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Happy Birthday Capitola!

The City’s First Sixty Years! 1949 to 2009

Every historic city within California once started as a humble community, usually built with bricks of adobe. Capitola, our beautiful little City by the Sea, is no exception. This year marks its 60th birthday, and to commemorate all that Capitola is, let’s walk down memory lane to see what Capitola once was.

Before the beautiful shops and quaint cottages that line the streets, Capitola served a variety of people through the years, each having their own dreams, hopes and plans for the land they loved by the sea.

It was once an ancient Indian village and burial ground for the Soquel Indians. The water of Soquel Creek provided sustenance for the wildlife they hunted and the crops they grew. Their lives went on unchanged for the most part from generation to generation until, in 1791, Spain established the Santa Cruz Mission and the Indians moved to the shelters and lands the Mission provided.

Then the area served the Mexican vaqueros who called the area La Playa de Shoquel, or “the Beach of Soquel.” In 1834, the beautiful, quiet beach was part of the land grant given to Martina Castro Lodge, sister of Rafael Castro. She had been born at Villa Branciforte in 1807 and was dedicated to the land all her life.

In 1849, California became a state and in 1850, the County of Santa Cruz was formed. Within five years, the growing Village where Capitola now stands would include a wharf and a warehouse used to store potatoes. The agriculture and logging industries found the river and wharf ideal for shipping their goods and it drew Italian immigrant fisherman to settle in this Village by the Sea.

Martina, in order to simplify her life in her golden years, sold a portion of her large estate in the late 1860’s to Frederick A. Hihn, a German immigrant. Hihn was instrumental to the development of the Village.

Hihn was a key player in the development the local coastal lands. He helped finance the first Railroad connecting Santa Cruz to existing Railroads in Watsonville. The line wound its way through much of his personal land. Hihn is an example of the progressive nature of his time. He saw his own needs and looked beyond them to the bigger picture for the community. Along with the railroad, he also built a new wharf to accommodate his growing lumber business.

To help build the railroad, Hihn employed Chinese emigrants who many of whom settled in China Beach, a small fishing Village south of Capitola known today as New Brighton State Park.

In the mid-1860’s, roads traversing the Santa Cruz Mountains and from Salinas allowed travelers to safely journey to this Village by Sea and enjoy its cool breezes. Today the streets of Capitola are named for some of these early visitors hometowns such as Fresno, Stockton, Modesto and Hollister. The number of visitors grew steadily and caught Hihn’s attention, leading him to expand his enterprises in a new direction.

Camp Capitola was founded at Soquel Landing in 1874. The founder, S.A. Hall, had leased the acres near the beach from F.A. Hihn, and established the camp on the recommendation of his daughter, Lulu Hall Green Wolbach. Lulu, a schoolteacher, suggested the name Capitola based on the series of popular novels by E.D.E.N. Southworth, featuring a heroine named Capitola.

On July 4th, 1874, Hihn held the grand opening for his Camp Capitola, a development of a two-story hotel, cottages, bathhouses and horse stables. This changed the dynamics of the Village from a shipping and fishing area to a destination spot for vacationers who donned their overalls and Mother Hubbards to play in the waters of Monterey Bay.

In mid-county, Claus Spreckel’s Sugar Refinery was the largest employer throughout the 1870’s and sugar beet fields surrounded the Village. As the Village grew, churches were established, businesses began to thrive and folks watched the vacationers come and go. In 1898, a school was opened and Miss Kate Leonard served as the first schoolteacher. By 1904, the Village had a streetcar that ran between Santa Cruz and Capitola and there was even a roller skating rink.

After Hihn’s death in 1913, his daughter sold the 300-acre Monterey Bay Country Club, representing the majority of the Village, to H. Allen Rispin, an oil tycoon. Rispin did what oil tycoons do, they pump out what’s valuable and leave what remains high and dry. Rispin did little to improve the infrastructure of the Village and in 1929, Rispin sold most of his Capitola holdings to a Burlingame millionaire, Benjamin Hays Smith.

The desirability of the Village as a vacation destination continued to grow. Smith subdivided the land he purchased and sold the sites to homebuilders. The Village infrastructure was neglected and continued to decline. During this time, the Chamber of Commerce became the voice for the Village, but was not loud enough to gain much power.

On February 8, 1933, disaster struck when a large portion of the business district burned down. Fire trucks came from all over the county but could do little to stop the destructive fire.

Lulu Dunn was one of the first to alert others to the danger. She was the Capitola Postmaster and her office sat on the corner of San Jose and Capitola Avenue. Her neighbors consisted of small businesses that stood along the streets.

Storefronts that wore names such as Cuneo’s Market, Carl Sneath’s grocery, Frank’s Place, the Blue-and-White and the town pool hall, among others were lost.

As 1933 was the last year of prohibition and the town was dry, the catastrophe was met without the consolation of adult beverages. But as they say, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” and Capitola was far from dead.

Baseball Hall of Famer, Harry Hooper, former right fielder for the Boston Red Sox and soon-to-be Capitola Postmaster was instrumental in rallying the town together to rebuild. He owned property and a real estate business, donating numberless hours to the community. His optimism and charisma were vital to the wounded Village.

“I consider the wrecked block the best for business locations in town, and we now have the opportunity of reconstructing along permanent lines at minimum cost,” Hooper stated, “This will be helpful to Capitola as a resort city…”

In April of that year the newspaper read, “Beer to Be Here For Breakfast.” Prohibition was officially over. The town rejoiced! Hooper, a civil engineer, saw nothing but potential for the Village. His plan included a nightclub, a new water system and a new fire department. The community listened.

A new dance hall was the first building completed, and the whole town celebrated. However, that elation soon became a distant memory as the continuing Great Depression and then WWII unfolded before them, slowing and almost killing the Village’s progress.

When the war was over, the nation enjoyed an economic boon and the Village population escalated, causing the infrastructure to decline. The decaying sewer system contaminated the beach and was condemned by the county causing a decline in summer visitors. In 1948, the Capitola Improvement Club began circulating petitions to incorporate the Village. Raymond Abicht, president of the Club, worked tirelessly. An election was held January 4, 1949, a bitterly cold day. With 297 for and 243 against, the vote passed.

The City of Capitola, the third city within the county of Santa Cruz, was born!

Harlan Kessler served as Capitola’s first mayor. Other city officers included: Bradley M. Macdonald, founder of the

Shadowbrook Inn who later also served as Mayor; Guy R. Bigbee, city clerk; and Henry Sinnett, treasurer. The first city budget was $19,000.

While the vote to incorporate was celebrated, the large minority that voted ‘No” would not make it easy. Some years later, they forced another election to unincorporate, which failed. These two factions struggled against each other for years after.

However, this tension, part of the fabric of Capitola, has served to sharpen the ideals and passion reflected in the city today.

There are local heroes for every city. For Capitola, the names of its heroes include Bill Morey who served on the Chamber of Commerce and was instrumental in motivating the citizens toward growth. Harry “The Cat” Hooper, Baseball hero, community motivator, and postmaster for 38 years. Brad Macdonald, WWII vet and founder of the Shadowbrook Restaurant, a Capitola landmark since 1947.

Today, Capitola boasts a population of approximately 10,000 people and more than 100 businesses. It boasts an artistic element respected by the art community throughout the nation and is one of the highest-ranking destination spots along the coast of California to either live or visit. As we celebrate the birth of this city, may we remember what its history represents, the American vision, resolve and the civic passions that characterize this great nation.

To help Capitola celebrate the grand occasion, see the Calendar of Events on the city’s website at www.ci.capitola.ca.us. For more on the History of Capitola visit: www.capitolamuseum.org

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