1
10
8
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https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/files/original/aecd041876647ac2ad7d6bdd4785c7a8.jpg
1a68a00683c1c748b4ae4e7ed0caa385
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Postcard Collection
Description
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Postcards, scanned front and back, depicting Santa Cruz County from the 1880’s to the present.
See the <a href="https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/restrictions-on-use">About</a><a> section for the library's reproduction policy and restrictions on use.</a>
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Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Still Image
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POSTCARD
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3 1/2 x 5 1/2
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Beach at Santa Cruz [and Dream Inn]
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Elston, Deborah Maddock
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Santa Cruz Public Libraries
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IMAGE
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EN
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POSTCARD
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PC-ELSTON-020
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Santa Cruz (City)
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This postcard is the property of Deborah Maddock Elston.
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Dream Inn
Casino (Boardwalk)
Santa Cruz and Cowell Beaches
Municipal Wharf
Business
Tourist Attractions
Wharves and Harbors
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d80d2b5e877a9747047ffb3c64cb51fb
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Photograph Collection
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Photographs from the 1860's to the 2000's, documenting the history of Santa Cruz County.
See the <a href="https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/restrictions-on-use">About</a><a> sectionfor the library's reproduction policy and restrictions on use.</a>
Various sources were used to identify persons, events, and places. Citations to print sources were abbreviated. See the <a href="https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/sources-used-to-identify-photographs">About</a><a> section for a list of sources used.</a>
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Santa Cruz Public Libraries
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B&W
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9 1/2" x 7 1/2"
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LH-SCM109
Date
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After 1914
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Fishing industry on the Municipal Wharf
Description
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Fishing activity on the Municipal Wharf. The small building in front of the Municipal Wharf building is Cafe Kertell, offering Fish Dinners, Clams. After the wharf was constructed in 1914, the wharf rail line was moved to the Municipal Wharf from the Railroad Wharf.
<a href="http://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/sources-used-to-identify-photographs/">Source of information:</a> Museum of Natural History
Article on this Website, see link below
Coverage
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Santa Cruz (City)
1920s
1910s
Relation
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<a href="/omeka/items/show/134360">The Santa Cruz Wharf</a> <a href="/omeka/items/show/134510">Lumber; Lime and cement; Fishing</a> <a href="/omeka/items/show/134510">Transportation: Roads; Wharves and piers</a>
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This photograph is courtesy of the Santa Cruz City Museum of Natural History.
<a href="http://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/restrictions-on-use/">Restrictions on Use</a>
Subject
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Fish and Fishing
Municipal Wharf
Railroads
Publisher
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Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Format
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Image
Language
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En
Type
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PHOTO
Industries
Wharves and Harbors
-
https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/files/original/83195a437ffca3bd0461652b062c3ecb.jpg
00ef2f8b1faaf78b9cc4837ae880afca
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Photograph Collection
Description
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Photographs from the 1860's to the 2000's, documenting the history of Santa Cruz County.
See the <a href="https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/restrictions-on-use">About</a><a> sectionfor the library's reproduction policy and restrictions on use.</a>
Various sources were used to identify persons, events, and places. Citations to print sources were abbreviated. See the <a href="https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/sources-used-to-identify-photographs">About</a><a> section for a list of sources used.</a>
Publisher
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Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Still Image
A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials.
Original Format
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B&W
Physical Dimensions
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7 3/4" x 9 3/4"
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LH-SCM110
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1946-07-04
Title
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Fourth of July, 1946, on the "Pleasure Pier"
Description
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Fourth of July, 1946, on the "Pleasure Pier" built in 1904 as part of the new boardwalk. The pipeline running down the middle of the pier carried ocean water to the 'Plunge,' the heated salt-water pool on the boardwalk. The Municipal Wharf is visible in the background.
<a href="http://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/sources-used-to-identify-photographs/">Source of information:</a> Museum of Natural History
Article on this Website, see link below
Coverage
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Santa Cruz (City)
1940s
Relation
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<a href="/omeka/items/show/134360">The Santa Cruz Wharf</a> <a href="/omeka/items/show/134510">Resort and Recreation Development: Waterfront, beach and boardwalk</a> <a href="/omeka/items/show/134510">Transportation: Roads; Wharves and piers</a>
Rights
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This photograph is courtesy of the Santa Cruz City Museum of Natural History.
<a href="http://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/restrictions-on-use/">Restrictions on Use</a>
Subject
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Holidays-Fourth of July
Wharves and Harbors
Municipal Wharf
Boardwalk
Publisher
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Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Format
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Image
Language
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En
Type
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PHOTO
Public Events
Wharves and Harbors
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https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/files/original/7550e1ab4d1ed00919b99d7e09add8b2.pdf
8c251519e7518fd6888f844a3e4dbcbf
PDF Text
Text
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Railroad Wharf (foreground) and Cowell Wharf, c1890s
Notes on the History of Wharves at Santa Cruz, California
By Frank Perry, Barry Brown, Rick Hyman, and Stanley D. Stevens
June, 2012
New research is rewriting part of Santa Cruz’s wharf history. Five different wharves have
graced the Santa Cruz shoreline over the years: the Cowell Wharf, Gharky Wharf, Railroad
Wharf, Municipal Wharf, and Pleasure Pier. There was also, briefly, the Connecting Wharf,
which linked the Gharky and Railroad Wharves. Some of the wharves have gone by several
different names, making their history rather confusing. Other names that have been used
include “Powder Mill Wharf” and “Steamship Wharf” for the Gharky Wharf, “Davis and Jordan
Wharf,” “Davis and Cowell Wharf,” and “Lime Kiln Wharf” for the Cowell Wharf, “Cross Wharf”
for the Connecting Wharf, and “Fishermen’s Wharf” for both the Railroad Wharf and Municipal
Wharf.
It is not the intent of this essay to provide a detailed history of all the wharves, but primarily
to clarify the relationship between the Gharky Wharf and the Railroad Wharf. Since the middle
1900s, most Santa Cruz area historians have written that the Gharky Wharf, built by David
Gharky in 1857, later became the Railroad Wharf. In fact, the Gharky Wharf became the
Powder Mill Wharf, and the Railroad Wharf was newly built in 1875 for the Santa Cruz and
Felton Railroad. How did this confusion begin? We may never know for sure, but the chronology presented below (mostly contemporary accounts from old newspapers and other primary
sources) documents the building sequence of the wharves and the beginnings of the error.
Background
To better understand this history, it helps to have some background on a few key players.
The California Powder Works located its explosives manufacturing plant on the San
Lorenzo River in 1863. It operated until 1914 and was located where Paradise Park is today.
Isaac E. Davis and Albion P. Jordan were major lime manufacturers in Santa Cruz from
1853 to 1865 and operated a wharf at the foot of Bay Street for shipping their product. This
wharf was the first one built in Santa Cruz (in 1849). After Henry Cowell bought Jordan’s half of
the business in 1865, it became known as the Davis and Cowell Wharf, and, still later, as the
Cowell Wharf. For a history of that wharf, see the book, Lime Kiln Legacies, published by the
Museum of Art & History, Santa Cruz, 2007 (p. 139).
�Notes on the History of Wharves at Santa Cruz, California
David Gharky was born around 1800 and arrived in Santa Cruz during the winter of
1852-1853. He built and, for a few years, operated Santa Cruz’s second wharf. He was
primarily a farmer and died in 1877.
It should be noted that "Gharky" has been spelled at least seven different ways. The
present-day street is spelled “Gharkey,” which was a common spelling in the 1800s. The 1865
deed recording the sale of his wharf to the California Powder Works spelled it “Gharkey,”
“Gharky,” and “Girkey” within this one document. Spellings in old newspapers include "Gherky"
and “Ghearkey,” while the 1860 census spelled it “Yerkey”—possibly a clue to its pronunciation.
The State Legislature, in issuing a wharf franchise in 1856, spelled it “Ghirky.” The strongest
evidence, however, points to "Gharky" as the correct spelling. It is spelled that way in the 1854
poll list, on an 1866 parcel map, in the 1867 Great Register of Voters, in the 1870 census, in his
obituary (Sentinel, Sept. 25, 1877, p. 2), and on his tombstone at Evergreen Cemetery. Most
significantly, he signed it that way in his will (see page 14). Given this evidence, we have
adopted that spelling here, except when quoting others.
The Santa Cruz and Felton Railroad ran a narrow gauge line between Felton and Santa
Cruz beginning in 1875.
The South Pacific Coast Railroad operated a narrow gauge line through the Santa Cruz
Mountains (linking Santa Cruz with the San Francisco Bay area) starting in 1880. The railroad
was purchased by the Southern Pacific in 1887.
Conclusions
The wharf built at the foot of Main Street by David Gharky in 1857 was mostly acquired by
the California Powder Works in 1865 and was demolished in 1882. The Santa Cruz and Felton
Railroad had a new wharf built at the foot of Pacific Avenue in 1875. It was commonly known as
the Railroad Wharf because it was fitted with tracks to accommodate railroad cars. This wharf
stood until 1922.
The Railroad Wharf was entirely new and not a conversion of the Gharky Wharf. In 1877,
however, an S-shaped Connecting Wharf with railroad tracks was built between the two
wharves. This enabled the railroad to ship from the former Gharky Wharf (then called the
Powder Mill Wharf) as well as from the Railroad Wharf. The connection eliminated the
dangerous practice of hauling explosives through town by wagon and storing them on the
Powder Mill Wharf while waiting to be shipped.
From the 1940s through 2000s, numerous writers stated that the Gharky Wharf was
converted to the Railroad Wharf. Authors during the latter part of this period commonly used the
writings of Leon Rowland, Preston Sawyer, Warren W. (Skip) Littlefield, and Margaret Koch as
sources for this information. The oldest example of this confusion discovered to date is from the
1940s and by Leon Rowland. Leon Rowland was a careful researcher, and his writings and files
are usually reliable sources of information. He was not, however, infallible.
2
�Notes on the History of Wharves at Santa Cruz, California
Can this wharf myth ever be exterminated? Probably not. It has been put in print far too
many times, but we hope that at least those who read this essay will not perpetuate the error.
Wharf Chronology
• Sentinel, May 23, 1857, p. 2. “A New Dock—is about to be erected by Mr. David Ghearkey, about
half a mile north-east of Davis & Jordan’s long wharf, the length of which, we are told, is to be one
thousand feet from the water’s edge.” The Gharky Wharf was about 0.25 miles NE of the Davis and
Jordan wharf. So the “half a mile” statement is not very accurate. The “Railroad Wharf” was only a
little over 0.1 miles NE of the Davis and Jordan wharf.
• Sentinel, June 26, 1858, p. 2. “Mr. Gherky intends extending his wharf several hundred feet
farther into the bay.”
• Sentinel, November 18, 1865, p. 2. “Wharf Sale.—We learn that the California Powder Works
Company have purchased Gharky’s wharf, and will hereafter transact all their business, and ship
from that well-known landing.” The transfer was recorded in the Santa Cruz County Book of Deeds,
Volume 7, pages 773-775, November 10, 1865. The deed also lists personal property sold by
Gharky: "One Pile Driver and Hammer belonging to said Pile Driver and 3 trucks now used for the
transportation of Powder."
• Sentinel, June 5, 1869, p. 2. “The California Powder Company’s wharf is being considerably
extended.”
• Sentinel, March 20, 1869, p. 2. “Samuel Adams sold to California Powder Works 3/8 interest in
land and Gharkey’s wharf, for $2,500.”
• Sentinel, November 5, 1870, p. 1. “C. B. Gifford of San Jose, who visited us some weeks ago to
take a lithographic view of Santa Cruz, has shown us his proof. It is in every respect an excellent
picture, giving a fine view of the beach, town, and mountains in the background. To all who wish to
preserve a perfect picture of Santa Cruz, or who wish to send one to their friend in the East to give
them some idea of what a beautiful place Santa Cruz is, we recommend this fine work of art.”
This bird’s-eye view of Santa Cruz done by artist Charles B. Gifford shows the Cowell Wharf (at
the foot of Bay St.) and the Powder Mill Wharf (at foot of Main St.), but NO Railroad Wharf. This
dramatically shows that the Railroad Wharf was entirely new and post 1870. A reproduction of
Gifford’s lithograph appears in Lime Kiln Legacies, p. 134, and The Birth of California Narrow Gauge,
front end papers. The latter book shows another aerial view, done in the late 1870s or early 1880s,
with three wharves (printed on the back end papers and on page 314). By this time the third
(railroad) wharf had been built between the other two. These images are also reproduced below.
3
�Notes on the History of Wharves at Santa Cruz, California
Some people have argued that the artist must have left out the third wharf in the 1870
illustration. The above article, however, says that the rendering was very accurate, and it seems
most unlikely the artist would omit something as important as a wharf. The wharves are very
prominent in the drawing, and Santa Cruzans were very proud of their shipping facilities at that time.
Furthermore, Gifford provided a key to the lithograph in which he numbered and identified important
features such as Bay Street (#1), Davis & Cowell's Wharf (#3), and the Powder Mill Wharf (#6). For
those who still don't trust drawings, however, see the 1866 photograph at the end of this essay.
• Sentinel, April 17, 1875, p. 3. “The [railroad] wharf contract was let to the Pacific Bridge Co. of
San Francisco, work to be completed on or before June 15, 1875. The wharf will be 1,278 feet long
and will be extended as soon as the company can bring their own piles and lumber on the road and
flume. It is to be the most complete and substantial structure of the kind ever erected outside of San
Francisco.” The term “extended” could be interpreted as meaning that either an old wharf was being
lengthened or simply that a wharf was being built out into the water. Elsewhere, however, it is called
the “new” wharf (see next four entries).
• Sentinel, April 24, 1875, p. 3. “The Pacific Bridge Co. commenced driving piles this week for the
new wharf for the Felton railroad. . . .”
• Sentinel, December 11, 1875, p. 3. “A large number of workmen are engaged in giving the
finishing strokes to the new wharf. . . .”
• The Local Item, January 14, 1876, p. 1. “The harbor has three wharves. The middle one is new,
commodious, and complete, now recently finished, and belongs to the Santa Cruz and San Lorenzo
[sic] Railroad Company.”
• Fowler Pope diary, Saturday, January 8, 1876. "This AM I went down on our new wharf for the first
time." Pope worked for the railroad. The diary is in the collection of The Museum of Art & History,
Santa Cruz.
• Santa Cruz Local Item, August 10, 1877, p. 3. “At a meeting of the Common Council, held last
Wednesday morning, an animated discussion ensued relative to a petition presented by the Felton
Railroad Company asking the privilege of connecting the Powder Mill and Railroad wharves by a
narrow wharf, sufficiently wide, however, to build a track upon and run cars over. . . . The object of
connecting the two wharves is safety. When powder is to be shipped, which ever wharf is clear of
shipping at the time is to be the shipping point, and all danger can thus be avoided.” This and the
next few articles document the planning and construction of the Connecting Wharf.
• Sentinel, August 11, 1877, p. 3. “C. H. Gorrill, President of the Felton Railroad Co. presented to
the Council a map, showing the plan for the construction of a wharf to connect the Felton Railroad
4
�Notes on the History of Wharves at Santa Cruz, California
wharf with the Powder Company's wharf, intending to ship all powder over the wharf and do away
with the powder magazine now in use, and storing of powder in the city limits.”
• Trustees Meeting, Office of the California Powder Works, San Francisco, August 16, 1877. These
minutes include the text of the agreement between the California Powder Works (CPW) and the
Santa Cruz and Felton Railroad (SC&FRR) to be entered into the next day. The CPW agreed to
lease its wharf to the SC&FRR for eight years, beginning November 1, 1877. “Said first party [CPW]
also agrees to build and construct or cause to be built and constructed within a reasonable time a
connection between said wharves as authorized by ordinance of the city Council of Santa Cruz
suitable for running the railroad cars and engine of the second party [SC&FRR] over the same said
connection to be built in a manner indicated by the second party provided that the same shall not
cost the first party to exceed twenty-five-hundred dollars gold coin.” This shows that the Connecting
Wharf was to be a railroad link and was to be paid for by the powder works.
• Sentinel, September 22, 1877 p. 3. "Work connecting the Powder Mill and Felton Railroad
Company wharves was commenced Thursday."
• Sentinel, September 25, 1877, p. 2. From the obituary for David Gharky: “He was continuously
engaged in farming, and for a number of years was owner of the Powder Mill Wharf, a property he
constructed about the year 1860.” From the first article we know the wharf was actually built in
1857.
• Sentinel, October 13, 1877, p. 3. "The Railroad connection between the Felton and Powder Mill
wharves is now a fixed fact." This would appear to document the completion of the Connecting
Wharf.
• Sentinel, Feb. 2, 1879, p. 3. "Following is a statement of receipts and shipments of freight over the
wharves of the Felton Railroad." With the construction of the Connecting Wharf, the railroad had
access to two wharves, hence the use of the plural.
• Correspondence: Bernard Peyton (Superintendent, California Powder Works, Santa Cruz) to I. E.
Du Pont de Nemours Co., September 24, 1882. “I have just concluded an agreement with the South
Pacific Coast Railroad with which our private road connects—to carry all our freight between the
Mills and San Francisco, up and down, at $2.50 per ton. We cede to them our old wharf—the
wooden structure, not the land—and they engage to give us free wharfage with all our goods that we
may choose to export or import, foreign or coast wise. The agreement is for 10 years. This enables
us to deliver powder in San Francisco at the cost of 3 1/2 cents per keg against 5 1/2 cents by the
sea route without counting wharfage or insurance, and is besides very much more convenient. The
old wharf was not a source of profit to us.” This and the following article help explain why the
Powder Mill Wharf was demolished by the railroad.
5
�Notes on the History of Wharves at Santa Cruz, California
• Sentinel, December 30, 1882, p. 2. “The work of demolishing the Powder mill wharf will probably
require from six weeks to two months time. It was not built so quickly, its owner, David Gharky, and
David, Jr., hauling the piles from the then near woods. . . . It fell into the hands of the Powder Co.
several years ago and served them a good purpose till the era of the Felton R. R. Co. This company
leased it for a long term of years, and when the company gave up the ghost, it fell into the hands of
their successors, the S.P.C.R.R. [South Pacific Coast Railroad]. The company holding the lease
have no use for it. It is not to their interest to ship goods by water. That is not what railroads are
built for. . . . Why the expense, $500, of putting down the Powder mill wharf is incurred, we do not
distinctly know, but are informed that to keep the wharf in repair would incur an annual expense of
$1,000, as its planking is worn out and its piles, the older ones, ready to fall.”
• Santa Cruz Evening News, October 5, 1922, p. 4. “The [railroad] wharf was built in 1875 and
contrary to general opinion, the franchise to erect it was not given under the power of a special act of
the legislature but under the provision of a local ordinance adopted and known as No. 85, which was
granted to the Santa Cruz and Felton railroad. . . .” This article was written as demolition of the old
Railroad Wharf commenced. With regard to City Ordinance No. 85, the only mention of any wharf
refers to the one the railroad will build at the foot of Pacific Avenue. The rest of the ordinance
describes what the railroad company can do in and on city streets.
• Leon Rowland card file, Special Collections, McHenry Library, UCSC. Undated. File titled,
Gharkey Wharf. “Franchise granted by legislature in 1856. It later was the railroad wharf and its
franchise was renewed for 20 years by the supervisors in 1876. Gharkey’s construction was in 1857.
(The Sentinel referred to it as ‘the new wharf’). The South Pacific Coast Railroad apparently bought
the Gharkey wharf and replaced it.”
The word "apparently" suggests Rowland was uncertain about this statement. Rowland’s files
represented ongoing research used for his newspaper column and books of the 1940s. He died in
1952. The file is available online: http://library.ucsc.edu/speccoll/rowland-collection
.
• Annals of Santa Cruz, 1947, by Leon Rowland. This book was reprinted in Santa Cruz: The Early
Years in 1980, and it says on p. 129,
“The Davis and Jordan wharf was used by the California Powder works when they began
producing explosives in 1863, . . . but they soon began construction of a longer wharf off what is
today Santa Cruz’ principal bathing beach, opposite Main street. . . .”
“When the little seven-mile narrow-gauge Santa Cruz and Felton railroad began operating on
October 13, 1875, the Gharkey wharf became the ‘railroad wharf.’ It was bought by the South
Pacific Coast railroad when that narrow gauge pushed its rails across the hills from Alameda.”
Two key statements in this history are inconsistent with the evidence from the primary sources
quoted earlier. The California Powder Works bought the Gharky Wharf in 1865, and the SC&FRR
built its own wharf in 1875.
6
�Notes on the History of Wharves at Santa Cruz, California
• Sentinel, March 4, 1951 in ‘Santa Cruz Yesterdays’ by Preston Sawyer. “Nearest to the camera is
the old wharf started by David Gharkey which became known as the ‘railroad’ wharf. In 1875 it was
sold to the original seven-mile Santa Cruz and Felton narrow gauge line.” The wording suggests
Sawyer used Rowland as a source.
• News and Notes from the Santa Cruz Historical Society, April, 1955. ‘Early Day Wharves,’ by
Ernest Otto. “Cowell’s Wharf was always known as the first wharf in Santa Cruz, erected about 1849.
Elihu Anthony was one of the main promoters and it was used mainly for the shipping of lumber and
lime. It was followed by the erection of the Pacific Coast Steamship Company wharf, which ran out
from Main street. Then came, in the late seventies, the Railroad wharf, from Pacific Avenue.”
Otto got it right. He was born in Santa Cruz in 1871, and his grandfather was a wharfinger. Otto
often wrote from his own memory. The Powder Mill Wharf was also known in later years as
the Steamship Wharf.
• News and Notes from the Santa Cruz Historical Society, June 1962. ‘Santa Cruz Wharves,’ by
Skip Littlefield. “Wharf No. 2 — Commonly known as the Railroad wharf, was constructed by David
Gharkey in 1857.”
• Wharf Notes, 1963, revised 1970, by Skip Littlefield (unpublished). “David Gharkey built the
Railroad Wharf. . . . Gharkey Wharf became known as Railroad Wharf in 1875.”
• Santa Cruz County: Parade of the Past, 1972, by Margaret Koch, p. 56. “In 1875 when the narrow
gauge Santa Cruz-Felton Railroad began operations, the Gharky wharf became the Railroad Wharf.”
While this sentence is not footnoted, she cites Littlefield and Rowland just before this.
There are dozens of more recent examples from newspaper articles, books, reports,
exhibits, and websites that state (incorrectly) that the Gharky Wharf became the Railroad Wharf.
A public display on wharf history installed on the Municipal Wharf in 1984 (and still there as of
January, 2012) makes the same error.
The authors welcome comments or additional information. Frank Perry can be contacted
through the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History (www.santacruzmuseums.org). We thank
the late Edna Kimbro for sharing the information on Charles B. Gifford and the Hagley Library
for providing the letter by Bernard Peyton.
7
�Notes on the History of Wharves at Santa Cruz, California
Bird's-eye view of Santa Cruz, 1870. The Cowell Wharf is on the left and the Powder Mill
(formerly Gharky) Wharf is on the right. Note lack of the middle or "Railroad
Wharf." (Cropped from original lithograph in the Bancroft Library.)
The spelling of “Gharkey” Street is probably an error. The
most authoritative sources spell it without the “e.” (Photo by
F. Perry, 2012.
8
�Notes on the History of Wharves at Santa Cruz, California
Bird's-eye view of Santa Cruz, late 1870s or early 1880s. Note the Railroad Wharf located
between the Cowell Wharf and the Powder Mill Wharf. This also shows the S-shaped
“Connecting Wharf” (in place from 1877 to 1882) between the Railroad Wharf and Powder Mill
Wharf. Bruce McGregor, in his book, The Birth of California Narrow Gauge (p. 314), says that
this lithograph is from 1877. A black and white version appeared in the Sentinel, June 24, 1882.
(Collection of the Bancroft Library.)
Advertisement for the Pacific Coast
Steamship Company, Sentinel, July 2,
1881, p. 1. This uses the terms
“steamship wharf” and “California
Powder Co.’s Wharf.” After demolition of
the Powder Mill Wharf in 1882, the
steamship company office moved to
“Near the Railway Company’s Wharf.”
9
�Notes on the History of Wharves at Santa Cruz, California
Municipal Wharf, built in 1914. In the distance on the far left is the old Railroad Wharf, built in
1875 and dismantled in 1922. In the distance on the right is the Pleasure Pier, built in 1904 to
supply seawater to an indoor pool known as “The Plunge” and dismantled in 1962. Note the
railroad tracks. (Frank Perry collection)
New Municipal Wharf (left)
and old Railroad Wharf, 1914.
(Santa Cruz Museum of
Natural History)
10
�Notes on the History of Wharves at Santa Cruz, California
This photo of the Gharky/Powder Mill Wharf (foot of Main Street on Beach Hill) was taken in
1866 by Lawrence and Houseworth and is in the collection of the Society of California
Pioneers. It was one of a series fifteen photos taken at Santa Cruz (see Sentinel, Jan. 12,
1867, p. 3). The camera was at the top of the Cowell Wharf, looking northeast. Note that
there is no third wharf between the two. The third or Railroad Wharf was later constructed
just the other side of the point in the middle of the picture. The Dream Inn is now located
above the point and along the cliffs to the left.
11
�Notes on the History of Wharves at Santa Cruz, California
The Powder Mill Wharf (in distance) and Railroad Wharf with Connecting Wharf
between the two. Photo taken from top of Cowell Wharf between 1877 and 1882.
(Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History)
Aerial photo taken in 1906 showing Cowell Wharf (left), Railroad Wharf (middle),
and Pleasure Pier (right). Photo by George R. Lawrence and from the Library of
Congress collection. Restoration by Barry Brown. For more on this photograph, see
“The Hitherto Impossible In Photography,” by Geoffrey Dunn, Santa Cruz Magazine,
Spring 2011.
12
�Notes on the History of Wharves at Santa Cruz, California
Connecting Wharf
(1877-1882)
Railroad Wharf,
aka Fishermenʼs
Wharf (1875-1922)
Pleasure Pier
(1904-1962)
Gharky Wharf, aka
Powder Mill Wharf
(1857-1882)
Municipal Wharf
(1914 to present)
Cowell Wharf, aka
Davis & Jordan Wharf
(1849-1907)
Map showing locations of Santa Cruz wharves.
13
�Notes on the History of Wharves at Santa Cruz, California
David Gharkyʼs will, dated November 3, 1853, and amended June
12, 1863, shows his last name spelled “Gharky.” (Courtesy of
Stanley D. Stevens)
14
�
https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/files/original/c859a26e558a9e939f5a02326711f5a1.jpg
8862ccba43ae2429032e5936cd30d8d8
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Fugitive Facts
Description
An account of the resource
Hard-to-find information about Santa Cruz County, brought to you by SCPL librarians.
While the library has verified the information presented in these files in what it considers to be reliable and authoritative sources, it cannot take responsibility for nor guarantee the accuracy of the information presented.
If you believe that factual statements in a local history article are incorrect and can provide documentation, please contact the library.
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Santa Cruz Public Libraries
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Title
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Municipal Wharf
Subject
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Municipal Wharf
Description
An account of the resource
The present (1999) Municipal Wharf was built in 1914 and was the fifth wharf to be built in the harbor. It was approved with a $172,000 bond issue, following an Act of Congress. The wharf was originally 2,745 feet long and was officially dedicated on December 5, 1914. The SS Roanoke from San Francisco was present at the time and was the first vessel to dock at the wharf.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chase, John. Sidewalk Companion to Santa Cruz Architecture. c.1975. p. 18.
Koch, Margaret Koch. Santa Cruz County Parade of the Past. c.1973, p.56.
Notes on the History of Wharves at Santa Cruz, California.
By Frank Perry, Barry Brown, Rick Hyman, and Stanley D. Stevens.
June 2012.
Publisher
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Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1914-12-05
Format
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TEXT
Language
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EN
Type
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ARTICLE
Identifier
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FF-MUNICIPAL
Coverage
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Santa Cruz (City)
Relation
A related resource
<a href="/omeka/files/original/7550e1ab4d1ed00919b99d7e09add8b2.pdf">Notes on the History of Wharves at Santa Cruz, California</a>
Wharves and Harbors
-
https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/files/original/8f6b5fdcd21b4b190f1bbcb02f8cb7ce.jpg
d9961a4ff1f64fb0cc1632346ab501d8
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Title
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Photograph Collection
Description
An account of the resource
Photographs from the 1860's to the 2000's, documenting the history of Santa Cruz County.
See the <a href="https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/restrictions-on-use">About</a><a> sectionfor the library's reproduction policy and restrictions on use.</a>
Various sources were used to identify persons, events, and places. Citations to print sources were abbreviated. See the <a href="https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/sources-used-to-identify-photographs">About</a><a> section for a list of sources used.</a>
Publisher
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Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Still Image
A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials.
Original Format
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B&W
Physical Dimensions
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9"x7"
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Identifier
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LH-0102
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1914
Title
A name given to the resource
Santa Cruz City Municipal Wharf is to the left with the older railroad wharf to the right
Description
An account of the resource
Santa Cruz City Municipal Wharf, built in 1914, is to the left with the older railroad wharf to the right. The sign on the lower left reads, "New Municipal Wharf Building Here. 1/2 Mile Long." Once the new wharf was constructed, the railroad lines were shifted to the Municpal Wharf.
<a href="http://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/sources-used-to-identify-photographs/">Source of information:</a> Label on back of photo
Article on this website, see link below.
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Santa Cruz (City)
1910s
Relation
A related resource
<a href="/omeka/items/show/11103">Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf</a>
<a href="/omeka/items/show/134360">The Santa Cruz Wharf Still a Vital Force after 80 Years</a>
<a href="/omeka/items/show/134483">140 Years of Railroading in Santa Cruz County</a>
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This photograph/postcard is the property of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, California.
<a href="http://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/restrictions-on-use/">Restrictions on Use</a>
Subject
The topic of the resource
Municipal Wharf
Railroads
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Image
Language
A language of the resource
En
Type
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PHOTO
Wharves and Harbors
-
https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/files/original/a2f3f90671ad43c1be65feebc08f9dbf.pdf
e81dcfa54117be7eaf912ec0fbb8b92a
PDF Text
Text
The Santa Cruz Wharf
By Ross Eric Gibson
The 80-year-old Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf has been undergoing its first face lift in 30 years. The past few years have
seen new wharf-style rough plank buildings constructed, streamers, night-lighting and elimination of parking meters. A
project to improve the wharf entrance is nearing completion.
The Municipal Wharf is only the most recent of the six wharves that have graced the "harbor," a term long used to
describe the area between Lighthouse Point and the San Lorenzo River mouth. With the town's wealth of agriculture,
lumber, leather, lime and gunpowder, early Santa Cruz developed as the second major port city in Northern California.
The waterfront was expected to become the city's downtown, with Main Street laid out on Beach Hill. But circumstance
did not oblige.
Prior to the wharves, lumber was floated through the surf to ships, and goods were ferried out on rowboats. This didn't
always keep things dry, and splashed sacks of potatoes and produce could start to rot on the way to market. Female
passengers were brought ashore by rowboats, then carried through the surf in the arms of sailors.
In 1849, town founder Elihu Anthony built an inclined wharf at the end of Bay Street, which acted as a chute for loading
potatoes onto ships. At the same time, he built the first bridge in the county to give access to his wharf, on West Cliff
Drive. It's today the site of the last "Howe strut" bridge in Northern California. The wharf was bought in 1853 by the
Jordan and Davis Limeworks, which became Henry Cowell Limeworks in 1867.
Cowell's wharf collapsed in a storm in 1907. For 50 years after, all that was left was a tall piling, rising from the sea.
The second wharf, slightly west of today's Municipal Wharf, was
constructed by David Gharky in 1856 and lengthened in 1863. It was
purchased by the South Pacific Coast Railroad in 1875 and became
the Railroad Wharf, with tracks running out to the end. Here freight
could be unloaded directly onto steamships, and ship passengers
could reach county destinations directly by train.
During the Civil War, Gharky constructed a high wharf extending out
from Second and Main streets on Beach Hill, to serve the
The Railroad Wharf, undated photo
Powderworks, the only gunpowder factory in the west. It became
known as the Steamship Wharf when the Pacific Coast Steamship
Company made it its local headquarters.
In 1877, a rail line was extended from the Railroad Wharf to the Steamship Wharf via an "S-shaped" connecting wharf.
When this link and the Steamship Wharf were demolished in 1882, the steamship company set up offices at the end of
the Railroad Wharf.
1
�In 1904, the new boardwalk included a pier carrying a pipeline to the
plunge building, which filled the pool daily with fresh, heated salt
water. It was first called the "Electric Pier" for its night-lighting, then
the "Pleasure Pier." Here boat launches brought people to the
amusement ship "Balboa" anchored offshore. The pier was torn
down around 1965, [actual date according to the S.C. Seaside
Company was 1963--RAP, ed.] when the plunge became a miniature
golf course.
None of the existing wharves could serve deep-water ships. So, the
3,000-foot Municipal Wharf was constructed in 1914, with its end
bent to the west for a steamship dock and freight warehouse. Its
original 2,000-plus pilings were 70- foot-long Douglas fir logs driven 21 feet into the ocean floor. The wharf rail line was
shifted to the Municipal Wharf, and the old Railroad Wharf became part of a sardine cannery before being demolished
in 1922.
The Pier at the Boardwalk, 1904
The Municipal Wharf's Italian fishing community originated in the 1870s on the Railroad Wharf. Most came from Genoa.
Their boats with slanted lateen sails dated back in style to ancient Egypt. The wharf was lined with davits to hoist fishing
boats for storage and repairs.
The wharf was alive, with fishermen drying and mending their nets, cleaning their catch, and displaying the large or
unusual sea creatures brought up from the deep. A small aquarium on the wharf displayed living specimens donated on
a regular basis by the fishermen. Many of the early Italian names are well known from their fishing fleets, fish markets
and restaurants at the wharf.
The Stagneros, Castagnolas, Faraolas, Ghios, and Carniglias are still prominent in town. They'll tell you that when the
yacht harbor was built in 1963 and the wharf davits were removed, much of the life went out of the wharf. Today
fishing, boating, kayaking, sightseeing cruises, para-sailing, scuba diving and shopping have returned some of the vitality
of its maritime past.
Sources
This article originally appeared in the San Jose Mercury News, July 19, 1994, p. 1B. Copyright 1994 Ross Eric
Gibson. Reprinted with the permission of Ross Eric Gibson.
Photographs from the Santa Cruz Public Libraries' collection.
The content of this article is the responsibility of the individual author. It is the Library's intent to provide accurate local history
information. However, it is not possible for the Library to completely verify the accuracy of individual articles obtained from a
variety of sources. If you believe that factual statements in a local history article are incorrect and can provide documentation,
please contact the Webmaster.
2
�
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Title
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Santa Cruz History Articles
Description
An account of the resource
Original articles by library staff and by local authors and material from historical books.
Articles on Santa Cruz County history, many with illustrations, are available here.
The Santa Cruz Public Libraries is grateful to our local historians and their publishers for giving permission to include their articles. The content of the articles is the responsibility of the individual authors.
It is the library's intent to provide accurate information. However, it is not possible to completely verify the accuracy of individual articles obtained from a variety of sources. If you believe that factual statements in an article are incorrect and can provide documentation, please contact the library.
Publisher
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Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Document
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Original Format
If the image is of an object, state the type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
Paper
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Identifier
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AR-055
Title
A name given to the resource
The Santa Cruz Wharf
Creator
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Gibson, Ross Eric
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<i>San Jose Mercury News</i>, July 19, 1994, p. 1B. Photographs from the Santa Cruz Public Libraries' collection.
Publisher
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Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
7/19/1994
Format
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Text
Language
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En
Type
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ARTICLE
Rights
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Copyright 1994 Ross Eric Gibson. Reprinted with the permission of Ross Eric Gibson.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Wharves and Piers
Municipal Wharf
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Santa Cruz (City)
Wharves and Harbors
-
https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/files/original/8f92e3cfb7d1c7ba762514039ec605a5.jpg
4a580d0e5a2a14de1289ac7f0ada2cee
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
Photograph Collection
Description
An account of the resource
Photographs from the 1860's to the 2000's, documenting the history of Santa Cruz County.
See the <a href="https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/restrictions-on-use">About</a><a> sectionfor the library's reproduction policy and restrictions on use.</a>
Various sources were used to identify persons, events, and places. Citations to print sources were abbreviated. See the <a href="https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/sources-used-to-identify-photographs">About</a><a> section for a list of sources used.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Still Image
A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials.
Original Format
If the image is of an object, state the type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
B&W
Physical Dimensions
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9"x7"
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LH-0189
Title
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West Cliff Drive, looking towards the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Description
An account of the resource
View from West Cliff Drive, looking towards the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
<a href="http://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/sources-used-to-identify-photographs/">Source of information:</a> Staff
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Santa Cruz (City)
Relation
A related resource
<a href="/omeka/items/show/134360">The Santa Cruz Wharf</a>
<a href="/omeka/items/show/134510">Transportation: Roads; Wharves and piers</a>
Rights
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This photograph/postcard is the property of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, California.
<a href="http://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/restrictions-on-use/">Restrictions on Use</a>
Subject
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West Cliff Drive
Municipal Wharf
Publisher
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Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Format
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Image
Language
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En
Type
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PHOTO
Nature
Wharves and Harbors
-
https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/files/original/b6d4f7c1e1477d940efd634fd8f8582a.PDF
4f83227eb0cf6c4c61b41c9e53c771d3
PDF Text
Text
����
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Title
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Local News Index
Description
An account of the resource
An index to newspaper and periodical articles from a variety of Santa Cruz publications.
It is a collection of over 87,000 articles, primarily from the <em>Santa Cruz Sentinel</em>, that have been clipped and filed in subject folders. While these articles of local interest range in date from the early 1900's to the present, most of the collection and clipped articles are after roughly 1960. There is an ongoing project to scan the complete articles and include them in this collection.<br /><br />Also included are more than 350 full-text local newspaper articles on films and movie-making and on the Japanese-American internment.<br /><br /> In addition, this is an online index for births, deaths, and personal names from <em>The Mountain Echo.</em> The complete print index is available at the library. For more information see <a href="https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/items/show/134957#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0">The Mountain Echo</a>.
Most of the indexed articles are available on microfilm in the Californiana Room or in the clipping files in the Local History Room at the Downtown branch. Copies of individual articles may be available by contacting the Reference Department - <a href="https://www.santacruzpl.org/contact/">Ask Us.<br /><br /></a>
<p></p>
While there is some overlap between this index and <a href="https://www.santacruzpl.org/historic_newspaper_index/">the Historic Newspaper Index</a><a> (approximately 1856-1960), they are different databases and are searched separately.</a>
Publisher
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Santa Cruz Public Libraries
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Original Format
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Paper
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Title
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Wharf dreams: Stagnaro Bros. Restaurant and Seafood Enterprises celebrates 80 years on the Santa Cruz Waterfront
Creator
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Dunn, Geoffrey
Source
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Santa Cruz Style v6 n1: 60-63
Publisher
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Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Date
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2017-Spring
Format
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Text
Language
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En
Type
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ARTICLE
Identifier
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SCS-V6N1-60
Coverage
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Santa Cruz (City)
1930s
2010s
Rights
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Reproduced by permission of Santa Cruz Style Magazine LLC.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Restaurants
Stagnaro Bros. Restaurant
Stagnaro Family
Municipal Wharf
Fish and Fishing
Business
Industries
Wharves and Harbors