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Built by Steinbeck's father as a summer home, this is
the cottage where Steinbeck returned repeatedly
throughout his life. One of the pine trees in the yard
was planted when Steinbeck was a child, and he felt a
playful affinity towards it, believing his well-being
was linked with its growth. In 1930, Steinbeck moved
here with his bride, Carol, and lived on a $25-per-month
allowance provided by John Steinbeck, Sr. Father and son
worked together remodeling the cottage, walling in the
sleeping porch, moving the entry to the back and
building a Mexican-style fireplace. Steinbeck improved
the garden and added a fish pond. In 1931, he and Carol
purchased two mallard ducks, "Aqua" and "Vita," but had
to sell them to purchase writing paper for To a
God Unknown.
Although they moved to Southern California for a while,
they returned to the area in the fall of 1932 when
Steinbeck's mother suffered a stroke. They divided their
time between this cottage and the family home in
Salinas, and John worked on parts of The Red Pony.
Back in P.G., Steinbeck also worked on The
Pastures of Heaven, Tortilla Flat
(which won a Commonwealth Club medal and established
Steinbeck as a major regional writer) and In
Dubious Battle (also a Commonwealth medal
winner). Steinbeck began work on Of Mice and Men
at the cottage, but the unwanted attention of his
increasing celebrity forced the Steinbecks to move to
Los Gatos in 1936. While the new house up north was
being built John spent time at the cottage, continuing
work on Of Mice and Men. The manuscript
was nearly finished in May, but Steinbeck's dog, perhaps
acting critically, chewed up the entire single copy. In
1939, Ritchie Lovejoy lived in the cottage.
Turn left on Ricketts Row, go across two blocks, and
turn right on 10th Street (your landmark is Saint
Angela's across the street). Go up to Lighthouse
Avenue and turn left at the stop sign. Continue on
Lighthouse for two blocks. On your right, at the
corner of 8th and Lighthouse, is . . .
ED
RICKETTS' HOME
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