On Holiday, Town’s Spirit Is Unshaken

PASO ROBLES, Calif. — Nick and Patricia Sherwin began this Christmas like any other: They watched their grandchildren open presents.

Then, donning bright yellow rain gear, they jumped in their car and headed downtown to stand watch over their jewelry store, which was rendered unusable in Monday’s earthquake.

The temblor that hit California’s Central Coast on Monday morning killed two people and is estimated to have caused more than $100 million in damage to the historic downtown area, much of it to about a dozen buildings built in the late 1880s.

The symbolic epicenter of the destruction was the town’s historic clock tower, which crumbled. Falling with it was the roof of the building that housed the Sherwins’ business, Pan Jewelers, which had been painstakingly built over decades.

A series of earthquakes, measuring magnitude 3.5 and above, hit near Paso Robles on Thursday; authorities reported no damage or injuries. Dozens of aftershocks have hit the Central Coast town since Monday’s 6.5-magnitude temblor.

As he stood behind a chain-link fence near his shop at Park and 12th streets, Nick Sherwin welcomed those who came to see the damage. A steady stream of visitors, some towing children still in pajamas, braved cold and rainy weather to view cordoned off streets and piles of bricks and rubble. Neighbors and strangers alike offered their thoughts, prayers and wishes and asked how they could help.

“They would be home but they are here to see the destruction and see how blessed people were to get out,” Sherwin said.

David and Irma Zanini, friends of the Sherwins since 1976, were among those who came downtown on their way to church Christmas morning.

“I’m glad you’re safe,” David Zanini told his old friend as he and Nick Sherwin embraced. The men stood silently for a moment, contemplating the remains of the Sherwins’ family business.

“You don’t think these things are going to happen,” Zanini said. “Did you get everything out?”

Patricia Sherwin interjected. Their most precious assets were safe: their employees and their customers.

Earlier, the Sherwins had talked about the possibility of a more deadly scenario.

Twice the number of customers could have been in the shop if the quake had hit a day later, Nick Sherwin said.

Turning toward the mound of rubble, Sherwin added that the shop’s merchandise was largely intact, glittering and still perfectly displayed as if ready for holiday shoppers.

To protect the store, the Sherwins hired a 24-hour security service. They told the guards to keep an eye on neighboring businesses as well.

Irma Zanini said that since the quake she has avoided the downtown area, which she used to visit regularly for a bowl of soup or to shop.

“It’s too devastating,” she said. But she was persuaded to return by her daughter, who was visiting from out of town and insisted on seeing the damage firsthand.

The piles of bricks proved an inspiration for Zanini, who suggested selling them as a fundraiser.

“I’m trying to think what we can do,” she said. “I’m praying for all the people to get together and help. That’s what we have to do.”

Seven miles away, parishioners from the historic Mission San Miguel, gathered inside a community hall to celebrate Mass.

After the diocese of Monterey closed the mission due to safety concerns, the congregation moved six blocks down Mission Street and took over a nondescript brick building called Casa San Miguel, usually used for serving meals to the homeless and migrant workers.

Families filled rows of folding chairs and prayed for their community.

It was in stark contrast to the old mission, where volunteers had decorated two 8-foot Christmas trees on each side of the altar and displayed a nativity scene.

But no one complained. “The building has suffered ... but the people of God, which is the church, are alive and happy,” said Father Joseph Zermeno during Mass.

June Ellart put it more simply on the way into Christmas Eve Mass, telling her father, Nick Sherwin: “At least we are walking in and not being rolled in.”

Times staff writer Andrew Blankstein contributed to this report.