Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Picture from the Past

Los Gatos Weekly-Times file photograph

Walter I. Young stands between two trees that were part of his home on Stetson Road off Soquel Road in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

John S. Baggerly

Walter Young remembers those military maneuvers

Two weeks ago, we published a column in which the late Walter I. Young shared his memories of the Mountain Park Store in the hills near historic Wrights Railroad Station. His writings were first published in the Los Gatos Times-Observer in the 1950s.

When Young owned and operated his Los Gatos Transfer Co., his home was on the north side of Saratoga Avenue, several blocks west of N. Santa Cruz Avenue. He lived there with his wife, Ida, and children, Robert and Carmelita, all gone now.

His "transfer" business was a convenience to local citizens and business firms, as he hauled a multitude of items back and forth and even provided steamer trucks for those who were leaving Los Gatos by rail to ship out of San Francisco for various ports.

From the country store, Young shifted to a "small military invasion" of his mountain area.

He wrote in another of his Times-Observer columns:

During the 1880s, one very interesting event in the summer was when the Army moved its soldiers from the Presidio of San Francisco to Santa Cruz for maneuvers. Quite a procession of several hundred men, and all kinds of horse-drawn vehicles drew many mountain dwellers to the roadside. The soldiers would have to make camp at least three times between San Francisco and Santa Cruz.

Sometimes camp would be set up at the Chase Ranch on Summit Road.

The steep hills made transportation of ammunition, guns, cannon, etc., quite difficult. Often they resorted to dragging a tree to hold back a load on a steep hill. At times it resulted in a runaway, when the tree failed to hold back the load. I knew of some instances where the wagon went over the grade. All sorts of difficulties presented themselves. You can imagine how the kids would glue themselves to the country road to see the procession pass.

Another parade we used to watch was the many campers' outfits going to Capitola or Santa Cruz during the school vacation. Some families from the Santa Clara Valley would camp at the seashore for weeks. All types of horse-drawn vehicles were used for transportation. Between Los Gatos and the Coast, there were these camps where campers could stop for water and camping privileges.

Often the road became blocked with so many campers passing. On one occasion I saw the road blocked until noon, and on the Los Gatos side of the blockade, there were at least 75 teams waiting to pass.

I got a lot of pleasure riding my bicycle in those days and would often pedal all the way to San Francisco for a weekend. I drove my bicycle in the dark, without a light, until once I went off the road. Another time I bumped into a horse and buggy. Looking back, I don't see how I ever had the nerve. However, after those two experiences, I got a good headlight.

Sometimes I have a feeling of nostalgia for the "good old days" and all the good times of my youth. But, for the most part, I am well content to have lived in both the generations, part of the 19th and part of the 20th centuries, and to have witnessed all the wonderful inventions and improvements and the convenience of the automobile.

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