Brookdale Post Office
By Ronnie Trubek
By the turn of the 20th Century, the “Logan Camp” picnic and campgrounds at Clear Creek in Brookdale had established a fine reputation. Owner Judge James Logan, inventor of the hybrid loganberry, built his home, “The Cascades” on Main Street, later known as County Road. His former partner, Freeland Grover, resided directly across the road, in the residence called Minihaha, which in later years expanded into the world famed Brookdale Lodge. As Logan acquired more land, he subdivided it into lots under the name of the Brookdale Land Company.
The first Brookdale post office was established in 1902, officially changing the name of the settlement alternately known as Reed’s Spur, Clear Creek, and Brookville. The railroad soon followed suit, changing the name of the stop from Reeds to Brookdale. The new post office was placed in a cottage at the North end of Pacific Avenue, then called Bloom Street. The left side of the street location was conveniently placed near the railroad station, then under construction, and near the bridge to Huckleberry Island.
Logan soon added a grocery store on Main Street next to The Cascades, overcoming Peter Pundt’s claim of squatter’s rights for his small roadside stand, consisting of a keg of beer and a counter with a shelf underneath, where he kept a couple of boxes of expensive crackers. As deed restrictions stated that no liquor was to be sold, Peter’s promotion was “The beer is free, but I am charging you for the crackers.”
Passionate about the history of Santa Cruz County, in her spare time you’ll find Ronnie Trubek participating in history classes, lectures, and walks around the county or at shows collecting maps, postcards, photos and other ephemera relating to our rich and diverse community.
Featured image: Brookdale Post Office by Julie Horner. Historic photos are from the Ronnie Trubek Collection.
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