Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz, California
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A history of Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz, California
Pleasure Point in Santa Cruz County, California, is a world renowned surf location. The early big wave rider Fred Van Dyke[1] and the inventor of the wetsuit, Jack O'Neill, are historic figures associated with this area. From the time of the Costanoan through the Spanish missions in California, into the time of the Californio’s and the break up of the Rancho’s to the development of the Coastal cottages and businesses, the “Point” has had a rich and interesting past. In the more modern times of Prohibition, with the speak easy's that gave the area the name Pleasure Point and through the development of the surf culture, this area has been a place of distinction along the California coast
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 Indigenous 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 government seized the Mission lands and distributed it to a few powerful families, among them the Rodriguez.
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.
The Californios developed a culture around the cattle that roamed the large Ranchos
By 1845, there were probably fewer than 500 people including Natives on the San Mateo Peninsula
Arro Del Rodeo was 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.
In 1845 John Daubenbiss and John Hames bought from Alexander Rodriguez 1100 acres. The Daubenbiss house is on the rise coming out of Soquel Village The 1855 grant was confirmed by the land commission. Originally surveyed as 2353 acres 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 Acres east of Woods Lagoon- The Yacht Harbor and Arena Gulch to Schwan Lagoon- the twin lakes area.
Schwan owned 72 Acres from Schwan Lagoon to near Blacks Point. He 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 Eucalyptus. Henry Johans owned 85 Acres 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 (Santa Cruz Rail Road) above the Schwan's and the Johan's lands, to upper Schwan Lake, the state park area by the Simpkin swim center of 17th Ave.
MoranPatrick Moran + Rosa Smith 1866. Blacksmith 1870 bought 237 Ac of land from Rodeo Gulch/ Corcoran Lagoon to 33rd Ave- Lynskey property. Both sides of Moran Lagoon. From the sea to the RR, including Soquel/ Pleasure Point. Barn on 26th, now in Advent / Pleasure Point Church. Ship, Helen Merrian Cap. Nelson, with cargo of telegraph poles wrecks off ranch. 1896- son Patrick, 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.
F. A. Hinn owned around 120 Ac from 38th to 41st the sea to Capitola Road. This included the 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.
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. Children went to Santa Cruz high on the Capitola Street car. They planted the Eucalyptus windbreak that still shelters the area now. They also provided over wintering for the Monarch Butterfly. The house burned on 12.14, 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.
1867 Narrow gauge Railroad from SC to Watsonville built by Hinn who's locomotive "Jupiter" is in the Smithsonian .
Trolley Union Traction Twin Lakes to Capitola 1903-05 - 1925
Jack O'Neill Father of the Wetsuit patented the name Surf Shop in SF 1952. Move to SC in 1959. First at Cowells and then to 41st Ave in Pleasure Point.
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 Pleasure Point. Formerly Breakers Beach owned by Hawes. 33rd-38th
The beach at O'Neil's has long been used for Surf access and gathering.
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 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.
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. Beltz 1920 6 acres 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 12.1938 sued by Breakers for poor water.
Birds fly into homes in Capitola and Pleasure Point. Hitchcock reading of this, makes the movie, The Birds.
Pleasure Point Night fighters 1920's Volunteer firefighters to protect the Point from fires and rowdy crowds during Prohibition 1919-1933. At this time rumrunners dropped off on the beaches.[2] Al Capone was noted in the area.[citation needed]
Rumors that the Pleasure Point Roadhouse 2-3905 E-Cliff was used in these endeavors.[3] See more
ipetitions.com/petition/saveroadhouse/index.html
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
The PPNF was reconstituted in the 1950s The PP Surfing association reinvigorated the PPNF in the 1960’s with the inspiration from 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 Surfing 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.
2007 community meetings to decide design guidelines in keeping with the historic beach cottage environment.
[edit] External link
History of Soquel link
