The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-22
THE HOLY CITY
BY THE SEA.
Centennial Year of the Founding
of the Mission at Santa Cruz.
The Celebration in september-Interesting
Sketch of the Church Built by Fathers
salazar and Lopez.
Special to THE SUNDAY CALL.

On the 25th OF September, 1871. Fathers
Alonzo Salazar and Boldomero Lopez, who had
been delegated 10 establish mission Tor In
dams In California, landed and pitched their
tents on about the present site OF the Catholic
Church in the City of the Holy Cross. Rude huts
were provided for the Mexicans they brought
with them and for the Indians, as fast as the
missionaries could persuade them TO accept
their teachings and manner of living, Contrbu-
lions were mt from the other missions. San
francisco Mission Dolores sent yoke OF oxen,
60 sheep, 10 rams and bushels Of barley;
Carmel Mission z mules, and Santa Clara
yoke OF oxen, IA bulls, 80 cows, 20 steers
and horses After about a year and
a half, during which time The hundred
or more Indians which the fathers had gath
cred about them had been taught TO handle the
rude tools which they had TO make adobe and
tiles, the church was commenced. Ii was, when
completed, 1926 feet long, 20 wide and 25:6
high. IL took year and a half 10 complete it,
being ready for dedication on March 10, 1894.
The dedication services were attended by Her
menegiido Sal, commanding officer at the Pre-
sidio of San Francisco; four or five priests from
the Mission Dolores, and Father Tomaz Pena
from Santa Clara. AT no time were there ever
more than 400 or 500 Indians under the care OF
the fathers, and that was in 1880, when tue
mission was at the height of its prosperity.
Santa Cruz Mission was granted all the land
south OF the Mission Dolores grant, aud west
ana north OF the Santa CLARA and Carmel grants.
q AS soon as the Spauiards began 10 settle up
the country. about 1920, they began 10 encroach
upon these mission lands until, by the time The
Americans came in, very litta was left TO them,
and IN 1S49 all was taken but the church and
The garden back OF it, As late as 1S51-52 there
were still about 200 Indians attached to the
mission, and their mode OF life was IA primitive
as ever-weaving catlle-raising, tending the
garden raising vegetables, hunting, etc. Inelr
THE Tiny ADOBE HUTs
Scattered about the church grounds or next to
the church; the school-house and wOrk-roOms
were In the back OF the church. Many OF the
altar decorations and fnishings were made by
the Indians, and as long as services were held IN
the adobe, or until 1865, the Indians sang In the
choir Two of the original paintings, one of
ST. Pablo (St. Paul., the other of ST. Peter,
are, still in a good state OF preservation,
aud are really works Of art. Two statues,
one of ST. Michael, the other of Mater DolorOsa,
were also placed in the old church at the time OF
Its dedication. and are still fairly well preserved.
Directly back OF the church WAS the orchard
an1 an olive tree or so, a few messy gnarled old
apples, almonds and grape vines are still on its
sunny slopes, and indeed, In different parts OF
town may be seen an adobe or a quaint old well,
great vines or apple or almond, or cherry trees
as large as good-sized oaks. The only building
standing which was built before 1900 Is an old
adobe at the emu OF Branciforte avenue In East
Santa Cruz.
come unsafe, II handsome wooden structure was
built directly westa few feet only from lie adobe,
and again. the needs OF the town being greater,
III 1850 the Ola auOOe was 10TH uOWu duu d
handsome $4,000 brick and stone structure
was erected IN ITS stead which was dedicated In
1889 A portion of The old church-wall still
stands, directly behind The new building, which
has been built partly on the site OF the old
church and a portion OF the old burylng ground.
In digging for the foundation 1t was necessary TO
remove great numbers OF skeletons. Immedi-
ately unGer the eastern caves OF The new build.
Ing is The grave OF the mOrganatc daughter OF
George ", which from time time has
been the theme of much newspaper comment
and speculation There are also one Two
yesimeuts of rare beauty and magniiieence. a
mass Of solid embroidery in gold silver aud silk,
aud the four leather-bound parchment books
casped over with
LEATHER THONGS
Made by the Fathers and Indians-the book OF
marriages, bilths, baptisms aud deaths, ana an
other, similarly bound, continuing the Gregoriau
chant, carefully copied by the Fathers, with The
Latin words divided, The notes i'll red and black,
aud dlamond-sbapeG. The ordained old bell,
cast In 1889, is now in the new church.
The writer Is indebted 10 Professor Chestnut
wood and +. a. Him, of Santa Cruz, aud 10