Derek R Whaley

Santa Cruz once wanted ships, not beachgoers.Industrialization in the 1840s turned the beach into the largest shipping center south of San Francisco, specializing in exporting lime, lumber, and blasting powder. The beach was no place for rejuvenation and relaxation, yet people came from around the world to experience the therapeutic qualities of surf bathing in the Monterey Bay.Rustic bathing sheds evolved into elaborate bathhouses supported by hotels, restaurants, dance halls, and other attractions. Railroads, first drawn by heavy industry, brought thousands of passengers to the Santa Cruz Beach.SIDETRACKED: The Santa Cruz Beach to 1903 is Derek R. Whaley's exploration into what came before the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Witness the golden age of Santa Cruz as a seaport. Walk along the Esplanade or through the gardens of the Sea Beach Hotel. Experience the thrills of the Plunge Baths. And peruse over 100 historical photographs that showcase the early days of the Santa Cruz Beach as it has never been seen before.

The world changed on May 15, 1880. Before, there was only a dusty toll road through the Santa Cruz Mountains. After, there was the South Pacific Coast Railroad. Farmers, lumber firms, and remote resorts far up in the hills above Scotts Valley suddenly found themselves on the mainline of an ambitious railroad linking Oakland and Santa Cruz. Almost overnight, settlements appeared at the headwaters of Soquel Creek and along Bean Creek, ready to take advantage of what the railroad offered. In SIDETRACKED: Laurel & Glenwood, Derek R. Whaley investigates life in two mountain towns whose entire existence was tied to the railroad. Visit Laurel and the nearby F.A. Hihn Company's mill. Explore Glenwood and its two tunnels. Or relax at the seven popular resorts that drew hundreds of visitors each year. Over 100 historical photographs, some never before seen in publication, bring this history to life.

Once there was an endless redwood wilderness, populated by only the hardiest of people. Then, the sudden blast of a steam whistle echoed across the canyons and the valleys-the iron horse had arrived in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Driven by the need to transport materials like lumber and lime to the rest of the world, the railroad brought people seeking out new ways of living, from the remote outposts along Bean and Zayante Creeks to the bustling towns of Los Gatos and Santa Cruz. Bridges and tunnels marked the landscape, and each new station, siding and spur signaled activity: businesses, settlements, and vacation spots. Summer resorts in the mountains evolved into sprawling residential communities which formed the backbone of the towns of the San Lorenzo Valley today. Much of the history of the locations along the route has since been forgotten.This is their story.Fifth revision (January 2021)