Santa Cruz Mountain Wine Company
Santa Cruz Mountain Wine Company was created in 1887, and immediately bought a property on the east side of Market Street, just past the bridge where the street crosses Branciforte Creek, and backing up to the 50-foot-tall sandstone bluffs along the eastern edge of the creek's floodplain. A winery was built, and three caverns were dug into the bluffs for wine storage. According to a Sentinel article quoting Harrison (1892): "the directors and principal stockholders: J. W. Jarvis, president; W. H. Galbraith, secretary; F. McMullen, Mrs. H. P. Gregory, Ed Fitch, W. G. Klee, and H. M. Hammore. Galbraith also fills the office of superintendent and manager." The Sentinel ad at right is from 1895.
The entire company was sold to the rival Ben Lomond Wine Company in 1899. Principals were young entrepreneur J. F. Coope and his wealthy father-in-law F. W. Billing. Unfortunately, Coope died suddenly in 1902, and the winery seems to have declined from that point.
- The Santa Cruz Mountain Wine Company is profiled in Santa Cruz County (1896 book).
- John L. Chase, The Sidewalk Companion to Santa Cruz Architecture (4th ed. 2023), page 188.
- Carey Casey, "The History of the William Kerr House", MAH Online History Journal
