ECV1850 Plaque:
Lexington Reservoir County Park

NGH Dave "Clamper Dave" Guardino.

[ Photo of plaque. ]

Lexington Reservoir County Park
In 1952, Santa Cruz Mountain rainwater flowing from the surrounding creeks filed the new reservoir and slowly covered what was left of the once prosperous towns of Lexington, Alma, and an old portion of Highway 17. Looking out today across the deep cool water standing behind the Santa Clara Valley Water District's Lexington Dam, only the two town's submerged memories remain. In 1848 William Hanks and Isaac Branham owned land and established a settlement in this area. They sold to Zechariah Jones who passed the property on to John Henning, who named it "Lexington". The towns of Lexington and Alma, founded in 1862 by Lysander Collins, grew quickly to prominence due to the abundant timber spilling from the flumes of nearby sawmills. Both towns supported the daily existence of hundreds of hard working pioneer families who supplied lumber and produce to the growing California economy. The Santa Cruz Gap Toll Road, incorporating a road earlier built by Charles McKiernan (a.k.a. Mountain Charlie), along with a later railroad line linked Alma, Lexington, and the smaller settlements of Patchen, Laurel, Wrights, and Glenwood to the cities of Santa Cruz and San Jose. The Southern Pacific abandoned its rail line in 1940 due to wash outs in the winter of 1939-1940 and the opening of State Highway 17. Remnants of the toll road, railroad track beds, two tunnels, and a few ties are now visible to mountain hikers. The entire shoreline surrounding this reservoir became part of the Santa Clara County Parks system in 1958.
DEDICATED BY THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY HISTORIC HERITAGE COMMISSION & THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT APRIL 21, 2007 SPONSORED BY MOUNTAIN CHARLIE CHAPTER No.1850, E CLAMPUS VITUS "RIGHT WRONGS NOBODY"

Lexington Reservoir County Park

In 1952, Santa Cruz Mountain rainwater flowing from the surrounding
creeks filed the new reservoir and slowly covered what was left of the
once prosperous towns of Lexington, Alma, and an old portion of
Highway 17. Looking out today across the deep cool water standing
behind the Santa Clara Valley Water District's Lexington Dam, only the
two town's submerged memories remain.

In 1848 William Hanks and Isaac Branham owned land and established a
settlement in this area. They sold to Zechariah Jones who passed the
property on to John Henning, who named it "Lexington". The towns of
Lexington and Alma, founded in 1862 by Lysander Collins, grew quickly
to prominence due to the abundant timber spilling from the flumes of
nearby sawmills. Both towns supported the daily existence of hundreds
of hard working pioneer families who supplied lumber and produce to
the growing California economy.

The Santa Cruz Gap Toll Road, incorporating a road earlier built by
Charles McKiernan (a.k.a. Mountain Charlie), along with a later railroad line
linked Alma, Lexington, and the smaller settlements of Patchen, Laurel,
Wrights, and Glenwood to the cities of Santa Cruz and San Jose. The
Southern Pacific abandoned its rail line in 1940 due to wash outs in the
winter of 1939-1940 and the opening of State Highway 17. Remnants of
the toll road, railroad track beds, two tunnels, and a few ties are now
visible to mountain hikers. The entire shoreline surrounding this
reservoir became part of the Santa Clara County
Parks system in 1958.

DEDICATED BY THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY HISTORIC HERITAGE COMMISSION
& THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
APRIL 21, 2007

SPONSORED BY

MOUNTAIN CHARLIE CHAPTER No.1850,
E CLAMPUS VITUS

"RIGHT WRONGS NOBODY"

This plaque is located at
Lexington Reservoir County Park.
Douglas B. Miller Memorial Point.
Los Gatos
Santa Clara County, CA.

Highway 17 from Los Gatos, take the Bear Creek Road exit
and proceed over the overpass and re-enter Highway 17 north.
Take the Alma Bridge Road exit.

From Santa Cruz, take the Alma Bridge Road exit.

Cross the face of the dam and
continue following the road
south, bearing right at junctions.
Pass the first two parking areas.
Enter the Douglas B. Miller
Memorial Point parking area.
Restroom, phone, and picnic
tables are available.

The park is open year-round
from 8:00am until sunset.

GPS Lexington Reservoir Miller Point
WGS84 Datum
N 37.19312°
W 121.98544°

Dave "Grumpy" Wendt and "Hysterical Bill" Clark, ECV1850 Historians.

SATISFACTORY!

Lexington Reservoir County Park Information.

ECV1850 Plaque: Lexington Reservoir County Park

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