Purissima, California, San Mateo County: Nestled in the scenic landscapes of San Mateo County, Purissima is a ghost town that whispers stories of a bygone era. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: San Mateo County
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: 37.4111° N, 122.3983° W
Elevation: Approximately 92 feet (28 meters)
Time Zone: Pacific Time Zone (PT)
Established: 1868
Disestablished: 1930s
Comments: Purissima was founded during the logging boom in the 19th century, initially thriving as a lumber town supported by nearby redwood forests. It boasted a range of amenities including a school, hotel, and a post office, which catered to the small but vibrant community.
Purissima is a ghost town in southwestern San Mateo County, California Ghost Townlifornia, United States, near the junction of State Route 1 and Verde Road.
Purísima means “purest” in Spanish and is most commonly used in Spanish to refer to La Purísima Concepción (the Immaculate Conception) of the Virgin Mary (note historical misspelling in English resulting in double “s”—or perhaps spelling comes from the local Portuguese influence, where the spelling from A Puríssima Conceição would be correct).
Remains: Purissima is largely reclaimed by nature today, with very few remnants of its past visible. The most notable remains include traces of the cemetery, where some original settlers are buried.
The area is often overgrown and inaccessible, adding to its ghostly allure. Located on José María Alviso’s Rancho Cañada de Verde y Arroyo de la Purisima in a rural area four miles (6 km) south of Half Moon Bay, the village was one of the earliest settlements on the San Mateo County coast, founded in an agricultural area in the early 1850s.
Purisima Creek badly flooded the community in January 1862, the same month that much of northern California experienced its worst floods in history. Some fields and buildings were swept away.
Current Status: Purissima is classified as an uninhabited ghost town. It is located on private property, and access can be restricted. Visitors are advised to respect property boundaries and seek permission if necessary.
By the early 1870s, Purissima had a post office, several stores, a school, a one-story hotel known as Purissima House (owned by Richard Dougherty), and other buildings. The general store was built by Henry Husing.
A lumber mill was constructed at the mouth of Purissima Canyon, to take advantage of the extensive redwood logging in the nearby Santa Cruz Mountains.
Remarks: Purissima’s story is a tribute to the transient nature of early American settlements, particularly those dependent on natural resources. Despite its short-lived existence, the town remains a point of interest for historians and ghost town enthusiasts who seek to uncover the stories hidden within its forgotten past.
Henry Dobbel (born in Holstein, Germany on July 1, 1829; died in Purissima on December 22, 1891) came to California via Cape Horn in 1845. After working at odd jobs, and even running a San Francisco restaurant, Dobbel married fellow German Margaret Roverkamf-Schroeder (born near Hanover, Germany, in 1831; died in Purissima on September 3, 1885).
She had come to California via the Isthmus of Panama. They bought a farm in the East Bay. In the 1860s, they sold their farm and bought 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) from John Purcell. They built a big, ornate house on the south bank of Purisima Creek.
The house had two stories and 17 rooms, and it boasted innovations like gaslighting and running water. Dobbel employed 50 men who planted and harvested wheat, barley, and potatoes.
