IN PERPETUITY

Author's Personal Collection

As far back as 1876, one visitor pondered about the future of Big Trees Grove, stating that “somebody ought to buy that tract of land, and preserve it, and all that is on it, in its natural condition, as a public park.” After his May 1888 visit, noted caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast also added his sentiments on the subject when he declared “that the State ought to own the Big Tree grove and turn it into a public park.”  

San Jose Mercury-News, December 18, 1912

The December 18, 1912 San Jose Mercury-News described how the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce planned to put forth a bill calling for “the acquisition of about 150 acres of the Welch and Cowell grove of trees by the state.” The Chamber also noted that Mrs. Josephine Clifford McCrackin, president of the Ladies’ Forest and Songbird Protective Association advocated for the purchase of the Felton grove by the state back in 1901. Since the Welch family wished to continue their resort operation, McCrackin and others instead chose to back efforts to make Big Basin the first California state park in 1902.

Around 1900, an effort to make the giant sequoia of the Calaveras Grove a national park once again raised the hopes of many Santa Cruzans about the fate of Big Trees Grove. When a joint resolution to acquire Calaveras was introduced in the U.S. Congress, many Santa Cruzans asked, “Is it too late to include the Santa Cruz Big Trees in these negotiations?” When Congress balked at the purchase price for the Calaveras Grove, the deal fell through. The slight chance that Big Trees Grove might also receive federal government protection also evaporated.  

Fortunately, local preservation efforts finally paid off a couple decades later when the Welch family decided to get out of the resort business. To ensure preservation of the big trees, the Welch family sold 40 acres to Santa Cruz County for the establishment of a park.

In a July 18, 1928 article in the Santa Cruz Evening Sentinel, former Santa Cruz mayor William Jeter, who led the county’s effort, claimed that Joseph Warren Welch always intended that the

"… trees, plant life, shrubbery and undergrowth should be perpetuated and maintained in their natural state until the tract could be disposed of for public enjoyment under restrictions to effectively assure such maintenance. His wish in this regard was faithfully respected after his death in the ’70’s, by his widow up to the time of her death in 1905, and subsequently by the Welch heirs down to the present time."

The establishment of Santa Cruz County Big Trees Park in 1930 gave the grove its first government protection.

State park status was finally attained in 1954 after avid outdoorsman Samuel Cowell donated 1,623 acres of adjoining, previously logged land, to the State. Cowell insisted that his donation be added to the existing county park and together, in honor of his father, the parcel be declared Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.

Sources: “Summer Recreation in the Open Air,” Santa Cruz Weekly Sentinel, January 15, 1876; “A Delighted Artist—Thos. Nast Enthuses Over Santa Cruz,” Santa Cruz Sentinel, May 5, 1888; Santa Cruz Sentinel, March 10, 1900; "Santa Cruz Wants the State to Buy a Grove," San Jose Mercury-News, December 18, 1912..

WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN AND WHY

Measuring the big trees - Author's Personal Collection

 On January 17, 1892 a special train arrived at Big Trees Grove. The rail cars bore members of the International Press Club League and the San Francisco Press Club.

 

"The Big Trees were reached in a few minutes, and there the party stopped and inspected the redwood giants for thirty minutes ... Sixteen persons joined hands and were then just able to circle the giant, which stands 225 feet high, and thirty-one got inside of the burned 'General Fremont,' and then the space was not filled."

 

"One of the Eastern visitors had brought along a spool of silk thread and the tree was carefully measured, and the skein of silk broken off and preserved for reference the size seeming incredible ... "

 

The 1888 image above shows sixteen people holding hands, including John Fremont and his family. Instead of using thread, this group opted for a photograph to demonstrate the circumference of the Giant. 

Source: “On Sight-Seeing Bent – Press Delegates Given a Glimpse of California,” San Francisco Examiner, January, 18, 1892.

THE FINEST PLACE

Visitors view the Giant - Author's Personal Collection

"Nine autos, loaded to overflowing with small and otherwise passengers, furnished the transportation for the Sunday-school of Calvary church last Saturday, when the annual picnic was held at the Big Trees. Without the slightest exaggeration this is the finest place in the world for a picnic. The marvelous grove and the picturesque river, together with a day which confirmed all the reports of the Santa Cruz climate, showed nature in her most gracious mood. Add to this a bountiful lunch, an ice-cream freezer of unplumbed depths, then watch the smile on the faces of the youngsters."

 

"The San Lorenzo was not the only thing which ran along the beach, for, after luncheon was thoroughly digested and the burning speed of the runners had been somewhat consumed by games, races were held on the river bank. The stop watch was broken by the first sprint … As an indication that no injuries were sustained, digestive or otherwise, all the picnickers appeared at Sunday-school the following morning."

Source: “Picnic at Big Trees,” Santa Cruz Evening News, June 24, 1918.

THE EMERALD FOREST

San Jose Mercury-News, July 24, 1911

"The Big Trees yesterday was the scene of a large gathering of the sons and daughters of Erin residents in Santa Clara and [S]anta Cruz Counties, the occasion being the annual picnic and barbecue given under the auspices of the United Irish Societies of San Jose. The special train consisting of ten cars left the West San Jose station at 9:45 o’clock a.m., and all the excursionists wore a smile in anticipation of the good time in store for them. The trip through the Santa Cruz Mountains was much enjoyed and alighting at the picnic grounds the visitors were extended a royal welcome by Manager Hopkins of the Redwood Park who proved to be a genial host."

Author's Personal Collection

"More than 1000 picnickers enjoyed the day’s festivities and many were present from Watsonville, Santa Cruz and San Francisco. The sweet strains of melody furnished by William Lake’s Orchestra soon attracted a large proportion of the amusement lovers to the dance floor and they tripped the gay fantastic to their heart’s content. The barbecue feature soon developed interest and Ben Ortega, Ben Ortega, Jr., and Albert Higuera who looked after the serving were kept busy in supplying the wants of the hungry throng. With the barbecued beef and mutton were supplied a generous quantity of beans and bread and following the gastronomic pleasures came the sports which were participated in by old and young … " 

Source: “Sons and Daughters of Erin Have Big Picnic,” San Jose Mercury-News, 24 July 1911.