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Frederick A. Hihn founded the community of Valencia on land located in the
Soquel Augmentation Rancho, which was originally granted to Martina Castro,
daughter of Joaquin Castro. He rented land from Francesca Gonzales
Melville, the granddaughter of General Rafael Castro, to build his railway
from his Valencia mill to Aptos. This railway generally follows today's
Valencia Road from Valencia to Aptos, a distance of 3 - 4 miles.
 On nearly two thousand acres
of virgin timberland, he began his Valencia lumbering operation which, between
the years 1884 and 1892, reportedly had the capacity for producing 30,000 to
70,000 board feet per day. By the turn of the century, this capacity had
consumed the available timber and the mill was closed. Because Hihn did not
believe in the traditional company town, he sold lots and small farms to those
who worked in the mill, and gradually the area became largely agricultural and
an apple producing district in the County.
The Valencia area shown in a
1864 map (25 kb gif image). The accuracy of this map is
questionable because the 'Augmentation' boundary should be located approx. 200'
above the junction of the east and west branches of Valencia Creek. Interesting
that a coal mine is noted at the end of the trail on the east branch of Valencia
Creek. Also the early Day Valley Road is shown, but it is called Clarke Valley
and the predecessor to Cox Road. Meadows and gentle valleys are indicated.
The Town of Valencia as
laid out in 1889. The original location of the Hall and Post Office are
noted. The Building Lots are approximately 40'x120', at this point it does not
appear to be a agricultural community by the size of the lots... this was to
be Aptos. Valencia Road originally turned left immediately after the Post
Office, Main Street ended at the present Flume Road until years later. Main
Street is Valencia Road, First Street is Bear Valley Road and Flume Road is
approximately located where Front Street is. The round circle indicated a water
reservoir (it is still there, but was constructed as a rectangular in the ground
measuring approximately 75'x30'x8' deep. There is no water in it even in the
winter, too many cracks in the concrete base and no longer a redwood flume
inflow source. |
