Anchorage Place Properties - Soquel Creek

315 Riverview Avenue was built in 1920. It was designed and constructed by the Joseph Fredrick Southern Family. Joseph and his wife, Catherine, lived in the Santa Clara Valley and wanted a vacation retreat for the summer on the picturesque Soquel Creek. They purchased the property in the spring 1919 and began construction in 1920. Joseph and his son Richard hauled all the redwood for the construction by horse and wagon from the lumber mills above Aptos. The cottages were built using first generation pure-heart redwood trees from the vast forests in Santa Cruz Mountains. The wood may have come from the Laurel Lumber Mills owned by the legendary Fredrick Augustus Hiln, who began the development of Capitola in 1882, and was the original builder of the Grand Hotel Capitola in the 1920’s.
The original architectural style of 315 Riverview Avenue took on the appearance of early Spanish style. The building consisted of seven small wooden attached cottages with stucco and a small mansard tile roof. There was very little ornamentation on the building due to its simple Spanish design. The building was completed in the summer of 1921, and the Southern Family used this property as a summer and winter retreat for many years. They invited family and friends to stay in one of the small cottages in the Capitola area. The guests who stayed at the "Old Riverview Court", as it was called in later years, loved the unique climate, the beautiful Soquel Creek, and its seaside charm. It is believed that famous movie stars, dignitaries, and politicians spent holidays and vacations at 315 Riverview.

Colorful stories have been told down through generations of Ohlone Indians using the land along the Soquel Creek, where the building resides today, for special ceremonial rituals. Many people have recounted Indian stories of mysterious shadows and sounds coming from the river area on foggy nights when the moon reflects on the stillness of the water. It is believed that Ohlone Indian Chiefs would be buried on ocean rafts with ornamental flowers and personal artifacts and set adrift on the bank of the river to be taken slowly out to sea by the currents of the water. Indian births were ordained with the spirit of a good life and health from the water of the river. In turn, ceremonial marriages were celebrated with good cheer and happiness on the river’s edge as flocks of seagulls drifted above the nuptial couple. The river and the "Old Riverview Court", has seen life and death and bares many memories of yesterday.

315 Riverview has survived floods, ocean storms and has seen holidays and picnics with families and couples strolling along the Soquel Creek pathway or boating on the river. Horse drawn carriages, buggies, motorcars, and electric trolleys in 1904 played their special part in the history of Capitola. The historic "Old Riverview Court" building stands as a reminder of our yesterdays with cool, foggy mornings, warm spring days, and balmy summer nights of serenity and beauty in this wonderful place we love... Capitola.

Property Listings


Unavailable 315 Riverview #1 Capitola 2 Beds, 1.5 Baths	Unavailable 315 Riverview #2 Capitola 1 Bed, 1 Bath	Unavailable 315 Riverview #3 Capitola 1 Bed, 1 Bath

Unavailable 315 Riverview #4 Capitola 1 Bed, 1 Bath	Unavailable 315 Riverview #5 Capitola 1 Bed, 1 Bath	Unavailable 315 Riverview #6 Capitola 1 Bed, 1 Bath

Unavailable 315 Riverview #7 Capitola 1 Bed, 1 Bath

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