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Category: Local History

Felton Flume Columns History Local History 

Flumes: Lifelines of the 19th-Century Redwood Rush

Mary Andersen
By Mary Andersen In the Santa Cruz Mountains during the 1800s, the air frequently hummed with the thunder of falling redwoods and the distant roar of rushing water. Felton, then a nascent lumber boomtown on the San Lorenzo River, stood at the heart of this industrial activity. Here, flumes – ingenious wooden waterways engineered to defy gravity – transformed the… Read More
Santa Cruz Has Everthing But You Frank Robinson Brentlinger Columns History Local History 

Santa Cruz Has Everything – But You

Lisa Robinson
By Lisa Robinson In 1926, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported “At last – a Christmas greeting card typical of Santa Cruz!” The cards were devoid of snow or snow-covered holly berries. In fact, the Sentinel pointed out, Santa Cruz was a city “where snowstorms are as scarce as seagull’s teeth.” View the full Santa Cruz Sentinel newspaper clipping below. Local… Read More
Flying A Boxers Fountain 1940 Columns Local History 

Filling Stations in Ben Lomond | Local History

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By Ronnie Trubek Gasoline powered automobiles became popular in the 1920s as motorists enjoyed a new sense of mobility and adventure. In the early days, travel required careful planning, and gassing up was always a priority. Initially, gasoline had to be obtained at “bulk depots” where fuel was provided in cans or other containers. Later, a horse-drawn wagon loaded up… Read More
Western States Automic Vault Columns History Local History 

A Mid-Century “Atomic” Vault in the Santa Cruz Mountains

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By Ronnie Trubek In 1953, the Zayante Southern Pacific Railroad tunnel was purchased by the Western States Atomic Vault Corporation, touted for use as a storage place for vital documents and other priceless valuables in case of nuclear attacks. The Southern Pacific train route that ran through the tunnel had been abandoned since November 1940. But, the Zayante tunnel remained… Read More
Ben Lomond Sign Local History Local News Main Street 

Volunteers Revitalize Iconic Ben Lomond Sign

Blake Holiday
by Blake Holiday In November, the town of Ben Lomond witnessed the culmination of a heartfelt community effort as the newly-refurbished “Welcome to Ben Lomond” sign was unveiled and reinstalled on Highway 9, near the entrance of Highlands Park. This cherished marker, originally erected in the 1960s has long been a symbol of local pride and nostalgia. Thanks to the… Read More
Stribling mine Columns History Local History 

Gold Fever: Untold stories of the Califonia and Santa Cruz Gold Rushes

Lisa Robinson
by Lisa Robison In 1853, Dr. John Boardman Trask, California’s state mineralogist, embarked on his second geological survey of the state, this time with a focus on the coastal counties and parts of the Sierra Nevada “embracing their resources in agriculture and mining.” He surveyed Santa Cruz County sometime between June 23 and October that year.  He noted that four… Read More