1931 Felton Grove Auto Camp ad.

Picnic Ground map (later Felton Grove) circa early 1900′s. Courtesy Randall Brown.

Zayante Rancho and Felton Grove

Area 22 in map above shows “Picnic Ground” (later named Felton Grove) and the Fuse Factory Lot (at Graham Hill Rd and E. Zayante Rd.) “Picnic Ground” was the area where the residential section of Felton Grove is now. “Edge of Brush” would be in the general area of Park Ave. “Cultivated Land” would be where the Church property is now. Also note the train bridge that crosses Zayante Creek and, next to that, the bridge that crosses Zayante Creek on Graham Hill Rd. Map circa early 1900′s. Courtesy of Randall Brown.

May 1850: Joseph Majors files papers with Land Claims Court showing transfer to Isaac Graham and William (Billy) Ware. (3/4 Graham, 1/4 Ware) “$1,000 paid to him in 1842 by Isaac Graham.”

June 1852: Graham and Ware file patent claim on Rancho.

Jan. 1854: William Ware sells his quarter-share of Zayante Rancho to Isaac Graham for $18,250.

Feb. 1862: Isaac Graham gives mortgage to lawyer Edward Stanly to cover legal expenses of $20,000.

1863: Death of Isaac Graham.

1864: Edward Stanly receives title to Zayante Rancho. Map shows “Proposed Village” at future site of Felton Grove.

March 1867: U.S. Supreme Court confirms Stanly’s patent and boundaries.

Dec. 1867: Joseph and Isabella Welch purchase 350 acres of Zayante Rancho from Stanly for $8500 (see map), including Big Tree Grove and present site of Roaring Camp and Lumber Yard.

June 10, 1868: Survey of Town of Felton filed. First lot sold to Walter Cooper of Santa Cruz.

1868: Eagle Fuse Factory established on Zayante Creek (see map). Death of William Ware.

1869-1872: Edward Stanly sells Zayante Rancho (except for Felton lots already sold) to George Treat of San Francisco for $75,000.

July 1873: Independence Day celebrated at picnic ground across river, featuring new dance floor.

Spring, 1840: Round-up of “foreigners” (American and British). Isaac Graham (see photo below) sent to prison in Mexico. Billy Ware and Henry Neale come to Zayante.

March 1841: Joseph Majors applies to replace Francisco Mos (aka LaJeaness). Majors, Peter Lassen, F. Hegel and William Ware partners in construction of water-powered saw-mill, first successful one in California.

April 22, 1841: Zayante and San Augustin (now Scotts Valley) Ranchos granted to Joseph Majors.

July 1841: Isaac Graham returns from captivity in Mexico.

1842: Isaac Graham, Henry Neale and William Ware purchase Zayante Rancho privately from Joseph Majors. Lassen, Hegel and Majors sell their sawmill to Graham and partners. Lassen receives 113 mules as payment.

Isaac Graham, 1850′s. Graham Hill Rd. was named after him.

Vicki Wees, Felton Grove Realtor and Historian.

June, 1834 – Joaquin Buelna applies for Zayante Grant.

Sept. 20, 1839 – (Mexican Archives) To neighbor Francisco Mos has been conceded the place called Sayanta, since it has been abandoned by Citizen Joaquin Buelna, by whose authority you may proceed to grant legal possession to said Francisco Mos, according to the law.

Felton Grove Directory 1916-1917

Ley meadow seen in background. E. Zayante Rd would be off to right. Felton Grove Planing Mill operated in the early 1900′s on Park Ave off Graham Hill Rd.

Wagon at Felton Grove Planing Mill at Park Ave and Graham Hill Rd.