Beginning in the early 1900s, the Union Oil Company began its
key role in this little port village's economy. This town formed as
a "union town" - with the Company providing housing, a tab at the
local stores (which was sometimes forgiven if the fishermen fell on
hard times) and at one point showing a preference for hiring folks
who were capable playing baseball - for the Company team.
Across the road to the west, on the graded benches below Cave
Landing Road, is the location of that company housing,
affectionately called "cottage row." Here, at any given time, lived
11 or 12 fortunate families from 1908 through 1941.
There were six "old" homes, and six "new" homes. It is believed
that around 1908 the older homes were moved to this location from
Oilport (see waypoint
GCYVKN). In 1905 an ill-fated oil port and
refinery, California Petroleum Refineries, was started employing
over 500 men. It was closed down in July 1907, just two weeks
after it was completed, because a giant tidal wave completely
destroyed the half-mile long pier and wrecked the refinery.
The Union Oil Company families paid a reasonable rent, in
addition to utilities (during the 1920s, rent of $15 to $25 was
noted in my sources). When in 1941 Union Oil Company decided to
move the cottage row homes to property they owned closer to the
beach (i.e., the town we know of as Avila Beach). The
then-residents had the option of bidding on the home of their
choice. Union Oil sold them the lots for $300 and agreed to move
the houses for a cost of $300. So after the bidding process, it
turns out that most of the former tenants received a home with an
ocean view for $900.
I have located four of the homes and will be publishing a
multi-cache to point out each of the four now 100-year old houses
still in existence in Avila Beach.