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Monterey in Monterey County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
 

Site of Simoneau’s Restaurant

Visited daily by Robert Louis Stevenson

— 1879 —

 
 
Site of Simoneau’s Restaurant Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, February 12, 2013
1. Site of Simoneau’s Restaurant Marker
Inscription. This plaza was once occupied by the restaurant of Jules Simoneau. In late 1879 young Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, the almost unknown, ate his meals hear nearly every day. He was staying in a small room at the nearby rooming house known as the French Hotel. Stevenson and Simoneau spent much time together, playing chess and talking philosophically “upon all things divine and human.”

Although Stevenson left Monterey after four months, never to return, he and Simoneau remained friends throughout Stevenson’s years of fame as the author of many literary classics, including Treasure Island, A Child’s Garden of Verses and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. While in Monterey, Stevenson wrote Pavilion on the Links, the greater part of The Amateur Immigrant and several other works. After leaving Monterey, Stevenson wrote The Old Pacific Capital, an essay about Monterey and vicinity. The rooming house where Stevenson stayed is now known as the Stevenson House and is open to the public.

“In my little restaurant at Monterey, we have sat down to table, day after day, a Frenchman, two Portuguese, an Italian, a Mexican, and a Scotsman: we had for common visitor’s an American from Illinois, a nearly pure-blood Indian woman, and a naturalised Chinese; and from time to time
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a Switzer and a German came down from country ranches for the night.”
From The Old Pacific Capital, 1880

“Out of all my private recollections of remembered inns and restaurants... one particular house of entertainment stands forth alone... Simoneau’s at Monterey.”
from Simoneau’s at Monterey, 1880.

“I am very sure... I shall never find another landlord like my papa Simoneau. I was the spoiled child of the house; when my appetite failed, he broke his heart to find me dainties; if there was anything delicate in Monterey, papa Simoneau was sure to have some of it laid by for his favorite boarder. And then the talks that we had... the studies that we made in chess... the long pleasant evenings by the stove!”
from Simoneau’s at Monterey, 1880

“I shall never forget the good times we had together, the many long talks, the games of chess, the flute on occasion and the excellent food.”
from Stevenson letter to Simoneau, late 1883.

Installed in the year 2000, in Commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of Robert Louis Stevenson’s birth. Through the courtesy of the Robert Louis Stevenson Club of Monterey and the City of Monterey.
 
Erected 2000 by Robert Louis Stevenson
Site of Simoneau’s Restaurant Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, February 12, 2013
2. Site of Simoneau’s Restaurant Marker
Club of Monterey and the City of Monterey.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1879.
 
Location. 36° 35.858′ N, 121° 53.668′ W. Marker is in Monterey, California, in Monterey County. Marker can be reached from Pearl Street near Munras Avenue, on the right when traveling east. This marker is located in Simoneau Plaza. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Pearl Street, Monterey CA 93940, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Jules Simoneau Plaza (within shouting distance of this marker); Cooper-Molera Adobe (within shouting distance of this marker); Home of Juan Bautista Alvarado (within shouting distance of this marker); First Newspaper in California (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Stevenson House (about 300 feet away); Robert Louis Stevenson House (about 300 feet away); Casa Amesti (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Stevenson House (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Monterey.
 
Also see . . .  Jules Simoneau 1820-1908 - Monterey Institute of International Studies. Jules Simoneau, a well-educated French immigrant, owned and operated a restaurant in Monterey during the latter part of the 19th century. The restaurant
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was frequented by a broad range of immigrants and Californios.
(Submitted on February 20, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.) 
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on February 20, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 510 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on February 20, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.

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Mar. 19, 2024