Martin Creek (Sausal Creek tributary) facts for kids

Martin Creek, also known as Dennis Martin Creek, is a small stream in California. It is about 1.4-mile-long (2.3 km). The creek starts in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Skylonda. It flows through the town of Woodside. Finally, it joins Sausal Creek near Stanford University. Sausal Creek then flows into Searsville Reservoir. From there, the water eventually reaches San Francisco Bay through San Francisquito Creek.

History of Dennis Martin Creek

The creek is named after a brave pioneer named Dennis Martin. He was a Canadian-American whose family traveled across the country in 1844. They left Missouri to find new opportunities in California. His family joined two other Irish families, the Murphys and the Sullivans. They became part of the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party. This group was the first to cross the Sierra Nevada mountains into California.

A Difficult Journey West

Their journey followed the same path as the famous Donner Party two years later. When they reached Truckey's Lake (now Donner Lake) in November 1844, they had to leave some wagons behind. The deep snow made it impossible to move all eleven wagons over what is now Donner Pass. An 18-year-old named Moses Schallenberger stayed alone to watch the wagons. He survived the winter by trapping foxes for food.

Dennis Martin's Bravery

The rest of the group spent the winter in the upper Yuba River valley. Many men were asked to fight for the Mexican California Governor, Manuel Micheltorena. They were promised land if they helped. But Dennis Martin, who was 23, chose a different path. He returned to the upper Yuba with supplies for the women and children. When he heard about Moses Schallenberger's struggle, Martin did something amazing. He crossed the snow-covered Sierras in the middle of winter. In February 1845, he rescued Schallenberger at Donner Lake. Martin taught Schallenberger how to make snowshoes. Together, they successfully crossed the Sierras back to the Central Valley.

Martin's Life in California

In 1845, Martin worked for Captain John A. Sutter. Sutter sent him to supervise Native Americans cutting redwood trees. During this time, Dennis Martin met another Irishman, John Coppinger. Later, Martin found gold on the Mokelumne and Stanislaus Rivers. He partnered with Daniel Murphy and Charles Maria Weber, who founded Stockton.

After quickly making money from gold, Martin bought land. He purchased 1,500 acres north of San Francisquito Creek from his friend John Coppinger. This land is now where the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center is located. He also bought the wooded areas along the creek he named after himself. This included parts of the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, the Ladera area, and Webb Ranch.

Martin built two sawmills on Dennis Martin Creek. He encouraged his family and friends from Canada and Missouri to join him. Many of them became early residents of Searsville, a mill town. This town was later covered by water when Searsville Dam was built in 1892. Dennis Martin faced some financial problems and land disputes. His lands were eventually bought by Leland Stanford in 1882. Dennis Martin passed away in June 1890. He was buried at St. Dennis Cemetery, a church he had built on his former property.

Thornewood House and Schilling Lake

The area around the creek also includes the historic Thornewood House. This large estate was built in the 1920s by Julian Thorne. It has beautiful landscaping and views. The 87-acre estate was later given to the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. The house is currently being restored.

Schilling Lake is named after August Schilling. He was known as the "King of Spice" and started A. Schilling & Company in San Francisco in 1881. Schilling bought the land from Julian Thorne. Thorne had bought it from Edward Preston, who bought it from Dennis Martin.

Ecology of Dennis Martin Creek

Dennis Martin Creek and other nearby streams were once home to steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). However, since 1890, the Searsville Dam has blocked the trout from reaching the creek. A local historian, Dorothy Regnery, interviewed Edgar H. Batchelder in 1966. Batchelder, whose father cared for Searsville dam, said his "favorite place to fish for trout was in Dennis Martin Creek." This shows that trout were once common there.

Watershed of Dennis Martin Creek

Dennis Martin Creek flows through a forest of Redwood trees (Sequoia sempervirens). It starts on the northeastern slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The creek goes through the Thornewood Open Space Preserve. Here, it meets a temporary stream that drains Schilling Lake.

After passing under Old La Honda Road, the creek reaches the San Andreas Fault zone. It then crosses Portola Road. At this point, the ground becomes very flat. Dennis Martin Creek is one of several creeks that come together here. They form a large freshwater marsh, which then becomes Corte Madera Creek. Dennis Martin Creek flows into Sausal Creek just before the Searsville Reservoir. Old maps suggest that Dennis Martin Creek and Alambique Creek used to flow into Sausal Creek.

Recreation at Thornewood Preserve

You can enjoy hiking trails in the 167-acre Thornewood Open Space Preserve. This preserve is part of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. Trails include the Bridal Trail and the easy 3/4-mile Schilling Lake Trail. The preserve can be accessed from the south side of La Honda Road (Highway 84). It's about 1.6 miles past its intersection with Portola Road in Woodside.