From our Archives

A crowd gathers on the deck of the SS Palo Alto, colloquially known as the “Cement Ship,” on May 31, 1954. Built in 1919 as a 420-foot concrete tanker, it was eventually decommissioned and hauled to Seacliff Beach in 1929. By 1930, it was ...

Rescuers had to use a tow truck to yank a cow out of a well on Linden Road on April 8, 1957.

These folks practice carrying clouds in preparation for an upcoming Mardi Gras event in Watsonville on Feb. 1, 1961

Watsonville Union High School students pull a prank on a fellow student on April Fool's Day, Apr. 1, 1957.

These men examine the damage in a plane crash at the Watsonville Airport on Sept. 25, 1954. According to aviation history buff Gary Plomp, the plane is a Grumman TBF-5 Avenger Carrier, which was used in WWII as torpedo bombers and level bombers. TBFs...

These women take part in the Mother's March in Watsonville on Jan. 30, 1957. More than 400 women were set to take part in the event to raise money for polio. They raised $4,800 the previous year, and that year were aiming for $5,000.

The 1882 Records Building—today called the Octagon Building—is shown in Santa Cruz in 1954. It is now part of the popular Abbott Square at Cooper and Front streets.v(Sam Vestal/Pajaronian file)

Members of Native Daughters prepare for a Christmas party in Watsonville on Oct. 26, 1959. (Sam Vestal/Pajaronian file)

Girl Scout leaders meet for a dinner in Watsonville in 1957.

Members of the United Crusade pose for a group photo as they prepare for a fundraiser to youth services on Oct. 8, 1955. (Sam Vestal/Pajaronian file)