“When the Legend Gets in the Way of the Facts, Print the Legend.”
(Part Deux)
Presenter: Alexander D. Bevil
Most people know that the definition of an “expert” at a lecturer is “someone from out of town with slides” [or a PowerPoint presentation these days]. However, that wasn’t the case at last month’s SDCAS meeting, when, due to a glitch, I was unable to utilize a digital projector. Trooper that I was, I gave a shortened ad hoc lecture sans “slides”. In appreciation, SDCAS invited me back to give my full presentation [with a back-up projector and laptop] at the February meeting.
The rescheduled presentation/lecture will focus on the validity of the inscription, or “legend” written on the bronze plaque for California State Historical Landmark Monument No. 57: La Punta de Los Muertos [Dead Men’s Point].
Located on the SE corner of Pacific Highway and West Harbor Drive, a few blocks north of Seaport Village, the freestanding dressed stone monument was dedicated in 1954 as the burial place of [Spanish] “sailors and marines who had died during Juan Pantoja y Arriaga’s 1782 survey of San Diego Bay. As such, it would be a historic archaeological site worthy of preservation and interpretation.
The problem is, about 75 yards across from the monument at the northeast corner of Ruocco Park, is another bronze monument. Albeit much smaller and laid horizontally on a low concrete platform like a grave marker. Dated March 6, 1932, it also memorializes “La Punta de los Muertos” as a historic landmark. However, its inscription honors those “crews sick with scurvy . . . [who] died and were buried here” in 1769! But why, then, does the May 25, 1932 California State Landmark nomination indicate Dead Men’s Point’s historical significance as the burial place of those who died in 1782!
Perhaps it was noted local historian Winifred Davidson’s condescending newspaper article printed on the day of the first monument’s placement that convinced the local and state landmarks committees to change their stance in support of the 1782 date? This in spite of her having served on the local committee that recommended the 1769 burial date; as we; as her husband, the director of the San Diego Historical Society, also promoting the latter date and location.
I will argue that the 1782 date’s historical accuracy was based on specious second-hand information dating back to the 1850s. I will continue to argue that Pantoja, who marked it Punta de Los Muertos on his 1782 chart of San Diego Bay, did so based on common knowledge only 13 years after the 1769 expedition.
Using historic maps and additional local newspaper articles, I will argue that, regardless of the location of any historic burials, subsequent modern intrusions like landfills for steam or electric rail lines and landscaping projects destroyed their historic integrity.
Nevertheless, I will show that Punta de Los Muertos would still qualify as a historic site, because its significance lies in its association with historic events and individuals. This would include an important historical event overlooked by historians that had a profound effect on the development of downtown San Diego as well as the location of the U.S./Mexico International Boundary. In addition, the two bronze plaques may also qualify as contributing historic objects for their association with notable statewide historic preservation groups.
Hopefully, after my lecture/presentation, the SDCAS would support my planed update of the 72-year-old CHL nomination. The only problem is: who is responsible for changing the information on the bronze plaque? There may be certain state and/or local laws that might help.