History Archives - San Lorenzo Valley Post

The Ghost Train and Hidden Tunnels in the Santa Cruz Mountains

The story of the South Pacific Railroad is a tale of a colossal feat doomed to fail. The portion of the short-lived narrow-gauge railroad that connected Los Gatos to Felton had its share of disasters, from earthquakes to epic storms to fatal accidents. But in the end, not any specific one of these tragedies killed the railroad, it was the... Read More

Columns History

Streetwise: Elisha Brooks

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Hidden histories of street names in the San Lorenzo Valley By Lisa Robinson While many local places are named after our babbling brooks – Brook Lane, Brook Drive, Brookdale, Brookside – Brooks Road in Ben Lomond is named for Elisha Brooks. Elisha, his wife Ellen, and their daughter Alice moved to their new cottage in Ben Lomond in 1904. Elisha… Read More

Felton california movie location the primal lure

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History: The Movies Come to Felton

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Plenty of Real Scenery for “The Primal Lure” By Randall Brown December 1915. The movie scouts needed to find a location for a Canadian Northwest story. The scenario called for forests, mountain trails, open clearings, and a river. Their instructions were clear: “No phony scenery.” They chose Felton. Carpenters quickly set to work recreating “Fort Lu Cerne,” a frontier trading… Read More

Kings Creek Road at Highway 9 Boulder Creek

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Streetwise History: Kings Creek Road

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By Lisa Robinson In these articles, we will look at street names in the San Lorenzo Valley and explore their hidden history. James King and his family were among the first residents of the upper San Lorenzo Valley. James and his wife Mary Carpenter were from Missouri. They travelled across the plains by emigrant train arriving in Sacramento in September… Read More

Columns History

Streetwise History: Downtown Felton

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By Lisa Robinson Have you ever thought about how the street where you live got its name? In these articles, we will look at street names in the San Lorenzo Valley and explore the history hidden in their names. The street names of downtown Felton have changed over time. Some have disappeared completely. Let’s look at some of the changes.… Read More

Columns History

History: Woman With a Past

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San Lorenzo Valley history, A.R. Sausman's store and Miss Major Pauline Cushman. and the Civil War. Read More

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Streetwise History: Newell Creek Road Ben Lomond

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San Lorenzo Valley Museum's Lisa Robinson shares a history of Newell Creek Road in Ben Lomond, California in the Santa Cruz Mountains Read More

Columns Fire History

The Big Fire

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By Randall Brown The summer of 1904 in California was hot and dry. Labor Day marchers in Santa Cruz sweltered under record high temperatures and the following day was hotter. Then, early Wednesday morning, the town’s electric system shut down. “All street cars were stopped,” reported the Sentinel, “and an almost weird quiet as of some impending calamity reigned throughout… Read More

Column: Julie Horner Columns Fire History

IOOF Cemetery: Boulder Creek’s Overlooked Treasure

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The Boulder Creek IOOF Cemetery By Julie Horner, Lisa Robinson, and Nick Morris Tucked quietly into Ben Lomond Mountain where few know to tread, the CZU Lightning Complex fire paid a visit to the Boulder Creek Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Cemetery. The lush woods behind the cemetery are burned to the gates, and the undergrowth of ivy, huckleberry,… Read More

The Harmon Mill on Bear Creek Road Boulder Creek

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Streetwise History: Harmon Street Boulder Creek

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Have you ever thought about how the street where you live got its name? In this series of articles we will look at street names in the San Lorenzo Valley and explore the history hidden in their names. Read More