When Grandma Norma was growing up in the 1920’s and 30’s, San Simeon was a busy community. I always loved to listen to my grandmother’s stories from that time. It sounded like such a wild yet magical place and time to me.
One evening while we were having dinner together, she drew a map on her paper placemat with a couple of roads winding through the town and many homes. “The cook lived here,” she said, pointing to a spot on the map. “The community room was there,” pointing to another street. “From my earliest memories, I can remember a Christmas celebration for the entire community.”
Grandma Norma told me that W. R. Hearst and his wife, Millicent, would get a big Christmas tree for the village of San Simeon, and wrap gifts for each and every worker and their family members. Since almost all the residents in the village at that time worked for Mr. Hearst — or were married to someone who worked for Mr. Hearst — by all accounts, the workers (this is what Grandma Norma called them) were “the community.” She guessed up to a hundred people celebrated Christmas together.
She explained that the Christmas gifts didn’t have names on them, but instead they were identified as girl, boy, man, or woman — and in just the right numbers as the town’s residents. Every year there were the right number of gifts for children, the right number of gifts for women, and the right number of gifts for the men.
When Norma was 12 or 13 years old, Mr. Hearst and his companion Marion were hosting the village’s Christmas event when it didn’t quite go as planned.
“After Millicent had gone, Marion and W.R. would play host and hostess,” she explained. “They called out man, woman, or child to hand out the Christmas gifts as usual, but this year they reached the end of the gifts before they reached the end of the townspeople. It was clear to the townspeople (and I am sure to Mr. Hearst) that their tight knit community beneath the Castle had been infiltrated by strangers — non-residents, non-workers — who had come to take advantage of Mr. Hearst’s Christmas giving.”
That was the last time Grandma Norma remembers the community Christmas event, but it wasn’t the last time Mr. Hearst recognized his workers.
She added, “This is about the same time that my Uncle Pete found people digging up plants in the garden on the hilltop.” And it wasn’t too long after these events she remembers Security was hired, a chain link fence went up, and a guard house installed.
Mr. Hearst may not be here in-person to celebrate Christmas today — to oversee the Christmas decorations, or hand out gifts to the men, women, and children — but I think he would like the fact that visitors have continued to experience the Castle in all its magnificent Christmas glory over the last 50 years.
Nowadays, Hearst Castle staff proudly carries on the historic tradition of decorating the estate for the holidays (except this year while the Castle is closed). From the large outdoor wreaths to towering trees in the large social rooms, visitors can view the estate as Mr. Hearst’s guests enjoyed it during the Christmas season of yesteryear.
P.S. One of Norma’s aunts, my Great-Great Aunt Rosy, married one of the first guards hired by Mr. Hearst.
This is the third in a series of short stories recounted by former FHC Board Secretary and Treasurer, Kristin Rasmussen. Click here to read “A View from the Past: Meeting Norma (Sebastian) Bassi Monson.”
About the Author
Kristin Rasmussen grew up in Ventura, CA, playing at the beach, sailing with her parents, and riding English hunters and jumpers; but her family has roots in San Luis Obispo County that run more than 130 years deep. After attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Kristin didn’t want to leave the area or her family history, so she and her husband Jim made it home.
After her parents purchased a vineyard in Paso Robles 1995, Kristin and her brother helped them to grow grapes and produce wine for what is now Rasmussen Vineyards, a boutique winery that is still a family passion. Kristin is also a certified financial planner and member of the Financial Planning Association, serving clients at her KMR Wealth Advisory, LLC in San Luis Obispo and surrounding communities.
Kristin was elected to the board of directors for The Foundation at Hearst Castle in 2009 and served three terms. Her contributions and continued support of our nonprofit organization are greatly treasured.
Besides wine and the process of making wine, Kristin enjoys reading and writing, history, travel, art, race cars, snow skiing, and of course, the beach.
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