In
the early days, the only way to get to Point San Quentin was by boat
or from Greenbrae, now Larkspur Landing. The local people used horses
and wagons to get to
nearby villages.
In the late 1800's, a track was laid from San Rafael to Agnes Island,
a small island just a few yards off the point. The train brought
passengers to the island to connect with a ferry.
The
train was abandoned in the early 1900's. A road was buildt from San
Rafael to the ferry pier at San Quentin and replaced the railroad. A
toll booth was added, near San Rafael, and charged 25 cents to use.
It was still in use in 1920.
The
area between the toll booth, and the point, consisted mostly of
dairy farms. It was from these farms that milk for the people of San
Quentin was obtained. The Duffy boys used to deliver milk to the
village and prison and a number of years later Clint Duffy and
Charlie White had the job,
the
latter becoming warden
and administrative assistant at the prison
in the 1940's.
The
toll road, eventually, became part of Highway 17 and the toll was
removed. Today it a part of interstate 580 between the Richmond - San
Rafael bridge and San Rafael.