Category Archives: Weekly Articles

NOW MORE THAN EVER!!! This was back on October 15,1952. These intrepid Democrats were standing on Pacific across from Leask’s Department Store (and the Rittenhouse Building) at Pacific and Church Streets. According to the photographer’s notes they were about to … Continue reading →

ONE WAY ON PACIFIC 1964. I was going to suggest that this was a traffic experiment for one way traffic back in the day…it’s not really. It’s theMiss California Pageant just starting up. See all the Marines driving those Oldsmobiles? … Continue reading →

WALGREENS CORNER, LAUREL AND PACIFIC February 2, 1949. Back in the day, this was Bill O’Reilly’s Dodge Plymouth garage and dealership. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com MUCH EXPOSED AT DESAL CANDIDATES NIGHT LAST WEEK. The Santa Cruz Desal Alternatives … Continue reading →

COWELL WHARF IN THE 1880’S. The Cowell Wharf, the Municipal Wharf, and the Douglas House where the Boardwalk would be built later. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com MOUNT RUSHMORE ON CHESTNUT?? No official word yet about what or why … Continue reading →

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 →