Comments on: Ghost Towns of Lexington Reservoir: Alma

By: Ranger Gaudinski

Ranger Gaudinski — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 23:34:06 +0000

Thanks Craig! Do you have any old photos or memorobilia from the town?? Please feel free to e-mail me at julia@mobileranger.com

By: Craig S. Osmer

Craig S. Osmer — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 22:36:51 +0000

I am Craig Stewart Osmer as a kid I heard many stories from my dad and great grand pop. Alma was first owned by my Great Great Grand father Stewart. When he passed his daughter and son in law George inherited the town. he was my Great Great Grand Father George Osmer. His son my Grand Father George andhis son were raised on this land. I would love to talk with you if there”s a chance. I currently live in Grizzley Flat Ca just South East of Placerville.And I am listed. craigsosmer@gmail.com

By: Ranger Lautamo

Ranger Lautamo — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 16:38:24 +0000

In reply to Derek Whaley. Derek, the other town of Lexington is mentioned in this piece but it actually has its own separate piece (thus the plural "towns" in the title). Sorry if that isn't very clear. I wasn't aware of the Aldercroft community; it didn't come up in my research. Is it mentioned in the book Ghost Towns of Santa Cruz Mountains or in Richard Beal's Highway 17: The Road to Santa Cruz?

By: Derek Whaley

Derek Whaley — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:08:34 +0000

In reply to Anthony. There used to be TWO towns down there, as well as about a quarter of the Aldercroft community, which gets kind of forgotten in the equation.

By: A Thanksgiving Feast from the Year 1900 | Santa Cruz Waves

A Thanksgiving Feast from the Year 1900 | Santa Cruz Waves — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 00:25:11 +0000

[…] of other dishes filled the table of wealthy Americans in the early 1900s. As I pass the submerged Ghost Town of Alma on the drive to my parents’ house for this year’s Thanksgiving, I can’t help but salivate at […]

By: Ranger Lautamo

Ranger Lautamo — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 19:33:32 +0000

In reply to Carol Rodgers. Carol, there are some pictures online of Alma and Lexington and I would encourage you to check out the book: Ghost Towns of the Santa Cruz Mountains by John V. Young. We plan to write a piece on Holy City as well. (Check out the book called Holy City: Rikers Roadside Attraction in the Santa Cruz Mountains by Betty Lewis for full history and photos.)Sometimes it can be a lengthy process to obtain the rights to historic photos otherwise we would post more. Glad you're so interested in the history of this area!

By: Ranger Lautamo

Ranger Lautamo — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 19:25:46 +0000

In reply to Jim Felich. So glad you enjoyed the piece, Jim! It's always sad when places filled with so many stories and memories disappear. Thank you for sharing your memory of Alma.

By: Jim Felich

Jim Felich — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 17:14:54 +0000

Thank you, Ranger Lautamo, for a most entertaining read about the bottom of Lexington reservoir. It prompted my recall of the time my Dad took me for a drive on that stretch of road and told me how it was to be covered with water and disappear. I found it hard to comprehend then, and I still miss it and him.

By: Carol Rodgers

Carol Rodgers — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 20:19:22 +0000

In reply to Ranger Gaudinski. I grew up in Los Gatos and currently live in Brookdale love reading your articles would love to see pictures of Alma, Lexington & Holly City if you can. Thank You for all you do.

By: Ranger Gaudinski

Ranger Gaudinski — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 16:08:50 +0000

In reply to Anthony. So glad you think so Anthony!

By: Ranger Gaudinski

Ranger Gaudinski — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 05:25:51 +0000

In reply to Chris. It is pretty cool to see the road and relics of the old towns, but I have to say that the next time you come back to visit I hope there is more water in Lexington Reservoir!

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 00:27:51 +0000

I used to live in Brookdale, spent so much time between SC and SJ, I moved away in 2010 to Illinois so I missed my chance to check out the drained Lexington.
Thanks for the great posts and pictures!

By: Ranger Gaudinski

Ranger Gaudinski — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 23:06:03 +0000

In reply to Tonya. Thanks Tonya! Madrone's are such pretty trees!

By: Ranger Gaudinski

Ranger Gaudinski — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 22:55:27 +0000

In reply to Kurt Mitchell.

Kurt, Thanks for your comment! The site to go for Santa Cruz/Los Gatos train info is http://www.santacruztrains.com/

Wrights Station:http://www.santacruztrains.com/2012/03/wrights-station-summit-tunnel-north.html

This site is done by Derek Whaley. He is doing great work and will have a book out soon!

By: Anthony

Anthony — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 23:40:21 +0000

I travel from San Jose to Santa Cruz quite often, and I’ll notice the reservoir as I pass by. Now it seems a bit cool to know that a town used to be there, I’d love to go check it out .

By: Tonya

Tonya — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 12:49:25 +0000

What a great article (again)-I always learn from your informative and interesting content. I grew up on (and my parents still reside) on Bear Creek Road, I live in So. Cal now but we visit often and my kids just learned about madrones last time we visited-neat stuff!

By: Kurt Mitchell

Kurt Mitchell — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 19:51:38 +0000

Sure would be nice to here more about the trains that followed the back of Lexington Reservoir ,to the town of Write Station where the train would disappear into one of the many train tunnels in the Santa Cruz Mountains,Does anyone have or no of any photo’s of the town Write Station I believe as they called it.