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ARTICLE. From the Half Moon Bay History Association‘s Coastside Chronicles for Autumn 2023.
Romeo Pier and the Fishing Life
—Ernie Koepf
Opportunities came in Princeton-by-the-Sea for the Romeo Brothers. Joe, Albee, Domenic and Tony all made their mark in Princeton-by-the-sea. The wharf was built in 1942 and supplied the Romeo Fish Mkt. on Pacific Ave in San Francisco. Albee and Domenic ran the fish market in San Francisco, while Joe and Tony ran the wharf, buying salmon, crab, mackerel and sardines.
At one time there was a conveyor belt from the wharf into the cannery for the wet fish to be canned. The Romeo Bros. also had a boat at one time. It was called the Charlie Romeo. Joe Romeo’s brand of canned fish was called “Charlie Boy,” named after his son. That was a trademark that was later sold to StarKist® and became Charlie® the Tuna.
When World War II came, Albee, Domenic and Tony served and Joe had the wharf built. When the brothers came back from the war, they joined the fish business. Around 1950 Joe began the fertilizer business and left the fish for the brothers.
In 1969 Joe invented a machine to make the paper sleeves for the potted Easter Lillies and Poinsettias. The fertilizer and sleeves continue today, all run by his children, Charlie, Frankie
and Constance.
It was a different port before the breakwater was built and the pier needed to withstand the elements that came with the winter storms. At times, the weather was so forbidding that it was impossible to walk out on the pier for the crashing waves. Sturdy doors and beams were needed to barricade the wharf against breaking seas at these times. The wharf had a kitchen, shower, bunkhouse and all the necessary accommodations for a siege, or for a late night unloading of the boats.
Working out of Princeton was a hard bargain before the breakwater came in 1962. But in the summer months, during salmon season, all was calm and protected from the elements in a geographically natural harbor. I sold my fish from my first boat to Tony Romeo in 1971.
Tony and his wife Vera treated all his boats as family. We would have lunch in his kitchen and gossip. John Healy had a skiff rental on the wharf, and he would see the renters off with an outboard, compass and a boat to fish from.
Once a week, Tony would fire up the massive firehose and wet down the entire dock for the purpose of preserving the wood with saltwater. Massive fuel tanks were stationed on the wharf to service the fleet’s need for diesel. If gear or parts were needed by a fisherman, Tony would bring them down the next day from San Francisco. On Tuesday, Boudin bakery had fresh bread
for Tony to bring to his boats. It was family.
As a small child, I have memories of going out on the dock at night to watch my father unload fish. I would count the fish that would go into the fish box from all the unloading boats, anxious to see who the ‘highliner’ was, hoping it was my dad. If my dad came under the hoist and he was smoking a big Roi-Tan cigar, I knew he would have had a good day fishing. Years later, when I was 20 years old, I remember my first time under that same hoist when Tony Romeo commented
“you’ve got the knack kid” and he handed me my fish ticket which was the receipt for my delivered fish. I still have that first fish ticket in a frame.
The pier was ultimately purchased by the San Mateo County Harbor District and leased out. Its fate was now in the hands of a board of Commissioners who did not recognize its aesthetic value and lessees who allowed it to decay. There will never be another wooden pier in California, and certainly not in Princeton harbor.
Romeo Pier’s Last Bite >>> The Princeton Ring’s Debut?!
First Bite of the Romeo Pier Demo
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