David K
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Molino de Lacy (Molino de San Francisquito, originally)
Baja Nomad 'lencho' had asked about the place. I will include photos below:
The ore mill was originally called Molino de San Francisquito (after the bay nearby Ensenada de San Francisquito, the bigger half of 'Gonzaga Bay').
William Lacy died and is buried at his mill. Punta Final (resort) was originally known as Puerto de San Francisquito, not to be confused with other
one near El Barril!
The full story (links also on VivaBaja.com):
Part 1: http://www.sanfelipe.com.mx/articles_stories/Articles2002/ki...
Part 2: http://www.sanfelipe.com.mx/articles_stories/Articles2002/ki...
On a visit in 2017:
The mill was on that hill, looking east. Lacy's grave is on the far side of the hill.
William Lacy's grave
On the right edge, top is Isla San Luis Gonzaga next to Alfonsina's.
Punta Final Resort in the background.
On a visit in 2002:
Located between Hwy. 5 and Punta Final, this mill processed gold ore over 100 years ago. Operated by William Lacy, who is buried on the opposite side
of this hill.
Located on the east side of the hill, facing Punta Final.
Well preserved plaque of the man who must have faced some fantastic struggles in this harsh land.
Looking south, thunder and lightning with occasional showers this Thanksgiving day. The old road south to the mines and on to Coco's begins on the
right side of the photo. Mostly just dirt bikes use it now. [The Pioneer Mine Trail]
[Edited on 11-10-2020 by David K]
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David K
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The Molino/ Mill on old maps
1970:
1962:
1956:
1930:
1905:
Both the 1930 and 1905 maps show the Pioneer Mine as being called the San Francisquito Mine... and the 1905 map shows the wagon road (from the Molino
to the mine to Las Arrastras area ["Zunigas Camp" and "Pozos y Arrastras"]) with a trail on to the 'soda spring' (La Turquesa Canyon).
[Edited on 11-10-2020 by David K]
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JZ
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This is what I have for location. Not 100% sure about accuracy, but it's in the ball park.
29.708317° -114.327733°
[Edited on 11-10-2020 by JZ]
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David K
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See Lacy's Grave in my post, so yes, that is it. The north end of the Pioneer Mine road.
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del mar
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no doubt an interesting story but unclear what really happened to william lacy...here's another version "And then the Depression set in, in more ways
than one. The commercialization of the Wilshire stalled to some degree, but only in that some of the many larger business blocks planned for its
length weren't built or were delivered truncated. Some of the old houses lasted a bit longer as places of business before being replaced. But unlike
the similar transformations of other streets, Wilshire didn't lose its glamour in transitioning from residential to commercial uses. The householders
moved on to new precincts, safer from future incursions of business—that lesson had been learned. Depressed too was William Lacy, apparently a man
of unchecked empathy for those suffering during hard times. He suffered a severe nervous breakdown in 1932. On June 11 of that year, unable to sleep
for days, he asphyxiated himself in the laundry room of his house at 403 South Muirfield Road. There were 200 honorary pallbearers at his funeral. The
next year, on September 15, 1933, John G. Bullock died in the very pretty house he'd been wise enough to move from 3200 Wilshire Boulevard."
who knows but in the early 80's we spent some time with his daughter and her husband that were looking for a buyer for their small punta final
property, the thing that stands out was she was adamant that Bill was not in that grave!
[Edited on 11-11-2020 by del mar]
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David K
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Maybe a different William Lacy?
In 1932, he would be 97 years old based on the birth date on his grave marker.
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del mar
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Quote: Originally posted by David K  | Maybe a different William Lacy?
In 1932, he would be 97 years old based on the birth date on his grave marker. |
good catch david. actually that was william jr who died in 1932, as far as william sr its been reported it was appendicitis that killed him although
an unnamed family member suggested foul play.
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bajaric
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Aha! I noticed he would have been 97, as well.
Transitioning from small mines to large mines required a lot of capitol; money for roads, boilers, hoists, etc. Thus the term "Foreign Capitalist"
which would describe Lacy. However, investing money in a mine was no guarantee that it would pay off; in this case it would appear that it did not
work out so well. He made the common mistake of building a mill before it was known how much ore was present. As far as I know the mines in the
Pioneer district are little more than shallow "gopher holes" although some may extend down to a depth of about 100 feet. From all indications,
though, he could afford it. I imagine the 83 foot yacht was fairly comfortable.
A similar example was at a mine just west of the town of Bahia de Los Angeles, where a foreign outfit invested a fortune in rail lines, ect. only to
find that there was nothing worth mining. The project was scrapped and rails were sold to the owners of the San Juan mine, a rare success in the
mining history of Baja.
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