Capitola Then & Now

Capitola Beach Festival

CAPITOLA – THEN & NOW

-by Deborah Osterberg Curator of the Capitola Historical Museum

Capitola’s popularity as a resort began in the 1860s when visitors discovered its charms and began to set up vacation tents on the beach. Samuel A. Hall, who leased beach front property from Frederick Augustus Hihn, quickly realized the opportunity presented to him and in 1874 transformed Soquel Landing into Camp Capitola. In light of the rustic resort’s success, Hihn also began to promote Capitola as a seaside resort by constructing commercial structures, camp cabins and a free tent campground. In 1895 Hihn built the palatial Hotel Capitola and the city’s reputation as a leading tourist destination was assured. The Roaring Twenties in Capitola was a time of transformation, not only culturally but also in terms of the city’s physical layout. After his 1919 purchase of Capitola, Henry Allen Rispin, initiated a major redesign of the famed seaside resort. Rispin hired San Francisco area architect George McCrea to modernize the resort. McCrea, known for his Spanish Colonial Revival style designs, chose 22-year-old Helen Benbow as his architectural intern. Their renovations included the curved realignment of the Esplanade, concrete paved streets, a stairway to Depot Hill and the building of Rispin’s impressive 22 room Italian Renaissance style mansion overlooking Soquel Creek. McCrea and Benbow transformed parts of Rispin’s vision into the Capitola we know today. As we approach the end of summer, it seems appropriate to reflect upon the festivities of a September nearly a hundred years ago. With all the improvements made by Hihn and Rispin, Capitola drew not only more family vacationers but also quite a few conventioneers. In September 1922, Capitola hosted the annual San Francisco Builders’ Exchange State Convention which drew over 3,000 members of the building trades and their families. Over a three-day period, the Builders enjoyed a jam-packed program of entertainments and competitions. In addition to the typical surf bathing and boating, the visiting Builders hosted a dizzying array of contests with more than $2,000 worth of rather unique prizes donated by their membership: prizes ranged from paint brushes to truckloads of sand, rock, and brick. At the Hotel Capitola the conventioneers danced to the music of the Builders’ Exchange Jazz Orchestra. During the day they adjourned to a platform on the beach to watch running, swimming, and canoe races. Competitions included a Fat Men’s

Race, a Married Ladies’ Race, horse-shoe throwing contest, necktie tying contest and a marbles competition for “… young men over 60 years of age.” Children enjoyed a beach treasure hunt for Captain Kidd’s booty, in this case, “[t]wenty bags, each containing a brand new $1 bill, buried few inches in the sand comprised the treasure which was provided by the Pacific Portland Cement Company.” Capitola Esplanade c. 1924 – Photograph by Lionel Tracy Lenox from the Lenox The Builders also delighted in Family Collection (Capitola Historical Museum) contests demonstrating their fields of expertise including Nail Driving and Bricklaying Contests for both gentlemen and ladies. But the Bathing Girls’ Revue was by far the most popular event. Perhaps the Builders’ creativity and great sense of fun helped inspire Capitola’s tradition of festivals and celebrations which continue to delight thousands of locals and visitors alike.

CAPITOLA HISTORICAL MUSEUM: CAPITOLA OBSCURA

Capitola Historical Museum Curator Frank Perry retired on June 30, 2021, after eight years of researching and sharing the history of this special place. Frank reflected that “From the very first day, the museum board, museum volunteers, city staff, and people of Capitola were exceptionally welcoming.” He enjoyed discovering and revealing Capitola’s amazing history and creating the museum’s annual exhibitions. Best wishes in your retirement Frank!

Come visit the museum to see Frank’s exhibition, “Capitola – Then & Now”. Enjoy rarely seen photographs of Capitola of the past alongside current views of the city. Initially installed as the 2020 exhibition, it was only able to remain open to the public for a few weeks due to the pandemic shutdown. That is why it was decided to keep the exhibit up through 2021 so everyone can enjoy Frank Perry’s hard work on the final exhibit he created for the museum. The Capitola Historical Museum is open Friday through Sunday from noon until 4:00 p.m.

Check out the latest issue of the museum’s newsletter, Capitola Sunset, available on the Capitola Historical Museum web site: cityofcapitola.org/capitola-museum Address: 410 Capitola Avenue (next to the trestle) Phone: 831-464-0322 Hours: Thurs.-Sun., noon to 4 p.m Admission: free