San Lorenzo Paper Mill

San Lorenzo Paper Mill was an ill-fated industrial endeavor. Conceived by "San Francisco capitalist" (quote from the Barry Brown article) Henry Van Valkenburg, construction began in 1860, next to the San Lorenzo River about 3 miles upstream from Santa Cruz and just downstream from where the California Powder Works was built a few years later. While still a new operation, however, the plant was destroyed by flooding during the winter of 1861-62, and Van Valkenburg was killed by a falling tree. Later owners rebuilt the plant, but sold out to the Powder Works. Today, the site is part of Paradise Park.

• Barry Brown, "The California Powder Works and San Lorenzo Paper Mill", SCPL Local History Articles online
• History Pages: 20 - The River