When an adventurous Vicente (Cane) Canet sailed from Spain in 1824, aboard the ship Asia, he probably didn't dream how his voyage would end. He jumped ship at Monterey Presidio in 1825. This Presidio had been established by Spain in 1770. Vincente was thirty-six years old and fell in love with the California Coast and was allowed to remain. He also fell in love with the beautiful wealthy Rosa Maria Josefa Buitron y Dominguez and they wed in Monterey in 1828. After proving his worth for twelve years at the Monterey Presidio he was granted Rancho San Bernardo in San Luis Obispo County. This was one square league extending from Morro Creek southeastward to the Hollister Ranch. Vincente achieved prominence as the administrator and juez of Mission San Luis Obispo. On their beautiful land he and Maria built the wonderful "Canet Adobe" which faced Morro Rock. Vincente and Rosa spent $40000 to build the place and he lived there until his death in 1858. In 1874 the Canet Family sold the western portion of the Rancho extending from San Bernardo Creek to Morro Creek to Estevan Quintana.The Adobe is maintained today by descendants of the 1882 purchaser Peter Righetti. The Canet descendants still have property in the area and a family maintained cemetery nearby.
and this from Historic Spots in California, third edition
"The Don spent over $40,000 for labor and materials for the castle. It was plastered with crushed gypsum from the nearby hills and the flooring was brought around the Horn in sailing vessels. The wings contained sleeping rooms and servants' quarters. In one wing was a chapel with a raised altar. Here in great grandeur lived Don (Vicente) Canet. Many a fiesta, many a bear and bull-fight, many a wild horse race broke the monotony of life............"It is said that long after master and horse were dust, his steed could be heard champing and neighing in the courtyard on moonlight nights and then madly galloping down to the bay. Those watching saw a misty form enter a phantom skiff and row away towards the rock."
Yes, the Canets are still here as evidenced by the material presented, courtesy of Roberta Canet. Roberta (Snodgrass) Canet was married to George Canet a crane operator who helped build the breakwaters at Morro Rock in 1942. Canets are all around you with perhaps other old time names by marriage, e.g., Soto, Green, Feliz, Genardini, Calgaria, Stanusiech, Tonini, Ariola and others.
Here are a few very early Canets born in Morro Bay. Maria Soledad (1830), MariaYgnacia Calcian (1835), Jos and #233 Joaquin (1838), Rita Flora (1842), Jos and #233 Augustine (1844), Blas Vincente (1846), Dolores (1846).This could go on and on through the various families.
Huntington Gallery Photographs of Canet Adobe
