Category Archives: Weekly Articles

SANTA CRUZ BEACH & BOARDWALK 1940. This photo contains plenty of long ago history, By squinting you can see what used to be Opera Island over by the east parking lot in the San Lorenzo River. Note too The Casa … Continue reading →

THE ANTHONY BLOCK 1870 + . This building stood at the Town Clock corners  of N. Pacific, Water and Mission Streets. It was once the home and business location of Elihu Anthony. In this photo  he had converted it into … Continue reading →

PACIFIC AVENUE. ST.GEORGE HOTEL. This was the era of The Pacific Avenue Garden Mall 1969-70. The TeaCup Chop Suey Restaurant and bar, Tom Cahill’s fine clothing store and some other businesses  that I can’t remember.                                                             photo credit: Covello … Continue reading →

PACIFIC AVENUE PARADE, Circa ? It’s either 10 :40 am or 10:50 am. According to the two clocks in this 1950’s photo. Once again, note the two lanes of parked cars, see the marchers marching in five columns and there’s … Continue reading →

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY HALL OF RECORDS AND FIRST COUNTY COURTHOUSE. This was taken before 1894 when the courthouse burned down/up in the fire of that year. The Hall of Records still stands as Lulu’s Octagon Coffee house. It’s all on … Continue reading →

THE REAL APTOS VILLAGE circa 1910.  Train depot, The Bayview Hotel in it’s real location, before Swenson Builders and Zach Friend got involved.                                                    photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection. Additional information always welcome: email bratton@cruzio.com DATELINE June … Continue reading →

BRAND NEW HISTORICAL PHOTO. Here we are,  the June 4th ers at Lulu Carpenters (on June 4th 2016). We started getting together in 1982, and hadn’t been together for at least 15 years). Left to right… That’s Rip Harris–  S. … Continue reading →

LAUREL AND PACIFIC, FEB. 2, 1949 Back then this was Bill O’Reilly’s  Dodge and Plymouth showroom and garage. Now it’s Walgreen’s. There is nothing more to say.                                                        photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection. Additional information always welcome: … Continue reading →

CLASSIC INTERSECTION of Pacific, Water, Front, and Mission streets. This was taken January 27, 1967. There was a long battle in 1972 to save this McHigh & Bianchi Building. Henry Faitz who ran for State assembly that year was part … Continue reading →

PACIFIC & SOQUEL AVENUES. 1912.   Nowadays we have Forever 21 on the left and New Leaf   Market on the right. That old building on the left is where Good Times started in 1975. Note how incredibly wide the street was … Continue reading →