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Photos Sourced By: USMC Media Gallery 

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Camp Pendleton

Oceanside shares its northern border with Camp Pendleton, the largest military base in California. Established as a Marine Corps base, today Camp Pendleton is a training ground for various tactical forces across all the armed forces, with a particular focus on infantry and amphibious sea-to-shore training. Here are 5 things you may not know about Camp Pendleton. 

 

1. Camp Pendleton is the Coastal Frontier

• The Camp covers over 125,000 acres and 17 miles of coastline, and is one of the last undeveloped expanses of California’s densely populated coast.
• The coastal areas have remained virtually unchanged since 1769, when Gaspar de Portolà led an expedition to the area to establish 21 Franciscan missions for the Spanish monarchy (later christening the area Santa Margarita).

2. The Gift of Land

• Following the Mexican War of Independence, Mexico’s governor gave land grants to wealthy business owners, politicians, and military leaders throughout present-day Southern California.
• In 1841, the area of Camp Pendleton was given to two wealthy brothers, Andrès and Pio Pico, who named the land Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores.
• Due to large gambling debts, however,  the brothers were forced to turn over the deed to the ranch in 1863, to Englishman John Forster (Pio’s brother-in-law), who later developed the property into a thriving cattle ranch.

Learn More About Camp Pendleton’s History 

 

3. An Honorable Namesake

• The base is named after Major General Joseph Henry Pendleton, a distinguished Marine Corps veteran who commanded all Naval forces during the Santo Domingo expedition of 1916, as well as Pacific tours of duty aboard the USS Dakota and Jupiter.
• While stationed at various bases on both coasts, Pendleton’s time spent at San Diego’s North Island base cemented his firm belief and advocacy of a permanent west coast training ground for the US naval forces.
• On September 25, 1942, seven months after Pendleton’s death, President Franklin D. Roosevelt officially dedicated the San Diego base named for the late General.

 

4. Hit Me With Your Best Shot

 

• Camp Pendleton is home to the Edson Range, a firing range complex that holds the four largest firing ranges on the base.
• Named after former Marine Corps General “Red” Mike Edson, the range has been operational since 1964.
• It is nicknamed “Up North” by recruits and drill instructors.
• Edson Range also hosts the Crucible, a 4-day combat simulation with little food or sleep for its participants.

 

5. A Safe Haven Within

• The San Diego Zoo gifted 14 bison to Camp Pendleton in 1973. As of today, there are approximately 90 bison aboard the base. Of the two wild conservation herds of bison in the state of California, one of them is at Camp Pendleton.
• Camp Pendleton is home to the breeding grounds of several animals, including the Western Snowy Plover and the California Gnatcatcher.
• Endangered animals such as the Pacific pocket mouse and the Stephens’ kangaroo rat also occupy  the base.
• The Pacific Pocket Mouse was thought to be extinct until 1993, when a small group was discovered on the base.
• Preferring coastal dunes and vegetation for their habitation and diet needs, Pacific Pocket Mice have never been recorded further than 2.5 miles from the ocean.

 

Want to learn more about Camp Pendleton’s rich history? Visit the Camp Pendleton Historical Society.

Visit the Marines’ Camp Pendleton page to learn more about the base’s current events.

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Historian Kristi Hawthorne will present Histories and Mysteries: Legends of Sunken Treasure, a 1-hour program exploring the claims of Dr. Joseph J. Markey for two shows: Friday, July 21 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, July 23 at 2:00 pm at Oceanside Theatre Company’s Studio 219, 219 N. Coast Highway, downtown Oceanside.

For over 30 years Dr. Joseph J. Markey spoke of Spanish gold buried in the hills of the San Luis Rey Valley for which only he had the map. Later Markey would claim that the Ship Trinidad carrying $10 million of gold sunk off the coast of Oceanside. He “discovered” numerous artifacts, including coins, skeletons and burials sites — but what became of these discoveries? Is there gold waiting to be found? People want to believe, but what is the truth? Was it a hoax?

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Haunted Oceanside

Sarah’s Story: The lady in blue at Hill Street Café

As seen in The Osider Magazine, September/October 2016, Vol. 3 Issue 5.
Words by Amber Lussier. Photos by Zach Cordner. Historical Research and Images by Kristi Hawthorne (Oceanside Historical Society)

The two-story Victorian style home on the 101 has been a staple of Oceanside for nearly 130 years, but before it was the home to Hill Street Café, it was home to a woman who still resides there in spirit.

In 1888, the home was originally located at 602 North Clementine Street and was owned by Martin S. and Sarah Weitzel. Martin was a doctor and druggist, which provided their family of twelve children with a stable life. It wasn’t until 1889, when Dr. Weitzel passed away, that sorrow struck the family and surrounding community. Sarah continued to live in the home until it was sold in 1904. She relocated to Los Angeles, but passed away in 1906 at the age of 62.

Between the years of 1904 and 1923, the property was sold many times, but in 1924 Peder and Martha Larsen purchased the home. Together they had five children. Peder was a blacksmith and operated a machine shop until his tragic death in 1931. His death was due to an automobile accident on Mission Road, which was described as a shocking head-on collision. A total of three people died as a result of the accident, including Peder. His wife, Martha, was severely injured, but survived and remained living in the home until her death in 1964.

Although an entire lifetime separated these women, both experienced the loss of their husbands while living in the house. However, it’s believed that one of these women still resides inside the home that’s now known as Hill Street Café.

“There’s stuff going on like doors slamming, and we’ve had furniture and artwork moved around during the night.” said Dan Callaway, the owner of Hill Street Café. “The previous owners said the house was haunted and I didn’t know if that was true, but we’ve experienced some things.” The most popular story involves a woman wearing a light blue Victorian style dress. She’s been seen walking through the home on multiple occasions. “We just want to be good stewards of the home,” added Dan.

When we planned the paranormal investigation, we had two goals in mind—to be respectful of the home’s history, and to collect evidence on what’s truly happening inside the café. We’re strong believers of “debunking,” or providing reasonable explanations for the things people are experiencing.

Our paranormal team included Pascal van den Berg (investigator), Jace Gardenier (video/monitoring), and Zach Cordner (photographer and Creative Director/Co-Founder of The Osider). And I’m the “empath,” which means I’m able to sense and interpret energy that others may not be in tune with.

The investigation was conducted the night of Saturday, August 20, 2016. Before we started the hunt, we closed all of the windows, secured the doors, turned off the ceiling fans, set up our cameras, and flipped off the lights throughout the old Victorian house.

We conducted our investigation upstairs, where many of the sightings allegedly occurred. Things started off slow. Our K2 meters were not detecting anything significant, so we decided to use a piece of new equipment—the Spirit Box. This is an ITC (Instrumental Trans Communication) device that scans different radio frequencies to create “white noise.” Many within the paranormal community believe the Spirit Box allows spirits to vocalize and communicate with the living. Although we spent a significant amount of time on the second floor, we didn’t experience any paranormal activity.

We discovered the wood floors caused the furniture to vibrate when someone walked down the hallway, so this could definitely explain furniture being moved or repositioned. Our K2 meters also detected a high electromagnetic field in the west and south bedrooms, which appears to be attributed to the old electrical wiring that’s present inside the home.

It wasn’t until my feet landed on the main floor, that I picked up the presence of a single energy source or spirit. I was instantly pulled to the front porch. I had a nagging sense of someone sitting at the table near the north door, so I pulled out a chair and sat at the same table. Almost instantly, I felt the energy fade away. After a few minutes, I zeroed in on another table located on the front porch. We set up our equipment and started to document. What we were about to encounter would change the entire course of the investigation.

We asked if there was anyone present who’d like to speak with us. After a few small bleeps on the radar, we embarked on a lengthy Q&A session that involved us asking for previous owners to step forward and communicate with us.

One by one, we went down the list and asked for these people by name and also by describing the circumstances that surrounded their deaths, but our meters didn’t move. We purposely saved the woman in blue for last. According to the Oceanside Historical Society, the woman’s description was very close to the original owner Sarah Weitzel.

“Sarah Weitzel, are you here with us?” The moment this question was asked, both K2 meters spiked to red (or the maximum level). Through a series of questions, we were able to piece together a complete sentence from who we believe is Sarah.

As our questions continued, we found ourselves getting off track, but each time we asked, “Sarah, are you still with us?” the K2 meters would spike to red and stay there for many seconds. We asked this question a total of five times and each time we received a prompt response. These intervals didn’t seem to carry a pattern or be triggered by other equipment.

When we started to notice Sarah fading away, we powered up the Spirit Box. “Sarah, you can use this device to talk to us … are you trying to use it?” Both K2 meters spiked to red.

“Sarah can we (the living) see you?” At that moment, a woman’s voice could be heard through the Spirit Box saying, “Oh, yes.”

“Sarah, is it a struggle to communicate with us like this?” Again, both K2 meters spiked to red and held for several seconds.

That was the last question we were able to ask her before she faded away for the last time. But before Sarah left us, she was able to share other information, including a complete sentence by using our iPad and the K2 meters in tandem:

“Let the community know I want them to remember my family who lived in this home.”

Sarah was the only spirit we made contact with that night, but it was unlike any encounter we’ve experienced as a team. She came through clearly and seemed to have purpose. Her energy felt very content, peaceful, and intelligent, but I couldn’t help but get the sense that she’s lonely.

Next time you pass Hill Street Café, take a few minutes to appreciate the beauty and history of the home. It deserves to be appreciated, cherished, and cared for—just like the lady in blue.

Hill Street Cafe | 524 S. Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA 92054 | 760-966-0985

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Culture of Surfing Showcased at the California Surf Museum

The California Surf Museum chronicles the rich history of surfing through fascinating exhibits, programs and memorabilia. Former board member, Boyd Scofield, shares his insights on how the museum started and the direction that it’s taking with Visit Oceanside’s Guest Blogger, Jolee Pink.

About Boyd Scofield: Local Business Consultant, Emcee/Announcer, Media/PR, Musicologist at Ghost Rider Productions. Greater San Diego Area Public Relations and Communications. National Award Winning Radio Personality/TV Announcer. Owner/CEO of Surfbooks.com. Oceanside Resident for 7 Years. Avid Surfer.

Jolee Pink: What’s your personal connection to surfing?

Boyd Scofield: My love and afinity for Mother Ocean has been a lifelong endeavor. Over the past 54 years, I have surfed the entire West coast fromBrookings, Oregon to Land’s End in Baja. I moved to Hawaii in 1980 to pursue my budding radio career and lived there for 29 wonderful years. During my Hawaii tenure, I would vacation here yearly and eventually moved back to Oceanside to be closer to family. The town has always held a special place in my heart. I still work for Surf News NetworkHawaii and have been an announcer for the prestigious Triple Crown of Surfing as well as the annual Duke Kahanamoku Ocean Fest. I served on the board of directors for the California Surf Museum (CSM) as their media and PR guy for four years. I still consult with CSM on an informal basis regarding Surf Magazines and Books and surfing history.  I currently own the business and website of Surfbooks.com the world’s best resource for surfing literature. I also still attend their exciting events and exhibits. It is a wonderful, evolving facility and a valuable community asset.

JP: What year did the surf museum open?

BS: The initial “seed” idea was planted in 1986 by Encinitas surfer Stuart Resor, and George’s Restaurant owner Jane Schmauss. They both realized the important, positive impact surfing has had on the world and the importance of preserving that history. To begin, they began displaying older surfboards and historic surfing artifacts and photos at George’s Restaurant. As people’s interest grew, and after several venue changes, CSM moved into their current Oceanside facility on Pier View Way in 2009. Jane Schmauss still actively remains on staff as the official CSM Historian and is always happy to exchange her wealth of stories and information to one and all upon request.

JP: How many square feet of exhibit space does it house?

BS: I believe it to be around 5,000 square feet of exhibit space. This is good because enthusiasts are continually bringing in and donating items of historical interest. Due to the donors generosity I’m sure that somewhere down the road CSM will need to move into a larger facility. As you know, today, interest in surfing, and, in particular, its history has never been higher. With the growth of social media and the internet creating even more awareness of this exciting sport, CSM will be bulging at the seams pretty soon. Surfing was just recently accepted by the IOC as a new sport within the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

JP: What is the general mission of the surf museum?

BS: I quote from their website: “The California Surf Museum serves as an international repository and resource center on the lifestyle sport of surfing through capturing, preserving, and chronicling its art, culture and heritage for the education and enjoyment of future generations.”

JP: Is there a particular display or surfboard that you find astonishing?

BS: There are many really. The Bethany Hamilton surfboard, the one she was riding when she lost her arm in that vicious shark attack on Kauai years ago, immediately comes to mind. I have watched vistors marvel at the size of the missing chunk of surfboard foam the shark took along with Bethany’s arm. The very fact that she survived the attack, recovered and then returned to the sport she loves months later to compete and eventually win contests is truly inspirational. The Hollywood film “Soul Surfer”, I believe, did a great job of telling her story. Looking at the surfboard she rode that fateful day still gives me, and visitors alike, what in Hawaii is known as a “chicken skin” moment. A viewing is not to be missed and it’s right here in Oceanside on display at CSM.

JP: What are some of the more interesting exhibits and/or events in the past?

BS: Well, how much time do we have? (laughs). ALL of the exhibits are fascinating and informative and presented in a way that is not overwhelming or boring. Which can be the case in some of the stodgier museums you might visit. I for one, really admire the older wooden boards that were ridden back at the turn of the last century and beyond. Many weighed over 100 pounds and you wonder how did they lug them down to the beach? Having started surfing myself in the 1960s, I also enjoy viewing the boards of that golden era that have now grown tremendously in value since then. Many that were discarded or thrown away by their original owners years ago now can command thousands of dollars at auction. It’s astounding! I enjoy it all. The historic photos, the trophies, the beachwear, the music, the lifestyle and the many surviving surfing legends that you can meet on any given day at CSM is exhilarating.

JP: Any exciting news on tap for the future?

BS: Exhibits and events are continually rotating and evolving. I encourage all residents and visitors alike to check the CSM website, sign up for their email newsletter and I guarantee they will find some fun event they want to attend or an exhibit they wish to view. They’re open 7 days a week from 10am to 4pm with extended hours on Thursday until 8pm to accommodate the Sunset Market crowds in the evening. At only $5 for adults and only $3 for seniors, students and military, it’s the best deal in town!

JP: How does the museum provide a positive resource for the community?

BS: CSM provides families an inexpensive, educational and inspirational venue to spend a few fun hours. Surfing has grown up from its initial “beach bum” image years ago into a multi-billion dollar industry that exudes a positive contribution to the community and a healthy lifestyle for young and old alike.

JP: What are some of the more interesting items available through the museum store?

BS: The CSM store is loaded with ocean related T-Shirts, Surf Mags and Books, artifacts, posters, awesome photography and more. It’s the perfect place for gift items for friends far and near.

JP: Is there anything you would like to add?

 BS: Only that I am glad my Mother took me down to the Oceanside Pier on that memorable day in 1962 where I discovered the sport of surfing. It literally changed my life forever in a very positive and often, for me, spiritual way. Riding a wave to shore is an experience that is difficult to put into words. The fun, exhilaration and health benefits are well documented by many others than me. I concur. I also want to encourage your readers to visit CSM not just once, but often. It will always put a happy smile on their face. Now, let’s go surfing! Aloha!

Throughout the year, Oceanside plays host to a variety of surfing tournaments and contests for all ages and skill levels. For additional information and listings of the upcoming competitions, or about your personal favorite, check out the Oceanside Surf Contests page!

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