SOCIETY SAUNTERING

In June of 1887, a couple of excursions to Big Trees Grove were described in a San Francisco Examiner society column by someone calling him or herself, “The Saunterer”.

"The second picnic (the Hale Picnic) of the season took placed from the Kittredge house this week. It was given by Mrs. W.E. Hale of Oakland at the Big Tree grove. About thirty ladies and gentlemen of the house were invited. The day was spent in meandering through the woods, singing and dancing. A delicious luncheon was served and the party arrived at the Kittredge residence in time for the evening repast, after having enjoyed a most charming day."

The Brown Picnic - "By invitation of W.E. Brown, part of the last day of the week was spent by a number of ladies and gentlemen at the Big Tree Grove. At 2 o’clock in the afternoon a large four-in-hand team drove up to the Pope House and was soon filled with a jovial crowd. The drive is one of the prettiest on the Coast, and was greatly enjoyed by the following ladies and gentlemen: W.E. Brown, Mrs. Charles Crocker, Mrs. Dolly Brown, General and Mrs. John F. Houghton, Mrs. Morgan G. Bulkeley, Mrs. Theresa Fair, Miss Tessie Fair, Miss Belle Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Hooker and E.M. Greenway."

Many of the individuals mentioned were members of San Francisco society of the 1880s consisting of California pioneers and the families of prominent businessmen and politicians. The Mrs. Crocker mentioned was likely the wife of Charles Crocker, one of the Big Four entrepreneurs of the Central Pacific Railroad.

Source: “Notes and Incidents,” San Francisco Examiner, June 19, 1887 (including drawings).

 

"THE REDWOODS"

Advertisement for a Santa Cruz Art League sale, Santa Cruz Sentinel, October 31, 1947

The background wallpaper which I use for my blog comes from a drawing done my grandmother Ellen Hill,* my father's mother. She arrived in Santa Cruz in the early 1920s and soon became a member of the Santa Cruz Art League. Primarily an oil painter, she also dabbled pastels, ceramics, tiles and even lyric writing.  

Ellen was born in Colorado and raised in Western Idaho.  She began painting as a child of seven when 

"... she was intrigued by watching a young English artist who was a guest at her parents' mountain home in Idaho. Noticing the little girl's intense interest in his work, he began to teach her." 

In addition to her paintings of the redwoods, her other popular items were "the painting of miniatures in oil on the underside of watch crystals, some of them as small as half the size of a dime." My father often framed them in redwood for use as brooches and lavaliers which were sold at a gift shop on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. 

From an article in the Western Woman Magazine, circa 1940s. Note her self-portrait in the lower left.

Ellen moved to Bonny Doon in 1943 where she continued her artwork into the 1970s. She passed away at the age of 82 in 1980.

* Ellen Hill also painted under the name Ellen Herman.

PUBLIC RIGHTS - PRIVATE RIGHTS

 

View of the fence built between Big Trees Grove and Cowell's Big Trees - Author's Personal Collection

"A great roar went up when a rough board fence* as high as a house was erected around the Big Tree grove. All at once it dashed in the face of the people, the distinction between private rights and public rights."

"The pioneers had found all things in common in California – the seashore, the pasture lands and the forests were open to their use and occupancy. A generation of native sons was well on to manhood before enclosures became common, and to this day it is very difficult for a Californian to accept the fact that he cannot travel where he will, and run a road in any direction that suits his convenience. So it seemed to him that an outrage had been committed when the Big Tree grove passed from public occupancy to private possession. Yet time has established the fact that the owners of the property were well within their rights, however great the inconvenience and the loss to the general public. So far as the Big Trees are concerned, as a rest and recreation place for Santa Cruzans, they might as well be in Tulare."

"How great a hindrance and impediment to tourist travel that fence has been, no man can tell. Ask any person connected with the passenger department of the Southern Pacific railroad, and you will be amazed at the estimate of loss of business he will give you. Yet that fence affords the owners of the grove a snug income of several hundred dollars a month, and it will remain until by purchase or condemnation private rights are eliminated from the grove."

* In the spring of 1891, Big Trees Grove manager, Joseph Ball, built a fourteen-foot high fence at the grove's entrance.

Source: “Public Rights – Private Rights,” Santa Cruz Surf, May 28,1907.