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Location DB > United States > California > Watsonville > Henry Miller Summer Home Ruins
 Name
Henry Miller Summer Home Ruins
 Viewing Options
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 Database Info
created by Clostridium on 12/30/2013 11:29 PM
last modified by Clostridium on 12/31/2013 1:42 AM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled by its creator as Public, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description

 Basic Information
Type: Outdoors
Status: Abandoned
Accessibility: Easy
Recommendation: not very exciting
 Physical Information
Address

Watsonville, California
United States
Owner: Santa Clara County
  • See a map of this location
  •  Hazards
  • unsafe flooring
  • Poison Ivy, dust, horse poop
  •  Interesting Features
    Stone and concrete foundations, walls, staircases.

    Mount Madonna is said to be haunted by Henry's youngest daughter Sarah. In 1879, while riding with her family here, Sarah's horse stumbled and fell, crushing her. Rangers seem to complain of a mysterious woman's scream at night that they could never find.
     Security Measures
     Historical Dates
    Built: 1901
    Closed: 1916
     Required Equipment
  • long pants / sleeves
  • towelettes
  •  Recommended Equipment

     History
    Home of Henry Miller, the Cattle King, who with partner and former rival Charles Lux built an agricultural empire in California's Central Valley, with 5,700 km^2 of land and control of a further 57,000 km^2 of land for some 1 million head of cattle and 100,000 head of sheep. At the time of his death in 1916, Miller was worth some $40 million.

    Mount Madonna was the Miller family's summer escape, where they would climb and camp out. Like many wealthy robber barons, these wilderness retreats gradually became more ostentatious, with first large tents, then redwood cabins. In 1901, the Millers built a massive seven-bedroom mansion here for $250,000, complete with a ballroom. Henry Miller spent nearly every free dollar he had on land, and after his dead his cattle empire floundered, though his relatives own large cattle farms in the Central Valley to this day. Mount Madonna, said to be named by Miller's Italian craftsman was sold by the family to Santa Clara County as a park. The Miller mansion and bungalow have decayed to their bare stone shells.

     Media Coverage

     Future Plans
    Probably will remain a county park for a long while
     Stories


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     Photo Galleries
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    9-28-13
    Tue, Dec 31st, 2013
    posted by Clostridium
    7 pictures
     


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     Web Links
    http://www.sccgov....ges/MtMadonna.aspx
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     Moderator Rating
    The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.

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     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by Steed on 5/23/2014 12:29 AM.

     Latest Changes
  • on May 23 14 at 0:29, Steed validated this location
  • on Dec 31 13 at 1:52, Clostridium made this location available
  • on Dec 31 13 at 1:50, Clostridium updated gallery picture Original Home
  • on Dec 31 13 at 1:42, Clostridium added some pictures to a gallery
  • on Dec 31 13 at 1:42, Clostridium changed the following: Display Name, Real Name
  • on Dec 31 13 at 1:37, Clostridium updated the main picture
  • on Dec 31 13 at 1:36, Clostridium updated gallery picture Henry Miller Estate
  • on Dec 31 13 at 1:36, Clostridium updated gallery picture Unknown Building Foundation
  • on Dec 31 13 at 1:36, Clostridium updated gallery picture Retaining Walls
  • on Dec 31 13 at 1:36, Clostridium updated gallery picture Main Home
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