A huge multi-trunk redwood became known as Ingersoll’s Cathedral after a 1884 visit to the resort by Robert Green Ingersoll, the leading American orator of the 19th century. A humanist and critic of fundamentalist religion, Ingersoll was often referred to as the “Great Agnostic.”
The naming of a tree after Robert Green Ingersoll was seen by some
as an affront. In reaction “delegates from the (1887) San
Francisco convention of the Young Men’s
Christian Association (Y.M.C.A.) came down to Big Trees Grove to dedicate in honor of their
organization, a similar multi-trunk redwood nearby the offending Ingersoll’s
Cathedral.
Hi Deborah - I've enjoyed reading your blog posts. I was just at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park yesterday and bought (and have now read many parts of) your book. I've been doing research these past few days for a book I'm working on based on the honeymoon my great-grandparents took back in 1905. One of the places they went, according to the photos in their scrapbook, was "the big trees in Santa Cruz." I just finished my newest blog post and thought I'd include a link here in case you're interested. I cite your book in several places. I'd love to know if you recognize the trees in the 1905 photos from their scrapbook. Unfortunately, they're not very clear and are quite faded and discolored. You might also enjoy the previous post (I include a link in my new post) about their time at the Hotel Del Monte. How sad that it is no longer accessible to the public! I'd love to be able to visit. Anyway, if you want to be in touch, you can reach me at tonyagrahammcquade@gmail.com. Like you, most of my posts have been on blogspot, but I'm trying to transition them to my website (tonyagrahammcquade.com).
ReplyDeleteOops - here's the link: https://www.tonyagrahammcquade.com/blog-chasing-history/a-historic-trek-the-amazing-honeymoon-of-wf-traughber-and-nora-petree-traughber-in-1905-part-vii
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