The Davenport Oral History Project documents the stories of "old-timers" of the "North Coast" of Santa Cruz County California.

The Davenport Resource Service Center strives to improve the quality of life for a significant segment of lower income people living on the "North Coast" of Santa Cruz County California. Davenport is located about 15 miles North of Santa Cruz and about 60 miles South of San Francisco, on the coast.

Davenport Oral History Series
Inventory and Cast of Characters

All of these Videocassettes were sponsored by the
Museum of Art and History at the McPherson Center, the
University of California at Santa Cruz, and hosted by
the Davenport Resource Service Center, a project of
the community Action Board of Santa Cruz County
Incorporated.
They are copyrighted by Community Action Board of
Santa Cruz County.

These videocassettes are interviews interspersed with
appropriate old time photographs. The actual voices
and interviews are uncut.

# 1      Fred Morro (born 3-4-30) interviewed by Randall
Jarrell on October 27, 1997.  Filmed by Paul Brindel
of the Community Action Board.
Fred expounds on his Italian ancestry, settling in
Davenport, the Cement Plant, brussel sprout fields,
the two room Pacific School, World War II, and life in
general in Davenport during the middle of the 20th
century. TRT 1:22:00.

#2      Inez Fistolera Grossi (Born 1904), Lea Grossi
Lambert, Catherine Franklin (Born 1922) interviewed by
Alverda Orlando on November 19, 1997. Filmed by Paul
Brindel.
The Grossis (mother and daughter) and Catherine talk
about farming on the north coast of Santa Cruz County,
Pacific School, the cement plant, the quarry and life
in general during the 20th century. TRT 1:10:00

#3      Louis Bettiol (Born 1916)  interviewed by Alverda
Orlando on January 7, 1998. Filmed by Paul Brindel.
Louis Bettiol talks about lumbering, the various
hotels, the cement plant, the quarry, Coast Dairies,
San Vicente Creek, artichokes and brussel sprouts,
ranching in the Davenport area. TRT1:11:30
 

#4      Myrtle Garaventa (Born 1913) interviewed by Randall
Jarrell on January 21, 1998. Filmed by Paul Brindel.
Myrtle Garaventa talks about her experiences as
postmaster of the post office for forty some years and
a life long resident of the Davenport area.
TRT 49:30

#5      Alvin (Born 1918) and Dotty Gregory interviewed by
Alverda Orlando on February 4, 1998.  Filmed by Paul
Brindel.
The Gregorys talk about the gas station the Gregory
family operated, school days, the stores and hotels of
Davenport, the cement plant, about being correspondent
to the Santa Cruz Sentinel, and about the fire
department. TRT
 
#6      Nora Bella Schipper (Born 1923), Olga Bella
Schipper (Born 1924), Gloria Bella Sarow (Born 1928)
interviewed by Alverda Orlando on March 8, 1998.
Filmed by Paul Brindel.
The Bella Sisters talk about the Ocean View Hotel,
which their father Charley Bella owned. Life in
general during the 30's and 40's in Davenport.
TRT

#7      Celedonia (Born 1916) and Trini Celebrado
interviewed by Alverda Orlando on May 20, 1998.
Filmed by Paul Brindel.
Cel and Trini talk about coming to the Davenport area
from the Philippines, the evolution of the fire
station, the post office, the cement plant, taking the
train to middle school. TRT1:36:30

#8      David Toshikian, Fred Della Santini (Born 1934)
interviewed by Alverda Orlando on June 17, 1998.
Filmed by Paul Brindel.
Relate their experiences from the quarry and working
at the cement plant.
TRT 1:33:10

#9      Catherine Libua "Rina" Franklin (Born 1922)
interviewed by Alverda Orlando on July 17, 1998.
Filmed by Paul Brindel.
Catherine talks about her Italian heritage, how her
family arrived in Davenport, farming on the north
coast of Santa Cruz County. TRT 1:40:00
 
#10     Maria Tomaras (Born 1929) and Fred Cuclis
interviewed by Alverda Orlando on August 4, 1999.
Filmed by Peter McGettigan.
Talks about being born in Davenport, living here 17
years, living in what is now the Davenport Bed and
Breakfast, running a dairy, Davenport Pacific School,
living in general in the Davenport of the 1930's and
'40's, her Greek Heritage. TRT 1:31:18

#11     Thelma Miccossi Gill interviewed by Alverda
Orlando on September 16, 1998.  Filmed by Peter
McGettigan.
Thelma Miccossi Gill talks about her Italian heritage
including her father who owned the Hotel D'Italia,
which was built in 1906. Stories of rum running and
bathtub gin. TRT1:03:18

#12     Hugo Bagnasco (Born 1918) interviewed by Alverda
Orlando on October 14, 1998. Filmed by Peter
McGettigan.
The long time butcher for the Davenport area discusses
ranch life, hunting, the cement plant and life in
general on the north coast of Santa Cruz County during
the middle of the twentieth century. TRT1:48:18

#13     Tommy (Born 1924) and Richard Deitz (Born 1930)
interviewed by Alverda Orlando on November 18, 1998.
Filmed by Peter McGettigan.
Tommy and Richard Dietz talk about their experience in
the New Town and Swanton areas of Davenport.  Life and
times in Davenport during the 1940's and 1950's. TRT

#14     Lud McCrary (Born 1929) interviewed by Alverda
Orlando on December 9, 1998. Filmed by Peter
McGettigan.
Lud McCrary tells about the evolution of his family
business, Big Creek Lumber, and the lumber industry in
general in the North Coast of Santa Cruz County. TRT
1:59:33

#15     Donna DiTano Merlotti interviewed by Alverdo
Orlando on January 20, 1999.  Filmed by Peter
McGettigan.
Donna Merlotti gives general information on the events
in Davenport during the 40's and 50's.TRT

#16     Bill and Leo Caiocca interviewed by Alverda
Orlando on March 17, 1999. Filmed by Peter McGettigan.
Bill and Leo Caiocca talk about their Davenport Bakery
and related subjects. TRT

#17     Josie Gilbert, Rosa Radicci interviewed by Alverda
Orlando on March 17, 1999. Filmed by Peter McGettigan.
Josie Gilbert and Rosa Radicci reminisce about the
1940's, 50's, and 60's in the Davenport area. TRT

#18     Louisa Orlando, Alvin Gregory (Born 1918)
interviewed by Alverda Orlando on April 14,1999.
Filmed by Peter McGettigan.
Louisa Orlando and Alvin Gregory discuss the evolution
of the Davenport Fire Department from the 1930's to
the present. TRT

#19     Ben Wilson interviewed by Alverda Orlando on May
19,1999. Filmed by Peter McGettigan.
 Ben Wilson talks about the life and times of himself
and his family, which has resided in the Davenport
area since before the turn of the century.
TRT 1:01:15.

#20     Ursella Grunwald interviewed by Alverda Orlando on
June 16, 1999. Filmed by Peter McGettigan.
Ursella Grunwald talks about post WWII Davenport and
life here with her husband Bill, a local boat builder
and community activist.
 TRT 1:04:00.

#21     Bill Lewis interviewed by Alverda Orlando on
August 18, 1999.
Filmed by Peter Mcgettigan.
Bill Lewis talks about his great grandfather, whaling
Capt. John Davenport, founder of Davenport landing,
and the captain's exploits during the middle of the
19th century.  TRT

#22     Don Passerino interviewed by Alverda Orlando on
September 15, 1999.  Filmed by peter McGettigan.
Don Passerino relates the tales of his father, mother,
siblings and cousins who were the owners of one of
three hotels located at Davenport Landing at the turn
of the century.  TRT
 

THE DAVENPORT ORAL HISTORY SERIES COMMITTEE

MYRTLE GARAVENTA
JOANNE OLIMPIO
ALVERDA ORLANDO
MARC WENNBERG
GREGG PALIN
PETER MCGETTIGAN

• Francisco Serna, Program Director 

• PO Box 97, Davenport, CA 95017  

• 831/425-8115 831/425-8156 (fax)

• e-mail us at drsc@cabinc.org

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