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The dashing young Scot, an entrepreneur with a sense of adventure, married the petite brunette, one of the early Californianos
in 1852. As he completed the purchase of the 1,162 acres of the Rancho de San Benito a year later, it was assumed that a "Housewarmimg"
might have taken place in 1855 - after the striking salt-box was built and furnished. Part owner of the elegant El Dorado
Saloon on San Francisco's Dupont Street, across from Portsmouth Square, James Johnston had access to the most fashionable
furnishings, china and silver available in San Francisco for the proper Yankee house built for his bride, PetraMaria de Jara.
That was 150 years ago. The back 12 feet, the The White House of Half Moon Bay's "lean-to", lost to winds, earthquake
or collapse -- has been restored and the house is painted white again The flower garden that became a pig sty once more
blooms with heritage roses.
To celebrate its sesquicentennial, a FIESTA was held, May 14, 2005, by the Johnston House
Foundation, Inc. The dedicated group of volunteers has been committed to the preservation and restoration of the house for
the past thirty-three years.
The party began with a barbeque lunch at The historic Ocean Shore Railroad Station,
now on the site. The menu in part from "Recipes 1776-2000 de Los Californianos", included barbecued beef, Carnitas-style pork,
Gazpacho salad of tomatoes, cucumber and onion, flour tortillas, pinto beans and cornbread, with Mexican wedding cookies and
fresh fruit for dessert. Lemonade and Mexican beer, Spanish wine and Sangria were served.
La Famillia Pena-Govea played historic Rancho music. The four-member band, dressed in Mexican attire, played the fiddle,
button accordian, guitar, trumpets, Guitarron bass and the Guira. And the musicians sang, too!
The house was open
for tours and talks were given in the Station. on the history, the family, the Californiano culture, the house itself and
how it survived other plans for it.
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