Category Archives: Weekly Articles

ORIGINAL SANTA CRUZ HIGH SCHOOL 1895-1913.  This was our first high school. It had about 200 students when it opened. That’s architect William Weeks house on the Left. It was later moved to California Street . Our present high school … Continue reading →

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT VISITS SANTA CRUZ. April 26, 1962.  Now there was a genuine “First Lady”. That’s Santa Cruz mayor Bert Snyder she’s shaking hands with. Erva Bowen is to Eleanor’s right. She was an early activist here and president of … Continue reading →

WALT DISNEY VISITING THE BOARDWALK IN 1962.  Yes, that’s Uncle Walt himself taking a puff while he’s visiting and checking the Boardwalk’s latest rides especially the rail car ride to see what’ll work in Anaheim. Walt was a chain smoker, … Continue reading →

WEST CLIFF DRIVE CIRCA 1960. That’s Bay Street on the far right heading on to West Cliff Drive and Cowell Street way off to the left. This is of course the site of the Dream Inn and The Sea and … Continue reading →

PACIFIC AVENUE AND COOPER STREETS Oct. 16, 1900. If you squint you can see the early offices of The Sentinel Printing Company on the left. You can also see the parade is going north and south at the same time. … Continue reading →

CABRILLO COMMUNITY CAMPUS 1967. Remember these good old days when the entire community was so proud of Cabrillo College? Remember when the teachers were so active and sincere and involved? What ever happened to the mutual pride we had for … Continue reading →

PRE-DRONE PHOTO OF SANTA’S VILLAGE May 29,1957. Wikipedia says…. “In 1956 the Lawridge dairy farm, alongside Highway 17 in Scotts Valley, was leased to southern California developer Glenn Holland. He had already developed Santa’s Village in 1955, in San Bernardino … Continue reading →

DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ 1884. This lovely Swanton House stood at 850 Front Street. It was destroyed by on May 30 1887 May 30. It was built over the Bonner stables and stood right where the post office is today. Built … Continue reading →

EARLIEST KNOWN PHOTO OF DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ. Somehow you can almost tell that this is the corner of Water, Front (then called  Willow) Pacific Mission and Main  Streets. The year was 1860. Just think how back then the folks had … Continue reading →

THE GOODTIME WASHBOARD 3 with BING CROSBY. That’s Wayne Pope on the left, then  Bing Crosby, Bruce Bratton on washtub bass and Pete Arnott with banjo on the far right. This was on Bing’s nationwide TV show The Hollywood Palace. … Continue reading →