Farallon's in 1964

Rant - Farallon's in 1964

My Dad (and my Mom by default) was in the Coast Guard in the early-to-mid 60's and they were stationed on the Farallon's for approximately 2-years. When their duty was up the government told them to burn their residence to the ground, so he did.

My Mom said the most exciting thing that happened while they were there was the boat crash---because the owner had just cashed out a ton of money, put it in a boot, and then crashed into the Farallon's. She said they spent DAYS looking for the boot, which nobody found.

Lastly, is a picture of how you got onto the Island. Imagine doing that with your 1-month old child. I have 1100 slides that I've scanned in, and if anybody has an idea for a Gallery, Expose, featured something-or-other, I'd be all ears. My mom is still alive and doing well. I'd like get her involved, b/c this is a part of her past she is fond of, but 47 years removed.

Rant by 415noe

11 comments

H20MansLibrary
45 weeks ago

Those are awesome pics. Who wouldn't like to burn down at least one big thing in your life?

madpie
45 weeks ago

amazing pictures. I don't have any idea for a more substantive way to present this stuff, but it's very interesting. Would love to see more.

hurricanewe
45 weeks ago

I'm assuming you've read The Devil's Teeth given your familial connection to the islands. On the off chance you haven't, I'd highly recommend it. Although it's primarily focused on great white sharks and the local marine biologists, there's a ton of historical stuff included as well.

http://us.macmillan.com/thedevilsteeth/SusanCasey

congested
45 weeks ago

Nice history! I live downtown and I see these historical tours quite a bit around the neighborhood. I am sure there would be an interest in this sort of thing with photos and a presentation. I don't think you would ever get rich but but people to get into history to get paid.

Cazart
45 weeks ago

So there be tray-sure at the Farrallones? Arrrr.

sticker
45 weeks ago

Wow! Would love to see more pics. At a minimum, you could set up a Tumblr to host 'em, yeah?

And, that looked like a pretty nice house y'all lived in. Any idea why the gov't would have you burn it to the ground? Top secret experiments on sharks with lasers or something?

Tenderloin tom
45 weeks ago

How that song go"burnin down tha house"

fatnewt
45 weeks ago

great pics.

wavecraver
45 weeks ago

Rare tape of statement by the gov't ad hoc committee tasked with the soon to be abandoned Farallon's house problem:

415noe
45 weeks ago

Thanks for the feedback, interest, and comments. I mistakenly wrote "residence" when I should have wrote office/command center. My parents had a dinky one bedroom, not sure if its one of the remaining structures currently out there. I need to check with my mom.

As for Devils Teeth, its in my stack of unread books (and I read a fair amount), and intend to read it. Honestly, I like sharks, they're beautiful, but I've completely disassociated myself from all things "shark" just for my own comfort level. Might seem stupid to you, but it works for me. Ya'll remember the Hawaii pro-surfer getting out during his heat at OB last year, right? I bet he's watched TOO many shark weeks. Hahahaaa.

Quadrafino
45 weeks ago

In junior high My childhood friend's house was totaled in the loma prieta quake. His dad was a firefighter and some how worked out a way to have the house burned down. We got to watch. Freaky and crazy thing to see a house burn to the ground. They did it in stages but in the end is was an inferno
I would also recommend the Devils Teeth read though not her subsequent book "the wave" couldn't get into that one as it was Laird-centric