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A HISTORY OF PLEASURE POINT

Compiled by Charles Paulden in 2005 with the generous assistance of Phil Reader, Ross Gibson, The Live Oak History Project and the Pajaro Valley Historical Association.

The Ohlone were the early settlers of the Central Coast
Prior to the arrival of the Spanards in 1769, 100,000 lived in the area from Big Sur to San Francisco.
The Spanish sent the Missionaries to help settle the land and used the Indiginous peoples as the labor.
They helped to reduce the use of traditional ways and Culture.
Many died from the disease of the Spanish settlers.
The missionaries held onto their land and power for twelve years after the independence of Mexico from Spain in 1821.
The Mexican goverment seized the Mission lands and distributed it to a few powerful families, among them the Castro's.
The native people freed from the Missions were now used by the Mexicans as laborers.
Mexico did not spend money to build cities, roads, hospitals, or to develop agriculture further. By 1845, there were probably fewer than 500 people including Natives on the San Mateo Peninsula

Arro Del Rodeo granted by Gov. Figuero to Don Fransico Rodriguez, the early California poet.
This area was used for cattle round ups by the Rodriguez and Castro families, in a natural amphitheater where the freeway crosses Rodeo Gulch.
Also known as "Los Coyotes", a one-quarter square league from Rodeo Gulch to Soquel Creek, from the sea up.
Rancho Encinalitos (little live oak ranch) owned by Alejandro Rodriguez, ran from Corcoran West and included the lands to Woods Lagoon

The result of the Mexican American War (the treaty with Mexico was signed on February 2, 1848, and on September 9, 1850 President Fillmore signed the bill for California admission)resulted in more immigration.
Amerians and Europeansjoined with the Mexican Rancho families or through purchase gained land in the area.

1845 John Daubenbiss and John Hames bought from Alexander Rodriguez 1100 Ac.
The Daubenbiss house is on the rise coming out of Soquel Village 1855 grant confirmed by lands commission.
Originally surveyed as 2353 ac in 1858. It was resurveyed in 1861 as 1,473.04 acres. In 1869, after a second notice they appealed yet were held to the smaller size because they didn't object in time.
H. and E. Pagels patented part of the lands in 1868. Hames and Daubenbiss patented this Rancho in 1882.

1879 Hatch Map shows.
M. Leonard owned 115 Ac east of - Woods Lagoon The Yacht Harbor and Arena Gulch to Schwan Lagoon- the twin lakes area.
Where a decendent of Rodriguez, Jose, along with the famous outlaw Faustino Lorenzana were involved in the death of Juan Arana
Schwan owned 72 Ac from Schwan Lagoon to near Blacks Point.
Built the Inn in 1892.
Helped develop Twin Lakes, trolley line right of way, station.
Property landscaped by N.A. Beckwith with naturalistic landscape including Eucaliptus.
Henry Johans owned 85 Ac Blacks Point, Sunny Cove to about 17th Ave.
CORCORAN owned 183 Ac of land west of Rodeo Gulch, from the Sea to Santa Maria, along the SCRR above Schwan and Johans to upper Schwan Lake, (the State Park area by the swim center}.

MORAN
Patrick Moran + Rosa Smith 1866. -Blacksmith
1870 bought 237 Ac of land from Rodeo Gulch/ Corcoran Lagoon to 33rd Ave, the Lynskey property. Both sides of Moran Lagoon. From the sea to the RR, including Soquel/Pleasure Point.
Barn on 26th, now is Advent / Pleasure Point Church.
The Ship, Helen Merrian Cap. Nelson, with cargo of telegraph poles wrecks off ranch.
1896- son Patrich, 17, died of typhoid.
1897 Divorced due to drinking.
Son, Martin, drowned off Blacks Point in Jan 1901.
Victorian house on beach. Burned March 1901.
1906-Son, Edward died from mistakenly drinking acid, at his grandfather�s ranch in Watsonville.
Died in 1904.

Walter LYNSKEY owned 54 Ac from 33 Ave to 38th.
Died 1918 and land sold.

W. HAWES later, by 1920 had 17.5 ac that developed as THE BREAKERS 1921 Breakers Bonanza Beach
LOTS $5 down, $5 mo. 75-90ft. Free water to lot, golden Waukesha mineral water. Free beach, 2,000 ft. long. Free camping.

F. A. HINN (who helped bring rail to S.C.) owned around 120 Ac from 38th to 41st the sea to Capitola Road. ROAD HOUSE/ Casa Del Mar, on E. Cliff
M. LEONARD owned 108 more Ac The Hook to Capitola Road, Opal Cliffs.
G. WARDWELL owned 58 Ac to Capitola Rd. Lower Opal cliffs.

March 2 1891, Corcoran, Moran and Johann gave 20 acres to the Catholic Ladies� Aid Society
June 1892 Hotel Santa Maria Del Mar opened.
1906 The Chapel opened.

HOUGHTON
Moran sold to Nellie Houghton in 1904 in Estate Sale on Rosa�s death. She bid $2,500 in gold coins.
Built a family house at the end of 30th called the Owls, because of the many Owls in the area.
Mr. A. D. Houghton was an engineering consultant to John D Rockefeller. VChildren went to SC high on the SC-Capitola Street car.
They planted the Eucalyptus windbreak that still shelters the area in the 2000's. They also provided over wintering for the Monarch Butterfly
The house burned on Dec 14,1915.

1920 NEILLIE owned 6.25 Ac at the end of Houghton/30th Ave.
1929 John C. KLEIST owned the property
C Thompson developed the Pleasure Point subdivision.
Dr Norman Sullivan renamed Eucalyptus Dr, Pleasure Point Dr.

The PLUNG was opened in 1934.
The pool was built in the basement of the Houghton home.
1934 managed by Mrs. Thompson.
1955 re opened by Edward Maloney.
1962 was removed because of a large crack.

Narrow gauge Railroad from SC to Watsonville built in 1867.
Trolley Union Traction Santa Cruz-Twin Lakes to Capitola 1903-05 - 1925
1907 E Cliff Dr proposed 15-mile auto speedway from SC to Capitola. 75-100 feet wide.

1907 LAMB and BURTON owned 44 ac from UT-the tracks to proposed E Cliff-33rd-38th. The Breakers.

1907 Hawes owned land along proposed E Cliff.
1920 Hawes owned 17.5 ac 33-38th on coast

Rodeo Club 1922 meet at Larsen house on 38th to improve E Cliff 26-41st.

BELTZ 1920- bought 6 ac off 30th
1929- 70 ac Moran Lagoon to 38th
1948 Beltz Haven 38th-34th
1936 permission to develop water system around Breakers Beach
1938 seeks to lay water mains in Live Oak
Dec 1938 sued by Breakers for poor water.

PLEASURE POINT NIGHT FIGHTERS-PPNF
1920's Volunteer firefighters to protect the Point from fires and rowdy crowds during Prohibition 1919-1933.
With Prohibition in the early 1920s, smuggling became an industry along the coast. Most local citizens did not participate in Prohibition and obtained bootleg whiskey and went to speakeasies where liquor was served. The isolated beaches and remote inland locations made Santa Cruz an ideal location for evading law officers.
Al Capon was noted in the area.
Rumors that the PLEASURE POINT ROADHOUSE 2-3905 E-Cliff was used in these endeavors.
The Roadhouse had one of the first gas stations along the SC coast. It was a retreat with access to the ducks and waterfowl that filled the Lagoons and wetlands in the area.

F. A. Hihn owned the property in 1870�s.
1920 was owned by J. Henchy
1929 by A&E Peterson
1986 L Naslund

Jack O'NEILL- Father of the wet suit patented the name Surf Shop SF 1952. Move to SC in 1959. First at Cowells and then to 41st Ave in PP.
GION v. City of Santa Cruz (Cal. 1970) The use of the beach from at least 1900 lead to dedication of property to public use and prescriptive rights
O'Neill bought Gion property along the coast of PP. Formerly Breakers Beach owned by Hawes. 33rd-38th
The beach at O'Neil's has long been used for Surf access and gathering.
Contributing to the long history of surfing

BIRDS fly into homes in Capitola and Pleasure Point.
Hitchcock, living in Scotts Valley, makes the movie, The Birds, baised on this event.

The PPNF was reconstituted in the 1950's
The PP Surfing association reinvigorated the PPNF in the 1960�s with the inspiration from Jim Phillip's, renown local surf-skate artist under Harry Contie.
PPNF began PACK YOUR TRASH. In the 1970�s Pack Your Trash Day's began as one of the first beach clean ups in response to visitors who had not learned to respect the ocean environment.
This has grown to be a national phenomenon and people now work to keep our beach areas clean.
1980 The PPNF Park was planted across from Elizibeth's Market, the old Port O Call.

Many surf contest are held in this location, including the no cord classic developed by Keven Cante, in response to the use of shock cords or surf cords.
1971 Jack O'Niell lost his eye to an early version that was stuck to the board with a suction cup.

1995 the road across from the Roadhouse failed leading to the one way road.

The sidewalk on lower 30th

Rodgers project 1000 petition against loss of small beach cottage used by surf community and removal of trees that protect monarch of Moran lagoon.

Seawall proposed, turned down by Coastal Commission.

Permission to build town house next to Roadhouse, on last undeveloped lot.

2006-Work on plans for a Special Coastal Community designation

2006- The Seawall proposal returns

SEE THE BIKE RIDE OF HISTORIC PLEASURE POINT

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