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Redwood harvesting began in California in the 1850s, after waves of Euro-Americans arrived in California in search of gold and other riches. A forest of old-growth redwoods covered the Santa Cruz Mountains. By the 1860s, about a dozen sawmills existed in the mountains south of Los Gatos, and thousands of board feet of lumber were transported through the emerging village for distribution along the Pacific Coast, including San Francisco. Oxen and horses pulled the massive logs to the sawmills, as shown in this early photograph taken somewhere in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Andrew P. Hill, a well-known San Jose painter and photographer, began a crusade in 1900 to save the coastal redwoods. His efforts resulted in the formation of the Sempervirens Club and the creation of Big Basin Redwoods State Park in 1902.
Do you have a pre-1975 photograph that you would like to share with the community? Contact Library Director Peggy Conaway at pconaway@losgatosca.gov.
100 years ago
It is with great pleasure that we note the zest with which our band boys are opening up their winter practice season. They have placed themselves in charge of an able Director, Mr. I. A. Turnell, whose intention we learn is to enlarge the organization to a full military instrumentation of 36 pieces. This seems at first thought an impractical if not an impossible undertaking. But in explanation, Mr. Turnell offers us his plan of organizing a juvenile band of boys and girls, and as vacancies occur in the first band they will be filled from ranks of the juvenile band, and as these boys and girls, ranging from the age of 10 years to 18 years, are receiving an every day drill, in a year's time they will be able to handle music that would tax a band of three years experience practicing under the ordinary methods of one or two nights a week and putting the instruments on the high shelf till the next rehearsal. (Hamsher Collection of newspaper clipping, Oct. 26, 1905)
75 years ago
A new form of entertainment for society folks has been invented by Arthur Cyril, director of dramatics for the United Conservatory of Music in San Jose. It is the "home-talkie," which was successfully tried out last week at the Isenberg estate near Los Altos. A four-reel comedy, "The Deserted Wife," has been filmed and Cyril is in San Francisco this week, editing and cutting the film. First Cyril wrote the story and the characters memorized the lines. After several rehearsals the film was made as a silent picture and the characters remain back of the screen as the picture is shown, speaking their roles. (Los Gatos Mail News, Oct. 30, 1930)
50 years ago
Mrs. Robert T. Thompson, a former resident of Los Gatos and founder of several writing classes here, is recovering today in the County Hospital after she was stricken Sunday with paralytic polio. The 33-year-old mother was attacked by the disease in her spine causing loss of movement of her entire body with the exception of her arms. She is reported to be recovering partial use of her legs today. (Los Gatos TimesSaratoga Observer, Sept. 30, 1955)
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