La Honda History - The book, "Forget-Me-Not Under the Redwoods" (Kendall Bartley Towne)
I think the first time I saw a reference to the book "Forget-Me-Not Under the Redwoods" was on the La Honda website at http://www.geocities.com/lahonda94020/ . I didn't see the web site owners name anywhere on the site, so he can remain anonymous, but most of us know who he is :-) - but please check out this site, because it has a lot of great stuff out there.
Kendall Bartley Towne, known as Pete, spent a good deal of his youth around La Honda. Later on, he founded Towne Ford in Redwood City, but managed two ranches near La Honda. Forget-Me-Not Under the Redwoods" is a self-published collection of his memoirs that he completed shortly before his death in 1992. I called Towne Ford to try to contact Pete's relatives, but was unsuccessful. If you know of any of his relatives, please let me know. In the next couple months, I plan on publishing excerpts from his book.
Boots and Saddles "You can't write and reminisce about the sleepy mountain village of La Honda without wishing the days of the Boots and Saddles were still in existence. It is necessary to go back to the Keifer Brothers because they were the original owners of the land where the Boots and Saddles was located and operating at a much later period of time. Pete Towne
Keifers were from a French family who came to La Honda in the early days. Their resort was built mostly for family. Every year they would stage a celebration in honor of the French Fourth of July. Everyone was invited! Bastille Day!
As history goes, Alix Bonzagni bought their property and he was the man responsible for the very nice log building that became the Boots and Saddles. The restaurant comprised a bar, kitchen and dining area, large and homey. Off that was a separate room used for dances and special parties.
The MacCarthys in the '50s or '60s bought the property and the buildings as a family-owned and operated venture. Mac was the bartender. Grace and family and friends cooked and ran the kitchen. As you walked into the bar, Mac greeted everyone by name. There was a one-lane miniature bowling alley and if you had to wait for your reservation many a patron could get into the act.
The food was something you dream about. All fresh from local ranches--fruit, vegetables, meat (beef, pork, lamb, chicken etc.) fresh fish from Half Moon Bay, and Grace's home- with County Geologist and Roads Division. Time line TBA as availability of well driller bad we can't go back to such food and pleasant surroundings. Once a week there was a square dance. Old Cowboy Slim played the violin and his wife played the piano as locals called the dances.
It was unfortunately burned to the ground. Boots and Saddles is just a memory in ashes. The MacCarthys moved to Puerta Vallarta, Mexico. A sad ending to such perfection and enjoyable times.