Meet Stephen Payne
The Howling Wilderness
Stephen Payne holds a doctorate in Public Historical Studies from UC Santa Barbara, a master’s degree in History from San Jose State University, and a baccalaureate in Anthropology from UC Santa Cruz. Stephen has also taught Santa Clara County and California history courses at local colleges for many years. Stephen’s family goes back five generations in Santa Clara County. The McClellan farm buildings in Steven’s Creek Park belonged to his great, great grandparents, who were settlers in 1849. In 1852 his great grandfather arrived in the valley, settling in Los Gatos. In the mid-1870s, the family purchased a farm near Campbell, where Payne Avenue is today.
Check out KSCM
Live Moutain Radio
KSCM is an Internet based radio station streaming from the Santa Cruz Mountains. They offer a variety of musical styles, events, and live shows. Not only do they play modern music, they also offer the history of music in the Santa Cruz Mountains - think about the Chateau Liberte, the Doobie Brothers, Moby Grape. and so many more classic bands. KSCM is also about local history such as Patchen and Mountain Charlie. See more at KSCMRadio.com.
Meet Georgiana
In the 1800s, women didn’t wear pants, but Georgiana did. In the 1800s, women didn’t construct their own house, but Georgiana did. In the 1800s, women rarely questioned church doctrine, moral values, or societal norms, but Georgiana questioned them all. Georgiana Bruce Kirby was more than a pioneer woman, she was a pioneering feminist. Georgiana Bruce’s birth on December 7, 1818 in Bristol, England, was a mixed blessing—her father had perished at sea just three months prior. Even so, living in a loving household with her mother and sister offered smooth sailing during Georgiana’s earliest years.
The Historical Schultheis Family
By Debra Staab
John Martin Schultheis (pronounced shool-tize) and his wife Susan Byerly Schultheis were major contributors to the early development of pioneer life in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The couple arrived at the Summit in 1852 on an oxen-drawn wagon loaded with all of their personal belongings. The trip up the hill from Los Gatos took three days of pushing through brush and chaparral, as there were no actual roads at the time, only old Indian and Spanish trails. John was born in Bavaria in 1826 where he became a skilled cabinet-maker and farmer. He immigrated to America and initially settled in Ohio where he met and married Susan Byerly, also from Bavaria. John and Susan joined a cross-country wagon train in early 1852 and headed for the West Coast.
The History of Loma Prieta Avenue
By Debra Staab
Loma Prieta Avenue has served the Summit area for over 150 years. The road is just north of, and parallel to, Summit/Highland Road. The avenue starts at Summit Road just west of the Summit Store where it runs slightly north and then makes a sharp right turn where it meanders southeast between straight stretches and hairpin curves for nearly three miles, all the while rising in elevation by over 1,000 feet. Loma Prieta Avenue then intersects with Mt. Bache Road and Loma Prieta Way. If you follow Loma Prieta Way another three miles, you will find Loma Prieta Road which takes you north to the mountain top. Mount Loma Prieta is the highest peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains with an elevation of 3,790 feet. If you continue southeast on Loma Prieta Way for another ten miles or so you will eventually come to Gilroy.
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