John B. Jordan, (September 29, 1867 – January 28, 1943) an American hotelier, actor, and politician, acquired the Pine Inn in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, United States. Jordan emerged as one of the city's prominent figures in both politics and the theater. His active involvement included an eight-year tenure on the city council, a two-year stint as mayor, and roles as a director for both the Forest Theater and the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club.[1][2]

 

Early life

 

Jordan was born on September 29, 1868, in Seattle, Washington.[2] Their father, John Tenny Jordan (1833-1886), a former town marshal during the 1860s, ascended to the mayoral office of Seattle in 1871. Among the siblings, born in 1867, John Jordan was the second among five siblings, while Fred Alvin (1761-1852), born in 1871, was the fourth in line. Tragedy struck as their mother, Amanda Livingston (1841-1882) passed away in 1882, followed by their father in the subsequent year. Left to navigate life's challenges, the youngsters found themselves in the care of their 21-year-old sister, Abbie L. (1865-1944), who took on the responsibility of heading the family. The path of matrimony awaited Abbie in December 1887, just as it did for their younger sister Ida M. (1869-1926).

After the sisters had married, the trio of brothers moved to San Francisco. John Jordan, in his early 20s, became a student at the University of the Pacific (UOP) in San Jose, California,[2] while Fred secured a starting position at the Crellin Hotel in Oakland, and later as manager.[3] His brother, Dr. Thomas M. Jordan graduated from the dental department of University of California in 1896 and practiced for some time in San Francisco. He died of typhoid pneumonia in Cape Nome, Alaska, where he held mining claims.[4] Jordan also ventured to Alaska, where he found himself at Chilkoot Pass during the vibrant days of the Gold Rush. Following this experience, he made his way back to Seattle, where he immersed himself in business activities for a number of years.[2]

 

Career

 

 

Jordan Hotel Co.

 

This 1905 advertisement, for the Jordan Brothers Athens Hotel, captures a glimpse of the Oakland hotel managed by John Jordan 15 years before his arrival in Carmel.Miss Ida L. Larkey (1907)

After completing his college education, John Jordan transitioned into a role as a traveling salesman, gaining insights into the hotel industry through interactions with them as potential clients. In 1904, the siblings established the Jordan Hotel Co. and inaugurated a seasonal resort close to Webber Lake in Sierra County, California. John Jordan assumed responsibility for its operations until 1906. Just before the 1906 San Francisco earthquake the brothers secured a lease for the Hotel Athens located in Oakland, California. This 100-room hotel at 1556 Broadway catered to the needs of business travelers, with Jordan overseeing its management while Fred maintained his position at the helm of the Crellin Hotel. Jordan managed the Athens Hotel until 1921.[5][3][2]

Having resumed his full-time presence in Oakland, John Jordan entered into wedlock with Ida L. Larkey (1870-1949) on May 8, 1907 in Oakland. They had previously been classmates at the UOP. Following in his father's footsteps regarding community engagement, John Jordan took the lead in establishing the Oakland Hotel Men’s Association in 1908, where he held the position of president over multiple years, writing several articles for their publication.[2] Additionally, in 1909, he became a member of Oakland’s Progress and Prosperity Committee, dedicating his efforts to fostering the city’s advancement. In his role as the committee's chairman in 1911, John Jordan spearheaded the opposition to the attempt by San Francisco's city leaders to annex Oakland.[3]

He also assumed significant leadership positions within Northern California's hotel associations, actively shaping policies and state legislation. In 1914, he undertook the role of manager for the newly established Oakland-Berkeley Hotel Apartment Association. This collective was formed to coordinate accommodations in the East Bay for attendees of the 1915 Panama–Pacific International Exposition. Jordan remained engaged with this association until the latter part of the summer of 1915. Following that, he shifted his attention to chairing a committee within the chamber of commerce, dedicated to support for a public utilities district in the East Bay.[3]

In 1917, Jordan reentered the realm of hotel management by assuming control of the two-year-old Claremont Hotel & Spa in Oakland, aiming to elevate it into a resort destination. His efforts yielded success until the onset of Prohibition from 1920 to 1933, which posed a significant threat to the resort industry. In response, he departed from the Claremont and briefly transitioned to the Hotel Clyde, an establishment featuring 175 rooms and designed by Bernard Maybeck in 1917. Regrettably, the once splendid but now largely forgotten property situated in Bay Point within Contra Costa County gradually succumbed to neglect and ultimately met its demise through a fire in 1969.[3] During World War I, he held the responsibility of overseeing the commissary at the shipyard in Bay Point.[6]

 

Pine Inn

 

The Pine Inn included cottages, a tennis court, and putting greens.

In the fall of 1921, aged 53, Jordan, accompanied by his wife Ida and their 13-year-old son Jack, made a move to Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, from Bay Point, and took over the management of the Pine Inn from the Wilkeson sisters. The Pine Inn was first founded by pioneers Santiago J. Duckworth and Carmel co-founder and real estate developer James F. Devendorf. Among the hotel operators present on the Monterey Peninsula, only Carl Stanley could rival his extensive background in hotel management.[3] According to The Carmel Pine Cone's September 8, 1921 edition, the "Hotel Arrivals" column detailed the arrival of Jordan and his son, Jack, who had journeyed from Oakland, to the Pine Inn.[7]

In 1922, Jordan purchased the Pine Inn. He also owned other Carmel properties, among them the Lobos Lodge in 1921, which was later demolished in 1976.[8][2]

In May 1924, he acquired five plots of land along Ocean Avenue, located to the west of the Pine Inn, between Monte Verde and Casanova Streets. On this land, he constructed English-style cottages, providing an additional lodging option for the inn's guests. He offered them for $15 (equivalent to $273 in 2023) to $30 (equivalent to $546 in 2023) a month, tennis courts, and putting greens.[9]

In 1928, a major remodel of the Pine Inn was designed by Blaine and Olson in a Spanish Revival style with the construction of a two-story 40-room addition on the Monte Verde side that connected to the lobby and dining room of the main building. Builder M. J. Murphy did the construction for the remodel at a cost of $250,000 (equivalent to $4,436,047 in 2023).[10]

In March 1940, Jordan concluded the sale of the cottages situated to the west of the Pine Inn to a real estate consortium led by Tirey L. Ford Jr. Taking over the management and eventual enhancements of these cottages was Ford's brother, Byington Ford, associated with Carmel Realty. Concurrently, Jordan initiated discussions about the potential sale of the Pine Inn to Harrison Godwin. Harrison and his brother Fred had inherited the La Playa Hotel in 1923. Recognizing the need for improvements at the hotel, both parties reached an agreement. Subsequently, in August 1940, ownership of the Pine Inn was transferred to Harrison Godwin. Godwin and his brother, Fred, had learned the hotel business working for their aunt Agnes "Alice" D. Signor who owned the La Playa Hotel. Jordan was fortunate to witness the revitalization of the historic Pine Inn during the initial years under Godwin's ownership.[6][11]

 

Acting

 

Herbert Heron (left) and Jordan (right) in the play The Dark Lady of the Sonnets.

Upon his arrival in Carmel in 1921, Jordan adopted the theater arts to immerse himself in the community. He initiated the hosting of cast parties at the Pine Inn and even took to the stage himself.[3] A troupe known as the Carmel Repertory Players, consisting of members like musician and attorney Edward G. Kuster, actor/director Herbert Heron, and city attorney Argyll Campbell, staged three Irish plays at the Manzanita Club Theater, located at the southwest corner of San Mission Street and Ocean Avenue, in celebration of St. Patrick's Day in 1922. With the Pine Inn having previously served as a social hub for the village, Jordan extended an invitation for an "after-the-play supper" at the hotel.[9]

In October 1992, Jordan and Herbert Heron took part in the production of George Bernard Shaw's The Dark Lady of the Sonnets,staged at the theater of the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club.[3]

In January 1923, Jordan took on the role of host and actor for a community-wide William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night celebration at the Pine Inn. Jordan played the character Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Herbert Heron played Feste, the Fool (royal jester).[12] The proceeds from this event were directed towards backing the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club's endeavor to establish a Little Theater.[13]

In the summer theater season of 1923, Jordan took the stage in performances of Kismet and The Cradle. In the subsequent autumn, he earned a seat on the board of directors for the Forest Theater. Additionally, in the fall of 1925, he secured a position as a director for the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club.[9]

 

Politics

 

Jordan assumed a role as a prominent figure in the civic affairs of Oakland, California.[3] He served eight years on the Carmel city council and two years as Carmel mayor (1926-1928).[11]

Jordan endeared himself to the longstanding residents of Carmel by transforming the median of Ocean Avenue, located in front of the Pine Inn, into a garden space. In less than a year of residing in Carmel, Jordan engaged in the discourse regarding the paving of Ocean Avenue, which was previously an unpaved dirt road.[3]Championing the cause of civic beautification, he and first mayor Alfred P. Fraser jointly supervised the efforts of "street gardeners" who tended to the planting of rights-of-way. They also encouraged shop owners to adorn store entrances with planters and potted plants.[14]

In May 1922, Jordan stood alongside fellow concerned Carmel residents who filled Carmel City Hall for the unveiling of bids aimed at paving a stretch of Ocean Avenue. The soon-to-be mayor, Perry Newberry, emphasized that not even the lowest bid of $27,984 (equivalent to $509,387 in 2023) proved feasible for the city to encompass "incidental costs along with road expenses within the funds collected from assessments." Consequently, Newberry proposed a reconsideration of the specifications, suggesting a revision, and further recommended the initiation of a new bidding process for the paving project. When Mayor William Maxwell, on the brink of leaving office, invited citizens for their input, Jordan, motivated to avoid any delay, proposed tackling any potential deficit through a "popular subscription" approach. This marked Jordan's initial foray into the realm of local politics, but it certainly wouldn't be his last. Following subsequent deliberations, the city engineer reassured the board of trustees that the associated incidental expenses wouldn't be as substantial as Newberry had anticipated. Consequently, the board endorsed a resolution to accept the bid and advance with the paving project.[9]

Carmel Woods with Jo Mora and his daughter Patti in 1922.

Continuing to deepen his involvement in community affairs, Jordan's commitment was underscored in July 1922 when he received an appointment to the committee overseeing the Junipero Serra Day Celebration. The festivities for that year encompassed the unveiling of Jo Mora's (1876-1947) intricately carved shrine with a wooded statue of Padre Junípero Serra installed at the entrance to the development, at the intersection of Camino del Monte and Alta Avenue in the community of Carmel Woods. The opening day celebration, included Garnet Holme's Carmel Mission play Serra, at the Forest Theater.[15][16]

In August 1922, aiming to stimulate fresh development, Jordan played a pivotal role in establishing and financing the Carmel Building and Loan Society, operating as a subsidiary of the California Investment Association based in Oakland. The board of directors included such names as Dr. H.W. Fenner, Calvin C. Hogle, J.F. Devendorf, and Ernest Schweninger.[8]

In January 1923, Jordan played a key role in establishing the chamber of commerce and secured the position of vice president, with William Overstreet, the publisher of the Carmel Pine Cone, assuming the presidency. Additionally, Jordan was tasked with leading the chamber's public utilities committee, a responsibility he had previously undertaken in Oakland.[9] Jordan continued to win the affection of the community as he joined a group of 10 "angels," contributing funds to facilitate the purchase of a fire truck. The Chamber of Commerce acknowledged his influence by appointing Jordan as Carmel's representative to a recently established regional consortium aimed at promoting the entirety of the Monterey Peninsula.[9]

In 1926, Jordan joined the race for a position on Carmel's board of trustees, presenting himself as one of the eight candidates vying for the available seats. Notably, the incumbent board president, William Kibbler, was the sole existing member seeking re-election. The April election saw citizens voicing their desire for a shift, with Kibbler receiving a mere 88 votes. In contrast, Jordan emerged as the prominent choice with 253 votes, securing both a trustee role and the presidency of the board. This marked a significant turning point, forming the most business-oriented board in the city's decade-long history. Gathering with city leaders in May 1926, Jordan shared his perspective: "We find ourselves in a growing community, facing emerging concerns that are becoming more pressing, such as traffic regulation, public health, street infrastructure, and construction matters. It is imperative that we collaborate to address these challenges collectively."[9] The subsequent year saw this board transition into the city council, with him assuming the role of the inaugural mayor. Upon the conclusion of his four-year tenure, he secured re-election to the council.[2]

Although sharing several common goals with its predecessor, the new board was particularly focused on enhancing street paving, drainage systems, and sewage disposal within Carmel. The introduction of a new state planning law in 1927 prompted the council to undertake a revision of Carmel's zoning ordinances."[9]

During the 1930s, a heated dispute arose over the choice of paving material, either asphalt or cement, for the colored pavement. Heron advocated for asphalt while City Councilman Jordan championed cement. Despite the fervent debate, no definitive resolution was reached on the matter of colored pavement, leaving the issue unresolved.[1]

The urban "upgrades" stirred discontent among long-standing residents, including former mayor Newberry, who had taken on the role of Pine Cone publisher. Newberry's bid in 1928 to promote his favored candidates and reshape the council proved fruitless. In a surprising twist, Ross Bonham, a contender opposed to Newberry, emerged victorious as the new mayor. While Jordan sustained his engagement in Republican politics at both state and regional tiers, he chose not to pursue elected positions once more.[9]

 

Death

 

On January 28, 1943, at the age of 74, Jordan died his at his home on North Casanova Street in Carmel, succumbing to a heart attack. Funeral services were arranged by the Paul Mortuary in Pacific Grove, California.[17][2]

 

See also

References

  1.  Richard Wright (2014). "The Colored Pavement Controversy". Stories of Old Carmel: A Centennial Tribute From The Carmel Residents Association. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California: Carmel Residents Association. pp. 139–140.
  2.  Neal Hotelling (January 29, 1943). "John Jordan, First Mayor, Dies of Heart Attack". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  3.  Neal Hotelling (October 14, 2022). "Apparently, the way to folks' hearts was through the theater" (PDF). Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  4.  "Died Far Away From Relations". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. March 12, 1900. p. 5. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  5.  "Oakland's New Hotel The Athens". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. October 28, 1905. p. 3. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  6.  "New Owner Plans Many Improvements". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. August 23, 1940. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  7.  "Hotel Arrival". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. September 8, 1921. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  8.  Hale, Sharron Lee (1980). A Tribute to Yesterday: The History of Carmel, Carmel Valley, Big Sur, Point Lobos, Carmelite Monastery, and Los Burros. Santa Cruz, California: Valley Publishers. p. 93. ISBN 9780913548738. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  9.  Neal Hotelling (October 21, 2022). "Early city drama wasn't limited to the Forest Theater's stage" (PDF). Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  10.  Dramov, Alissandra (2019). Historic Buildings of Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California: Arcadia Publishing. pp. 53–54. ISBN 9781467103039. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  11.  Neal Hotelling (October 28, 2022). "Tales of destruction and forgery-but wait, there's even more" (PDF). Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  12.  "Arts and Crafts Club Scrapbook". Harrison Memorial Library. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. 1912. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  13.  "Twelfth Night Dinner Dance and Play to be Social Affair of Year". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel by the sea, California. December 30, 1922. p. 1. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  14.  Doug Schmiz (June 2021). "A Call to Citizens" (PDF). The Voice of the Carmel Residents Association. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. p. 9. Retrieved August 12,2023.
  15.  "Carmel Woods Sale July 22". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. July 15, 1922. p. 9. Retrieved January 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  16.  "Opening Dale Day Carmel Woods Lots". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel by the sea, California. July 20, 1922. p. 5. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  17.  "J. B. Jordan, Hotel Man, Dies at Carmel". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. January 29, 1943. p. 32. Retrieved August 11, 2023.

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