July 1, 1998

The PTA and the bar crowd: both part of history

The history of a city is a conglomeration of the individual histories of a lot of people, and of the many organizations they form. Some of those organizations are long lasting. Some are ephemeral, like puddles in a backyard after a rain. If you've lived in Pacifica for very long, chances are you've joined a number of organizations. You made new friends. You've helped your children grow and learn. You've promoted causes, or the religion, that were important to you. In the process you've become a part of Pacifica history. Tribune Publisher Emeritus Bill Drake, Pacifica's first City Manager Karl Baldwin, Helen James, Clara MacDonald and I are currently in the process of preparing a comprehensive history of the city of Pacifica for the Pacifica Historical Society.

To properly recognize many of the people and groups who've been an important part of Pacifica over the years, we want to include the dates that organizations were founded, brief descriptions of goals and accomplishments, and the names of top officers, whether they were called President, Chair, Minister, Governor, Director, or, like the top person in E Clampus Vitus, Noble Grand Humbug.

In addition, we're looking for brief descriptions of incidents, events and activities from these organizations that have influenced Pacifica's history.

If you can help, it would be helpful if you can talk it over with other members of your group and compile a list of your top officers through the years and the dates in which they were in office, and a summary of the group's local history. Please include your name, address and phone number, or that of a knowledgable contact person.. The Historical Society's address is P.O. Box 752, Pacifica, CA 94044. If you have any questions, call Bill Drake or Pacifica Historical Society President Jerry Crow.

As I thought of how I would answer my own questions, it reminded me of how important to Lydia and me, and to our kids, have been the various organizations we've been involved with over the years, starting with the Historical Society itself. Pacifica 4H was helpful to my kids, in more ways than I can count. The Pacifica Co-operative Nursery School, the Alternative Class, The American Association of University Women, Pacifica Rotary, the Pacifica Friends of the Libraries, The Pacifica Democrats, the late lamented Linda Mar Neighborhood Organization, all have meant a great deal to me and my family at one time or another.

Each of us have a different mix of organizations we cherish. There are some groups which draw their members from certain churches and not from others. The incorporation committees were important, though before my time in Pacifica. Gardening clubs, political clubs, even groups like Alcoholics Anonymous are there to fill needs. In its early days Pacifica was known for being divided politically into the PTA/Boy Scout/Girl Scout crowd and the bar crowd. There was probably some overlap even there, but both groups were an integral and important part of the community, and all made their contribution to coming together as an incorporated city.

Paul Azevedo can be reached by e-mail, at reactor@wenet.net.