Established in 1919 by Riker and a small group of his loyal disciples, the city was initially built on 30.25 acres bought for $10 the year before. See reviews, photos, directions, phone numbers and more for Holy Cross locations in Santa Cruz, CA. 6,472 were here. [Mobile Ranger]. Santa Cruz ( /sæntə kruːz/, Spanish: Holy Cross) is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. It was a tourist attraction and had services for cars taking Santa Cruz Highway through the Santa Cruz Mountains. It was then owned by three elderly investors who have owned the property since 1966. Coverage: Santa Cruz (County) 1910s; Rights: Reprinted with permission of the author. Santa Cruz Mission Santa Cruz was founded on August 28, 1791, and is named for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Christianity. Date photo was taken is unknown. My family (mom, sister and boyfriend went to go see La Santa Cruz in Rio Grande City, Texas. The Holy City post office closed in 1982. We continue to grow, with a mission for the 21st century. Picture Window theme. The wall partially surrounds a redwood grove where Riker once held services. Whitepages people search is … $18,439 was awarded to Hope Services on behalf of Parking for Hope, the City/Downtown Association's holiday program. Over the years, fire, a freeway that cut off the compound, and neglect reduced the city to a few derelict buildings. The commune was founded in 1919 by a white-supremacist scam artist William E. Riker along what was once the main route between San Jose and Santa Cruz. He was never convicted. Various outbuildings that still survive around Holy City, 2015. It was, rather, a commune and tourist trap created in the 1920s by a white-supremacist huckster," stated an article that was published in the San Francisco Chronicle in 2006, when the property on which the former compound sat went on the market for eleven million dollars. Santa Cruz, New Mexico 87567 Our Mission: Guided by the Holy Spirit and the word made flesh, and centered in the Eucharist, fount of holiness, we, the community of Santa Cruz de la Ca ñ ada, build families rooted in the values of the Holy Family of Nazareth to bear fruit for the Kingdom of God. Copyright © 2012-2020 Zayante Publishing. [, View of the observatory and the defunct radio station in Holy City, July 9, 1953. An old photo of cars streaming past Holy City. Date: 1979 . The Saga of Holy City, California. The Rise and Fall of Holy City. Photo by Michael Maloney / San Francisco Chronicle MANDATORY CREDIT FOR PHOTOG AND SF CHRONICLE/ -MAGS OUT. Identifier: AR-025. Every religion must have its Mecca, Jerusalem, or Rome, and the ambitious cult leader William Edward Riker chose an isolated hillside above Los Gatos Creek along the highway to Santa Cruz to establish his utopian center called Holy City in 1919. FILE - William E. Riker was said to have held services in this redwood grove. As reported in 2016, the property was sold to a wealthy couple with ties to Scientology. An automobile trip with multiple shots of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, a woman in an automobile and on the sea cliffs (Ruby Levin? ), and several images of Holy City. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946. Santa Cruz Mountains, Cal. Holy City: Father Riker's Cult in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Moe's Alley. While encouraging disciples to renounce worldly possessions, he drove Cadillacs.". 1535 Commercial Way Santa Cruz CA 95063. Artist Lou Bermingham, has an art studio in one of the two remaining buildings that was once part of Holy City. An old photo of one of the buidings that was part of Holy City. The California agency that regulates charities investigated his finances. He lived with his fourth wife. Vergelijk alle vliegtarieven, betaal met iDEAL of creditcard en spaar voor exclusieve kortingen en upgrades met Expedia.nl : Santa Cruz (or Santacruz) is a Spanish or Portuguese term meaning "holy cross" and referring to the cross on which Jesus was crucified.. Santa Cruz may also refer to: / Greetings from Holy City in Heart of Santa Cruz Mountains Creator Pacific Novelty Co. (San Francisco, Calif.) Date Created and/or Issued 1919-1930 Contributing Institution History San Jose Research Library Collection History San Jose Online Catalog Rights Information The opening of Highway 17 (1940) almost eliminated the traffic to Holy City. Shown is its community gas station." When going through the San Francisco Chronicle's archives, I discovered old photos of the compound and decided to share them. COVID-19 UPDATE | The City is coordinating closely with our public health officials at the Santa Cruz County Health Department to prevent the further spread COVID-19.In an effort to protect you and our community, changes and measures have been adopted in daily operations and activities. The place had its heyday in the 1930s and '40s and has been in disrepair for decades. Holy Cross Parish 210 High St. Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Holy City sits in an obscure corner of the lush wilderness 10 miles south of Los Gatos, on what was once the only route between San Jose and Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz Police Chief Kevin Vogel expressed his appreciation to the Holy Cross community for bringing together and honoring so many of the agencies, and Scott's Valley Police Chief John Weiss commented, 'We appreciate that you, your staff and students remember 9/11 … Holy Cross Catholic Church. Powered by. The article also stated that, "Riker, who referred to himself as 'The Comforter' and 'The Emancipator,' preached racial segregation and instructed his followers — who never numbered more than 300 or so — to maintain celibacy. Photo courtesy of Tom Stanton. View phone numbers, addresses, public records, background check reports and possible arrest records for Holly Smith in Santa Cruz, CA. Aviatrix, Mrs. Rosencrantz, sues cult King of Holy City for $500,000 for breach of promise. The city began to decline, and in 1959 a complicated real estate transaction threatened to take control of the property away from Riker, then 86, who fought it and lost. The commune was founded in 1919 by a white-supremacist scam artist William E. Riker along what was once the main route between San Jose and Santa Cruz. SC. The commune was founded in 1919 by a white-supremacist scam artist William E. Riker along what was once the main route between San Jose and Santa Cruz. The Un-holy history of Holy City, the Bay Area's most racist tourist trap. Santa Cruz, CA 95062 Phone: (831) 475-3222 FAX: (831) 475-6132 Email: holyxcem@aol.com Please note that this is SEPARATE from "Old Holy Cross Cemetery" in Santa Cruz County, which is located nearby but is a wholly separate cemetery property. Photo courtesy of Tom Stanton. During the early 20th century, Holy City was home to a cult founded and lorded over by a white supremacist. He walks along a wall said to have been built by William E. Riker's followers. The town is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, off State Route 17 on Old Santa Cruz Highway. As a long time collector, he then focused on acquiring local, historical memorabilia. Holy City, Lexington Hills, CA 95033, USA, An especially decorated commercial building in Holy City, c. 1930s. William Edward Riker and "Mother Lucille Riker of Holy City, that was in Santa Clara county in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Riker had a different standard for himself. Related Businesses 1. It became Chateau Liberté in 1971. The back of the photo states "Holy City was another Utopia that failed. "It was called Holy City, but it was not exactly a model of Christian piety. FILE - This low-slung commercial building along the Old Santa Cruz Highway, the Holy City Art Glass studio and one other building are all that is left of Holy City. Santa Cruz Parking for Hope Program Donates Over $18,000 to Local Nonprofit. [Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History]. 'See Us If You Are Contemplating Marriage, Suicide or Crime! Holyrood Church 715 West 179 Street, Upper West side Manhattan, USA, 212-923-3770 For just $3.00 per month any local family could use the pool and hike the property. Creator: Young, John V. Source: This article is from Ghost Towns of the Santa Cruz Mountains, by John V. Young. Answer 1 of 3: I had a thread about Holy City which, for reasons some might find strange, was deleted. The place had its heyday in the 1930s and '40s and has been in disrepair for decades. The government also charged him with sedition in 1942 after he was caught endorsing Hitler's views. July 9, 1953. The commune was founded in 1919 by a white-supremacist scam artist William E. Riker along what was once the main route between San Jose and Santa Cruz. In this undated photo, Holy City, Calif., is shown circa 1940. Santa Cruz (Spanish for 'Holy Cross') is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California.As of 2019, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated Santa Cruz's population at 64,608.. Mrs. Rosencrantz and Mrs. and Mr. Riker, of Holy City, that was in Santa Clara county. Rio Theatre. It is part of the Lexington Hills Holy Cross Catholic Church first began as one of the 21 California missions: La Exaltacion de la Santa Cruz, giving its name to the city and county. Churches & Cathedrals in Santa Cruz; Admission Tickets. 3. Ontdek Holy City! Ghost town symbolizes woes of real estate icon. Holy City, once a comune and tourist trap is now just a bend in the road - the Old Santa Cruz Highway in the Santa Cruz mountains near Los Gatos. The place had its heyday in the 1930s and '40s and has been in disrepair for decades. Kuumbwa Jazz Center. Bob Bragman is a producer for sfgate.com. Holy City, once a comune and tourist trap is now just a bend in the road - the Old Santa Cruz Highway in the Santa Cruz mountains near Los Gatos. Look up Santa Cruz or Sta. Historic photos of 'Holy City'—a cult compound in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Holy City is an unincorporated community in Santa Clara County, California. Number 11 in the series shows the car parked on a city street with J.C. Penney's on the next block, looking down the … Holy City, in Santa Clara County, which is now part of Silicon Valley. Historic photos of 'Holy City' - a cult compound in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Real photo postcard showing Holy City, in Santa Clara County, which is now part of Silicon Valley. More billboards lining the road, with some extolling less tolerant traits, c. 1920s. Holy City, once a commune and tourist trap is now just a bend in the road - the Old Santa Cruz Highway in the Santa Cruz mountains near Los Gatos. 107. It was near the town called Holy City, off of the Old Santa Cruz highway. Holy City was run in the 1920s and 30s by William Riker, a former necktie salesman and palm reader who ran for governor four times, and corresponded with Adolf Hitler. 24 of 36 25 of 36. Box 1228. Holy City, once a commune and tourist trap is now just a bend in the road - the Old Santa Cruz Highway in the Santa Cruz mountains near Los Gatos. Holy City, in Santa Clara County, which is now part of Silicon Valley. They had small horse rodeos and "movie nights" . Holy Cross Catholic Church first began as one of the 21 California missions: La Exaltacion de la Santa Cruz, giving its name to the city and county. Type: ARTICLE . His writing reflects his love of the city, in addition to his passion for vintage pop culture, ephemera and vernacular photographs. Once considered a Utopian community in the 1920s and 1930s, it is now considered a ghost town. It went through at least two owners in the 1960's. Holy City, had a restaurant, a service station, a stellar observatory, a newspaper and for about three years, radio station KFQU. Santa Cruz Tourism: Tripadvisor has 27,829 reviews of Santa Cruz Hotels, Attractions, and Restaurants making it your best Santa Cruz resource. The founder and leader, William Riker, ran for governor of California fo… In 1931, Washington revoked the radio station's license. Los Gatos: What will become of Holy City bought by billionaire Scientologist Bob Duggan? January 25, 1929, Holy City in Santa Clara County, now part of Silicon Valley. Holy City, once a comune and tourist trap is now just a bend in the road - the Old Santa Cruz Highway in the Santa Cruz mountains near Los Gatos. [, Large placards lining the road into Holy City, c. 1930s. Not the barber pole at left and a radio speaker at right. Holy Cross Catholic Church in Santa Cruz, CA The commune was founded in 1919 by a white-supremacist scam artist William E. Riker along what was once the main route between San Jose and Santa Cruz. William Riker, of Holy City, that was in Santa Clara County, offers President Franklin Roosevelt advice on how to end the Depression. Cruz in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. The town was a religious community stated by William Riker in 1918. About this same time, Highway 17 opened and there was a dramatic drop in traffic along the Old Santa Cruz Highway running through Holy City. Holy Cross, Santa Cruz: Bekijk reizigersbeoordelingen, onthullende foto's en goede aanbiedingen voor Holy Cross, gewaardeerd als nr.1 van 2 B&B's/pensions in Santa Cruz … Early, undated photo. 1 of 21 Real photo postcard showing Holy City, in Santa Clara County, which is now part of Silicon Valley. [, Downtown Holy City showing the Glenwood Highway, January 26, 1929. From its inception, Holy City was built to capitalize on the state highway that passed through the middle of the town, The Santa Cruz Highway, rebranded the Glenwood Highway in 1920, was the main thoroughfare and only paved road between San José and Santa Cruz through the mountains. It's full of beautiful old hand-carved and handpainted retablos and bultos from the 1700s on up (the alter screen is spectacular), and it's a lovely place to see northern NM religious art. This mission is located on a bluff in the city of Santa Cruz, near the mouth of the San Lorenzo River. HOLY CITY (KPIX 5) — A ghost town in the mountains above Santa Cruz has been sold to a Silicon Valley billionaire and his wife after sitting on the market for a decade.