Author Archives: Bruce

AFTER THE 1894 FIRE. This is looking South on Pacific Avenue just about at the corner of Cooper and Pacific. Note the future town clock on top of the Odd Fellows Building and the fireproof bank vault sitting where the … Continue reading →

HARBOR HIGH SCHOOL GROUND WORK. 1967. Here’s a great shot of the much debated La Fonda overpass and the ground moving preparation for Harbor High School. That’s Morrissey Turnoff in the upper left and De LaVeaga Elementary School in upper … Continue reading →

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT IN SANTA CRUZ. Eleanor was here April 26, 1962. She’s shown here shaking hands with then Mayor Bert Snyder. That’s Democrat activist Erva Bowen smiling proudly on the right. Erva was president of the NAACP, President of the … Continue reading →

DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ 1966. All of “Old Santa Cruz” was still here …The Mc Hugh Bianchi Building, The Tea Cup, and The corporate Union 76 Station!!! With the “new clock tower” structure (that went up in 1976) we actually have … Continue reading →

VIETNAM VIGIL, NOVEMBER 27, 1965. There’s not much of a caption needed for this photo. It’s obviously taken in front of the Post Office at Water and Front streets. Do note (it’s hard to miss the gung ho stalwart with … Continue reading →

LOCH LOMOND RESERVOIR. This was taken at the inauguration of the “Loch Lomond” reservoir in Ben Lomond on July 27th 1963. Left to right that’s Margaret Browning, Anne Laurie, Capt. Wesley M. Hoffer (the then Sheriff of Santa Cruz County) … Continue reading →

HERB CAEN IN SANTA CRUZ, JUNE 18,1978. That’s me talking to Herb Caen at the Miss California Pageant. It was the only time I attended. My “Goodtime Washboard 3” had played for his and Jessica Minford’s joint birthday parties in … Continue reading →

BAD FIRE SATURDAY NIGHT 10:40P.M. APRIL 14, 1894. This is the block bounded by Cooper Street, Pacific Avenue and Front Street. There wasn’t any water pressure because the City Water mains had been turned off. All this according to Sheila … Continue reading →

DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ. I don’t dare put a date on this photo. There are too many cars in it and car nuts like Paul Elerick can date it within months. So lets hear it from auto enthusiasts. It’s before The … Continue reading →

PACIFIC AVENUE 1960. Most of this photo shows the Hotel St. George. Built mostly in 1893, and damaged beyond repair in the 1989 earthquake. It had a Garden Court, and held The People’s Bank (according to John Chase) Tanners Drug … Continue reading →