The Merc - General Store in Santa Margarita California
by Darin Volpe
Title
The Merc - General Store in Santa Margarita California
Artist
Darin Volpe
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The freshly painted Margarita Mercantile & Company general store in downtown Santa Margarita. This photo was taken in 2009, sadly the building was destroyed in a fire in May of 2018.
Santa Margarita is located in north San Luis Obispo County on Highway 58, just north of Cuesta Grade. It was founded in 1889 when the Southern Pacific Railroad reached there from Templeton. An auction was held to sell lots for the new town along El Camino Real (now also known as Highway 58.) Santa Margarita was the terminus of the Southern Pacific while the line was being built over Cuesta Grade. Freight trains were unloaded for transfer to stagecoaches on the way to San Luis Obispo, which created a boom in the community that lasted until the railroad completed the line to San Luis Obispo in 1894t. It saw a second boom during the 1920s as automobile traffic increased on El Camino Real until Highway 101 bypassed Santa Margarita in 1956. It is currently a small community of 1,300 people.
Uploaded
May 2nd, 2013
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Viewed 3,857 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/18/2024 at 7:03 PM
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Comments (4)
L A Feldstein
Just finished reading the story behind this. It is so nice when things are resolved in such a wonderful way.
VIVA Anderson
Hi Darin, and kudos, compliments on this gorgeous General Store photo.. And, huge thanks for sharing its/your story in SHARE YOUR STORY forum thread. Our Admin, Ken Walker,is at work, ( long hours), and I help out, and would not have missed this great story, waiting. What’s so wonderful, also, is that this was a turning point in your life as an artist. ! Congrats for your marvellous capture, and for your wonderful career as a fine artist. I am heartbroken that the Store burned down, but even more grateful that your Art survives to remember. Thanks again … I bet you have lots of wonderful tales to tell! We’re listening!! Cheers, Ken,,,ppVIVA.
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