Author Archives: Bruce

EAST CLIFF DRIVE NEAR SEABRIGHT. CIRCA 1911. Carolyn Swift of the Capitola City Museum tells us that this photo was taken by Alfred Sutton and the folks in the photo are headed to downtown Santa Cruz. Additional information always welcome: … Continue reading →

The original Santa Cruz County Courthouse. This is pre-Cooper House pre-Octagon hall of Records and pre-Lulu Carpenter’s Cooper Street!! It’s of course Front Street and Cooper, circa 1867. Note the organic streets and no visible trash anywhere!!!? Additional information always … Continue reading →

NON HISTORICAL PHOTO. This photo courtesy of The Beach Hill Neighbors Association shows the parking and living problems IF the Basketball moguls get their way with our City. Look at that photo, think about where you’d park…how far would you … Continue reading →

“THREE WAY” TRAFFIC ON PACIFIC (1925-28). Note the cars PARKED on both sides of Pacific Avenue and a parade of cabins on trucks going down themiddle of the street. You can also see the then County Bank Building at Cooper … Continue reading →

A GENUINE KITCHEN BROTHERS PROJECT. Raymond Kitchen built most of this abalone shell, stone, and concrete “temple” in 1947. Dr. Stoller ,who did mushroom fertilizer research, finished the structure in 1954. According to John Chases book, Kitchen got the idea … Continue reading →

TWO WAY TRAFFIC ON PACIFIC IN 1953.The decades old argument over traffic on Pacific Avenue never dies. One way, two way, or better yet… closing it temporarily as a test. It would solve a lot of things. This is Pacific, … Continue reading →

1982 MUSICAL SAW FESTIVAL. One of the first Musical Saw Festivals. This was in the now shuttered Veterans Hall. Hidden in the photo are Tom Scribner, Faith Petric, Morgan Cowin, David Weiss (from the LA Philharmonic, in a tux!!) That’s … Continue reading →

SANTA CRUZ VENETIAN WATER CARNIVAL JUNE 1895. Before people cared about fish and nature they dammed up the San Lorenzo River and as shown here had great fun at the bend where they want to erect that basketball arena. It … Continue reading →

THE PEOPLE’S BANK. Built in 1910 and designed by William Weeks, it became the Wells Fargo Bank by January 4, 1965 (when this photo was taken). Later on it was the Integrand Design or I.D. Building (an early coffee and … Continue reading →

END OF WORLD WAR 1. November 11, 1918. That would be Jamba Juice where it says Plaza Land Office on Pacific and the Post Office will be built later to the left where it says Toscano Hotel on Front Street. … Continue reading →