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Photo:
Dorothy Cowan collection
The
Bayview Hotel was two stories, built of brick and operated by a man
named Henry LeCante. He ran the bar and for a time operated a dining room.
One
time some men were drinking at the saloon when I entered to deliver
the morning paper. One of the men chided LeCante for being so fat.
LeCante turned to him and said, "Young man, can you vault over
this bar?" The young fellow admitted that he could not. LeCante
said, "Well, I can." They looked at him in amazement and
the young man said, "I'll bet you five dollars that you
can't." (See Photo below.)
Each
put a five dollar gold piece at the end of the bar. LeCante went to
the far end of the bar, ran half way back and leaped, making a
perfect hand spring and landing on his feet on the other side.
LeCante walked over, picked up the two five dollar gold pieces and
returned to his place behind the bar to the amazement of those present.
Le
Cante's cook was Chinese and we knew him as Charlie Le Cante. One
time, many years later when I returned home to San Quentin as an
adult, I saw Charlie walking slowly up the street. I had not seen him
in many years and he was old and partly blind. I said, "Charlie,
do you remember me?" He looked at me and nodded in the
affirmative. He said, "Yes, you Duffy kid! You Number One or
Number Two. I think you Number Two." I was surprised that he remembered.
Author:
William J. Duffy, Jr
Photo:
Donald Zubler collection
The
Bayview Hotel later became a grocery store and dwelling. The faded
sign painted on the brick decades ago still calls attention to its
former use. The store was operated by William Kenny. Later,
the Mc Gurk brothers ran the grocery store for a number of years. It
was a typical country store with barrel's on the floor for bulk items
and, behind the counter, shelves to the ceiling for food and
household items. A customer would ask for something and one of the Mc
Gurk brothers would get the item off the shelf on the wall or fill a
paper bag from the barrells.
After
the Mc Gurks, Mr. Miller ran the store for a couple of years. After
being closed for awhile Jack Strauss operated it, the latter for
about a year. When transportation to San Rafael stores carrying a
larger variety of items became convenient, this little country store
could no longer compete.
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