Capitola Beach Festival CAPITOLA – THEN & NOW -by Deborah Osterberg Curator of the Capitola Historical Museum Capitola’s popularity as a resort Race, a Married Ladies’ Race, began in the 1860s when visitors horse-shoe throwing contest, discovered its charms and began necktie tying contest and a marbles to set up vacation tents on the competition for “… young men beach. Samuel A. Hall, who over 60 years of age.” Children leased beach front property from enjoyed a beach treasure hunt for Frederick Augustus Hihn, quickly Captain Kidd’s booty, in this case, realized the opportunity presented “[t]wenty bags, each containing to him and in 1874 transformed a brand new $1 bill, buried few Soquel Landing into Camp inches in the sand comprised the Capitola. In light of the rustic treasure which was provided by the resort’s success, Hihn also began Pacific Portland Cement Company.” to promote Capitola as a seaside Capitola Esplanade c. 1924 – Photograph by Lionel Tracy Lenox from the Lenox The Builders also delighted in resort by constructing commercial Family Collection (Capitola Historical Museum) contests demonstrating their fields structures, camp cabins and a free of expertise including Nail Driving tent campground. In 1895 Hihn built the palatial Hotel Capitola and Bricklaying Contests for both gentlemen and ladies. But the and the city’s reputation as a leading tourist destination was Bathing Girls’ Revue was by far the most popular event. assured. Perhaps the Builders’ creativity and great sense of fun helped The Roaring Twenties in Capitola was a time of transformation, inspire Capitola’s tradition of festivals and celebrations which not only culturally but also in terms of the city’s physical layout. continue to delight thousands of locals and visitors alike. After his 1919 purchase of Capitola, Henry Allen Rispin, initiated a major redesign of the famed seaside resort. Rispin hired San CAPITOLA HISTORICAL MUSEUM: CAPITOLA OBSCURA Francisco area architect George McCrea to modernize the resort. McCrea, known for his Spanish Colonial Revival style designs, Capitola Historical Museum Curator Frank Perry retired on June chose 22-year-old Helen Benbow as his architectural intern. Their 30, 2021, after eight years of researching and sharing the history renovations included the curved realignment of the Esplanade, of this special place. Frank reflected that “From the very first concrete paved streets, a stairway to Depot Hill and the building day, the museum board, museum volunteers, city staff, and of Rispin’s impressive 22 room Italian Renaissance style mansion people of Capitola were exceptionally welcoming.” He enjoyed overlooking Soquel Creek. McCrea and Benbow transformed discovering and revealing Capitola’s amazing history and creating parts of Rispin’s vision into the Capitola we know today. the museum’s annual exhibitions. Best wishes in your retirement Frank! As we approach the end of summer, it seems appropriate to reflect upon the festivities of a September nearly a hundred years Come visit the museum to see Frank’s exhibition, “Capitola – ago. With all the improvements made by Hihn and Rispin, Capitola Then & Now”. Enjoy rarely seen photographs of Capitola of the drew not only more family vacationers but also quite a few past alongside current views of the city. Initially installed as the conventioneers. In September 1922, Capitola hosted the annual 2020 exhibition, it was only able to remain open to the public San Francisco Builders’ Exchange State Convention which drew for a few weeks due to the pandemic shutdown. That is why it over 3,000 members of the building trades and their families. was decided to keep the exhibit up through 2021 so everyone Over a three-day period, the Builders enjoyed a jam-packed can enjoy Frank Perry’s hard work on the final exhibit he created program of entertainments and competitions. In addition to the for the museum. The Capitola Historical Museum is open Friday typical surf bathing and boating, the visiting Builders hosted a through Sunday from noon until 4:00 p.m. dizzying array of contests with more than $2,000 worth of rather Check out the latest issue of the museum’s newsletter, Capitola unique prizes donated by their membership: prizes ranged from Sunset, available on the Capitola Historical Museum web site: paint brushes to truckloads of sand, rock, and brick. cityofcapitola.org/capitola-museum At the Hotel Capitola the conventioneers danced to the music Address: 410 Capitola Avenue (next to the trestle) of the Builders’ Exchange Jazz Orchestra. During the day Phone: 831-464-0322 they adjourned to a platform on the beach to watch running, Hours: Thurs.-Sun., noon to 4 p.m swimming, and canoe races. Competitions included a Fat Men’s Admission: free
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