Ely, William

William Henry Ely (1828-1909) was a former 49er who moved to Santa Cruz in 1870 to become a developer and streetcar investor. Ely built two Pacific Avenue commercial buildings in the 1870s. The two buildings became known as “Ely’s Block No. 1” and “Ely’s Block No. 2”. Ely also invested in early horse-drawn streetcar companies.

• History Pages: 46 - Santa Cruz gets an Octagon: downtown in the early 1880s
• Charles S. McCaleb. Surf, Sand & Streetcars (1977 book), 1995 edition.
• The Sidewalk Companion to Santa Cruz Architecture, 4th edition (2023), chapter Five, entry (40), page 153, 154, 155 (image).

William and son Frank were Soc. of Pioneers members.