Santa Cruz History's topics - tribe.net

Help Save the Santa Cruz Community Flea Market!

2007-10-31T19:52:28Z

http://www.petitiononline.com/saveflea/petition.html

The loss of this important community asset will adversely effect thousands of local people. The Flea Market has been silently providing our community with an important service for several decades and an immediate closure is unfair to the many folks who gain their only source of income from this venue. People are entitled to time to reorganize and relocate! The current date for closure is sometime in late November, and no legally binding contract has been signed by Sutter Health to keep the flea operational until they are ready to build there new offices. It will take years to break ground, and we are asking for that time to make a plan to deal with this huge loss to the community.

Furthermore, we need a suitable replacement for an Open Community Recycling Marketplace if this one is closed. The Flea gives untold thousands (probably millions) of items "one more use" before they are sent to landfill!!

You can request a review of the impact this will have on our community here:

www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/bds/ctysupvs.htm or call 831-454-2200

or through the SC Planning Commission (through Lani Freeman)

pln412@co.santa-cruz.ca.us or call 831-54-3132

Don't forget the Good Times, Metro, SV Banner, Local Radio and TV. Spread the word to the community and SIGN THIS PETITION.

We have TEN THOUSAND physical signatures at this point, and now that we know that online signatures count, we would like another TEN THOUSAND.

We need you help, please forward this petition to any and all people who would care about saving this valuable community resource!

posted in Santa Cruz History - 0 replies

Last Chance to SAVE the Roadhouse!

2007-08-09T19:46:20Z

Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2007 13:06:04 -0700
> From: pleasure_point_1@yahoo.com
> Subject: Fwd: Save the Roadhouse!
> To: liveoakneighbors@yahoogroups.com; liveoakannouncements@yahoogroups.com; lohp@yahoogroups.com
>
>
> --- pleasure point <saveroadhouse@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2007 20:20:11 -0700
> > From: 'pleasure point' <saveroadhouse@gmail.com>
> > To: saveroadhouse@gmail.com
> > Subject: Save the Roadhouse!
> >
> > We have less then a week to help free the Roadhouse.
> > Information on how to contact the Supervisors.
> > You can call 454-2200 and ask to talk to them
> > You can write
> > Room 500
> > 701 Ocean St SC
> > Letters are added to the record.
> > If you can get people to go to the meeting Aug 14,
> > they can make a statement
> > in support of listing the Roadhouse as historic and
> > a park site.
> > They can use the above contacts too.
> > Check on the meeting at
> >
> http://sccounty01.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/bds/Govstream/archive/ArchiveIndex.asp
> >
> >
> >
> http://sccounty01.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/bds/Govstream/ASP/Display/SCCB_AgendaDisplayWeb.asp?MeetingDate=8/14/2007
> >
> > should get you to the meeting agenda, it may not be
> > available until Thu
> > evening
> > You can send an Email through this link
> > The attachment shows how the Roadhouse is evaluated
> > as being Historic
> > through this Criteria
> > Thank you !!
> > People for the Preservation of Pleasure Point
> >
>
> Following are criteria for
> Historic evaluation
>
> The National Register Criteria for Evaluation
> is...'the basis for judging a property's significance
> for their association with important events or
> persons, for their importance in design or
> construction, or for their information potential...'
> National Register Bulletin 15. The National Register
> Criteria recognizes the following categories:
>
> • Associative Value: Criterion A: properties
> significant for their association or linkages to
> events
>
> • Associative Value: Criterion B: properties
> significant for their association to persons important
> to the past
>
> • Design or Construction Value: Criterion C:
> properties significant as representatives of the
> fabricated expression of culture or technology
>
> • Information Value: Criterion D: properties
> significant for their ability to yield important
> information about prehistory or history
>
> Evaluation of Integrity
>
> Integrity is the measure by which properties are
> evaluated. To retain integrity a property must have
> most of the seven aspects of integrity as defined by
> the National Register Criteria for Evaluation. The
> seven aspects of integrity are quoted as follows:
>
> • Location = Location is the place where the historic
> property was constructed or the place where the
> historic event occurred.
>
> • Design = Design is the combination of elements that
> create the form, plan, space, structure, and style of
> a property.
>
> • Setting = Setting is the physical environment of the
> historic property.
>
> • Materials = Materials are the physical elements that
> were combined or deposited during a particular period
> of time and in a particular pattern or configuration
> form a historic property.
>
> • Workmanship = Workmanship is the physical evidence
> of the crafts of a particular culture or people during
> any given period in history or prehistory.
>
> • Feeling = Feeling is a property's expression of the
> aesthetic or historic sense of a particular period of
> time.
>
> Bulletin 15 further explains that a determination must
> be made on how the theme of the context is significant
> in the history of the local area, the State, or the
> nation. 'A theme is a means of organizing properties
> into coherent patterns based on elements such as
> environment, social/ethnic groups, transportation
> networks, technology, or political developments that
> have influenced the development of an area during one
> or more periods of prehistory or history. A theme is
> considered significant if it can be demonstrated,
> through scholarly research, to be important in
> American history. Many significant themes can be found
> in the list of Areas of Significance used by the
> National Register.' This list is quoted as follows:
>
> Areas of Significance
>
> *Agriculture (The Barn- similar to Wilder)
>
> *Architecture (Craftsmen style with good materials and
> workmenship. Possible link to Esti-Pogonip Clubhouse,
> Houghtons son in law-same style house)
>
> Archeology
>
> • Prehistoric
>
> • Historic—Aboriginal
>
> • Historic—Non-Aboriginal Art
>
> *Commerce (gas station, store, room and cabin rental)
>
> Communications
>
> Community Planning and Development Conservation
> Economics
>
> *Education Engineering Entertainment/Recreation (
> vacation destination-Cozy cottages)
>
> Ethnic Heritage
>
> • Asian
>
> • Black
>
> • European
>
> • Hispanic
>
> • Native American
>
> • Pacific Islander
>
> • Other
>
> Exploration/Settlement Health/Medicine Industry
> Invention
>
> Landscape Architecture Law
>
> Literature Maritime History Military Performing Arts
> Philosophy Politics/Government Religion Science Social
> *History/Transportation (Gas station)
>
> Other
>
> Evaluation for Significance: The California Register
> Criteria for Evaluation
>
> The California Register of Historic Places is the
> official list of properties, structures, districts,
> and objects significant at the local, state or
> national level. California Register properties must
> have significance under one of the four following
> criteria. Properties that are eligible for the
> National Register are automatically eligible for the
> California Register.
>
> • 1) Associated with events that have made a
> significant contribution to broad patterns of local or
> regional history, or cultural heritage of California
> of the United States;
>
> • 2) Associated with the lives of persons important to
> the local, California or national history
>
> • 3) Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a
> design-type, period, region, or method of
> construction, or represents the work of a master, or
> possesses high artistic value; or
>
> • 4) Yields important information about prehistory or
> history of the local area, California or the nation.
>
> Evaluation for Significance: The County of Santa Cruz
> Criteria for Evaluation
>
> The County of Santa Cruz recognizes significant
> historical resources in unincorporated portions of the
> County. The Historic Preservation Chapter (16.42) of
> the County General Plan describes Historic Resource
> Designation in (section 16.42.080). The designation
> criteria sections are quoted, in part, below :
>
> Designation Criteria
>
> 'Structures, objects, sites and districts shall be
> designated as historic resources if, and only if, they
> meet one or more of the following criteria and have
> retained their architectural integrity and historic
> value:
>
> 1. The resource is associated with person of local,
> state or national historical significance.
>
> 2. The resource is associated with an historic event
> or thematic activity of local, state or national
> importance.
>
> 3. The resource is representative of a distinct
> architectural style and/or construction method of a
> particular historic period or way of life, or the
> resource represents the work of a master builder or
> architect or possesses high artistic values.
>
> 4. The resource has yielded, or may likely yield
> information important to history or pre-history.'

posted in Santa Cruz History - 0 replies

ONE MO' TIME!!! The Pleasure Point Roadhouse DIY Party. This SATURDAY!!!

2007-04-13T20:04:33Z

ONE MO' TIME!!! The Pleasure Point Roadhouse DIY Party. This SATURDAY!!!
Message
Hey All,

If you missed the last one, here is your chance for one more big bash
at this historic landmark. We have a huge empty house, so don't worry
about the predicted rain. IT'S ON RAIN OR SHINE!

Host: Casa del Mar
Location: Casa del MarCasa del Mar
23905 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA
When: Saturday, April 14, 2:00pm
Phone: 831.239.7739

We are having a weekend party to bid farewell to Casa del Mar. Come
join us for fun, music, dancing, and BBQ. Camp-out in the grassy back
field and sleep to the sounds of rolling DJs then wake up to ocean
waves. Pancake breakfast Sunday morning.

Bring your talents to share for open mike, open decks, and grub to grill (or
whatever else inspires you!) Also, bring your wetsuits, boards,
drums, instruments, tents and sleeping bags if you want to crash for
the night.

Hope to see everyone!
Cheers!

>
> Greetings all lovers of Santa Cruz, and friends beyond,
>
> The bell is tolling for the heritage of Pleasure Point and maybe
the last remaining truly historical properties
> as well.
>
> The Pleasure Point Roadhouse SHOULD be a city landmark.
>
> Built beautifully out of old growth redwood trees in 1902 as a
saloon, the Pleasure Point Roadhouse, whose Prohibition-era brothel
inspired the name for this coastal area, was also a gas station and
market for HWY 1, a speakeasy during prohibition, and a home for many
artists and alternative minded people over the decades.
>
> The wood house overlooking Monterey Bay, its carriage house, and
several 90-year-old bungalows are private property now, and owner
Leila Naslund, who has evicted all the tenants (some who have been
there over 15 years), doesn't want it to be designated for
preservation. Her family plans to develop and destroy the existing
property within the next few months under the excuse that it is too
far gone.
>
> Nonetheless, the city's board of supervisors added the Pleasure
Point Roadhouse to a list of properties they'll consider designating
as historic resources at a meeting March 27th.
>
> PLEASE GO TO THIS MEETING IF YOU CARE ABOUT SAVING THIS PROPERTY!
>
> "It seems like it means a lot to the community," says Supervisor
Jan Beautz, who recommended that the house be considered for
designation. A grassroots group has collected hundreds of signatures
on a petition in support of the designation of the roadhouse, a two-
story wood-frame structure with unique Craftsman-style influences.
>
> "It's probably the last undeveloped big piece of property on the
coast. It's just timeless," says Charles Paulden, leader of a group
called People for the Preservation of Pleasure Point. "It's like 100
years ago when you step onto that property."
>
> The cottages next door to the roadhouse were demolished last year
to make way for HUGE Orange County styled condos and many fear the
same will happen to the roadhouse property if it's not designated.
>
> "Pleasure Point was a beach-cottage community until the last five
years. It's not too far gone yet," Paulden says. "I would like all of
Pleasure Point to be preserved, but right now I would like to save
one little bit of it."
>
> Paulden wants to see the roadhouse restored as a museum or
community center. Please contact Charles at: yogacharles@... if you
would like to help.
>
> Although its heyday during Prohibition is long gone, the Pleasure
Point Roadhouse remains a popular local icon. "I remember going to
parties in that building back in the 70s. I've always thought it was
a very cool structure" says Carolyn Swift, director of the nearby
Capitola Museum. "For a building of that style to survive, with the
carriage house and these little additional 1920s bungalows, that's
pretty rare."
>
> The LAST Pleasure Point Roadhouse party is THIS SATURDAY, MARCH
16th at 2-3905 East Cliff Drive. It's the old house with the huge
sculpture in front, can't miss it. It's a free party and everyone is
donating their time and effort. IF you are a dj and want to spin, or
if you are a band and want to jam, please contact me at: abrintonc@...
>
> We are starting music around 1pm and going into late night. There
will be sound systems in two areas of the property, one for daytime
and one for night. Some camping is allowed in the back of the
property if you don't want to drive home, just let us know. There
will be a bbq, ceviche, and a HUGE paella made by a an infamous
Spaniard, beer, drinks, ect., ect....
>
> Dj's from Om records, RxFx, scunderground and more will be
spinning all types of tunes, and some eclectic live acts are
confirmed too. Everyone is invited as long as they sign the petition:
> www.ipetitions.com/petition...ures.html
>
> EVEN IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT, PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION IF YOU CARE.
> You can also call the Supervisor @ 831-454-2200, or write letters
to the supervisors by March 20th
> They can be sent to:
>
> Board of Supervisors
> Att: Sup Beautz-Roadhouse
> 701 Ocean St
> Santa Cruz, California 95060
>
> They are very polite and appreciate hearing your educated
opinions.
>
> This is a community gathering for a great cause, please join us,
have some fun in the sun while saving our cultural heritage for
generations to come!
>
> Peace, Aaron
>
> p.s. Feel free to pass this on.
>
>
> Dj ABC www.myspace.com/djabc

posted in Santa Cruz History - 0 replies

Save The Pleasure Point Roadhouse DIY Party! SATURDAY!!!

2007-03-17T00:06:50Z

Save The Pleasure Point Roadhouse DIY Party! SATURDAY!!!

Greetings all lovers of Santa Cruz, and friends beyond,

The bell is tolling for the heritage of Pleasure Point and maybe the last remaining truly historical properties
as well.

The Pleasure Point Roadhouse SHOULD be a city landmark.

Built beautifully out of old growth redwood trees in 1902 as a saloon, the Pleasure Point Roadhouse, whose
Prohibition-era brothel inspired the name for this coastal area, was also a gas station and market for HWY 1,
a speakeasy during prohibition, and a home for many artists and alternative minded people over the decades.

The wood house overlooking Monterey Bay, its carriage house, and several 90-year-old bungalows are private
property now, and owner Leila Naslund, who has evicted all the tenants (some who have been there over 15 years),
doesn't want it to be designated for preservation. Her family plans to develop and destroy the exisiting property
within the next few months under the excuse that it is too far gone.

Nonetheless, the city's board of supervisors added the Pleasure Point Roadhouse to a list of properties they'll
consider designating as historic resources at a meeting March 27th.

PLEASE GO TO THIS MEETING IF YOU CARE ABOUT SAVING THIS PROPERTY!

"It seems like it means a lot to the community," says Supervisor Jan Beautz, who recommended that the house be
considered for designation. A grassroots group has collected hundreds of signatures on a petition in support of
the designation of the roadhouse, a two-story wood-frame structure with unique Craftsman-style influences.

"It's probably the last undeveloped big piece of property on the coast. It's just timeless," says Charles Paulden,
leader of a group called People for the Preservation of Pleasure Point. "It's like 100 years ago when you
step onto that property."

The cottages next door to the roadhouse were demolished last year to make way for HUGE Orange County styled condos,
and many fear the same will happen to the roadhouse property if it's not designated.

"Pleasure Point was a beach-cottage community until the last five years. It's not too far gone yet," Paulden says.
"I would like all of Pleasure Point to be preserved, but right now I would like to save one little bit of it."

Paulden wants to see the roadhouse restored as a museum or community center. Please contact Charles at:
yogacharles@yahoo.com if you would like to help.

Although its heyday during Prohibition is long gone, the Pleasure Point Roadhouse remains a popular local icon.
"I remember going to parties in that building back in the 70s. I've always thought it was a very cool structure,
" says Carolyn Swift, director of the nearby Capitola Museum. "For a building of that style to survive, with the
carriage house and these little additional 1920s bungalows, that's pretty rare."

The LAST Pleasure Point Roadhouse party is THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 16th at 2-3905 East Cliff Drive. It's the old
house with the huge sculpture in front, can't miss it. It's a free party and everyone is donating their time
and effort. IF you are a dj and want to spin, or if you are a band and want to jam, please contact me at:
abrintonc@yahoo.com

We are starting music around 1pm and going into late night. There will be sound systems in two areas of the
property, one for daytime and one for night. Some camping is allowed in the back of the property if you don't
want to drive home, just let us know.
There will be a bbq, ceviche, and a HUGE paella made by a an infamous spaniard, beer, drinks,
ect., ect....

Dj's from Om records, RxFx, scunderground and more will be spinning all types of tunes, and some eclectic live acts
are confirmed too. Everyone is invited as long as they sign the petition:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/saveroadhouse/signatures.html

EVEN IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT, PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION IF YOU CARE. You can also call the Supervisor @ 831-454-2200,
or write letters to the supervisors by March 20th
They can be sent to:

Board of Supervisors
Att: Sup Beautz-Roadhouse
701 Ocean St
Santa Cruz, California 95060

They are very polite and appreciate hearing your educated opinions.

This is a community gathering for a great cause, please join us, have some fun in the sun while saving our cultural
heritage for generations to come!

Peace, Aaron

posted in Santa Cruz History - 0 replies

Support the historic preservation of the Casa Del Mar, Pleasure Point Roadhouse.

2007-03-08T20:49:06Z

Hi All,

If you ever partied at "Casa Del Mar", spent time at this beautiful property, or just looked at and wondered at that funky old house with the HUGE rotating sculpture in front of it overlooking the Monterrey Bay in Pleasure Point? Well now is the time to help save it against more unwanted development in the east side of Santa Cruz.

This house is the last remaining original structure that is part of the history of how Pleasure Point came to be. It was a gas station, roadhouse, store, bordello, hotel, and home to many eclectic and artistic people over the years. And now the owner has given it up to her daughters to knock down and develop into another super CONDO structure for the rich. When will it end? Never..... but at least you can have a say before it all goes the way of the O.C.

Please read and sign the petition below, pass on this info to EVERYONE WHO CARES:

If you can do more please contact: pleasure_point_1@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 14:25:12 -0800 (PST)
From: <pleasure_point_1@yahoo.com>
Subject: Thank you for supporting historic preservation
To: yogacharles@yahoo.com

Thank you for supporting the Pleasure Point Roadhouse.
The Supervisors will hear this again March 27th, at
last word.We need to get in contact with them to point
out how important the Roadhouse is to preserve for the
future.
Please encourage your friends to support us as well.
If we can get the Pleasure Point businesses to contact
the Supervisors, they well listen more closely.
Let them know how important this is for the business
community.
Your friends, who trust you, can learn about this
chance to preserve and improve our community.
Please have them sign the petition.
www.ipetitions.com/petition...ndex.html
You can call your Supervisor at 454-2200 and express
your desire to preserve a part of our community.

It is too bad that we do not have the same level of
philanthropic participation that the Santa Clara
Valley does.
There was an article about the Google Millionaires
donating to Community Foundations and such.
The Roadhouse would seem to be the type of project
non-profits are looking for. If we could get them
aware of the possibility.
Would you please help others know about our noble
cause.
Thank you so much
Charles

posted in Santa Cruz History - 1 reply

Do you remember the band World Entertainment War?

2007-01-24T19:12:00Z

Fans of Free Will Astrology, please join us:
http://tribes.tribe.net/wewy

posted in Santa Cruz History - 0 replies

Skyland

2006-04-14T17:34:11Z

Anyone living in or interested in the Skyland area? My husband and I own some land up there that was owned in the late 1800s by Charles H. Allen, the first principal of the San Jose Normal School (now SJSU).

You might already know this, but the map room in the Science and Engineering library at UCSC has a gazillion old maps of this area. We were able to find at least ten.

Skyland Road (off of Summit) was once called "Slaughter Road," and Adams Road (where we are) was once called "Yonoco Road." I'm really interested in knowing the origin of these names, especially "Yonoco."

posted in Santa Cruz History - 0 replies

The Trout Farm

2006-02-01T03:01:32Z

Yesterday we went to check out The Trout Farm on Zayante Road
because I had heard that folks could cross a bridge over the creek
to catch fish in the pond and the restaurant would cook it up for you.

So we drove there for a beer and were just looking around out on
the deck and imagining how sweet it must have been in it's day.

The pond has been drained, and the place is run down, bu I'm told
it's under new ownership and they're fixing it up. It even has a huge
swimming pool right off the bar area.

While we were hanging out, about sixty old, Hell's Angels guys file
into the place for a wake for their buddy Tattoo Joe.

They raised their glasses in a toast, and everyone joined in:
"To sticky fingers, slippery thighs, and no sloppy seconds!"

. . . it was a David Lynch moment.

I would LOVE to know about the history of this place!

posted in Santa Cruz History - 4 replies

Oppertunity to Help do organic gardening for Folks with HIV

2005-12-11T09:42:56Z

Oppertunity to Help do organic gardening for Folks with HIV
Please look at our brand new Tribe for the details.
Thanks!

http://tribes.tribe.net/seedsoflovesc

posted in Santa Cruz History - 0 replies

hi, friends and lovers of santa cruz!

2005-12-04T22:08:35Z

hi, my name is kiyonah thundersong. right now, i live in crestone, colorado. before this, i lived for ten years in boone, north carolina. i'm steadily making my way westward, and i am hoping that santa cruz, california will be my next home.

i've been surfing around all the tribes related to santa cruz, and i love seeing all of you people, reading about what is going on, just getting to know the area.

i'm moving to santa cruz to help some friends launch some new projects for the Hippie Museum, and to launch my own nonprofit, called the wild human initiative. i also like to focalize rainbow-style potlucks, hikes, and drum circles. i'd like to plug in and volunteer at an Alternative Community Resource type of center, and help with environmental education and conservation/preservation.

i've started a new yahoo group, all about santa cruz, stuffed full of links for people who want to learn about santa cruz. i want to put in more info about local places to stay on a tight budget, eco-intentional type living situations, things like that.

here's the address, if you'd like to check it out or join:

groups.yahoo.com/group/newsfromsantacruz/

also, i'd be so grateful if you could mention this yahoo group to anyone you know of who needs to get to know santa cruz. i've put hours of research just into the links, and i refine it each day. i'd like to add photos, calendar items, and other helpful things as i find them.

if you are curious about my nonprofit, the wild human initiative, here is the yahoo group address for it:

groups.yahoo.com/group/Wildhumaninitiative/

and here is the address for the seventh generation rainbow tribe, an online tribe that i focalize:

groups.yahoo.com/group/seventhgenerationbowtribe/

thank you very much. i look forward to arriving in santa cruz within one month, exploring and getting to know your beautiful area, and hopefully going to some events and meeting you face to face. i'd love to make it to the DIY New Year's Eve parade. take care and take it easy.

love, adventure, and (r)evolution,
kiyonah thundersong

posted in Santa Cruz History - 0 replies

Information I'm looking for

2005-11-22T23:10:16Z

We recently bought a house in Scotts Valley. It was built in 1928. Added onto many, many times. We call it the Winchester mystery spot. We know there's history to it. It has the original Trout Farm bar in the 'basement'. It has a HUGE pool on the property (not working currently). Older people we know have said that they remember there being huge parties at the house when they were young. So, I'd like to know more about this old house.

ideas on how to go about that?

posted in Santa Cruz History - 4 replies

Local History Office Hours this Monday

2005-11-20T20:50:11Z

Dear All,

I have to cancel my local history office hours for Monday, 21 November, due to family obligations.

I will resume next Monday. You all should come down some time and save me from the microfilm machine.

Best Regards,
Blaize

posted in Santa Cruz History - 0 replies

Local History Office Hours

2005-11-13T02:52:31Z

Dear All,

Under the aegis of the Santa Cruz FreeSkool, I will be holding local history "office hours" at the Central Library.

I have a project I am working on, but if you come down to the Genealogy/Californiana room on Mondays between 5 and 7 pm, I can orient you to the research materials that I know about.

Let me know if you plan on coming, so I can make a photocopy of the bibliography I made.

Best Regards,
Blaize

posted in Santa Cruz History - 0 replies

East Cliff House History?

2005-08-11T00:00:01Z

Does anyone know the history or where I can research the history of that huge, delapidated house and property that is right on Pleasure Point? It's called Casa Del Mar and has the huge sculpture that rotates with the wind in front, you cannot miss it.

My friends live there, and they have heard various stories that it use to be a filling station, and also a brothel at one point. There are little cabins that are on the side that would make sense to that.

Any help would be appreciated. It's too bad that the place was let go so much, because once the current owner dies it will surely be turned into condo central, much like the properties next to it.

Unless of course if it has some cultural or historical significance that is documented or can be researched. ;)

posted in Santa Cruz History - 2 replies

History of punk music in Santa Cruz

2005-06-16T04:01:52Z

I've created a website that chronicles the history of underground music in Santa Cruz County - and anyone can edit from any Internet connection. I am sure you have tidbits of knowledge that can be added - like dates of shows, names of people in bands, where people are now, history of houses, etc.

Santa Cruz has a tremendous history of punk/indie/noise music. Be a part of documenting it:

http://scum.wikicities.com/

posted in Santa Cruz History - 1 reply

The new coast hotel and conference center.

2005-03-28T02:57:23Z

Is now Santa Cruz history....

posted in Santa Cruz History - 0 replies

Wilder Ranch History?

2004-10-28T15:21:02Z

Hello, history buffs!
I have lived in Santa Cruz for almost 20 years. I know that this is not a supernatural tribe, but I am hoping someone can provide me with some historical info. If you find the supernatural to be a bunch of snake oil, then please bear with me.

I visited Wilder Ranch when I was younger, and now take my two small children there for picnics and a bit of respite.
I have always felt something "dark" there, which nobobdy else seemed to notice. An oppressive, somewhat foreboding feeling.
I took a friend there over the weekend, and he literally got sick because this energy was so strong. I hadnt mentioned my own experiences there, and didn't know that he was "sensitive".
He received some very graphic images, centering around the old tree by the main house.

We researched the history; no major accidents/murders there. We both agree the energy is much older than the farm itself. I found that the Ohlone indians had settled in that area. This struck a chord with us both.

does anyone know any historical evidence pertaining to the Ohlone in that region?

Thanks for humoring me!
sincerely,
eleanor l.

posted in Santa Cruz History - 2 replies

Hike the Old Railway

2004-10-15T20:30:10Z

Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz mountains used to be the hip vacation spot for San Francisco folk from the 1880's on. People flocked here in droves. They built vacation cabins in the hills, public plunges, a boardwalk, a large public bathhouse on the beach, a municipal pier and a pleasure pier. There was not only passenger rail service from the south, but there was a passenger rail line running from Los Gatos to Santa Cruz over the hill.

Imagine how amazing it would be to live in San Francisco or one of the new peninsula towns of San Mateo or Palo Alto, and taking regular monumental voyages by train over the hills to Santa Cruz. Maybe a weekend in Felton, a vacation cabin on the river, and warm days swimming at the local swimming spot.

It always makes me reconsider my ideas of forward progress to think that our area had two passenger railway lines serving every major community center in the county (even ones way the hell and gone, some now long forgotten, like Patchen, Hatchery, Quail Hollow, and Branciforte) over a hundred years ago. The county had a lime works, brick works, a tannery, a cement plant, powder works, and of course, numerous lumber yards. Now we're little more than a tourist backwater. Oh well. These feel like tales of the long-past Golden Age of Santa Cruz. But this just enhances the Planet of the Apes feeling I get when I find monumental works, relics of a forgotten past, hidden deep in the overgrown forest.

It's been over a hundred years since the Los Gatos to Santa Cruz rail line opened and more than 50 since it closed in 1940, but the old Southern Pacific right-of-way is still there. With a little bit of persistence, you can hike the 24 miles all the way from Santa Cruz to Los Gatos.

You can cheat and start from Roaring Camp in Felton, or you can start at the boardwalk and follow the tracks away from the Lost Boys Bridge. Pass under the Beach Street trestle until you get to where the track splits. The left branch goes up to Davenport. Some other time we can come back here and hop the local train up the coast. The right branch goes along Chestnut Street, under Mission Hill, along Highway 9, and off to Felton. The rails run along the river the entire way and cross over a very sweet wooden trestle a few miles outside of Santa Cruz. I've always wanted to make a rail bike that I could use to commute back and forth to town on the rails.

In Felton, you'll go through Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad. This is the company that bought the line for tourist runs between Felton and Santa Cruz after it was abandoned by Southern Pacific in 1940. So it's not just cheesy tourist stuff -- there's real history here.

Now we're going to follow the right of way into the hills. We bid civilization ado for the most part and pass through some of the quietest, most peaceful places I've ever been in this area.

Follow the standard gauge rails out of Big Trees across Graham Hill Road and just follow the right-of-way into the hills. The tracks run out after a little bit, but the road grade is still there. Even when you think you've lost the right-of-way keep looking, you'll catch up with it eventually. You can do this all the way to and beyond the railroad tunnels.

The line had several miles of tunnels, with two bores stretching more than a mile each. All but the first of the tunnels has been dynamited. The shortest tunnel was converted to a document safe, the place where big companies pay to have their paper and electronic records stored so they can restart their insidious business after any major disaster (and why the last scene of Fight Club wouldn't quite work). We got a brief tour of the safe when we hiked up there. The door looked like a smaller cousin of that Norad door in Wargames.

The second tunnel, what was called Clems Tunnel, is a wonder to behold. This is your Planet of the Apes moment. A gargantuan tunnel emerging from the overgrown mountain in the heart of the forest like remnants of a lost civilization, tall trees growing right out from the old road bed. You can almost hear Charton Heston scream, "You maniacs! You blew it up! Damn you! Goddamn you all to hell!"

The mile-long tunnel under highway 17 is a bit problematic. It disappears into the mountainside off Glenwood Highway, technically in Los Gatos. So you can stop there and say you made it to Los Gatos (what we did). But if you want to get to the other side of the tunnel, you have to somehow get over to Mt. Charlie Road and cross over Highway 17 and pick it up at the other end somewhere near the summit.

The Wrights Tunnel is near the summit. Walk from Laurel along Burns Creek. The first couple hundred yards of the tunnel is still open. Beyond it extends a mile and a quarter into the mountain under Summit Road.

Somehow it still surprises me that the Santa Cruz area has an old and venerable history (old for the West Coast where the oldest things are a few hundred years old). A quick and half-assed Web or library search turns up a ton of history. Maybe it's just me, but I can open up any history of the area and just get lost in it instantly. It grows on you, I suppose, the longer you stay here. But I just think it's fascinating that this building or that building that you take for granted has a colorful history stretching into the 19th century. For instance, I lived in a co-op we called the Big Yellow House. Turns out it was built in 1882, and was one of the first homes in the Branciforte estate, the first settlement in the Santa Cruz area (not counting the native people already here, of course, who were pushed out).

posted in Santa Cruz History - 1 reply

here's some links

2004-01-22T18:43:41Z

I've been out from work a lot lately (sick child). SO, haven't been able to post much. But here's some starters.
All easily findable on the web, but having a link is nice.

Santa cruz history
http://www.santacruzpl.org/history/

There are some great pictures.

Scotts valley history
http://svchamber.org/svhistory/left.htm

posted in Santa Cruz History - 0 replies