Author Archives: Bruce

AT THE FOOT OF OUR 100 YEAR OLD WHARF. The Sea Beach Hotel seen behind the Saloon in the front, opened in 1888 and burned up (or down) in 1912. This wharf, one of our three, was called “the railroad … Continue reading →

EARLY SANTA CRUZ BEACH BOARDWALK. This dates about 1882 and a hot air balloon ascension which doesn’t look too successful. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com THE SISTINE CHAPEL..A CLOSE UP VIEW. … Continue reading →

BUILDING THE LIGHTHOUSE AT LIGHTHOUSE POINT. The lighthouse went up (this photo was taken May 5, 1967). If you really squint you can see that the project was being done by Milt Macken, contractor. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical … Continue reading →

PRE-NICKELODEON SITE. This was the Lincoln Bakery back on May 16,1950. The house next door where they now have such an incredible sidewalk garden, was where actress Zasu Pitts lived (she was born in Kansas). The Nick opened July 1, … Continue reading →

HISTORIC OCTAGON HALL OF RECORDS and OUR ORIGINAL COURT HOUSE (AFTER 1882). This beautiful stately two floor masterpiece was our first County Court House, built in 1867 and burned down in 1894. Next door and on the left was and … Continue reading →

MISS CALIFORNIA CONTESTANTS ATOP PALOMAR HOTEL. That’s Miss Tulare on the left and Miss Azusa on the right. Obviously it’s 6:14 p.m. and not so obviously it’s June 1963. Newcomers shopuld note that this was the original location of our … Continue reading →

DREAM INN BEING CONSTRUCTED. This was April 26, 1963. On the far left you can see the old Sisters Hospital which moved to the Branciforte Plaza on Soquel. The Dream Inn is often considered the local environmentalist’s biggest loss, and … Continue reading →

CABRILLO/CABRILHO COLLEGE. Circa 1962. Plenty of parking spaces here. According to Kevin Newhouse’s Aptos book…it was 1958 when the County voters voted to create a junior college. The location was a hassle then and it still is, being between Watsonville … Continue reading →

SANTA CRUZ BEACH & BOARDWALK 1940. By taking a closer look you can see the historic La Bahia Hotel in the lower left corner. You don’t need to look so hard to see the Historic Casa Del Rey Hotel that … Continue reading →

LA BAHIA…FORMERLY CASA DEL REY APARTMENTS. The La Bahia Apartments were originally designed as the luxury Casa Del Rey Apartments. Back in the Golden Age of Santa Cruz Tourism, before WWII, they were part of a sprawling tourist complex that … Continue reading →