Otto, Ernest

Ernest F. Otto (1871-1955), one of eight children born in Santa Cruz to German immigrant George Otto, was a journalist/historian, known especially for his weekly "(Our) Old Santa Cruz" column that ran in the Santa Cruz Sentinel from 1939 to 1957 (when Otto died in 1955, he left two years worth of unpublished columns). Otto also wrote a weekly column for many years about maritime happenings (especially fishing), titled "Ernest Otto's Waterfront".

Otto began his Santa Cruz newspaper career as a delivery boy, and was hired as a reporter by the Santa Cruz Surf in 1888, at age 17. He worked there until the paper's demise in 1919, rising to the position of City Editor. He then took on the same role at the Sentinel.

• Ross Gibson, "Local History" column - "Keeping up with Mr. Santa Cruz", Santa Cruz Sentinel, Dec. 8, 2024, A2.