The Determination of One Man
IN OCTOBER OF 1906, JOSEPH DEBENEDETTI CONSTRUCTED
THIS TWO STORY MISSION REVIVAL COMMERCIAL STYLE
BUILDING, WHICH IMMEDIATELY BECAME THE CENTER OF
COMMERCE FOR HALF MOON BAY AND THE SURROUNDING
AREA. RISING FROM THE ASHES OF THE DEVASTATING 1906
EARTHQUAKE, IT WAS THE FIRST CONCRETE REINFORCED
BUILDING IN SAN MATEO COUNTY AND SYMBOLIZED THE
DETERMINATION OF ONE MAN TO RECOVER FROM A NATURAL
DISASTER AND LEAD THE WAY TO RESURGENCE OF THE
SAN MATEO COASTLINE. DESPITE THE ABSENCE OF GOOD
ROADS AND ADEQUATE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM HALF
MOON BAY, JOSEPH DEBENEDETTI’S LEADERSHIP HELPED
THE SMALL RURAL SUPPLY CENTER SUCCEED IN
OVERCOMING ITS ISOLATION AND PROSPER. THAT
PROSPERITY CONTINUES TODAY AT THE DEBENEDETTI
BUILDING AND ALL OF HALF MOON BAY’S HISTORIC MAIN
STREET. AS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST IMPRESSIVE
STRUCTURES IN HALF MOON BAY’S DOWNTOWN, IT IS A VITAL
ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY’S ARCHITECTURAL AND
HISTORICAL HERITAGE.