Santa Cruz Blogazine

Santa Cruz: 1955 Flood

Posted on October 22, 2015 by vickiwees

These comments came on another blog I have that has a lot more about the floods in Santa Cruz County. The 2 other blogs I have focus more on Felton flooding during several floods, including 1955, 1982, 1998, etc. Great photos too.

To

Vicki Wees

Kerry Jeanotte I had a 1932 model A ford , & was able to drive the river road to Santa Cruz . The del mar theater had about 7 feet water or more after the water lowered , I caught big steel head were the big tree’s were uprooted in pools of water took them home my mom baked them great treat

Like · Reply · Message · October 20 at 1:45pm

Kerry Jeanotte The really bad flood was xmas eve , 55 our friend’s xmas.floated down the river changed Santa Cruz forever. Lucky we lived on valley drive

Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · October 11 at 3:27pm

Felton Grove About 30 years ago an old friend, Tom Leonard, told me he remembers being a kid in Santa Cruz in the ’55 flood and his dad, who was a cop, was out helping people. Tom went out to try and find his dad and the water was so high on, I think he said Pacific Ave, that he was hanging on for dear life to the parking meters, being pushed by the rising flood waters from one pole to the next. How scary!

Like · Reply · Commented on by Vicki Wees · October 20 at 10:20am

Kerry Jeanotte The really bad flood was xmas eve , 55 our friend’s xmas.floated down the river changed Santa Cruz forever. Lucky we lived on valley drive

Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · October 11 at 3:27pm

My other three local blogs with great flooding photos and stories:

https://www.facebook.com/FeltonGrove?ref=bookmarks

http://www.feltonhomesandhistory.wordpress.com

https://feltongrove.wordpress.com/

Posted in Disaster Diary, Floods, Santa Cruz County | Tagged Floods, San Lorenzo River, Santa Cruz History | Leave a comment

Santa Cruz History: Boardwalk 1950’s +

Posted on September 27, 2015 by vickiwees

Does anyone recall this ride at the Boardwalk 1958-1976? Have a photo you’s like to share?

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk ride “Wild Mouse” operated 1958-1976. Courtesy Press Banner.

Posted in Boardwalk | Tagged santa cruz | 3 Comments

Fun Stuff: Testicle Festival 2015

Posted on August 26, 2015 by vickiwees

Testicle Festival 2015 Sept. 26th Estrada’s Deer Camp, Watsonville

Posted in Fascinating Stuff, Fun Stuff, Oddities | Leave a comment

Santa Cruz: 1890’s Map

Posted on April 29, 2015 by vickiwees

1890’s Santa Cruz Map – Steinegger.

Posted in Map, Santa Cruz | Tagged 1800's, santa cruz | Leave a comment

Fun Stuff: Thought for the Day, by George Takei

Posted on February 4, 2015 by vickiwees

Courtesy of George Takei.

Posted in Fun Stuff | Tagged fun stuff, George Takei, Thought for the Day | Leave a comment

Moss Landing: 1919 First Whale Caught (3 photos)

Posted on January 26, 2015 by vickiwees

These 3 fascinating photos were sent to me by reader Carol Harrington:

Photo#1:

Jan. 23, 1919 Moss Landing, Ca. First Whale Caught. Courtesy Carol Harrington.

Photo#2:

Moss Landing, CA. 1919

Photo#3:

Moss Landing, CA. 1919

Posted in Fascinating Stuff, Moss Landing, Oddities, Old California, Vintage Photos | Tagged 1919, 3 photos, Calif, First Whale Caught, Moss Landing | Leave a comment

Where in the Heck is it? Circa 1890’s

Posted on January 22, 2015 by vickiwees

Can you guess where this photo was taken? Hint: Santa Cruz County, late 1890’s:

Can you guess? Where in the Heck is it? Courtesy of MAH (Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History.)

Posted in Santa Cruz, Where in the Heck is it? | Tagged circa late 1890's, Santa Cruz History, Where in the Heck is it? | Leave a comment

Santa Cruz: High School 1918/19

Posted on December 19, 2014 by vickiwees

Santa Cruz High School cooking class 1918/19. Lora DeWald is 3rd from right.

Santa Cruz High School cooking class 1918/1919. Courtesy of Carol Harrington.

Posted in Santa Cruz, Vintage Photos | Tagged 1918/1919, cooking class, Santa Cruz High School | Leave a comment

Genealogy: Adam + Eve (2 pages) 4004 b.c.

Posted on November 26, 2014 by vickiwees

I never knew Adam and Eve were direct descendants of Methuselah, born 3317 b.c.

PAGE 1: Adam and Eve Genealogy Chart

PAGE 2: Adam and Eve, direct descendants of Methuselah, born 3317 b.c.

Posted in Fascinating Stuff, Fun Stuff, Genealogy | Tagged Adam + Eve, direct descendants, Fascinating stuff, fun stuff, Genealogy, Methuselah | Leave a comment

Salinas River: 1914 Flood – King City

Posted on October 29, 2014 by vickiwees

U.S Mail delivery across Salinas River after 1914 flood, King City, California:

1914 Postcard of U.S mail delivery after Salinas River flood, King City, CA. Courtesy Carol Harrington.

Posted in King City, Old California, Old Postcards, Salinas, Vintage Photos | Tagged 1914 flood, King City, Salinas River, U.S. mail delivery | 1 Comment

Carmel: Old Custom House

Posted on October 8, 2014 by vickiwees

Is this a joke? Looks more like an outhouse. Love the dapper gent in the photo!

Old Custom House at Carmel by the Ocean. Date unknown. Courtesy Carol Harrington.

Posted in Carmel, Old California, Vintage Photos | Tagged Carmel by the Sea, Carmel CA, early 1900's, Old Custom House | Leave a comment

Boulder Creek: Then and Now

Posted on September 12, 2014 by vickiwees

Then – ca. 1918 Berry Falls, Big Basin State Park, Boulder Creek:

Circa 1918 Gilla Dolly De Wald, Berry Falls, Big Basin State Park Boulder Creek. Courtesy of Thelma De Wald Dalman.

Now 2014:

2014 Berry Creek Falls, Big Basin State Park, Boulder Creek. Courtesy of Stefani Wormington.

Posted in Boulder Creek, Then and Now | Tagged 1918, 2014, Berry Falls, Big Basin, Boulder Creek | Leave a comment

Scotts Valley: Circa 1940’s

Posted on August 26, 2014 by vickiwees

Camp Evers Photo, Courtesy of UCSC Special Collections:

Circa 1940’s Camp Evers, corner of what is now Scotts Valley Dr. and Mt. Hermon Rd. Courtesy UCSC Special Collections.

Posted in Santa Cruz Mountains, Scotts Valley | Tagged Camp Evers, circa 1940's, Mt. Hermon Rd, Santa Cruz Mtns., Scotts Valley Dr., Scotts Valley History | Leave a comment

Davenport: 1955 Fallout Shelter

Posted on August 18, 2014 by vickiwees

Davenport Family Fallout Shelter, 1955. Courtesy of SCPL (Santa Cruz Public Library, Special Collections.)

Davenport: McCrary Family Fallout Shelter, 1955. Courtesy of SCPL (Santa Cruz Public Library, Special Collections.)

Posted in Davenport, Fascinating Stuff, Newspaper Archive, War | Tagged 1955, Atomic Bomb, Davenport, Fallout Shelter, Radiation Protection | Leave a comment

War: Japan Surrenders 1945

Posted on July 25, 2014 by vickiwees

Thelma De Wald Dalman’s son Dennis, age 4, holds a newspaper covering an event that changed the world. Courtesy of Thelma Dalman.

1945 Dennis Dalman age 4 on his grandparents porch, Vallejo, Calif. Courtesy of Thelma Dalman.

Posted in Vintage Photos, War | Tagged 1945, Japan Surrenders, War | Leave a comment

Fun Stuff: Testicle Festival

Posted on June 26, 2014 by vickiwees

Ya gotta love Santa Cruz!

Testicle Festive 2014 Santa Cruz, California

Posted in Fun Stuff, Oddities | Tagged fun stuff, Testicle Festival ad 2014 | Leave a comment

Santa Cruz: 1800’s Garibaldi House Series (3 photos)

Posted on June 22, 2014 by vickiwees

Can anyone help me date these 3 photos? I think the Garibaldi Villa Hotel was on Pacific Ave. in downtown Santa Cruz. Where (and when?) was the original Garibaldi House? Jim’s dad, Bob, worked as a bell hop in the hotel. Photos courtesy of Jim Costella:

Photo #1:

Girabaldi House in Santa Cruz, late 1800’s. Courtesy of Jim Costella.

Photo #2:

Interior of Girabaldi House, Santa Cruz late 1800’s. Courtesy of Jim Costella.

Photo #3:

Garibaldi Villa Hotel, late 1800’s (on Pacific Ave?) in Santa Cruz. Courtesy of Jim Costella.

Posted in Santa Cruz, Vintage Photos | Tagged 1800's, Garibaldi House, Garibaldi Villa Hotel, Santa Cruz History | 4 Comments

Santa Cruz: 1940’s Chamber of Commerce

Posted on June 5, 2014 by vickiwees

circa 1940’s Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce Brochure, Courtesy SCPL Special Collections.

Posted in Santa Cruz | Tagged 1940 Chamber of Commerce, Santa Cruz History | Leave a comment

Zayante: 1938 Article

Posted on May 25, 2014 by vickiwees

1938 newspaper article about the Bottleneck at Zayante Park. Courtesy SCPL.

Posted in Felton, Newspaper Archive, Santa Cruz Mountains, Zayante/Lompico | Tagged 1938 newspaper article, Zayante | 1 Comment

Oddities: Corpse Couture

Posted on May 4, 2014 by vickiwees

Corpse Couture for the Style Conscious.

Posted in Fascinating Stuff, Fun Stuff, Oddities | Tagged Corpse Couture | Leave a comment

Brookdale: 1930’s Hollen’s Corner

Posted on April 18, 2014 by vickiwees

Hollen’s Corner, Brookdale, Calif. circa 1930’s? Corner of Hwy 9 and Pacific Ave. Courtesy of MAH (Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History) Special Collections.

Hollen's Corner, Brookdale, Ca. circa 1940's? Courtesy of MAH.

Hollen’s Corner, Brookdale, Ca. circa 1930’s? Courtesy of MAH.

Posted in Brookdale | Tagged Brookdale, circa 1930's?, Hollen's Corner, Hwy 9 and Pacific | Leave a comment

Ben Lomond: Swimming Hole Mystery Solved?

Posted on April 8, 2014 by vickiwees

Steve: see Derek Whaley’s photo and response below re: your request about the swimming hole you recall from the 1950’s. Does this look/sound familiar?

Derek writes:

It could be the swimming hole near Siesta in Brookdale. There are still remnants of a swimming hole there with stone walls and the remains of a plank-built dam. You can kind of see it in this photograph. There are actually two swimming holes in this photo, the large one at the bottom and a smaller one at the top. The top one is the one with the stone walls. It’s right under the Irwin Way bridge.

Swimming hole, San Lorenzo River near Siesta in Brookdale under Irwin Way Bridge. Courtesy of Derek Whaley.

Posted in Ben Lomond, Brookdale | Tagged Brookdale, Siesta, Swimming hole, under Irwin Way Bridge | Leave a comment

Ben Lomond: Reader Question. Can You Help?

Posted on April 8, 2014 by vickiwees

Can anyone help Steve identify this particular location? Thanks!

Old Swimming Hole

Steve
Apr 6 at 10:47 AM

To

Vicki Wees

Hi Vickie,

I learned to swim at an old swimming hole in the late 1950s. I believe it was between Ben Lomond, either on the San Lorenzo River or on one of its tributaries. The spot had a very small sandy beach where you could walk into the water. (The water at the dam in Ben Lomond was too deep for a small kid like me to safely learn how to swim.)

The swimming hole beach was small as there was a smooth rock wall that served as its border. I recall that there might have been a shallow wall in the water on the right side of the swimming hole. On the opposite side of the beach there was a rope swing hung on a large tree with lots of exposed roots where you can stand and grab a hold of the rope.

We used to park on a residential street and walk a few hundred yards to get to the swimming hole. We were very disappointed when some homeowners built fences which blocked the trail.

Do you or your readers remember that swimming hole? Does anyone have a vintage photo of it? Thanks! –Steve