San Lorenzo Paper Mill

San Lorenzo Paper Mill was an ill-fated industrial endeavor. Conceived by "San Francisco capitalist" Henry Van Valkenberg, construction began in 1860, next to the San Lorenzo River about 3 miles upstream from Santa Cruz and just downstream from the site of the California Powder Works. After less than a year of operation, however, the plant was destroyed by flooding during the winter of 1861-62, and was never rebuilt. Today, the site is part of Paradise Park.

• The California Powder Works and San Lorenzo Paper Mill, by Barry Brown