Patchen, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patchen
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California Historic Marker 448, for Patchen, California.
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Santa Clara County |
| Reference #: | 448 |
Patchen is a ghost town located in the Santa Cruz Mountains in Santa Clara County, California. It sits along the old Santa Cruz Highway. A ghost town is a place that used to be a busy settlement but is now mostly empty or abandoned.
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Patchen's Early Days: Mountain Charley
The first known settler in the Patchen area was Charles Henry McKiernan. People called him "Mountain Charley." In the 1850s and 1860s, he built roads on his land. He also ran a toll road, where people paid to use a path that was once an old Native American trail.
In 1854, Mountain Charley had a famous encounter with a grizzly bear. He and a neighbor were hunting when they shot at a grizzly. Charley hit the bear, but it was only dazed. With no time to reload, he hit the bear with his rifle until it broke. The angry bear attacked Charley, injuring his head. Doctors in San Jose used silver plates made from Mexican pesos to patch the hole in his skull. Amazingly, Charley survived and lived until 1892! Grizzly bears are no longer found in California; the last one seen in the Santa Cruz Mountains was in 1885.
A special marker, California Historical Landmark #448, stands near Patchen. It remembers the town and the legend of Mountain Charley.
Where Did the Name Patchen Come From?
The name Patchen became famous in the San Francisco Bay Area because of a racehorse. There was a well-known horse named "George M. Patchen." His son, "Smith Patchen," was nicknamed "California Patchen." This was because he raced very well in California in 1862 and 1867. The town's post office, established in 1872, was named Patchen. It operated until 1929.
Famous Visitors and Stagecoaches
The Feely Ranch, near Patchen, was a favorite vacation spot for the famous writer Jack London. He wrote some of his books while staying there. Today, a road north of Patchen is named "The Call of the Wild," after one of his most famous novels.
Patchen was an important stop for stagecoaches. In 1855, the California Stage Company used Patchen as a place to change horses on their route from San Jose to Santa Cruz.
One of the most famous stagecoach drivers on this route was Charley Parkhurst. Charley drove over the mountain roads around 1868. Like other drivers, Charley wore warm clothes and used a sharp whistle to warn others. What made Charley special was that she was a woman who had hidden her identity for many years!
The stagecoach was robbed in Patchen in 1874. After a second robbery, the people responsible were caught. Mountain Charley and a local group helped to capture them.
The Railroad and Patchen's Decline
In 1880, a narrow-gauge railroad opened. It ran from Los Gatos to Wright's Station, which was about a mile east of Patchen. From Wright's Station, the train went through long tunnels to other towns like Laurel and Scotts Valley, eventually reaching Santa Cruz. The Southern Pacific bought this railroad around 1900.
On April 18, 1906, a huge earthquake shook California. Roads were blocked, bridges broke, and buildings fell. The railroad was destroyed. The nearby San Andreas Fault caused a lot of damage, especially in Wrights. The railroad was rebuilt and ran until 1940. That year, severe storms blocked the route again. Southern Pacific decided not to rebuild it.
Also in 1940, California State Route 17 was completed. This new highway bypassed Patchen, meaning it no longer went through the town. This contributed to Patchen's decline, as fewer people passed through.
Over the years, the remaining buildings of Patchen disappeared. In 1949, an old stage station was torn down. In 1957, a fire destroyed the building that had been the post office. The chimney of the old post office stood until the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, which finally brought it down.
Patchen Christmas Tree Farm
Today, the land where Patchen once stood is a Christmas tree farm. The owner, Jim Beck, started buying pieces of the land in the 1960s. He wanted to protect the area from too much building. The farm grows Monterey pines, Sierra redwoods, and Douglas firs.
The farm still has some reminders of Patchen's past. These include the old water reservoir, the historical landmark plaque, and parts of an old bar and hotel.
Forest fires are a danger in the Santa Cruz Mountains. In the mid-1980s, a fire came very close to the farm. Jim Beck rewarded the firefighters who saved his trees with free Christmas trees for life!
Patchen Pass
Near the town site is Patchen Pass. This is the highest point on Highway 17. It is about 1,814 feet (553 meters) above sea level. Sometimes, this pass gets covered in snow for hours or even days.
