The History of Aptos’ ‘Cement Ship’

By Carolyn Swift

I’ve read about but never before looked closely at photographs of the “cement ship” Palo Alto before and after it was brought to Seacliff and restored as an entertainment attraction.

The ship was built in 1919 for use during World War I, but the war ended and it was “mothballed” in Oakland.

Bought by Seacliff developers and towed to Aptos a decade later, the ship was outfitted with a dancing ballroom, swimming pool, and restaurants.

It is NOT true that it was used for gambling or had pinball machines. It did not, because it was illegal.

Nor were alcoholic beverages served, since during Prohibition, these were also illegal. (Wink-wink.)

I must say, what they accomplished with that military ship was phenomenal.

I once interviewed a man, Virgil Macy of Live Oak, a plasterer, who was working just before the ship was to open on Memorial Day, 1931.

He was building a giant seashell

“Rebuild” from page 5

Kalantari-Johnson said she connected with the people behind “Save WestCliff,” launched on Facebook with about 50 supporters to ask what strategies will be used.

When Kalantari-Johnson was told the group hasn’t settled on strategy, she thought, “OK, there’s room for discussion.”

As for Seacliff State Beach and Capitola Village, two oceanfront locations severely flooded by the storm, she said the strategy would mean asking different questions:

• What does the community value?

• What do we care about?

• What does success look like?

During her campaign in Santa Cruz, she found the community values inclusion and compassion, “very much aligned with my own values.”

Once you know what’s important to the community, then the next questions are: What is the data needed to make a decision?

“We’ve got to look at data, look at what we know about climate change and what’s happening with the planet,” she said.

Then: How do I cultivate an environment for change? What are the policies to get there?

“We tend to jump into responding,” she said.

She said she used this strategy early to frame the band. It was on the floor directly above the swimming pool. And that day, workers filled the pool and heated it for the first time. The seashell melted and collapsed.

I forgot how long the opening was delayed, but it did not occur on the day advertised. n in the Covid-19 pandemic when young people aging out of foster care had no safe place to go to avoid a new and potentially deadly coronavirus.

When trailers were donated by the state, she worked on setting up a process for sheltering these youths in the trailers located at the Seventh Day Adventist Church campground in Soquel.

Community programs and the county supervisors got on board, and the shelter offered one-on-one assistance, helping young people get connected to jobs and permanent housing, she said.

Soquel residents at first were fearful that a wildfire could break out if their new neighbors were careless, and a community oversight group was created.

That led to some neighbors getting involved and volunteering, KalantariJohnson said. “That is a win.”

The shelter is no longer operating; the trailers have since been moved.

It “morphed into something different,” Kalantari-Johnson said, being woven into the youth homeless demonstration program, “integrated into the system.” n

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Impact Launch will host a two-day introductory workshop in April. See https://www. impactlaunch.org/events. For more information, email info@impactlaunch.org and talk to Megan Joseph or Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson.

“Estrada Land” from page 6

“We are grateful to work with the Estrada family and the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County to protect this significant property from development and subdivision and to enable continuity of the family’s legacy of responsible, sustainable timber production and cattle grazing,” said Walter T. Moore, president of POST. “This is a creative conservation solution that benefits the land, people, wildlife and environmental resilience of our region. It’s our shared vision that people and nature will benefit from this land being preserved forever.”

The ranch includes sensitive grasslands, maritime chaparral, riparian and wetland habitats, watersheds and streams important for South-Central Coast steelhead and rare amphibians.

Its steep terrain provides climate change adaptation options to species moving up in elevation as temperatures rise on the valley floor. Its working lands are high in historical and economic value.

Long-time cattle ranching on the property will continue through the efforts of Zach Estrada, grandson of Richard’s brother Frank.

In a future phase, Land Trust of Santa Cruz County will lead efforts to secure a conservation easement that will cover all 1,204 acres of the ranch, including 365 owned by Frank Estrada.

The Land Trust will work with POST, Frank Estrada and his sons Greg and Grant to develop easement terms that ensure the entirety of the property is permanently protected as conserved lands under the management of the Estrada family.

Greg and Grant Estrada support their father and uncle with day-to-day ranch management and stewardship and will continue to do so during POST’s ownership.

“We are so happy to celebrate the initial protection of this ranch with everyone involved,” said Sarah Newkirk, executive director of Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. “To permanently protect Estrada Ranch, we will partner with POST and the Estrada family to raise the necessary funds to place conservation easements on the entire property.”

History

Richard and Frank Estrada’s greatgrandparents, Jose Antonio and

Loretta (Duarte) Estrada, purchased the land in 1863, where the family grazed cattle and harvested redwood trees.

The brothers were raised on the ranch and have continued to work the lands.

Through Frank’s children Greg and Grant, the next generation is deeply involved in carrying out the family legacy.

The deal’s two-phase conservation approach aligns with the family’s longterm vision for their property.

The Estrada family is prominent in the Santa Cruz community, supporting Ronald McDonald House, the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau and efforts to teach ranching and agriculture to youth of the region.

“Our family has been managing and protecting this ranch since the mid-1800s, and we feel very strongly that it be preserved for the future,” Greg Estrada said. “By entering into this relationship with Peninsula Open Space Trust and the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, we will be able to continue our family’s way of life and preserve the ranch forever.” n

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Photos Courtesy of Teddy Miller