Tales of the San Francisco Peninsula
by
Theron G. Cady
A series of articles first published in 'Peninsula Life Magazine'
Published by C-T Publishers, San Carlos, California, 1948
Almost a century ago when
Redwood City was struggling desperately to become a town, a man by the
name of William Shaw built and operated a general merchandise store near
the intersection of Broadway and Main Street. The building, a crude
affair of rough boards, was about sixteen by twenty-four feet in size and
was to serve the two or three hundred settlers who had previously "squatted"
on the 35,000-acre Rancho de las Pulgas, then the property of the Arguello
family. Shaw did a flourishing business but at the end of four months
he sold out to George Thatcher and Company so he could devote more time
to his favorite occupation of card playing.
As time went on the town
of Redwood City grew, building going up on each side of the creek.
Business was brisk on both sides but when a customer wished to make a purchase
from a merchant on the other side he had the problem of the creek to contend
with. There was no bridge and in order for him to gain the other
side he was compelled to either walk around the creek, cross it by boat,
or wade through the slime and mud. The division of the town by the
creek, which was a mere trickle most of the time caused little hardships
on the citizenry but at times of low-tide it presented a serious problem.
Boats could not navigate the mud so it was either walk around or wade.
For some time Mr. Thatcher watched the people of Redwood City negotiate
the creek by various means. He saw many skirts soiled and many youngsters
flat on their faces in the mud before he was struck with a brilliant idea.
From his supply house
he ordered a huge pair of boots rivaling in size those of the giant in
Jack and the Beanstalk. When the "seven-league" boots arrived Mr.
Thatcher was in a position to offer his customers and friends a real service.
The boots were hung on a convenient nail inside the store to await their
first wearer. Soon they were in great demand and every man, woman
and child in town knew where the boots were to be found and of the valuable
service they rendered.
The high-top boots of
fabulous size belonged to the entire village and most any time during low-tide
they were in use "ferrying" all comers across the creek in safety.
So great was the service rendered by these boots that long after the creek
was bridged and the use of the "ferry" had passed, the villagers related
to their children many tall yarns of the wonderful strength possessed by
those who wore them. Today, the high boots have long vanished but
the colorful tales spun about "Thatcher's Ferry" will live forever.