, built in 1890.
Special presentations on the tour were given by John Jernigan, who spoke about the 23 gas stations along King City’s Highway 101 from 1920 to 1967; Jose Barroso, who presented a history of St. Mark’s Church; and Steve Wilson, who did a reading from Chapter 14 of John Steinbeck’s “East of Eden,” describing the life of early school teachers. Steinbeck’s mother, Olive Hamilton, was one of the first public school teachers in King City in 1890.
The day started at Vanderhurst Commons, formerly the Community Church across from City Hall at 209 South Vanderhurst Ave. The building was recently purchased by Jeff Hinderscheid and Tom Savage and is being converted into an event center with offices for rent.
From there, the group walked past the Downtown Plaza to the new King City Visitor and History Center at 110 North Vanderhurst Ave., where they were greeted by Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Janet Bessemer and Fiona Harris, museum assistant for San Lorenzo Park.
Participants drove from as far away as Gardnerville, Nev.; Tipton (near Tulare); Salinas; Seaside; Atascadero; Solvang; Paso Robles; Atascadero and Union City (in the Bay Area).
The event was co-sponsored by the Monterey County Agricultural and Rural Life Museum at San Lorenzo Park, the San Antonio Valley Historical Association and the King City Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture.
