Before Bracken Brae

In the beginning . . .

In 1865, the government set out to survey the land of California. Surveying of Boulder Creek was performed by S. W. Foreman. Bracken Brae land was surveyed in 1868. Shortly thereafter, what was at the time known simply as ‘Boulder’ was opened to settlers.

Settlers could claim a 160 acre square as their own and would be awarded legal ownership of the land assuming that they improved the land for several years (built houses, fences, grew crops, etc.). Many of the settlers knew the value of the trees on the land and thought about the future. Although it was difficult to get the wood out now, a railroad would be coming. The redwoods were huge. There are stumps of redwoods in the woods surrounding Bracken Brae that would rival the trees in Henry Cowell.

The 160 acre Northeast corner of Section 24 was awarded to John H. Harper in land patent #2371 on May 10th, 1870. It was the first time in history the lands of Bracken Brae had an owner.

In a 1930’s interview in the Santa Cruz Sentinel of Winfield Scott Rodgers, who settled in Boulder Creek in 1870 recalled:

“Up Boulder Creek stream in the order named were the following pioneers each accepting 160 of Uncle Sam’s generous acres: R. C. Hite, Stephan Foreman (for whom Foreman Creek is named), S. A. Elliot, a settler named Harper, whom I knew well but whose first name I cannot recall. Forest Park now covers the Elliot tract and Forest Springs the Harper tract (in addition to Bracken Brae)”

In the early 1870’s it was very difficult to get timber out of the forest and the land was probably not heavily logged by John. However, it would have been covered in large old-growth redwoods. Machinery was primitive and the roads were very poor. There was not even a legitimate road to Santa Cruz so getting logs to market was not profitable – yet.

He probably spent his days stripping bark off the tan oak trees on the property. The bark would be taken to the tannery in Santa Cruz where leather was made. He would have likely had a small farm also to grow food and raise livestock to feed himself and his family and hopefully some to sell.

In the July 6, 1972 issue of the Santa Cruz Sentinel it is recorded that John sold Bracken Brae to Sheldon “Purdy” Pharis, also known as the “Shingle King”. He was the largest single landholder in San Mateo County and was known for his shingle mills.

In 1877 Purdy Pharis sold the property to the Austin and Oscar Harmon, natives of Maine, who were responsible for building Bear Creek Road and had successful mills on both Bear and Boulder Creeks. Bracken Brae was most likely logged during the ownership of the Harmon’s somewhere between 1877 and 1885 (when it was then sold).

In 1875 the lumber flume (the one on the mural in town) running from Boulder Creek to Felton was built. It used water from the San Lorenzo river to float boards cut at sawmills in Boulder Creek to Felton. It had smaller “feeder” flumes, built later, up Boulder and Bear Creeks to supplement the water in the main flume so it could carry more lumber. The feeder up Boulder Creek started on the area of the creek now owned by Bracken Brae. The Harmon’s likely used the flume to transport their products to market.

In 1885 Mrs Lydia C. Cleveland purchased the property. The Harmon Brothers had just logged the property so it was likely just bare hills, maybe covered in grass. Much of the land in Boulder Creek was converted to farms but the steep hillsides were not suitable for productive farming. Research indicates she probable just purchased the land for her own amusement.

Edit 11/26/2021 Edgar E. Simons was an Oakland Socialite and musician. He was considered one of the most popular people in Oakland.

In 1903 Bracken Brae is sold to William P. Todd and the Todd family with the specific intent of opening a summer home resort.