San Diego
In 1900, John D. Spreckels established Tent City, originally known as « Camp Coronado », just south of the Coronado Hotel. This luxury hotel provided tents for rent and offered attractions such as a large bathroom and a restaurant. Events were already planned so that people could have a vacation even on weekends.
Originally, it was said, Tent City was a joint venture between Spreckels’ interests and a Los Angeles-based tent and awning manufacturer named « Swanfeldt. » Whose name was stenciled on the tents. There was a choice of white or red and white stripes, ranging from family size to a small single room. All the tents had wooden floors. and have been furnished. Each had a bed or more, a sink and a pitcher, a chest of drawers and a chair.
If kitchen equipment was needed, a kerosene stove was set up in a « kitchen tent » in the back for an additional $5.00 per month – along with some pots and pans, dishes and cutlery – but no guarantee against fire. Most tents were rented for $4.50 per week at that time.
More than 500 people lived in the tents during the last season, and 68,139 people attended the concerts, dances and other evening attractions. Camp Coronado was meticulously and systematically advertised by the Santa Fe Railroad and the Coronado Beach Company. Each year, Tent City has opened its season with more attractions and improvements. In the center of Tent City ran Main Street which paralleled Ocean Front and Bay Front, interspersed with numbered streets. On each corner of Main Street, there was a large white barrel with a tap, filled with ice, making ice water. In the center of each block was a communal sink for dishes and some laundry.
In Tent City in 1923, the thatched cottages were removed and given permanent roofs. The wooden sides of the houses were built three quarters of the way up with parts of canvas that could be rolled up or down.
Martha’s Vineyard
Between 1855 and 1865 family tents were generally placed in circular patterns around the social tent. In 1868, there were 570 tents in all, some larger so that children could attend, some for temporary vendors, barbers and others.
Between 1859 and 1864, the « Martha’s Vineyard » cottages appeared. Most of the cottages built were small and mimicked the shape of the tents they replaced. Wells were dug, transportation services were expanded… the campground was taking on the characteristics of an organized, well-managed summer community. Limited to 500 cottages in 1880, only 318 remain today.