Friends of the Cowell Lime Works

News

Our Cinema Centennial

Fall Lecture: "Our Cinema Centennial." It was 100 years ago this fall that the first dramatic motion picture was shot in Santa Cruz. Join historian Randall Brown for an afternoon lecture on the beginnings of movie-making in Santa Cruz, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2-5 p.m. at the Humanities Lecture Hall, UCSC. Download announcement. Download map showing location of lecture.

Fall 2011 Newsletter

The latest edition of Lime Kiln Chronicles is available to download.

Spring 2011 Newsletter

The latest edition of Lime Kiln Chronicles is available to download.

Cowell Birthday Party

Come celebrate Harry Cowell's 150th birthday on Saturday, February 19th. There will be birthday cake, exhibits, and a short lecture on the Cowell family in Santa Cruz. For more information, download the Cowell Birthday Party flyer (PDF).

Fall/Winter 2009-10 Newsletter

The latest edition of Lime Kiln Chronicles is available to download.

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September 18, 2010

Enter the Historic District Photo Contest!

The Friends of the Cowell Lime Works Historic District is sponsoring a Historic District photo contest. The best photograph will be printed in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, and the winner will receive a copy of Lime Kiln Legacies, an illustrated history of the local lime industry, and a set of five posters depicting various scenes within the District. [Contest info | Photo release]

March 22, 2010

Digging into History

Student interns are conducting archaeological excavations at the site of the Cardiff Shed, located near the Cardiff House. These excavations, under the direction of archaeologist Sally Morgan, are revealing details of the floor joists and beams. After these studies are completed, the shed will be re-assembled at its original location. This historic building may date from the 1860s when the adjacent house was built.

More Hands-on History

Work continues on Cabin B, one of the Portuguese lime-worker cabins used in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Student interns and community volunteers are helping with the project, gaining hands-on experience with restoration and woodworking. Jan Dekema, an expert on historical restoration, is directing the project. Despite dry rot and termite damage to some of the wood, the volunteers have found that much of the original old-growth redwood can be saved with minor repairs. This will preserve the cabin’s value as a historic artifact. The restored cabin will be 80 to 90 percent original material.

November 1, 2009

Official Dedication of the Cowell Lime Works Historic District

In the fall of 2009 a brass plaque was installed commemorating the listing of the Cowell Lime Works Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. The plaque was placed on a limestone boulder adjacent to the historic Cook House building (now the Admissions Office) near the campus main entrance. The plaque was unveiled at a ceremony hosted by the Friends of the Cowell Lime Works, with Chancellor George Blumenthal officiating. Speakers included, former State Representative and alumnus John Laird, the Mayor of Santa Cruz, and representatives from State Assemblyman Bill Monning and U.S. Congressman San Farr's offices. Farr's office presented a commemorative statement from the Congressional Record.

October 30, 2009

Come Celebrate!

Please join UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal; local, state, and national officials; and the Friends of the Cowell Lime Works Historic District for a very special celebration on Friday, October 30, 2009, to commemorate placement of the Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places and to unveil a permanent bronze plaque that will identify the site. UC Santa Cruz is the only UC campus with a historic site on the National Register.

The ceremony will take place at 4:00 p.m. at the Cook House (one of 21 structures comprising the Historic District), located just inside UCSC’s main entrance at the corner of Bay and High Streets. A reception will follow. Please park in the adjacent Barn Theater lot.

RSVP by October 16, online at community.ucsc.edu/limeworksdedication, or by phone at 831-459-1254.

August 8 & 9, 2009

Inaugural Conference on Lime and Lime Kilns in California History

Friends of the Cowell Limeworks Historic District is proud to host the first-ever conference on the history of lime and lime making in California. Profits from the conference will benefit restoration projects in the Historic District, at one time the site of California’s largest lime works. The conference is open to anyone interested in California history.

• For more information, please see the conference flyer.
• To register by mail, please use the conference registration form.
• To register online, please go to community.ucsc.edu/limekilnconference

July 2009

While excavating around the foundation of one of the historic workers' cabins at the base of campus, UCSC archaeologists and volunteers recently found a mother-of-pearl hair ornament and other artifacts. More »

May 2009

Located near the campus entrance, the 'iconic' cooperage, one of the historic structures in the Cowell Lime Works Historic District, is undergoing temporary reinforcement to keep it standing until hoped-for restoration is possible. Read the story

Spring/Summer 2009 Newsletter

The latest edition of Lime Kiln Chronicles is available to download.

Fall 2008 Friends of the Cowell Lime Works Historic District Newsletter is now available.

November 2008

Article: Newest Friends group wants you to be able to see, touch, smell history Read the story

July 2008

Friends of the Cowell Lime Works Historic District formally recognized by University of California.

January 2008

New national historic area helps reveal clues about a bygone era. Read the story

Fall 2007

Campus entrance on National Register of Historic Places. Read the story (PDF)

November 21, 2007

Cowell Lime Works Historic District listed on National Register of Historic Places by the Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. See the listing

May 2007

Campus site to be on National Register of Historic Places. Read the story

August 2006

Construction projects uncovering pieces of the past. Read the story