In the fall of 1632, Dearg Black, Henry Chough, and Eira Dunnet founded a settlement in what is today Old Moon Bay. They came from Northern Europe to establish a safe haven and fishing village. By 1634, there were over 80 settlers. By the 1700s, it was a thriving community.

Notable Events

1705 - Sinking of the Ardon

In 1705, the merchant ship Ardon sank off the shore during a storm with a fog so dense, the beacon from the lighthouse was blotted out. Screams for help could be heard as the ship broke apart. When the fog lifted, the only sign the ship was ever there was a part of the rigging that washed ashore. No survivors were found.

1815 - Willow Brook Cemetery Vandals

In 1815, a series of unusual events took place at Willow Brook Cemetery. In September, the Bosnet crypt had its doors broken open from the inside. The next day, someone toppled over the gravestones on the east side of the cemetery. Two days later, someone dug up several graves and opened the coffins, but they left the remains undisturbed. Locals believed the Bosnet ghosts were responsible. According to folklore, they were searching for their priceless art and jewels that were stolen shortly before they died under mysterious circumstances.

1816 - Summer Snowstorm

A snowstorm in June 1816 dropped twenty inches of snow in Old Moon Bay. The storm hit all of New England, destroying crops and freezing birds to death. Evidence suggests that the anomaly was a volcanic winter event caused by the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora in April in the Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia). Its effect on the climate may have been aggravated by the 1814 eruption of Mayon in the Philippines.

1953 - Hollowell Caves Mystery

In the summer of 1953, five teenagers went missing after a exploring the Hollowell Sea Caves. After an extensive search, the caves yielded only three discoveries: a sweatshirt belonging to one of the missing teens, a flashlight, and a scrap of paper with a poem written on it. Thirty-three days later, one of the missing teens, Judith Andover, was found walking down the shore in tattered clothing. She had no memory of what happened. The four other teens are still missing. The caves have been closed ever since.

1982 - Lightning Storm

In April, a seven-hour storm hit Old Moon Bay with over 20,000 lightning strikes. Several buildings along Main Street were set ablaze, resulting in one death and 40 people injured.