Felton Woodpeckers baseball team ca. 1899, old Felton Ball Park (now Felton Bible Church) and significant old Redwood tree that is part of Felton Grove/Felton history since the 1800’s. Last 2 photos of team circa 1908. George Ley, manager.
Felton Woodpeckers baseball team circa 1899.
Felton Ball Park circa early 1900’s.
Felton Bible Church at corner of Graham Hill and E. Zayante Rds. Photo by Vicki Wees 2013.
The train ran from Felton Depot (now Roaring Camp) directly past the entrance to the Felton Grove Auto Camp. 1922 Ad.
Undated aerial view of Felton Evangelical Free Church – later name changed to Felton Bible Church. Photo perhaps 1980s? Graham Hill Rd at E. Zayante Rd. Today’s Felton Grove Neighborhood is approx. 16 acres to the right. Entrance to neighborhood is via Park Ave, far right.
1962 Evangelical Free Church being built where part of Felton Grove Resort, Felton Grove Auto Camp, Captain Ed’s Boyland and the old baseball field used to be. As far back as 1870’s campers came from all over to stay at the “Picnic Grounds” at the 21 acre Felton Grove where the San Lorenzo River and Zayante Creek converge. Courtesy Felton Bible Church.
Church members used this small building while their new church was being built in 1962 after the church purchased the approx 5 acres from Captain Ed Dougherty. Captain Ed and his wife “Babe” ran a boys camp from the 1930’s until approx 1956. Courtesy Felton Bible Church.
With the current Facebook conversations on the Felton Grove Neighborhood News about the swimming hole, I thought this might be of interest. Patsy Wright, Bob Wright’s widow, drew this sketch of Felton Grove Resort circa 1940’s. She also gave me Bob’s Recollections of that era:
Sketch of Felton Grove Resort, circa 1940’s courtesy Patsy Wright.
Bob Wright’s Story page 1. Cover Page.
Bob Wright’s Story page 2
Bob Wright’s Story page 3
Bob Wright’s Story page 4
Bob Wright’s Story page 5. End.
Previously called Felton Grove Auto Camp, the name changes in 1937 to Felton Grove Resort after over $20,000 in improvements:
Ad In Santa Cruz Evening News, May, 1937:
1937 ad for the new Felton Grove Resort. Santa Cruz Evening News. May 11, 1937.
1937 Postcard, photo of entrance to the new Felton Grove Resort:
1937 Postcard Courtesy of Ronnie Trubek. Entrance to the new Felton Grove Resort, formerly Felton Grove Auto Camp.
Felton Grove Auto Camp article. Santa Cruz Evening News. March 13, 1922
1925 Felton Grove Auto Camp photo.
Anyone catch the typo in the article above?
Janet Tipper, a reader of one of my other blogs, http://santacruzblogazine.com/ comments:
Reader Janet Tipper Comment, Dec. 15, 2014 on: http://santacruzblogazine.com/
Soggy Survivor T-Shirt given to me by Tom Andersen.
Day after Jan. 4, 1982 Flood in Felton Grove. 490 River Rd. Photo by Vicki Wees.
Day after Jan. 4, 1982 Flood, Felton Grove. 470 River Rd. Photo by Vicki Wees.
This is a fascinating history of San Lorenzo River flooding, including Felton Grove and surrounding areas. Courtesy of MAH (Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History:
PAGE ONE – History of Felton Grove Floods (and surrounding areas) since 1791. Courtesy MAH.
PAGE TWO
PAGE THREE
PAGE FOUR
July 3, 1880 article about “luxury” camping at what’s now Felton Grove with spring beds and a Chinese cook.
July, 1892. Earliest known photo of Felton Grove campers (called Maple Grove until someone realized they were Sycamore trees, not maples.)
Felton Grove Resort ad – S.C Sentinel, July 15, 1939:
Courtesy of Felton Historian Randall Brown. 1939 ad for Felton Grove Resort. Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Feb. 16, 1922 Santa Cruz Evening News article announcing the opening soon of the newly named Felton Grove Auto Camp. Courtesy Randall Brown:
Feb 1922 Article: Felton Grove Auto Camp to open soon. Courtesy Randall Brown.
In 1998 Shawn and I lease-optioned this cabin from Frank and Ruth Summers to live in, fix up and and sell. It had been their summer home for decades. We moved in and remodeled the entire interior, but just made minimal improvements to the exterior. The FEMA elevation project was in full swing and we knew that who ever bought the home would likely want to elevate, so we left certain things undone with that in mind. I listed and sold the property to Joan S. who fell in love with it as we had. During the remodel in 1998 the neighborhood flooded. Fortunately, the cabin had originally been constructed about 6′ off the ground to accommodate flooding problems so in ’98 the inside was high and dry. These 4 photos are 1998 before flood, 1998 after flood, 2012 and 2013. They also show peeks of the 2 homes on either side prior to elevation and remodel:
Photo #1 – 1998 before flood:
Summer 1998 before flood. 541 River Rd. and peek of Craig’s house to right. Shawn’s work truck and our BMW.
Photo #2 – Winter 1998 after flood:
541 River Rd with peek of 535 River Rd at left, after 1998 flood. All photos by Vicki Wees.
Photo #3 – 2012 After Joan S. elevated house:
2012. 541 River Rd. after Joan S. elevated house and completed remodel.
2013 Joan spent her final years in the home she loved. 541 River Rd.
I first moved to Felton Grove in 1979. My then husband, 2 kids and I rented 535 River Rd. The idea was to save money to buy our first house. I’d been a Realtor for a year. We separated and I was able to rent the house next door at 541 River Rd. One week the kids stayed with me, the next week, next door with dad. I was still renting 541 River when the big flood hit Jan. 4, 1982. Shortly thereafter I bought my first house at 258 Circle Dr:
Photo #1 Then:
1982 shortly after the big flood. My first house, 258 Circle Dr, Felton Grove. My son Eli on step, age 4.
Photo #2 Now:
What a difference 3 decades can make! 258 Circle Dr, 2012.
Newspaper archive re: big flood of Jan. 1890.
FOR SALE NOW! Check out the area at FeltonGrove.com.
150 Park Ave, Felton Grove, Felton. Photo courtesy of Vicki Wees.
Contact Vicki Wees, Realtor (bre#00684938) for details and showings:
831-359-0200 Vicki Wees vnwees@yahoo.com
Felton Grove Realtor, resident and historian for over 30 years.
Listed by T-Bird, B. Franzosa bre#01103336
FELTON GROVE 