By Judy Salamacha

Hiking up the Pecho Coast Trail, it is easy to imagine you’ve crossed over into another dimension. Only seaside can you spy, the carved, flattened space seemingly suspended three-quarters up the jagged cliff.
The precipice houses a light station compound built 125 years ago to protect Port Harford  and San Luis Bay. It might have been lost to decay, vandalism or demolition, but for the efforts of PG&E and other corporate and individual supporters who donated money and 85,000 hours of sweat equity to preserve the Central Coast treasure, now listed on the U.S. National Registry of Historic Places.
Built by Ah Louis, a Chinese-American banker, labor contractor, farmer, and shopkeeper from San Luis Obispo, the three buildings reveal docent-told secrets during public tours. Would that the original walls, staircases, fireplaces, two 50,000-gallon water cisterns or the dazzling Fresnel lens could ooze-out more stories about the 1800 to 1900 lifestyles of the families tending the lighthouse, the World War II Army regiment on protective assignment, or daily duties of U.S. Coast Guard officers — all residents of the light station at some point during its active history from 1888 to 1974.
Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers is a non-profit organization that’s been restoring and maintaining the light station since 1995. Future projects and ongoing activities could use more help from new volunteers, groups who want to book an event or tour, or supporters of their upcoming fundraisers. For example, Saturday, May 9 attend a traditional Victorian tea at the lighthouse the day before Mother’s Day.
Aug. 14 will be the party of the year when 125 guests will celebrate a 125th anniversary with dinner, auction, and music by Louie Ortega. Tours and activities can be booked a: www.sanluislighthouse.org or call 540-5771.
“It is the most beautiful setting on the Central Coast with a history we should all be familiar with,” said PG&E meteorologist, John Lindsay, president of the Lighthouse Keepers board. The stunning view is available any day of the week for hikers of the 3.75-mile Pecho Coast Trail or kayakers who join the trail from the bay.
However, Wednesdays and Saturdays are tour days. Visitors can schedule guided hikes with PG&E docents or take an adventurous trolley ride to the lighthouse after PG&E paid to pave the roadway that winds up the mountain. The lighthouse sits on 30 acres surrounded by PG&E’s Lands Stewardship Program, which manages 12 miles of coastal lands between Point San Luis and Point Buchon.
Lindsay credits the Point San Luis Lighthouse education program developed for 4th grade students as one of the reasons PG&E received the 2014 Wildlife Council’s Corporate Lands for Learning Award. All expenses for lighthouse tours and transportation are funded for qualifying schools through a grant gifted by the Harold J. Miossi Trust.
Executive Director, Kristi Balzer, said lighthouse history comes alive through the interpretations of the volunteer docents. “Each of us have our favorite stories,” she said, “but we all talk about Lucy Brohard, who lived in the keeper’s home. The rooms were decorated with the help of Questers de Tolosa based on Lucy’s girlhood memories. We know she was an avid reader who anxiously anticipated quarterly boat delivery of books.”
Today the bay is sleepy, but 125 years ago it was a thriving commercial port. In the 1870s, it averaged 400 ships a year and exported more crude oil than anywhere in the United States. Realizing a light station was needed, Congressman Romualdo Pacheco introduced a first funding bill in 1877, but funds were not authorized until 1886 and it took a near disaster to finally start construction.
In 1888 a ship named the Queen of the Pacific was about 15 miles out from the harbor when it began to take on water. Fear of the rocks at the harbor entrance made it slow going until the ship hit bottom in 22-feet of water about 500 feet from the pier. Luckily, no lives were lost and Congress was finally convinced to start the project that was finished in 1890.
Each lighthouse has its unique signal. The Point San Luis Light Station received a 4th Order Fresnel lens that flashes alternate red and white light every 30 seconds indicating “welcome, safe harbor.” It can be seen 17 nautical miles out to sea.
In 1969, the Fresnel lens was retired and replaced by an automated electric light. It continues to be a welcome light to the harbor although the Coast Guard decommissioned the light station in 1974.

Judy Salamacha’s column is special to Tolosa Press. Reach her at:  or 801-1422.