[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 155 (Friday, November 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2211-E2212]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INCORPORATION OF PACIFICA, CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 6, 1997

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on November 22 of this year, Mr. Speaker, 
the city of Pacifica, CA, will celebrate the 40th anniversary of its 
incorporation. I am delighted and honored to call this anniversary to 
the attention of my colleagues here in the Congress, and I invite them 
to join me in congratulating the citizens and the city leaders of 
Pacifica on this noteworthy occasion.
  Although the city of Pacifica is only 40 years old, the area is one 
of the most important historical areas in the State of California. In 
November 1769, a group of 63 Spanish explorers under the leadership of 
Don Gaspar de Portola climbed the mountain now known as Sweeney Ridge 
which lies within the boundaries of the city of Pacifica. They were the 
first Europeans to view the glorious panorama of the San Francisco Bay. 
It is noteworthy, Mr. Speaker, that the birthplace of de Portola--
Balaguer, Spain, in the region of Catalonia--became a sister city of 
Pacifica in 1970.
  Through the tireless efforts of many local Pacificans as well as 
other concerned citizens of our peninsula, coupled with the consistent 
and long-term effort of a number of us here in the Congress, Sweeney 
Ridge--the Plymouth Rock of the west coast--was included within the 
Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1984. Eighteen acres of land in 
Pacifica at the Portola discovery site have been designated a national 
historical landmark.
  Mr. Speaker, lime pits beside Calera Creek in what is now Pacifica 
were exploited to provide whitewash which was used for the Presidio of 
San Francisco in 1776. As early as 1785, crops were planted in San 
Pedro Valley in Pacifica at the outpost of Mission Delores. Two years 
later, willow fences were built to keep grizzly bears from the 
surrounding mountains away from the crops. In 1839 Don Francisco 
Sanchez was given a Mexican land grant by the Governor of the Mexican 
State of Alta California with boundaries similar to the present city 
boundaries of Pacifica. In 1846, Don Francisco moved to what is now 
called the Sanchez Adobe, which still stands on Linda Mar Boulevard. 
Throughout the first century of its history, this building was used as 
a home, hotel, bordello, speakeasy, bootleg saloon, hunting lodge, and 
artichoke packing shed. The building was acquired in 1947 by San Mateo 
County, and it is currently maintained as a county museum and park.
  Pacifica remained an agricultural area until this century. In 1907 a 
quarry was opened in what is now Pacifica to provide stone for the 
rebuilding the city of San Francisco following the devastating 
earthquake of 1906. At about that same time, the Ocean Shore Railroad 
was extended into the area, and the development of housing in the 
Pacifica area began. The Little Brown Church, Anderson's Shore, and the 
San Pedro School--which later became city hall--also date from this 
period.
  After World War II, growth accelerated in an effort to meet the 
housing needs of the many young families moving to the peninsula. On 
November 22, 1957, 10 communities--

[[Page E2212]]

Edgemar, Pacific Manor, Manor Village, Westview, Sharp Park, Fairway 
Park, Vallemar, Rockaway Beach, Linda Mar, and Pedro Point--were 
jointed together and incorporated as the city of Pacifica.
  The name given the new city is the Spanish word for ``peace''--
``pacifica.'' Although the area has a long and distinguished Spanish 
heritage, the name of the city does not derive from the early Spanish 
settlers or explorers of that area. It was the product of a contest 
held in 1957 to find an appropriate name for the newly incorporated 
city. The winning name was derived from an 80-foot statue by sculptor 
Ralph Stackpole, which was created as the theme symbol for the Golden 
Gate International Exposition held on Treasure Island in 1939-1940. 
Although the 80-foot statue was destroyed after the Exposition, two of 
the sculptor's working models have been saved and both are now in 
Pacifica--one is over the front stairs of the Pacifica City Hall and 
the other is in the city council chambers.
  ``Wisdom in Progress'' is the slogan adopted when the city was 
incorporated, and that phrase has indeed marked the development of 
Pacifica since its establishment. The city has constructed a fishing 
pier, an important facility for visitors and residents to enjoy the 
ocean. Pacifica has also fostered a number of important projects to 
establish and improve the outstanding quality of life its fortunate 
residents enjoy.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite the Congress to join with me today in extending 
congratulations and best wishes to the 40,000 residents of Pacifica on 
the important 40th anniversary of the founding of this excellent city.

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